The Fall of the Rovian empire!

[cantstandbush]

Fall of the Rovean Empire?
By Sidney Blumenthal
Salon.com

Thursday 06 October 2005

<snip>
"Drunk on power, the Republican oligarchs overreached. Now their entire project could be doomed.

For 30 years, beginning with the Nixon presidency, advanced under
Reagan, stalled with the elder Bush, a new political economy struggled to be born. The idea was pure and simple: centralization of power in the hands of the Republican Party would ensure that it never lost it again. Under George W. Bush, this new system reached its apotheosis. It is a radically novel social, political and economic formation that deserves study alongside capitalism and socialism. Neither Adam Smith nor Vladimir Lenin captures its essence, though it has far more elements of Leninist democratic-centralism than Smithian free markets. Some have referred to this model as crony capitalism; others compare the waste, extravagance and greed to the Gilded Age. Call it 21st century Republicanism.

At its heart the system is plagued by corruption, an often
unpleasant peripheral expense that greases its wheels. But now multiple scandals engulfing Republicans - from suspended House Majority Leader Tom DeLay to super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff to White House political overlord Karl Rove - threaten to upend the system. Because it is organized by politics it can be undone by politics. Politics has been the greatest strength of Republicanism, but it has become its greatest vulnerability.

The party runs the state. Politics drives economics. Important party
officials are also economic operators. They thrive off their connections and rise in the party apparatus as a result of their self-enrichment.

<snip>
An oligarchy atop the party allocates favors. Behind the ideological
slogans about the "free market" and "liberty," the oligarchy creates
oligopolies. Businesses must pay to play. They must kick back
contributions to the party, hire its key people and support its program. Only if they give do they receive tax breaks, loosening of regulations and helpful treatment from government professionals.

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

[Taxloss]

1. It's a very good piece, that.

I read it yesterday. Cracking stuff.

The ad I had to watch before reading it was for "A History Of Violence". I thought this was rather apt ...

[proud patriot]

2. cantstandbush please read

In the future please limit your snips of articles to
4 paragraphs as per the Democratic Underground
copyright rules .

proud patriot
DU Moderator

[cantstandbush]

3. Sorry. I won't do it again. There was just so much good stuff,

I didn't know where to stop. But i hear ya!

Thanks.