The only reason Republicans run for political office is to pass tax cuts for the rich.

[coti]

If they can deregulate business, too, that's great. But the reason they want political power is to lower taxes for millionaires.

Once Republicans get their tax cuts, it's screw you to everyone and everything else. They do NOT care about a single thing other than giving less money to the government.

They act as if they have some kind of comprehensive ideological vision and do a lot of storytelling to back it up. But it's really just as simple as maximizing the profitability of exploiting others.

[polichick]

1. Yep, pretty much. I know some extremely wealthy Republicans...

...who have no empathy - in their minds the poor are just lazy blood suckers. It's sickening to be around them, so I avoid it as much as possible.

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. The fact is that tax cuts didn't create any jobs in the past

10 years.

[drmeow]

3. You are giving them

too much credit. The only reason Republicans run for political office is to line their own pockets. Tax cuts for the rich helps do that directly (their own wealth) and indirectly. They don't give a damn about other wealthy people except in so far as they are the "right" people, belong to the same club, and give them campaign donations.

[unblock]

6. exactly, the tax cuts from the rich are a means to an end.

they ingratiate themselves with filthy rich people who are in a position not only to help them politically, but to hire their children, buy their books, and ensure them a cushy retirement of highly compensated private speaking gigs.

but don't call it bribery, it's a political philosophy!

[eleny]

4. The one trick pony that packs a wallop. Or is it "wallet"?

[glitch]

5. That plus their own grift, best recent example Tom DeLay. nt

[Initech]

7. He who dies with the most money... still dies.

[LawnKorn]

9. And when they die, a hefty inheritance tax is needed to level the playing field

The accumulation of money by a few wealthy families is one reason the economy is starving. Government taxation to unlock coffers of the rich and return the money into circulation will do more to stimulate the economy than anything else.

[Shandris]

8. While this may be true of the wealthier Republicans...

...I don't give credence that it is how they all start out.

My uncle ran for office as a Libertarian in a local/state election and was defeated simply by virtue of being a 3rd party (and the marijuana tag that comes with it). He went Republican for the next election and won easily. Now mind you, I've known this man all my life. He had done all manner of good things for me, helped me out in the worst of times, etc.

By the time he was leaving office (he only stayed one term, which he had pledged from the beginning that he would) he had been surrounded by more...national politicians and you could tell. I didn't speak to him again except for a word or two over the next 10 years. He's still a Republican, but he's not a teabagger, or a rightwing nutjob. But during that time he was there, something...HAPPENED. For lack of a better phrase, I suppose.

He wasn't always that way, and he isn't that way now. If we're to know our enemies, we have to be careful about discounting them in such a broadbrush fashion.