Could "Birthers" Destory the GOP?

[Araxen]

Good article here....

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2009_07/019176.php

and I believe they will further destroy the party and it will literally split the party in two parties.

[lefthandedlefty]

1. That would be a good birthday present for me

[peace frog]

2. While it would be a lovely bonus

birthers won't bring down the GOP because it is already a party of far right wing zealots anyway. They fit right in with the rest of the wingnuts.

[SoCalDem]

3. Yep, they've pretty much boiled themselves down to a briny broth now.

30-35% still cling to that "R", but within that percentage, there's a hardcore 15-20% that are just plain NUTS!

[Warpy]

4. Every batch of loonies cause more people to desert the GOP

and the silly birthers are no different. Sensible people who loved tax cuts enough to tolerate the religious nuts and bigots will be alarmed by the conspiracy wackos and begin to desert. There will likely be other, equally wacky groups after the birthers fade away.

The GOP is desperately searching for the one movement that will unite the party again and return them to the glory days of the 1980s, but the party has always relied on star power more than the soundness of its message and no new stars are appearing in the firmament.

The problem is that it's a Hamiltonian party and our Hamiltonian parties have always been unstable unless they've remained small. Once they start making deals with the devil to gain power, they're lost as the devils realize their numbers and try to take control of the parties. The Federalists and Whigs found that out to their dismay and now the GOP is finding it out.

I actually miss the pre Reagan GOP, small and decent, if wrongheaded. We're about to live in interesting times as far as political parties go and it will be fascinating to see what arises from the ashes.

You didn't actually expect them to go away, did you?

[mwb970]

7. I think it's great that the Birthers have hit the MSM.

For every person attracted to the cause by the publicity there will be a thousand for whom this is the final straw.

I agree that the republicans seemed normal, if wrong, before Reagan. But beginning with him, they went in the batshit direction and look what they are now! A dwindling collection of deluded wackos. What a letdown for real conservatives, who now have no political party to represent them.

[Demeter]

27. Actually, I Do Expect Them to "Go Away"

I expect them to dissolve into well-earned obscurity. People will say: "I didn't even know there was any GOP left!" The GOP won't be able to run a slate any more, just an occasional right-field candidate who hasn't a snowball's chance.

What will take their place? Another "star" will collect a following, and the hysterically blind will flock to the charisma and energy generated by beaucoup bucks pumped in from underground and massive lies lobbed overhead. A crisis will precipitate it. And if the Democrats have been goofing off, they will lose, again.

The real question is where is the opposition party to keep the Democrats on task and honest? I'm afraid we the Progressives Within are it. Until we are strong enough to take over from the corporatists, we will have to be the gadflies. It is a thankless task, although one may vent a lot.

[AspenRose]

5. I sure hope so!!!!

:bounce:

"Michael Medved, a leading far-right voice, recently referred to the Birthers as "the worst enemy of the conservative movement." He added, "It makes us look weird. It makes us look crazy. It makes us look demented. It makes us look sick, troubled, and not suitable for civilized company."

Well, DUH! If it walks like a duck.... :dunce:

[Carl Skan]

6. Sounds just like Rush

predicting the doom of the Democrats ten years ago.

The lack of historical perspective and belief that either party can be destroyed by those who cannot overcome their own myopia is always interesting to watch.

[Vickers]

29. Agreed.

Although I do admire the optimism.

:P

[NeedleCast]

8. Its not going to split

This sort of thing comes up every time a party falls out of power. "They" were saying the same thing about the Democratic party in 2000.

It is nice to watch the GOP eat it's own for awhile.

[Araxen]

9. This is a different kind of fallout

We've never seen the kooks of a party become the leaders of the party. Even when the Dems were down and out the kooks never took over the Asylum in such force as it has in the Republican party.

[Carl Skan]

10. Do you not get out much?

Go read other forums, listen to talk radio, talk to actual conservatives. You really do sound just like they did ten years ago right down the use of the word "kook".

[Araxen]

11. I see your allegiance now

You do know this is a board for Democrats not Republicans.

[Carl Skan]

13. WTF?

My allegiance? What exactly about my reply indicates I'm a Republican? Somebody that doesn't thrive on debating ideas with those that don't agree with them has no place in politics at all. The last time I heard the whole "is this the end of so-and-so party" was in 2000 when the Republicans thought the "liberal kooks" were going to overrun the party.

Seriously, do you not have any ability at all to apply history to current situations and see how it's repeating itself again?

[anigbrowl]

20. That's how fringey people are

every political party has some fanatic and unhinged devotees, but acknowledging this out loud is anathema and will lead to accusations of being a plant or worse. I wouldn't worry about it.

I don't really think the Birthers are going to split the GOP. They're loud and entertaining but they probably make up no more than 5% of the base. On the other hand, I'd love to be wrong!

[Carl Skan]

21. Agreed.

It's just funny to see it repeating itself. People are so blinded that they don't think they have anything in common with others.

[WeDidIt]

26. One name

Sarah Palin.

If she becomes a Birfer, the GOP splits. IT is guaranteed.

If she demontrates sanity, then no, it won't split, it'll just become less relevent and could still possibly die, much like how the Federalists died out.

[BolivarianHero]

12. It could happen,...

People like Palin and Limbaugh will lead the fundamentalist pseudo-populist mouthbreathers while the more secular, elitist, and socially moderate country club conservatives will lead the remaining GOPeons.

[ThoughtCriminal]

14. The KKK was a fringe nut group, but in many states

their agenda called the shots for many years. Most of the politicians that pandered to them cloaked their own rhetoric (States Rights, anti-communism, etc.)

And then when the Dixiecrats were starting to fade away it was all packaged neatly in the GOP's "Southern Strategy".

[Hepburn]

15. We can only hope. eom

[Naturyl]

16. They are definitely further trashing its image.

"Never interrupt your enemies while they are making a mistake."

I hope this "birther" business goes on endlessly. And I hope they run Palin in 2012.

[discocrisco01]

17. GOP Needs Mental Health

It looks like the entire party needs a mental health exam.

[krabigirl]

18. I think they are destroying the brand, no much matter how the MSM tries to stop it.

[BlueIdaho]

19. Nope

a vote is a vote is a vote.

[Orsino]

22. ...and the birthers will get airtime...

...for exactly as long as they are helpful to corporate interests. They won't be allowed to destroy the GOP.

[Tristesse]

23. Could "Birthers" Destroy the GOP?

One can always remain cautiously optimistic! B-)

At the very least, the GOP is providing us with some mighty fine comedy. All this laughing is doing me a world of good! :spray:

[WeDidIt]

24. My most fervent hope is that after tomorrow, Sarah Palin starts pushing Birfer nonsense.

That would GURANTEE a split in the GOP.

[KharmaTrain]

25. Destroy No...Make More Irrelevant Yes...

I'm finding it interesting that we're seeing many of the "usual suspect" in the barfer noise that we saw in the 90's with the Arkansas project. The difference was then the rushpublicans could shout their bile and get the "benefit of the doubt" as they weren't in power. Today, after 8 disastrous years of the booosh regime and 12 years of DeLay's plunder of the legislative, a majority not only are aware of the GOOP's games and racism, they've fully rejected it.

But this isn't about us or anyone with a toe-hold in reality. It's all about them...this gives them cover to be racists and obstructionists without calling themselves as such. It's also about the politicians and other special interests who are making money fueling all this hatred.

The rushpublicans continue to fall further off the political abyss but they have plenty of people willing to jump with them. Lemmings should take notes.

[Catshrink]

28. Are those leaving the Republican Party becoming Dems?

I think it's more likely people are registering as Independents. It is from these Independents that a 3rd party will arise. Palin and her ilk may well go on to lead the remnants of the Repub party as it is now constituted -- I don't see the "leadership" having the nerve to boot them out, if they even could. But what will the Independents look like? More centrist? And will the Blue Dogs join them?

Or.... Miss Sarah will form her own party of fundie loons and attract the birfers and other racists. Then the Repugs can reform without needing to pander to the loony fringe.

Either way, the Repugs will be weakened but will the Dems be able to take advantage of this?