In this article we see not only a reflective tone, but a word of warning of the dangers of extremism. If both parties are threatened by the Tea Party's media and financial savvy it is the GOP who stands to lose more from it. As this lunatic fringe dominates the Republican Party's ideological agenda moderates and centrists within it are either moving out of the party or increasingly afraid to raise their voices to speak out against the polarizing forces that will put this republic on shaky ground politically and socially speaking.
Politics not only deals with the exercise of power through decision-making and the formulation of policy. It also deals with how we live with one another (cohabitation or in Spanish convivencia) after the taking of those decisions and interacting socially with civility. The Tea "Party" does not stand for that. It does stand for the continuing atomization of American society. It displays a pathological hatred of government and the state. And, most disturbingly, would tear down a seminal piece of social justice legislation, Health-Care Reform without a second regard for the consequences, simply to see their obsessive goal of small (and ineffective) government through.
Check out the column,
E.J. Dionne Jr. - Mike Castle's defeat -- and the end of moderate Republicanism
Now, see of you agree with this analysis...
1. Democrats certainly have a share of responsibility for the "Tea Party's" prominence. Never have I seen such a sorry bunch of poor communicators and debaters. Not only that, and correct me if I'm mistaken, democrats allowed this lunatic fringe (and Fox News, is there really a difference?) to dictate the terms of the debate. I have not observed democrats or progressives in any position but the defensive. If they lose the majority in the House of Representatives it'll be mostly a self-inflicted wound. Shame on them and on their lack of leadership.
2. With regards to "republicans", I agree with E.J. Dionne (read the column) that moderate, centrist republicanism is at an end, if it has not ceased already. It isn't only that right-wing conservatives dominate the ideological agenda of the GOP, they have been allowed to do it. The populist rhetoric and discourse of conservatives is highly seductive. Its pull draws mostly from highly emotional discourse based on a "past collective happiness" that reeks of 1950s, and a appropriation of national symbols and memories of glorious deeds in history. This of course adorned with half-truths and fact-free arguments that are highly receptive with a frustrated public (now, what does that say about the voters?). And, with barely an alternative explanation from the opposite side of the political realm these less-than-truthful arguments take root.
I'd be remiss if I said that moderate and centrist republicans are not to blame. After all, they allowed the ideological and religious right-wing to take over the party. In unleashing this monster towards the end of the 1960s they cared less about ideological integrity than with winning for the sake of power. They've won alright, in fact they've been dominant in the past half-century of American politics, gradually destroying the liberal paradigm that (not always effectively) the United States projected. In my view, there's very little they can do to place this political organization back to the center, short of involving themselves in bloody infighting, which, with the very little influence they have, they might as well lose.
We'll see. In the meanwhile, tell me what you think...
Politics not only deals with the exercise of power through decision-making and the formulation of policy. It also deals with how we live with one another (cohabitation or in Spanish convivencia) after the taking of those decisions and interacting socially with civility. The Tea "Party" does not stand for that. It does stand for the continuing atomization of American society. It displays a pathological hatred of government and the state. And, most disturbingly, would tear down a seminal piece of social justice legislation, Health-Care Reform without a second regard for the consequences, simply to see their obsessive goal of small (and ineffective) government through.
Check out the column,
E.J. Dionne Jr. - Mike Castle's defeat -- and the end of moderate Republicanism
Now, see of you agree with this analysis...
1. Democrats certainly have a share of responsibility for the "Tea Party's" prominence. Never have I seen such a sorry bunch of poor communicators and debaters. Not only that, and correct me if I'm mistaken, democrats allowed this lunatic fringe (and Fox News, is there really a difference?) to dictate the terms of the debate. I have not observed democrats or progressives in any position but the defensive. If they lose the majority in the House of Representatives it'll be mostly a self-inflicted wound. Shame on them and on their lack of leadership.
2. With regards to "republicans", I agree with E.J. Dionne (read the column) that moderate, centrist republicanism is at an end, if it has not ceased already. It isn't only that right-wing conservatives dominate the ideological agenda of the GOP, they have been allowed to do it. The populist rhetoric and discourse of conservatives is highly seductive. Its pull draws mostly from highly emotional discourse based on a "past collective happiness" that reeks of 1950s, and a appropriation of national symbols and memories of glorious deeds in history. This of course adorned with half-truths and fact-free arguments that are highly receptive with a frustrated public (now, what does that say about the voters?). And, with barely an alternative explanation from the opposite side of the political realm these less-than-truthful arguments take root.
I'd be remiss if I said that moderate and centrist republicans are not to blame. After all, they allowed the ideological and religious right-wing to take over the party. In unleashing this monster towards the end of the 1960s they cared less about ideological integrity than with winning for the sake of power. They've won alright, in fact they've been dominant in the past half-century of American politics, gradually destroying the liberal paradigm that (not always effectively) the United States projected. In my view, there's very little they can do to place this political organization back to the center, short of involving themselves in bloody infighting, which, with the very little influence they have, they might as well lose.
We'll see. In the meanwhile, tell me what you think...
Comments
Great job with this :)!!