The strange collection of extremists running for office as Republicans

[applegrove]

By David A. Love at CNN

https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/04/opinions/strange-collection-of-extremists-running-as-republicans-opinion-love/index.html

"SNIP..........

(CNN)How did the Republican Party -- once known as the party of "law and order" -- become a party that could provide space for lawbreakers and extremists, thugs and criminals, hoodlums and hate groups? This astonishing transformation can only be attributed to the presidency of Donald Trump, whose words during the 2016 campaign and during his term in the White House helped make America safe for extremists.

White supremacists, Infowars conspiracy theorists and convicted criminals are running, some as viable candidates, on the GOP ticket on the state and federal level, something which would have been unheard of only a few years ago.

Such individuals are not barred from putting their hat in the ring and aspiring for elected office, but it is remarkable that party leaders have by and large not shown the backbone to condemn them. But in a way that's not surprising in a party where extremism and intolerance are mainstream GOP fare, and its standard bearer runs an ethically challenged administration mired in criminal investigations. Trump said he would drain the swamp, but he is the swamp, and he is sending swamp-dwelling creatures to the Senate, Congress and the state house.

A criminal record is no longer a barrier to entry for GOP candidates. There is nothing wrong with people being formerly incarcerated. After all, in a country that preaches rehabilitation yet practices gratuitous imprisonment and punishment for its own sake, society should encourage those who turn over a new leaf and want to contribute to their country through public service.

..........SNIP"

[elleng]

1. Not merely 'could provide space for lawbreakers and extremists,

thugs and criminals, hoodlums and hate groups,' but would embrace one as their head of state and encourage such behavior as their modus operandi.

The republican party has lost it's soul.

[JNelson6563]

2. Seems to me the natural progression

Of things. Reminds me very much of certain points in history. Rome comes to mind.

[dameatball]

3. Hate to disagree but it is not due to Donald Trump, it is due to the Tea Party.

Trump just harvested the crops.

[Hortensis]

4. Yes, but Trump is a RESULT of this, not a cause. The growth of

both intense corruption and extremism in the Republican Party, fostered by the explosion of money in politics, started packing a party already prone to both with this "strange collection." (Few Republicans ever went to Washington to serve in government of, by and for the ignorant, feckless people. Their ideals and goals were typically different.)

Find any extremist-leaning group, which large numbers of elected conservatives are, and examine its members for good sense, competence, and/or honesty. You won't find any of the three much less all, just a strange collection.

As for corruption, honest conservatives mostly stopped running for all offices that Dark Money targeted for takeover, ultimately virtually all, because they're unwilling to do what's required to be allowed to win and hold office. And now we learn Russia's also been exporting corruption as a weapon of war. Both have been increasingly elevating unprincipled people happy to deal since the 1980s; i.e., more "strange collection."

[Eliot Rosewater]

5. For a very long time I have said you cant be a republican and decent or patriotic, for much

longer than has been popular.

But I was right. Then, and now.

Long before this vile pile of human filth, aka rump, was elected or running. And he was NOT elected. by the way, the KGB put him in office

[Hortensis]

6. Agree. Then and now.

I've also come to the inescapable conclusion that STRONG conservatives are unfit by nature for leadership in a western-style democracy. They don't really understand and believe in it in their guts and can be depended on to obstruct at best, actively work to destroy at worst, and are easily "turned" and corrupted by their own bad leaders. As demonstrated so outstandingly now.

[Eliot Rosewater]

7. In a week or so my sister in law, HUGE rump fan, will travel to I think TN

where her daughter will marry another woman,something rump and team would outlaw if they could

But they dont put the two together in their heads

[Hortensis]

8. :) Hard to imagine, but psychologists are firm that

many strong conservatives really "dont put the two together in their heads." They don't resolve conflicts between favorite but incompatible views because they somehow manage to hold them all at once. Never the twain dots shall meet?

In any case, how nice to hear that your SIL's type of normality allows her to accept this. Happy story, and bless her heart as we say here in Georgia.

[eppur_se_muova]

9. Agree. 45 is the final, terminal stage, but the disease has been progressing for a long time. nt