"I'm not a Democrat. I'm an anti-Republican."

[Proud Public Servant]

In spite of its title, I thought this epic rant deserved to be read here and shared widely. Here's the money:

You could say that I'm less a Democrat than an anti-Republican. I vote the way I do because I want the GOP to lose, lose badly, and keep losing until it comes to its collective senses, which at this point seems a very long way off indeed.

There are so many reasons why I've come to this position that I almost don't know where to begin. So let's just start with recent headlines — which means the Benghazi Obsession.

Four people died in the September 2012 attack on the American Consulate in Benghazi, including U.S. Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens. It was a tragedy. It was infuriating. It deserved to be investigated.

And it has been. Nine times.

Nine investigations. Nine reports. But that's not enough for House Republicans. Goaded by Fox News' nearly 24/7 obsessive-compulsive fixation on the story, the Republican caucus has finally persuaded House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) to launch a select committee to investigate the Benghazi attack. Again.

"Nine times" - there's my personal new Benghazi talking point. The whole thing is here: http://theweek.com/article/index/261426/im-not-a-democrat-im-an-anti-republican

[antiquie]

1. The truth about Hillary is even scarier than Dr. Rove imagined

pics here

[Orsino]

2. We can't build better Democrats...

...without better Republicans for them to have to be better than. Citizens United is going to tend to erase such distinctions, unless and until one party starts running on progressive values.

[Vogon_Glory]

3. Damon Linker's Essay Ought To Be More Widely Read

Damon Linker's essay ought to be more widely read. Voters who have sidelined themselves because of old remembered quarrels about Jane Fonda or Ted Kennedy ought to be doing some serious soul-searching as to why they would as soon let a paddle of right-wing lunatics drive the country over the cliff even if Nancy Pelosi isn't their favorite political pin-up girl.

I relate to this essay. I stopped voting the GOP after the end of the Cold War. I'd voted reluctantly for their presidential candidates because I genuinely believed that the Soviets were as strong as people said. I put country ahead of party, and both became congruent after the end of the USSR.

I think it is time for sane Republicans to ask themselves whether the needs of the Republic come first, or whether they should blithely contine to vote for what has become a flurry with the fringe on the top.