The GOP’s True Form Has Finally Been Revealed: A Revolting Frankenstein Monster

[GoLeft TV]

As we continue to watch Donald Trump’s ascension as the GOP’s unwanted golden child, we’re truly beginning to see the right-wing base for what it truly is. Trump is literally forcing the GOP establishment to follow him down the treacherous road of the true Republican agenda.

Ring of Fire’s Sam Seder and Farron Cousins discuss this.

[longship]

1. How can the GOP get above this lunacy?

They cannot. Lunatics cannot not be lunatics. Not spoken of is the GOP's theocratic positions, which if the whole country was aware of, support for the GOP would collapse.

In the meantime, the GOP has:

* a majority in the state legislatures
* a majority of governorships
* a majority in the US House of Representatives
* a majority in the US Senate
* a razor's edge plurality in the US Supreme Court

Meanwhile we have many here on DU infighting over who is going to win a presidential election 14 months from now and not one fucking word about any of these down ballot positions. As if the last eight years of stonewalling of President Obama never happened.

We are being played like a violin, and even many old time DUers don't see it.

You want a progressive nation? You have to start at the bottom. Meanwhile, we all have to vote in every election for every Democrat on the ballot, no matter what their position on issue X is. Meanwhile, become a precinct delegate and convince other progressives to do the same -- nationwide. That is how you change the party's direction. (Certainly not by only electing a progressive President who is against an entire political structure stacked up against him or her.)

We have a lot of hard work to do, little of which is accomplished by wringing our hands solely about who occupies the White House. If that's all we do, we lose. Pure and simple.

[LongTomH]

2. +1000

My hope for the Bernie Sanders campaign is, that Bernie will bring people, especially disillusioned young people, back into the system. People who come out to vote for Bernie are not likely to vote for Repukes down-ballot.

[Dont call me Shirley]

3. And dump DWS!

[longship]

6. I would be for that. nt

[TrollBuster9090]

4. Interestingly, their main weapons seem to be gerrymandering and voter suppression.

And have been since the 2000 election when Jeb Bush did a pre-emptive purging of the Florida voter rolls. Aside from the low turnout 2014 mid-term election, more votes are cast for Democrats than Republicans. It just doesn't translate into seats because of gerrymandering.

The Bernie/Hilary issue aside, I think the one thing Democrats have failed to focus on, and SHOULD be focusing on is a constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to vote. That's what they SHOULD be talking about, at least as much as they're talking about income inequality and racism. That would definitely energize the base, and turn them out to vote.

I don't expect that a constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to vote would ever get to the floor, but it would give Democrats a chance to ADVOCATE it, and force Republicans to OPPOSE it. That would be HUGE.

And, obviously, such an amendment wouldn't directly do anything to stop gerrymandering or voter suppression, but it would at least give people who've been hurt and disenfranchised by gerrymandering and voter caging to take their governments to court, make a fuss over it, and bring these issues into the spotlight.

[longship]

5. I agree, but how are we going to accomplish that?

First, Dems have to start voting in off year elections.

Second, if one wants a progressive, liberal Democratic Party one has to start at the bottom, at the precinct level.

Third, to do anything whatsoever in these regards we have to be organized.

Without that we may (note: MAY!) retain the White House, but most likely little else. Under current conditions if we lose the White House, we may all be screwed. All of us.

That is why I advocate local advocacy instead of perpetual presidential campaigns.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

7. So what's Jeb going to do next?

Go to Chinatown and claim he was talking about Arabs having "anchor babies"?