In recent years the Republican Party has never been a monolithic unit, and on several occasions, I have pointed out that the different wings are Neocon (war mongers), Theocon (pseudo-Christians), Corporacon (corporate criminals), Plutocon (the 0.1%), and InsaniTEA (hate mongers). In the past, they have seemed monolithic, because they have goose-stepped to each others’ betrayals of America. No more.
As most are now aware, the Republican Party is taking a beating at the polls. GOP favorability is now at historic lows and they are taking the brunt of the blame for the government shutdown.
These numbers are bad enough for Republicans. But the situation may be far worse. The GOP is not only being defeated, but it is in some serious danger of falling apart. Republican infighting could cost Republicans enough votes among its white base to take out of serious competition in national politics.
The contours of the coming GOP crackup were ably identified [Goose-steppers delinked] by John Judis in a recent New Republic article. Judis sees a the beginning of an insurrection by a newly empowered base against the traditional GOP power structure:
The battle over the shutdown has highlighted the cracks and fissures within the party. The party’s leadership has begun to lose control of its members in Congress. The party’s base has become increasingly shrill and is almost as dissatisfied with the Republican leadership in Washington as it is with President Obama. New conservative groups have echoed, and taken advantage of, this sentiment by targeting Republicans identified with the leadership for defeat. And a growing group of Republican politicians, who owe their election to these groups, has carried the battle into the halls of Congress. That is spelling doom for the Republican coalition that has kept the party afloat for the last two decades.
All parties of course are coalitions of interest groups, factions and more. It is when the differences between these groups become irreconcilable that serious trouble arises. We may be at that point right now…
Inserted from <Think Progress>
At the moment the InsaniTEA and Theocon wings are refusing to goose-step with the Corporacon and Neocon wings. The Plutocon wing is split between the two opposing groups. If things keep up at this rate we may have a three way race in 2016, which could be the welcome last Republican gasp.
20 Responses to “Will the GOP Become a Fossil?”
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I hope you're right, and it looks like it may finally be happening. The level of hatred being vented in comment threads at places like RedState and Hot Air is absolutely poisonous and frightening, and most of it is aimed at the Republican establishment, not at Democrats. Now that the Republicans in Congress are finally caving on the debt ceiling, the factions look ready to start destroying each other.
Thanks Infidel. I hope I'm right too.
There is nothing better than watching the mini car come out on the stage for the Republican Presidential debates before the primary and seeing a dozen or more clowns emerge.
I'm sad to announce that furious real clowns are noe chasing Patty Monster. 😉
Oh how I hope you are right TC – and that moderate voices prevail. It is all too easy at the moment in world politics for the Right Wingers (or should that be Reich Wingers) to scream and shout and lie their way to the top – forming new parties if necessary – like UKIP over here…
New Parties here is iffy, Pat. Your Parliamentary government supports multiple partiers well. Our pleuralioty rules system does not.
15 Reasons Why American Politics Has Become An Apocalyptic Mess
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/16/us-budget-crisis_n_4101602.html
Thanks mamabear.
Good article. I love that the Teabaggers are mentioned as reason #1. But I also love #6 which in part says
Intereseting, Mama. I agreee in part, but he shifts too much of the blame to the left, When it comnes to fault for trhis mess, we are the 1%.
Hopefully, it would be good for America…
Amen Richard!
I really hope you are right. The vote is in by this time tonight, so a catastrophe has been temporarily avoided. I am sure we will face the same battles in January.
Republicans damaged themselves sso badly this time around, that jusrt maybe the leadership will not be so willing to bend over and be TEAbuggered.
During the last election cycle, there were many people talking about their disenchantment with both parties, Republicanus/Teabaggers and Democrats, and how a third choice is needed. A few weeks ago, I made mention of growing a third option, but now with the fractiousness of the Republicanus/Teabaggers, I think the third option I was talking about, the Justice Party or the Green Party, is unwise at this time. The apparent schism in the Republicanus/Teabagger party may just be enough to take both out of contention for control of the Congress or the White House.
Hopefully, the Republicanus/Teabagger party will implode, burying themselves in their own filth, never to be heard from again as a viable party. I can hope can't I?
One thing does concern me though. How long will it take for the monied interests to re-form a conservative agenda and infrastructure?
…conservative agenda and infrastructure, because conservatism will always be around in some form?
I said I thought it unwise at that timer. After the Reoublican Party is completely defunct is the time for other parties to contend to replace it.
The Repulican Party is so out of touch with the 99% or regular Joe or Jane they have just clawed at one another trying to get off a sinking ship only to drown in the ocean. The mindset of the Republicans is 19th Century not the 21st C. They have the same objectives as other neo-con groups in foreign countries with respsect to the radical and religious infusion of hatred into society's mentality which creates a very myopic view by the vast majority of the followers of these out of touch political policies and beliefs. Can anyone say Taliban?
When you have uneducated and illiterate people you then have people to brainwash the sick and hatefilled ideals into these shallow minds. This is then true of the aforementioned minds in the USA. The fractured groups then out-radicalize one another to the point of still somhow winning seats in the governing side of "the House".
Frightened? You should be. This is what happened to Germany after WW1 when unemployment was high, the dollar low (comparitively speaking).and people blaming immigrants, minorities, everyone but themselves for the ills of the country.The antics of the GOP have affected the lives of those whom should not be touched and yet the neo-cons in the USA and Canada were saying how much money they were saving with the shutdown. "We should make this a practice to keep the cost of government down." This whole farce was to bring Obamacare to its knees but more importantly, prove Obama was a failure as President. The Republicans stated when Obama was first elected as Presidant they were going to do everything in their powers to bring down Obama and the government. They would then run into the House to appear as the saviours of the government. Well people, the plan backfired and especially those directly affected and living below the poverty line will remember that the Republicans were responsible for their pain. This fiasco is all because of Obama's geneology, a white mother and a Black father from Kenya hence a bi-racial President. this was inthinkable by the old white stodgy narrow minded old farts! The neo-cons have shot themselves in the collective foot causing pain to millions of americans and throwing the world's global market into a tailspin all for their bigotry against black Americans!
The true saviours of the day were the Democrats, the groundswell of grassroot organization, information, petitions and on line coverage of the government's ability to negotiate a deal to satisfy all Americans. Every dollar raised not only by Americans for the national mess but also foreign contributors like me to aviod the domino effect internationally! Yes, Canadian dollars were also sent to support the fight against the GOP's mismanagement and treasonous actions against the USA. Rock on Democrats for cornering the Republicans for the good of not only the USA but off-shore interests. Rock on Democrats and like minded non-Americans!
Nancy, I agreee. We can thank Republicans for burning $25 billion form our economy for nothing. That's ALL!
Well said, Nancy, you are so right!