Part of how Democrats managed to win despite being in the minority in both Houses is that they were able to put their differences aside and stay united. There are more than a few Democrats in Congress who have serious reservations about Obama's executive orders, but they clearly realized that stopping the latest Republican lunge into governing by hostage crisis was more important. Allowing such a tactic to work has the same effect as negotiating with terrorists -- it leads to more and more of the same, until restoring normal functioning becomes impossible.
Republicans, by contrast, are hopelessly factionalized, and the divisions get deeper and more acrimonious with each defeat like this -- which is what makes such defeats so delicious. I knew that, in the wake of Boehner's surrender, sites like RedState would be awash in volcanic outpourings of rage, 5% of it directed against Democrats and 95% against establishment Republicans. I wasn't disappointed. A sampling from the comments there:
█ Boehner just destroyed the Republican party virtually forever and what's left of America along with it ! Enjoy what's left of America, it will soon be gone along with our language, culture and American way of life.
█ And to think everyone denied denied denied Pelosi's assertion that Boehner promised they would be voting on a clean funding bill this week. Every word Boehner says is a lie--including "the" and "and."
█ Boehner is a Vichy Republican - a collaborator with the Obama regime.
█ Yes, we all know what Boehner did was outrageous. Now, what are we going to DO about it? P.S. McConnell must be destroyed.
█ I would argue that Obama Republicans are worse than Democrats, in the way that a wolf in sheepskin is worse than a plain old wolf.
█ What this pair of fools and / or traitors are doing is equivalent of George Washington surrendering at Yorktown to Cornwallis. The GOP brand will be destroyed if McConnell and Boehner are not removed from their positions.
█ What we need to do is name names and kick ass. Any Republican who votes to fund the Obama amnesty power grab in the House or Senate should be primaried and defeated. If we don't get them in the primary, lets get them in the general.
█ How the Hell do we get rid of this worthless crybaby?
█ I am glad we all are starting to talk sensibly. [!!! -- Infidel]
█ In the next election the conservative turnout will vanish. There is a breaking point at supporting Quislings.
█ I fully endorse defeating GOP leadership in either the primary, or the general. It's better they lose and let a Democrat take their place than continue to let them lead this party to ruin. Quislings, one and all.
More of this, please. Oh, no, it's not that I think we can keep the right-wingers spitting and clawing at each other like this all the way to November 2016. But the Congressional Republicans, and the demolition derby for the Republican Presidential nomination -- they might very well be able to do it.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to find more teabagger sites to gloat over.
Those are some fun links! The big question, as you mentioned, was if the party will continue to unravel until November of 2016. It would be fun to watch.
ReplyDeleteDamn, and to think this was once the party of Abraham Lincoln!
ReplyDeleteJono: It's hard to imagine them continuing to act like this for 20 months -- but then, looking at the composition of the caucus and the base it panders to, it's hard to imagine them not doing so.
ReplyDeleteZosimus: I wonder what he'd think of all the Confederate flags being displayed by Republicans these days.
The unintended consequence of Newt's so-called Contract With America is this attitude among repubs of every man for himself and consequences be damned. However, as the GOP goes even more radically to the right, and the WH goes to a Democrat again in 2016, its grip on the House will get stronger where all legislation will go to die. Their strategy seems fatally flawed to those of us on the outside, but to those within the fold, it makes perfect sense and no matter how much in-fighting seems to tear apart the Party of Lincoln, don't look for an ideological change anytime soon.
ReplyDeleteThomas: Even their grip on the House isn't unbreakable. In 2012 Democratic House candidates got over a million votes more than Republican ones. They hold control due to gerrymandering -- but that, in turn, depends on control of state legislatures during census years when redistricting is done. Winning back state legislatures by 2020 needs to be a priority.
ReplyDeleteI'm certainly not looking for an ideological change. The prevailing dynamic is the opposite -- as the party becomes more dominated by extremists, moderates abandon it, which leaves the extremists in a relatively stronger position, and so on.
Finally, Democrats are sticking together for the greater good. We'll see how long it lasts!
ReplyDeleteIf the greater good isn't enough of a long-term motive, let's hope that making fools of the Republicans is!
ReplyDelete