In regard to irrational and obsessive
fear let me toss out a few names: Joseph McCarthy, The John Birch
Society, The Tea Party, Cliven Bundy, and Governor Gregg Abbott of
Texas. Why Gregg Abbott? Because Abbott did something no rational
governor would do; he ordered the Texas National Guard to keep an eye
on federal troops because he was afraid the federal government was
going to take over Texas by declaring martial law! See my posts:
“Paranoid Style of American Politics” and “Paranoia Texas
Style.”
In regard to the inability to accept
reality and doing the same things over and over while expecting
different results the evidence is overwhelming. The latest example
of the inability of the lunatic right wing of the Republican Party to
accept reality can be seen in the forced resignation of John Boehner
as Speaker of the House.
DailyKos' in an article entitled “The
Dark Truth Of John Boehner's Resignation,” discussed the
contempt the right wing has for John Boehner because of his inability
to do the impossible.
DailyKos
said that: “when forced to explain this supposed 'contempt' [for
Speaker Boener], numerous Republicans (even presidential candidates)
list not only Boehner's (non-existent) failure to stop Obamacare, but
also his supposed enabling of
Obamacare. As
Mike Huckabee explained, 'When
people sent [Republicans] here, they didn't send them to give the
president more power on Obamacare[.]' Think about that: after total
legislative obstruction, a government shut-down, more than 50 votes
to repeal Obamacare, an ensuing presidential election, two Supreme
Court lawsuits, and other pending litigation - - Republicans are
livid with the belief that John Boehner has worked with the
President to
strengthen Obamacare.
No
sane political observer could think that. So, what gives? As
Jonathan Chait explains, we
are witnessing a sort of collective Republican denial where they
cannot accept that they are not the ruling party, not the 'deciders'
(to use a former president's phrase)[.]”
The inability of the extreme right wing to accept
reality, its inability to work within the limitations of its political power, and its inability and/or unwillingness to recognize the best interests of this
country and to put those interests ahead of its own interests are causing the Republican Party to repeatedly commit acts that are actually
harmful not just to our present government but to the very form of
our government. Our democracy, like every other democracy, depends on
a balance achieved through compromise.
DailyKos demonstrated how
unyielding and harmful the Republican Party has become by presenting
Steve Benen's “useful summary of the growing history of the Republican's hostage governing:"
"* April 2011: House Republicans threaten a government shutdown unless Democrats accept GOP demands on spending cuts.
* July 2011: Republicans create the first-ever debt-ceiling crisis, threatening to default on the nation’s debts unless Democrats accept GOP demands on spending cuts.
* September 2011: Republicans threaten another shutdown.
* April 2012: Republicans threaten another shutdown.
* December 2012: Republicans spend months refusing to negotiate in the lead up to the so-called “fiscal cliff.”
* January 2013: Republicans raise the specter of another debt-ceiling crisis.
* September 2013: Republicans threaten another shutdown.
* October 2013: Republicans actually shut down the government.
* February 2014: Republicans raise the specter of another debt-ceiling crisis.
* December 2014: Republicans threaten another shutdown.
* February 2015: Republicans threaten a Department of Homeland Security shutdown.
* September 2015: Republicans threaten another shutdown [over Planned Parenthood]."Talk about doing the same things over and over and expecting different results. My only argument with DailyKos is that I would not describe these demented acts as “hostage governing.” Instead I would characterize them as shameful acts of extortionist politics. As I have said in other posts, the Republicans seem to think their actions will not set dangerous precedents that can come back to bite them! I guess they believe Armageddon is just around the corner and there will be no tomorrow. That kind of thinking also seems like insanity to me.
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