Reality Check ROBERT REICH

[Demeter]

http://robertreich.org/post/132611993925

The other night I phoned a former Republican member of Congress with whom I’d worked in the 1990s on various pieces of legislation. I consider him a friend. I wanted his take on the Republican candidates because I felt I needed a reality check. Was I becoming excessively crotchety and partisan, or are these people really as weird as they seem? We got right into it:

Me: “So what do really you think of these candidates?”

Him: “You want my unvarnished opinion?”

Me: "Please. That’s why I called.”

Him: “They’re all nuts.”

Me: “Seriously. What do you really think of them?”

Him: “I just told you. They’re bonkers. Bizarre. They’re like a Star Wars bar room.”

Me: “How did it happen? How did your party manage to come up with this collection?”

Him: “We didn’t. They came up with themselves. There’s no party any more. It’s chaos. Anybody can just decide they want to be the Republican nominee, and make a run for it. Carson? Trump? They’re in the lead and they’re both out of their f*cking minds.”

Me: “That’s not reassuring.”

Him: “It’s a disaster. I’m telling you, if either of them is elected, this country is going to hell. The rest of them aren’t much better. I mean, Carly Fiorina? Really? Rubio? Please. Ted Cruz? Oh my god. And the people we thought had it sewn up, who are halfway sane – Bush and Christie – they’re sounding almost as batty as the rest.”

Me: “Who’s to blame for this mess?”

Him: “Roger Ailes, David and Charles Koch, Rupert Murdoch, Rush Limbaugh. I could go on. They’ve poisoned the American mind and destroyed the Republican Party.

Me: "Nice talking with you.”

Him: “Sleep well.”

[haikugal]

1. Wow....

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. K&R. n/t

[SmittynMo]

3. I'm not surprised by any of this.

Sounds right to me. It's just confirmation.

[Skittles]

4. it's a dream come true, the idea that more and more republicans understand the insanity

yes INDEED

[kacekwl]

5. But I bet he and the others

Will support which ever nutbag is nominated even though the country will "go to hell"

[zentrum]

6. Well, what the hell

….are the so-called "non-batty" Republicans going to do about it?

Truthfully, this is the Frankenstein they all created —all of them—from David Brooks, to John Roberts, to the Bushes, to the Kochs of course, and on down to the Trump-Cruz-Carson monsters.

[Demeter]

11. I'm betting...crossover in primary and vote for Bernie

It is the only option to get some decent and effective person in office who won't screw them over.

And after the election...clean house.

[passiveporcupine]

7. Yeah, try to sleep after that!

Thanks RR.

[AlbertCat]

8. Reality Check

Well, at least we know WE aren't nuts.

Ever since Bush Jr. and Palin, I've thought it was dangerously nuts. These are people who should not even be considered for public office. Cheney? Talk about nuts.... from Nixon's era! This is nothing new.


He left out religion's influence.

[Yallow]

9. The Truth

Plain as day.

The zombies have taken over......

Murdoch/Limbaugh won after all.....

[Spitfire of ATJ]

10. I like the part where he says, "There’s no party any more."....

I'm having one.

I assume "dancing on the Republicans Party's grave" counts as a "party" if there's tequila involved.

[Enthusiast]

12. Yeah. Robert's friend recognizes this. But much of the party believes things are just dandy.

They don't see Donald and the rest as crazy or out of line.

Look at the polls. Hillary or Bernie vs Bush Trump or Carson. The Republicans fair pretty well considering they are out of their fucking minds.

Remember, these people listen to Glenn Beck, Limbaugh, O'Reilly, Hannity and the rest and they believe their every word.