With the Cheney emergence as the main supporter of torture for detainees it is no wonder that Obama has been enthusiastically embraced by the military. It turns out that our young Democrat President "gets" the military better than the previous Republican administration.
If you fail to hold a high bar on torture then there is absolutely no reason for others to do the same. Further, you have no moral ground to stand on when others do torture your soldiers. Perhaps if Cheney fought in the military instead of receiving deferments he would have a better appreciation for this.
It is pretty simple. People who fight in the military are patriotic by definition. They know that torture is not patriotic.
If the GOP, with Cheney as their new leader, wants to be the Torture Party then so be it. It is a marginal position and mirrors what is happening to Republican Party. The country seems to be moving in one direction while the GOP is re-trenching in old positions that losses them elections.
Funny thing is, they can't seem to help themselves. It is like their fist is repeatedly punching them in their own face and they can't seem to stop it.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
Death of the GOP
Well... not yet... but it is very very ill.
The one misconception I keep reading about is that the current state of the GOP is much like the weakness of the Democrats a few years ago.
There is a huge difference though. The GOP has always been characterized by a unified single message and voting pattern. Usually nearly unanimously. The Dems on the other hand, have never been seen this way. The entire political spectrum has been represented within the Democratic Party and we rarely agree on anything, but (and this is key)... we can compromise. The is making it clear that it can't.
The GOP has cancer, it is eating itself from the inside out. This is a gross thing to watch so certainly it is not attracting new converts. As the GOP platforms continues to narrow it is squeezing out its moderate members who are becoming independents and Democrats.
Plus, the demographics of the country are dramatically changing and the GOP has ZERO ideas to capture those votes. Immigration policy drives away new voters and judging from the homogeneous whiteness of GOP audiences it is pretty obvious that the party is shrinking with no sign of a turn around.
Waiting for the Dems to screw up will not work if a better party is there waiting for Dem deserters. I am positive that the Dems will screw up at some point, I am a Dem, trust me on this.
The next wave of "Regan-Democrats" be end up voting Libertarian. I predict a semi-viable Libertarian Party will be seen coming to life over the next few years. If the GOP does not find itself a popular actor to coalesce around, it will wither on the vine.
Remember the Whigs? 4 presidents but it was all over in 24 years... All I can say is American politics is going to be interesting to watch for the next 2 decades.
The one misconception I keep reading about is that the current state of the GOP is much like the weakness of the Democrats a few years ago.
There is a huge difference though. The GOP has always been characterized by a unified single message and voting pattern. Usually nearly unanimously. The Dems on the other hand, have never been seen this way. The entire political spectrum has been represented within the Democratic Party and we rarely agree on anything, but (and this is key)... we can compromise. The is making it clear that it can't.
The GOP has cancer, it is eating itself from the inside out. This is a gross thing to watch so certainly it is not attracting new converts. As the GOP platforms continues to narrow it is squeezing out its moderate members who are becoming independents and Democrats.
Plus, the demographics of the country are dramatically changing and the GOP has ZERO ideas to capture those votes. Immigration policy drives away new voters and judging from the homogeneous whiteness of GOP audiences it is pretty obvious that the party is shrinking with no sign of a turn around.
Waiting for the Dems to screw up will not work if a better party is there waiting for Dem deserters. I am positive that the Dems will screw up at some point, I am a Dem, trust me on this.
The next wave of "Regan-Democrats" be end up voting Libertarian. I predict a semi-viable Libertarian Party will be seen coming to life over the next few years. If the GOP does not find itself a popular actor to coalesce around, it will wither on the vine.
Remember the Whigs? 4 presidents but it was all over in 24 years... All I can say is American politics is going to be interesting to watch for the next 2 decades.
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