View from Central Europe: Republicans post 2008 = Communists post 1988?

[bos1]

The situation of the Republican Party now can be compared, in some ways, to the Communist Party here in Central Europe where I live. The Communist Party reigned over years of disaster and corruption while insisting it was right, even past the point of self-defeat. Communism was finally overturned, but true believers refused to admit it did anything wrong. Hence in your average contemporary Communist party official or member you find some combination of looniness, corruption, mendacity and gigantic lies.

I see the same attitude and similar rhetoric coming from Limbaugh, Cheney, the usual FOX news agents and the sponsored scores of right wing talk show hosts. To America's credit, currently only something like 22% of the people are now publicly identifying with the Republican Party, just as the majority reject Communism outright in Central Europe. But at the same time this could be leading to a dangerous situation.

I see something alarming going on in the US and it's getting worse. Essentially the right wing forces, because of the repudiation of their message and the rejection of the Republican Party in the last two election cycles, are lashing out like a wounded animal. Also lashing out in desperation, because of the election of an African American president, are racist hate groups as represented by the neo-Nazis and white supremacists at Stormfront. These two are combining in the "tea parties", a series of public protests organized and promoted by FOX News, Christian Right extremists and major PR firms funded by powerful, wealthy conservative interests, which Stormfront groups are using to recruit new members. Moreover, national voices of the right that have in the past been pushed as legitimate but rhetorically belong in the right wing fringe are starting to make racially-slanted statements that should not pass for decent debate in America. Look at what these media voices and politicians such as Rep. Tom Tancredo are saying lately and you would think we live in 1930's, not the 21st century.

The parallels are far from exact, and I would not directly equate anything that has gone on in the USA to the reign of the overt totalitarianism of Communism in this part of the world. But there are similarities between the unyielding, irrational positions and views of the Communists and the current Republican spokespeople. I see a comparable mania that would go down with a sinking ship rather than admit the ship is sinking. With the pressure being constantly applied by such a major figure as former Vice President Cheney, it's a critical time in the US -- just as critical as the post-Communist era here has been.

[nradisic]

1. A breed on its way to extinction...

I was born and partially raised in the former Yugoslavia and I totally agree with your take. The GOP is acting just like the Communists after they were thrown out of power. Republican ideology is a thing of the past. It died in the 20th century, but it is going to take the GOP 40 years of wondering through the desert to figure out what next...Happy trails.

[bos1]

2. wow, affirmation from a native born Warsaw Pacter. thanks. eom