Why are republicans flooding state legislatures with batshit insane legislation?

[cali]

I have two theories:

One, quite simply, is that the influx of teabagging halfwits results in a whole heap of stupid. It's stupid that's ideologically driven.
Yep, some of them actually believe the shit they're trying to foist off.

The other is more cynical: Repukes pandering to their batshit crazy constituents as a deliberate tactic: First propose something totally batshit to soften things up, then propose something less batshit, but still crazy and hope that has a chance and brings with it support and money for the climb to statewide office.

Of course, the two are not mutually exclusive.

[randome]

1. No one is steering the clown car any longer. No one is in charge of the GOP.

The left hand is floundering about without knowing what the right hand is doing.

[entanglement]

10. They're so far right, they probably have two right hands

[datasuspect]

2. these are the end times

[DonViejo]

3. I believe your first theory...

to be correct. They really, really do believe in what they are sponsoring.

[TwilightGardener]

4. Obstruct, gum up the works, make the teabagger homies cheer, and then ram something

awful through when everyone's guard is down.

[Angry Dragon]

6. +38,507

[DearHeart]

5. I think you're right...it's a combination of both.

I think that when the teabaggers were voted in, in 2010, that signaled to people like the Koch brothers and their minions, that the time was right; the nutjobs were in place, which allowed them to start ramming their legislation through, by having it not look as batshit crazy as that of the teabaggers.

[tabbycat31]

7. Hopefully people are paying attention and we can pick up some legislatures in the next cycle

[KamaAina]

8. ALEC told them to

another Koch Brothers front group. The key to spotting ALEC at work is if the same legislation comes up in state after state (right to work, for example).

http://www.alec.org/about-alec/frequently-asked-questions/

Q: What is ALEC Model Legislation?

A: ALEC model bills serve as public policy resources. Many organizations that focus on state-level issues also offer model state legislation or codes. These organizations include the American Bar Association, National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, and advocacy organizations, such as the National Consumer Law Center. Model bills are ideas that can be taken, modified or rejected, depending on the needs of a particular legislation. State legislators often find model bills valuable for learning from each others’ experiences and expertise, while tailoring the bills they introduce to meet the interests of their own state’s constituents. Any model bill, regardless of where it is from, rises or falls in a state based on whether it provides the solutions that makes sense in that particular state.

Unlike in many private sector groups that offer model legislation, elected state legislators fully control ALEC’s model legislation process. Ideas for model legislation are presented in a task force, which any member can join. The task forces often have vigorous discussions on whether to adopt a model bill, as well as the language for that model bill. When a task force believes a model bill is ready, ALEC’s Board of State Legislators must review and approve the bill for it to be posted for other ALEC members.

Each state legislator and their constituents then decide which solutions are best for them and their states. As ALEC Treasurer Rep. Linda Upmeyer (IA) has said, model bills are like “a file cabinet. If something can help my constituents, I can take what I need; and if it doesn’t help, I leave it alone.”

[cali]

11. I don't buy it. don't see how this shit benefits ALEC

[kelliekat44]

9. If they had to pass mental illness screening they would never be allowed to own a gun.

The double election of this President has driven them bat-shit crazy. They never really cared about the welfare of the country in the first place. Now they don't if WE KNOW THEY DON'T CARE.

[LonePirate]

12. A third reason: They propose all of this crap while they have a chance

They may think they will lose the next election and/or that the public will eventually wise up to their batshit crazy crap and throw them out of office via a recall or a regular election.

[Recursion]

13. Signal to noise. We don't notice the slightly less crazy stuff

Pretty smart, for that matter.

[Johonny]

14. they are also easier to control

if you want to buy someone it is easier to buy a stupid person with little upside in life than Ivy league graduate with a lot of career options. Note Mitt Romney won their last primary but the guys that fund the teabaggers ran really hard to keep him out. They don't want Mitt Romney's they want more Steve Stockman's and Paul Ryan's. Guys with mediocre educational backgrounds but a strong devotion to policies that benefit the very few and not even them long term.

[customerserviceguy]

15. All campaign fodder

They can complain that the librul Democrats screwed them up, and innoculate themselves against primary challenges by even more reich-wing opponents.

And, yes, they do believe their own bullshit most of the time.

[Arkansas Granny]

16. I believe your second theory is correct.

They start with a proposal that is so extreme that they know a same person couldn't support it. Then they modify it slightly and claim that they are willing to compromise, but Democrats are being unreasonable.

[kairos12]

17. Sabotage government function deliberately and then claim only corporations can save us.

[madokie]

18. Trying to pull wool over the peoples eyes