Are Republicans a Threat to the Republic?

I think that the Republican party is destroying itself from within. Palin has been an albatross to them and I don't see her going for higher office anytime in my lifetime (other than perhaps a senate seat). She's road kill and starting to smell.

I don't think Sarah Palin was, or is an albatross around the neck of the Republican Party.  Sarah was just being Sarah, and, as a memeber of the Republican Party she was eager to play THEIR game, THEIR way.  She was eager, she was flattered, and willing to take a shot, but it looks like she's learned, like Joe the Plumber did, that she, and he were being used by the Republican higher ups.  I wouldn't be surprised to see that Palin, like Joe the plumber, has joined the Libertarian Party down the road, if for no other reason than to get the stink, of what the Republican Party has become (Carl Rove) off of them.

From what I hear, the "machine" that got Obama elected was the "machine" that filed all those nuisance ethics nonsense.  Having lived in Illinois, the "machine" is to be feared, not the Republicans.

10 4 u

Thats a good question for you!

I think that all "status Quo" politicians are an issue....

No, I think the Republican party needs to embrace people like Palin or it needs to reorganize and realize that the people it's supposed to represent are like her and not like them, and they need to get out of the way.

But when you're talking about danger to the Republic, that defines the Democratic party perfectly.  They want individuals to be relying on the government.  They want big government.  That is what's endangering our country.

Exactly what the republicans have done over the past 30 or so years. Grow government and plunged us into historic debt. They want individuals to be relying on the government. After you grow it to a point then who does it serve?

Might you tale another look at what repubs have done.

Not Marilyn, Spencer.  She's a dear, but she's a true believer.  Since belief requires no thought, Marilyn has found a comfort zone and will NOT "...take another look..."

I have looked, Spencer and Chuck.  What I see today is big government getting bigger all the time, with liberals intent on taking over every part of our lives. 

As I've explained many times before, the Tea Party rally participants are waiting to see which candidates coming up are of the same mindset as we are - fiscal conservatives, for limited government and free markets.  It doesn't matter which party they are in.  But typically, that defines Republicans far more than Democrats.

Typically Dems want to control people.  They want everyone to be relying on the government.  How can you not see that?!?!?!?

Except for the erroneous statement about the Dems for the first time I am in agreement with Marilyn.  The Republican party SHOULD draft Palin, SHOULD endorse her particular myopic brand of quasi-conservative populism and recognize that truly all that is Republican should be defined as what Palin represents and those like her.  Strict adherence to those principals should keep them on the impotent fringe for generations to come.

""""As I've explained many times before, the Tea Party rally participants are waiting to see which candidates coming up are of the same mindset as we are - fiscal conservatives, for limited government and free markets.  It doesn't matter which party they are in.  But typically, that defines Republicans far more than Democrats"""".

Typically that does NOT define the Rpublicans.  It is only the political rhetoric they've used for 40-50 years with absolutley NO intention of ever living up to it.

""""Typically Dems want to control people.  They want everyone to be relying on the government"""".

That "GOVERMENT" is supposed to be "of...the people, by...the people for...the people.  The Democratic Party has not, nor has it ever had the monopoly on attempts to control.  The Republicans are the same.

Free markets have never been free.  It was never about healthy competition.  These supposedly free market entreprenaurs, and phlianthropists have been social engineers greatly maninpulating the populace, and law to their personal advantage.  In those so-called good ol' days they money mogals were able to buy the police, hire thugs to strong arm any competition, and resorting to murder to expand their hold on power and wealth.

The mobsters are big true believers in that free market.

I am , however very interested to see what comes out of the Tea Party.

Marilyn who are these fiscal conservative political hacks that create the biggest government in history?

The democrats are not much better but the GOP far out reaches them for corruption, religious hypocrisy, big government, and attack dog politics.

I stand by what I wrote.  Typically, the Dems want people to be relying on the government for EVERYTHING.  We're seeing that right now.  Obama wants to control every aspect of our lives, and you're going to let him do just.

As I have tried to explain over and over again, the Tea Party participants DON'T CARE which party candidate comes forward as someone who will represent us.

Free markets have never worked because Dems have not allowed them to do so.  If they would just let businesses (and individuals and governments) fail, it would hurt for a short time, but everyone would learn to be more self-sufficient and we'd all be better off.

Marilyn, you are so right. The TEA parties do NOT have a party affiliation, 

Those of you who think nationalizing private enterprise, more and more government control of our personal lives and increasingly higher taxes will have to live with what you want. And it won't be pleasant.

The GOP's old guard and their refusal to change is what is killing the Republican Party. 

Never again, Walker, never again! Have you seen the bumper sticker: 'The Road To Hell Is Paved With Republicans'? The way our nation burned its American investors bridges, I would say any possibility of a republican come back is on fire. Lets light up to that , ehh?

I like the bumper sticker. "Balance the budget, audit a democrat".  : )

The Republicans, and the right wing in general, have been playing a dangerous political game for quite a while now.  They have encouraged reality-denying religious extremists to make their views mainstream by taking political control of a party that governs half the time.  They have tried to impose their narrow brand of Christianity on the nation and blur the line between church and state.  They have tried to re-brand the country as Christian, rather than secular, and adopt their own definition of Christian as the state-approved one.

In doing this they have been on a massive denial binge.  They have tried hard to deny the rights of gays, women, immigrants, those accused or suspected of crime, foreign rivals and enemies and anyone else who disagreed with them.  They have denied the science that made the technological society on which their nation and its wealth are based. 

The Republicans have been all too willing to give this wingnut sector not only a voice but a position of prominence in exchange for captive support from them.

It has been a Faustian bargain.

Great! I wish that I had written this.

Me too.  I'm pretty good, but that's excellent!

Rory, I have to take issue with your statement and the right wing in general. That's a pretty broad brush and it's accuracy is pretty far off.  I'm an independent conservative, yes right wing, and your generalizations don't hold up from where I stand in the political spectrum.

Leo and Chuck, I would think you'd be aware of this, too.

""""As I've explained many times before, the Tea Party rally participants are waiting to see which candidates coming up are of the same mindset as we are - fiscal conservatives, for limited government and free markets.  It doesn't matter which party they are in"""".  (BUT TYPICALLY), that defines Republicans far more than Democrats.

""""(TYPICALLY DEMS) want to control people.  They want everyone to be relying on the government"""".

There's some ,generalizations/BROAD BRUSH STROKES, for ya.

And those statements didn't come from me, Dorothy.  Any of the broad brush applications need to stop.  How do you feel when you are profiled as one specific type of person?  We are too varied even in politics.  What does it serve to do this?

Cathi, by "the right wing in general" I do not mean to say "the right wing in its entirety".

Let me ask you, do you feel that your conservative views are being properly served by the Republican Party, by Fox News and by conservative talk radio?  Do you feel that they have been reliable standard bearers for your point of view?

Well, considering I don't belong to the Republican Party, I've ceased to get the majority of my news through mainstream media and I don't follow conservative talk radio, the answer would have to be no.  But I don't think I'm that unusual in my views being slightly right of center.

My opinion is that you are referring to dyed-in-the-wool Republicans and right wing extremists.

You're right, I am.  But they are the public voice and face of the right wing in America today.

{sigh}  I know, they do tend to squeak the loudest.

Do they have Republicans in Canada??.....

Berf said what I was thinking.

No, BERF, both 'Democrat' and 'Republican' are American party designtions only.  In Canada our two ruling parties of history are the Liberal party and the Conservative party.  Similarly, in Britain, there have been Conservatives and Liberals, though Liberals have fallen by the wayside there and been replaced by the Labour Party.  Canada's equivalent to the British Labour Party is the New Democratic Party, often called simply the NDP.  The NDP has only ever held government in some of the provinces (five of them now, with Nova Scotia recently becoming the fifth), they have never formed a federal government.

Our Conservative Party has moved further to the right in recent years, becoming more like the Republican Party in the US, though the religious extremists have a diminished role here.  In times past our Conservative Party tended to be comparable to your Democrates, our Liberals were further to the left (where we consider the centre to be) and the NDP is what most Americans would consider to be extremely left wing (though they are far from communists).

The problem the Republicans are having are of their own doing....they have been trying to out liberal the liberals.

They are doing what you all say they need to do, acting more liberal. It isn't working!

The Republicans need to return to their conservative values and become representatives of their constituents once again and quit being politicians.

Every year Gallup polls reveal that more people consider themselves conservative than liberal, this year it is greater than a 2 to 1 margin, a return to conservative values and abandoning liberal ideals will gain the Republicans the faith of the people.

Its true the public is more consertative than liberal but that has nothing to do with the fact that the GOP is nothing but a hack party playing on public beliefs that they do not aspire to today or tomorrow. Their "no" campaign and refusal to help tackle the problems they caused proves its the same old good boy party it always was.

The GOP created the biggest government in history under Bush and then sat back and said you handle it we're the "no" party.

But, the Republicans did free the slaves!

"Great! I wish that I had written this."

"Me too.  I'm pretty good, but that's excellent!"

We are not worthy...we are not worthy! LOL!

Great wordsmithing Rory,

Could you possibly give your accusations any validation?...Evidence?...Proof?

I think the reason that what I wrote resonates with people is because it is consistent with what they are observing themselves.  They have seen a narrow-minded, judgemental psuedo-religious attitude affect public policy by trying to push prayer back into public school, by trying to prevent public money from addressing sexual health both amongst our own youth and in terms of foreign aid, by justifying a "moral" crusade against foreign countries and by using a false Christian front to give a thin veneer of morality to immoral policy choices.  They see the genuflecting to "family values" by closet homosexuals and philanderers as hypocrisy borne out of the "holier than thou" brand of politics.  The evidence is in the news on a daily basis.

Just curious, why don't we hear much about Canadian news and politics? You'd think, as our neighbor, we would be interested in what goes on north of our border? The only news I actually get is through sources on the internet and the few friends I have connected with who live in Canada and Alaska.

Other than those countries you happen to be at war with, and any country the president is currently visiting with, exactly how much foreign news from anywhere do you hear?  We get American television stations up here in Canada and I find your news shows to be ludicriously myopic.  If it didn't happen in America, or to an American, then it didn't happen at all!

There is a whole wide world out there and Americans would be much better off it they paid some attention to it on an ongoing basis.

I tend to listen to news from a variety of sources, and yes, particularly where we have military bases or if I know people who are stationed there.  Also countries where I have friends.  I try to read much as I can. Although, I don't pay particular attention to countries the president is currently visiting as that's when propaganda is at it's highest.

So you say our news shows are ludicriously myopic?  Do tell!  That's why I don't listen to them anymore.  However, I do think Americans pay attention to what's going on around the world.  If you think we don't, well, you're not getting your news from our media are you?  LOL!

Thanks for responding back, Rory.  :)

As long as the republicans cling to the Christian religion they will get nowhere. 

If the republicans let go of Christian religion then they could be a great party again. 

If not then  -  No.

"As long as the republicans cling to the Christian religion they will get nowhere."

Where is it you think they will "get" if they stop "clinging to the Christian religion," Richard??

A smaller and less important party

I think you, perhaps, misunderstood my question....

The GOP only uses the Christian faith to attract the dumbed down voters and do nothing but give their professed faith lip service.

Have you considered the "traditional" Catholic vote going to the Dems?

Chuckling over all the "broad brush strokes" of identity Rory mentioned. Talk about bigotted!

The Republicans have become the poster children for everything we don't want our country to be. We don't want to be xenophobic, racist, warmongering cave folk wrapped up in superstition and ignoring logic and science. They are the party of greed and hypocracy.

Now the Dems aren't that much better, but they're headed in a more positive direction. It's sort of like a showdown between the Neanderthals and the Homo Sapiens. The Republicans will have to evolve or die out. They're not so keen on the evolution thing.

What's the point of a comment like this, Em Jay?  I thought liberals were surely against stereotyping or profiling.  Maybe Dems are more like the Australopithecus and the Repubs are more like Homo Neanderthalensis? Or could it be that Republicans are currently evolving and dems are status quo?

Comments like the above could be considered xenophobic and racist.  A fear and hate of something you don't understand, something foreign to you, which ignores logic, any logic.  Republicans, independents and dems aren't things. They are people and they cover a large range of beliefs.

Insulting people only results in retribution.  I keep hearing that dems want globalization and that everybody should get along, when does it start?  Or does that only apply to certain categories of people?

This kind of hate talk needs to stop.

Touchy, aren't you?

And I'm not a liberal. Or a conservative. I'm not a Dem or a Republican or a Libertarian.

If you feel insulted that's just sad. If you think that's hate talk, you're reading too much into my reply to the author.

No, the touchiness comes from you.  I didn't peg you as coming from any political party.  I was careful not to do so.

And if you feel calling all Republicans xenophobes, racists, warmongering cave folk, superstitious, illogical, greedy and hypocritical, neanderthals compared to humans, breeds to die out, not having an interest in evolution, is not insulting or has no relation to hate talk, and that I am reading too much into your reply to Berf, then THAT is sad.

And you can take that one to the bank and smoke it.  Touche' Cathi!

Thanks, Esther.  But I accidentally said it was in response to Berf.  I apologize, I meant Walker, as he is the author.

You're just looking for someone to pick a squabble with. I could call Republicans a heck of a lot worse. The party's face may not represent all the members, but I don't see the "good" Republicans stepping up and reclaiming their party. The ones who make the news are the racist, homophobic, bible thumpin', hypocritical, willfully stupid, paranoid, xenophobic, obstructionists to progress.  If you don't like that portrait, work towards changing it, unless you find it easier to stomp your feet and fuss at me for calling it how I see it.

EM JAy, I, for one, appreciated your comment very much.  Couldn't have said it better myself.

Not bad for a "brain dead" person, eh?

I don't know, Rory. You are a talented articulator. Plus you have the advantage of seeing our political system from another point of view and experience with a system that operates a bit differently.

You're just looking for someone to pick a squabble with.

No, EM JAY, sorry, you are the one who posted the inflammatory statement.  I'm merely pointing out the hate in your statement and how it serves nothing except to ridicule and invoke retribution.

If you don't like that portrait, work towards changing it, unless you find it easier to stomp your feet and fuss at me for calling it how I see it.

If I were a member of the Republican party, yes I'd work to change it. But your "calling it how I see it" is akin to childish name-calling through lack of knowledge or even willingness to learn.  It's much easier to merely call names and get angry if someone doesn't agree with you.

But perhaps I shouldn't have said anything.  Afterall, it's a reflection more on you being unable to discuss intelligently, as opposed to inciting hatred and relying on childish ploys.  So please, continue your tantrums and name calling.  Enjoy.

"The Republicans have become the poster children for everything we don't want our country to be."

Well yes EM JAY, "we" being you BDL's

The rest of us more reasonable citizens don't see the Republican party as you do.

Not a liberal. Not brain dead. You are wrong.

I think both,

Your postings deny your claim

I'm not the one with "Palin Power" on my icon.

Touche, EM JAY!

After murdering over two million innocent people in eight years I would say the GOP is a detriment to the world and is going to get us into trouble we can't get out of.

Jack, get off this baloney, would you?

Cathi get off the FAUX propaganda would you?

Just as soon as you get off the baloney.  Deal?

Jack ,

Would you please validate that claim?

Cathi why don't you GOP try posting something with substance instead of this attack dog hate when you can't stand to see the truth?

Number Of Iraqis Slaughtered Since The U.S. Invaded Iraq "1,331,578"

Now add the murdered people in Afghanistan and Pakistan and see what you come up with Dan and when you want to say "no" put some proof up to prove it.

Jack, why do you continue to place me in the GOP? And what have I posted that has "attack dog hate" with no truth? Are you confusing me with someone else?

Regarding your statement: The estimate that over a million Iraqis have died received independent confirmation from a prestigious British polling agency in September 2007. Opinion Research Business estimated that 1.2 million Iraqis have been killed violently since the US-led invasion.

Now, show me how each death is directly attributed to a member of the United States Armed Forces, and how each death was murder, then show me how each death was an innocent person.  Please be sure to include Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Oh, yeah, and show me how one British polling agency in September of 2007 makes this a confirmed number.

Show me something for a change like where you get your information from. Attack dog is the right term for anyone that condones the attack and murder of innocent people on lies and war profiteering.

Jack, why do you continue to place me in the GOP? And what have I posted that has "attack dog hate" with no truth? Are you confusing me with someone else?

Regarding your statement: The estimate that over a million Iraqis have died received independent confirmation from a prestigious British polling agency in September 2007. Opinion ResearchBusiness estimated that 1.2 million Iraqis have been killed violently since the US-led invasion.

Now, show me how each death is directly attributed to a member of the United States Armed Forces, and how each death was murder, then show me how each death was an innocent person.  Please be sure to include Afghanistan and Pakistan.

If any party that would put George Bush / Sarah Palin and Joe the Plumber out in front as leadership material doesn't scare you, I don't know what does.  These people are puppets and someone making a lot of money is pulling the strings.

Very true Julia but the real problem now is Obama has signed onto the same policy he promised to get rid of and kept all the Bush supporters in every key position.

It doesn't matter which party rules its a one party system anyway.

Jack said it. Tragically Obama's a Bush replica. Increased military actions in countries which never attacked us. 23% more mercenary army fighters in these countries (which we pay for, but don't know how much) 17,000 more troops going to Afghanistan, expansion of Afghanistan into Pakistan with all the "peripheral" "collateral" damage which breeds more hatred of the US and fuels terrorism, protection of the Bush administration on torture, protection of Cheney on the Plame matter. It's basically a matter of the candidate for "CHANGE" playing the same Bush game, with the exception of right to choose and stem cell, and other domestic issues like health insurance - which is problematic because we are already so broke our dollar is in a tailspin relative to other currancies.

Exactly right Robert but these phony Bush supporters are so brain dead from all the FAUX and GOP propaganda they will never realise what is happening until it hits them like a sledge hammer.

Guess I'll get to smile when the Obama/Dem sledge hammer hits you really hard!

Interesting that the dems chose Joe the Plumber first and ol' Joe rejected them.

Um.  He's since also rejected the Reubs, too.  He's hang'in with the Libertarians now.  He realized he and Palin were just being used, as campaign props.

lol  The Libertarians now?  That's funny in a sad way.  Yeah, they definitely were used as campaign props.  I'm glad he recognized it but what's he doing with the Libertarians?

lol Joe went to the GOP hoping they would pay his delinquent taxes.

Is that because he figured out that the Obama's cabinet had enough back taxes of their own to pay?

The old time(pre-Regan) Republicans L O V E Romney. . . the robot.

Does anyone here think Romney is in fact and after careful examination "better" than Palin or McCain, or only more programmed, less volatile.

But see once again if the old line Republicans go big time for Romney they are blind, deaf to the evangelical fundamentalist base that sends them to office.  Some of them think that if they back Romney the "base" will follow.

The conservative Christians really dislike the Mormans, especially the Baptists and one in 6 U. S. Citizens, claims one of the Baptist denominaions as their own.

Personally, as a Democrat, I hope the Republicans continue to flounder, In the 70's and early 80's the Democrats gave too much voice and power to our most extreme members.  The results were a disaster and caused disorder in our ranks.  I think Clinton swung too far right as president, I do hope Obama slides a little more to the left. 

One big drawback with the voting Republicans, they send people to Congress who cannot and will not compromise. 

We are having the same problem in California. The Republicans will not compromise. Our Democrats are not doing much better. . .

So when did integrity of ideology and one's word become a negative?

I applaud any politician who sticks to what he promised his contituents. I could be wrong, but I think "wishy washy" actions are what's wrong with both parties.

"Personally, as a Democrat, I hope the Republicans continue to flounder,"

Wow....that's a real shocker........

And democrats get all upset when some people say they hope Obama fails.

Obama has failed. His transparency scam is just a hold over from his hero Bush.

While in power under the Bush rule, they were a threat to the world!

Still a threat to the world. Democrats are just Republican-lite. Here the Democrats took control of Congress in 06 with what was said to be an anti-war mandate from "We the People," and Obama gets elected with what was said to be an anti-war mandate from "We the People," and just a couple weeks ago they produce a $106 billion bill to fund more war. Sure the two sides can complain about the other, but in the end both parties are pretty similar track.

...having said that though, I'd have to also agree that the neocons who ran the Bush administration were out of control radicals set on world domination without recognition of the consequences of their actions. That was an overt danger to the world and the US nation, particularly as the world doesn't care to be dominated by the US.

If America could ever initiate a two party system of government we could get somewhere.

Most people here probably believe that I am a died in the wool liberal (Democrat).  Truth be known, the closest classification that I would fall into would be "Goldwater Conservative."  He was the last of an honest breed.  Most forgot (and still forget) that Nixon had been consultant and attorney for "tail gunner" Joe McCarthy.  The writing was on the wall at that point that the party had taken a distinctive right turn into self destruction.  Nixon's win would be the historic equivalent of Karl Rove running for President and winning.

The descent into amorality and avarice has been consistent from that point.

The Democrats have not been much better, offering such dishonesty as Lyndon Johnson.

The only consistent group have been the Libertarians.  From what had been considered the far right, their views now are more what we think of as centrist -- neither the ultra right of neo conservatism, nor the socialistic leanings of the far left.  If you look closely at their position of self-sufficiency, you will see that it is still what Thomas Jefferson and Madison envisioned for the country.

Yes Walker (applause). Well said.

Maybe I'll look into the Libertarians, Walker.  I haven't had faith in either party for quite a while and find both sides dishonest with specific agendas that are not good for this country.  I've always admired Thomas Jefferson and would welcome that as a refreshing change.

Libertarians are conservative in the true sense of the word, definitely not what has become associated with R. Limbaugh and even the Republican party which turned their back on conservatism and left it in the dust.

Thanks Robert.  Maybe giving them a harder look would be a good idea.

I agree, both parties have been sorely deficient in all respects and we end up talking about which one is the "least of two evils". Sad for our country.

Agreed, Nora.  Very sad for our country.