Uro: The line may have been convoluted but it was a genuine reflection of the majority Right debates of the times. As such it reflected the compendium of right-leaning ideas put into political practice. The current GOP is, well, dysfunctional if not fraticidal.

Why is it that the Republican Party is the party of moral hypocrites, racists and corporate thieves? What happened to the party of Abraham Lincoln and Nelson Rockefeller?

In that spirit I am compelled to ask a few questions myself. Why is it that the Republican Party is the party of moral hypocrites, racists and corporate thieves? What happened to the party of Abraham Lincoln and Nelson Rockefeller? Why does it not have any responses or initiatives to counter the Obama administration’s projects on a variety of fronts? Why does it continue to cater to religious extremists, social bigots and media charlatans? Why does it allow Dick Cheney, of all people, to be the defender of the faith? Why is it mired in McCarthyite fear of “socialism” or “communism?” Why does it deny any wrong done by the Bush 43 administration, be it the constitutional subversions of the “war on terror,” the trillion dollar national debt, the national financial melt down or the erosion of US international prestige and power? Why does its de facto leaders openly call for Obama’s downfall, in an abject display of disloyal opposition? Why does it not see the need to undergo serious self-examination and rejuvination along new ideological lines given the abject failures of the Bush 43 administration and the electoral massacre suffered in 2008?

QtR: I agree on that score. The sight of Obama picking a “home” church for his presidency (to say nothing of having joined Jeremiha Wright’s church as a political move in the early stages of his career), or of the Clinton’s bowing in prayer makes me want to gag. At least Vermont Rep. Bernie Sanders (I) is true to his open socialist orientation and admits to being an atheist (he has been re-elected a dozen times). If only were there a few more honest pols like him on the Hill!

I do see the difference, but there is still moral hypocrisy from the Democrats it’s just different from the moral hypocrisy of the Republicans. That’s why I said there’s more to moral hypocrisy than just “morality-preaching, bible-thumping jingoism”
On a related note one of the most disturbing things in american politics is they seemingly can’t get into any prominent position without professions of faith and PR shots of them going to church or an endorsement from a religious leader and such.

QtR: Nothing condescending at all in my reply. I would agree that all (US) politics is ultimately about the art of hypocrisy writ large, but I find it difficult to believe that you would not see the difference between the GOP and the Democrats when it comes to the “do as I say, not as I do” issue.

Pablo – There is more to moral hypocrisy than engaging in “morality-preaching, bible-thumping jingoism” or don’t you get that? Don’t be such a condescending……

Like most places, New Zealand picks up on trends from the United States, and our right wing is no exception. The acolytes of unreason here take their cue from what they see and hear on Fox News, and adopt the same tone and language, albeit hollowed out of any real threat. Some of this permeates through to more “reputable” right wingers here as well. I was listening to Matthew Hooten yesterday, and as I listened to his juvenile gaming of any and every issue I was struck at how ingrained and reflexive this “gaming the issue” response is in the US right and, by extension, those who take their political fashion from that source.

Ian, you’re absolutely right.

I don’t know enough about US politics to comment, but I have noticed an interesting thing watching politics here and in America and the “feedback” effect in both areas amongst partisan supporters.
The republicans seem to have been captured by ever more rabid parts of their wider church as they talk endlessly amongst themselves, endlessly reinforcing their prejudice.
The rise of the internet, blogs etc seems to have sped up and intensified this. A great example is the strong belief amongst rabid republicans that Obama is thick and can’t talk without an autocue.
This is repeated endlessly amongst believers who do truly believe that everyone else is in the dark and will one day wake up and see the truth.
This is despite the fact that anyone who watches the president in an ad lib situation can see he is thoughtful and speaks very well.
Same goes on in NZ
Listen to the “feedback” on the left wing blog sites and John Key is a liar, with a secret agenda and no policy at the same time, who is out to screw NZ.
This is endlessly repeated amongst the believers who reinforce each others belief.
Most even minded people would just say wtf are you talking about.
The same amongst the Nats, the endlessly repeated mantra of corruption, self-interest, cabals etc in the run up to the last election was terrifying to any reasonable person but perfectly plausible to those talking amongst themselves.
The feedback loop amongst true believers on all sides of the spectrum has definitely intensified in recent times, it will be interesting too see how it plays out.

Nicholas:
Tell me something about the GOP that I do not know. Had you paid attention to the next to last paragraph you would have noticed that I have concerns about the Democrats as well. Or is it you who are too blind to see? If you think things are well with the GOP you are seriously deluded–come to think of it, sort of like Palin is.

Nicholas,

In that spirit I am compelled to ask a few questions myself. Why is it that the Republican Party is the party of moral hypocrites, racists and corporate thieves? What happened to the party of Abraham Lincoln and Nelson Rockefeller?  

I would have thought a lot of this apathy came from false expectations of change. I think it can be summed up in another American expression, a portmanteau, Republicrat.

In that spirit I am compelled to ask a few questions myself. Why is it that the Republican Party is the party of moral hypocrites, racists and corporate thieves?

The term to use is “depression”, the economy may not (yet) be in that state but the people are.

Excellent comment TS. I agree that something has to give, and my prediction is a split in the Republican Party, with Palin leading something called the New Independence Party (or some such) as the aggregator of the religious right/racist/bigot/social conservative/isolationist wing, and the GOP with the likes of Mitt Romney and Colin Powell representing the corporate/globalist/national security/moderate wing (such as it is). Either way, they are doomed to fail and could well produce a defeat of far greater magnitude in 2010 and 2012 should they indeed split and fight amongst themselves. Such fraticidal behaviour is already evident in the Cheney/Limbaugh/Coulter rants against people like Powell, and the leaking of unflattering information about Palin by former and current McCain staffers. Yipee!

The sort of resigned fatalism you describe is rampant in New Zealand as well, and I would venture it is general across the Anglosphere just now.