"Yup: Radicalized GOP is what killed expanded background checks"

[applegrove]

Yup: Radicalized GOP is what killed expanded background checks

Posted by Greg Sargent a the Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/04/23/yup-radicalized-gop-is-what-killed-expanded-background-checks/?hpid=z2

"SNIP..................................


There’s an ongoing reluctance among many to appreciate the scope of Republican radicalization. For many, especially in media, there’s an assumption that there are two major, mainstream political parties — one center-left, the other center-right — and an effective president can govern through competent bipartisan outreach.

Those assumptions are wrong. As we discussed in January, outreach doesn’t work because Republicans have reached an ideological extreme unseen in modern American history. It’s a quantifiable observation, not a subjective one. Even if GOP policymakers were inclined to work with Obama, they realize that they’d be punished soon after by a primary challenge — and they know this to be true because it’s happened more than a few times in recent years (look up names like Crist, Specter, Bennett, Lugar, etc.).

Kevin Drum had similar thoughts the other day that are worth returning to:


Finally, there’s the most obvious change of all: the decision by Republicans to stonewall every single Obama initiative from day one. By now, I assume that even conservative apologists have given up pretending that this isn’t true. The evidence is overwhelming, and it’s applied to practically every single thing Obama has done in the domestic sphere. The only question, ever, is whether Obama will get two or three Republican votes vs. three or four. If the latter, he has a chance to win. But those two or three extra votes don’t depend on leverage. In fact, Obama’s leverage is negative. The last thing any Republican can afford these days is to be viewed as caving in to Obama. That’s a kiss of death with the party’s base.


...............................SNIP"

[gulliver]

1. It's mob tyranny by idiots

The Internet is behind it I think. Because of the Internet, Republican politicians can't get away with doing anything sane or civil. They have a vast, brooding mob of cannibalistic mental pygmies watching their every move on line. Democrats have a major advantage because sensible, evidence-based, empathy-based politics is architecturally sound. Quite the opposite for Republicans.

Republicans have to tap dance around and patch up their "principles" constantly just to keep their contraption from collapsing under its own weight. Time is not on their side. It takes a lot of energy and feeding tubes to keep lies and stupidity alive.

Sucks to be them.

[applegrove]

2. That's so true.

[JHB]

5. It's not (just) the Internet, they started this long ago

This path started in the 70s with direct-mail fundraising, with computer-tailored form letters to push peoples' hot buttons, newsletters, and pre-Rush RW AM talk radio (e.g., Bob Grant, who was NYC-based but at night his show could reach as far as Ohio).

That expanded in the 80s as successes got copycats and more resources, and faxes and dial-in BBSs opened other avenues. Lets also not forget the Religious Right and their radio and cable networks. Finally media consolidation and weaponized vitriol gave us Rush, Newt, and the others who set the Republicans on their current course.

And I'd be remiss in not mentioning the billionaire- and corporate-funded think tanks and spin factories that helped feed all of the above.

This is no flash mob, it took time to dig themselves a hole this deep.

[Mister Ed]

6. Well-said and spot-on! n/t

[spanone]

3. k&r...

[winstars]

4. Joe Scum went on and on this morning blaming the President for not getting the 4 no vote D's..

But the ladykiller forgot to say much of anything about all the 'pugs who voted no.

He was like "if he could have gotten the 4 no votes, Kelly Ayotte would have to vote yes.."

The new Joe Leiberman is gonna vote with the President, I don't think so....