I've always wondered ...

[whosinpower]

What does GOP stand for???? I have heard - greed over principle etc - but seriously - how did the republicans morph into GOP?????

[Lefta Dissenter]

1. Grand Old Party (eom)

:puke:

[jayctravis]

2. GOP

stands for "Grand Old Party"

[whosinpower]

4. THANKS!

I think greed over principle is more apropriate.

[NoNothing]

6. I don't get it

Isn't the Democratic Party older than the Republican Party? Shouldn't we be the GOP?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

7. Name coined after the Civil War

when the Republican Party (founded 1854) patted itself on the back for freeing the slaves and attempting to reinvent Southern society from a less elitist to a more democratic one. You see, back then, the Republicans stood for principles-equality, liberty, and even populism (remember the Homestead Act, the Land Grant Colleges?). It was Republicans who wanted to give the freed slaves 40 acres and a mule. But something happened to the party-namely, money. The rich capitalists took it over, starting with the Grant Administration I think, and changed the populist ideals into exclusive capitalist ones.

That being said, one must also realize that there is one theme that has always been associated with the Republican Party, and that is extremism. The Radical Republicans tried to cram their punishing agenda for the South down the throat of Pres. Andrew Johnson, who kept up the Lincoln policy of moderation. In trying to get their way, the extremists tried to destroy the Constitution via upsetting the balance of power between the legislative and executive branch. Their military occupation of the South resulted in corruption and led, imho, to the rise of the KKK and institutional racism, the antithesis of their ideals. But extremists like hate more than idealism.

We're seeing these same themes of extremism and hate at work in the GOP now.

[tjdee]

3. Grand Old Party

Which is hilarious on a number of levels, as they could have easily taken WASP or SOB.

:)

[whirlygigspin]

5. Group Of Pricks

n/t

[ydya]

8. Gerrymandering Old Perverts. eom.

[ydya]

9. Generators Of Pus. eom.

[linazelle]

10. Gang of Pretenders

They pretend they rule by "moral values." They pretend Bush is president. They pretend they have a mandate. They pretend that the war is going well and we are "winning." They pretend that Bush will unite this country. They pretend that the media is leftist. They pretend that they care about education and the welfare of American citizens. Amazingly, many believe they are sincere.