Is Trump Destroying The Republican Party?
Rational Nation USA
Purveyor of Truth
Could Trump be the destruction of the GOP? One RNC committeeman apparently thinks it is a possibility'
A viable and principled opposition party to the democratic party is certainly necessary. However, given the GOP's right flank increasing efforts to control (and corrupt) the party to move it ever more rightward (reactionary) maybe it is a good thing if the party is destroyed from with in. A new party would certainly rise in opposition to the democratic party, and, if we're lucky, it might offer the citizens of the nation a rational, reasonable, and effective agenda to move the country forward. Something the GOP has failed to do of late.
Read more BELOW THE FOLD.
Via: Memeorandum
Purveyor of Truth
Could Trump be the destruction of the GOP? One RNC committeeman apparently thinks it is a possibility'
CHARLESTON, S.C.—A Republican National committeeman delivered a call-to-arms against Donald Trump during a closed-door GOP meeting on Thursday, urging his colleagues to take a forceful stand against those who he said are destroying the party’s brand.
At a breakfast at the RNC winter meeting, Holland Redfield, an RNC committeeman who represents the minority-rich Virgin Islands, rose to address party Chairman Reince Priebus. In the five-minute impromptu speech, a video recording of which Redfield provided to POLITICO, Redfield did not explicitly mention Trump’s name. But he made clear that angry voices in the party pose a grave threat to the GOP’s future, and expressed alarm at what he described as crushing pressure to play nice.
“You can argue with me, but we’re almost terrorized as members of our party. ‘Shut up. Toe the line, embrace each other, and let’s go forward.’ I understand that. But there is a limit to loyalty. I am loyal to this party by speaking out on these very issues,” he said at the private breakfast meeting.
At one point, Redfield essentially argued that those in the room have been held hostage by Trump’s threat to run as a third-party candidate if the party hierarchy treats him unfairly.
“As a party, we owe it to ourselves to speak up, and not let the tail wag the dog, and not let someone say, all of a sudden, ‘If you don’t play my game, then I’m running as an independent.”
A viable and principled opposition party to the democratic party is certainly necessary. However, given the GOP's right flank increasing efforts to control (and corrupt) the party to move it ever more rightward (reactionary) maybe it is a good thing if the party is destroyed from with in. A new party would certainly rise in opposition to the democratic party, and, if we're lucky, it might offer the citizens of the nation a rational, reasonable, and effective agenda to move the country forward. Something the GOP has failed to do of late.
Read more BELOW THE FOLD.
Via: Memeorandum
66"l% of Trump's supporters believe that Obama is a Muslim to just 12% that grant he's a Christian. 61% think Obama was not born in the United States to only 21% who accept that he was."
ReplyDeleteSuch ignorance cannot benefit the GOP.
There was a time when children were taught to say “please” and “thank you” because, generations ago, we believed in the virtues of a polite and civil society. Today, arrogant shock-jocks disparage these virtues and mischaracterize polite and civil conduct as too PC. The result: “Rude” and “crude” now dominate our public life. If shock-jock politics has changed the face of public discourse, it has also changed our culture — and not for the better.
ReplyDeleteYou are correct (O)CT(O)PUS, and it is a sad and unfortunate trend. However, there are still many, even in the younger generation(s), that understand the purpose for, and value of, civility and politeness. I see it everyday and think, gee, maybe when the "silent majority" has finally had enough.
ReplyDeleteThere are hopeful signs. My seven year old grandson gives me hope every time we're together. I know there are other parents just like my son and daughter-in-law who are raising their kids to be polite and civil just like my seven year old grandson.
We shall see. If we live long enough.
In addition to the above, there are other aspects of our political culture that have been compromised along the way:
Delete1. How opposition candidates want us to think;
2. How the political process compromises thought … and ultimately us.
As George Orwell taught us, the language of politics is a two-sided coin. Language informs politics; but politics also informs thought.
In an election year, the goal is NOT merely to present a choice but to denigrate, demonize, and defame an opponent. This win-at-all cost attitude results in all-or-nothing thinking as adversaries characterize each other in stark black-and-white terms. Rarely in real life are candidates either ALL GOOD or ALL BAD as campaign rhetoric would have us believe. On grey scales of virtue, there are honorable conservatives and honorable liberals … but never, never, never during an election cycle.
When a political process forces extremes of thought, we loose complexity, nuance, and honesty when subtle shades of grey are no longer possible. It also leads to extreme polarization.
Once again you make valid observations, and, everyone with a reasonably thoughtful mind knows it.
DeleteAs Shaw often points out even our early founders had their rhetorical flair and times of nastiness and denigrating of their opponents. Perhaps the only real difference between the times was they were smarter (politically) back then and truly had the nations best interests in mind; rather than their own or that of some special interest group.
Here's to hoping the pendulum swings in the direction of common sense and reason.
You might be right Jerry. But Trumpf's popularity continues to grow and there are signs that the GOP will eventually fall in line and support him should he do well in the early primaries and caucuses.
ReplyDeleteLong term I am hoping Trumpf and the tea party either results in the GOP reforming or self destructing. Either would be preferable to the current state of the GOP.
I'm pulling for self destruction.
Delete