The Biggest Problem In American Politics

[babylonsister]

https://politicalwire.com/2021/10/28/the-biggest-problem-in-american-politics/

The Biggest Problem In American Politics
October 28, 2021 at 10:00 am EDT By Taegan Goddard

Jonathan Bernstein: “One of the most important facts of U.S. politics right now is the terrible shape the Republican Party is in. It has been dysfunctional for more than a decade, and more recently the mainstream of the party has been acting as if they live in a fantasy world.”

“I attended the American Political Science Association’s annual conference in Seattle last month and heard nothing but a string of pessimism about the Republican Party — something that simply was not the case even 10 years ago. Of course, not everyone was pessimistic about the future of the republic. But no one seems to be able to imagine how the Republicans can turn themselves around, and I can’t remember the last political scientist I’ve spoken with (yes, Republicans included) who didn’t see serious problems here.”

[unblock]

1. They're not in terrible shape and they're not dysfunctional

I wish they were! A dysfunctional political party in terrible shape wouldn't be able to field candidates for important races, would routinely have candidates that failed to qualify to get on the ballot, would have candidates that couldn't rally their own voters, etc.

Problem is, they *are* quite functional as a party that unifies right-wing extremism and can produce candidates who turn out their voters like crazy and overrun everything down to the school board level.

What they are is a fascistic party that the old "sensible conservatives" can't control. The Republican leaders may be crazy, but the party is functionally unified behind it.


Now, if only our media had functional journalism, we would have blaring headlines decrying the insanity in the Republican party, and *then* the Republican Party might fall apart.

But as long as our media continues to promote and support the Republican Party, they will just keep getting worse and worse.

[leftstreet]

2. +1

They seem to be doing just fine

[maxsolomon]

3. I guess I want them to return to Earth 1, but

I don't want them to have any power at any level of Government, because all they bring to the table is bad faith, bad ideas, resentment, and obstruction.

[certainot]

4. it's limbaugh PTSD. they're grieving, wailing, and media that's never even acknowledged limbaugh is

lost about it. no clue.

limbaugh was the closest thing to an intellectual and moral leader the last 30 years and about 12 years ago putin started influencing RW radio, partly through him.

when limbaugh died it left a huge vacuum. whoever was feeding him, whether the heritage foundation or other stink tanks, or establishment mentors, or putin-influenced feeders, he kept all the authoritarian followers in line and on the same page.

they're headless now. his 600 leading radio stations were split up mostly between 3 idiots with 2 shows and all the blowhards and fox twits are trying to outdo each other with extremism, and they all sense they don't really have any power anymore