Downhill With the G.O.P. Krugman

[elleng]

So how did we get to the point where one of our two major political parties isn’t even trying to make sense?

The answer isn’t a secret. The late Irving Kristol, one of the intellectual godfathers of modern conservatism, once wrote frankly about why he threw his support behind tax cuts that would worsen the budget deficit: his task, as he saw it, was to create a Republican majority, “so political effectiveness was the priority, not the accounting deficiencies of government.” In short, say whatever it takes to gain power. That’s a philosophy that now, more than ever, holds sway in the movement Kristol helped shape. . .

The clear and present danger isn’t that the G.O.P. will be able to achieve its long-run goals. It is, rather, that Republicans will gain just enough power to make the country ungovernable, unable to address its fiscal problems or anything else in a serious way. As I said, banana republic, here we come.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/opinion/24krugman.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=homepage

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Machiavelli is their ultimate hero, obviously.

If the entire country has to go down in flames so they can get and keep power, so be it.

None of the following would trouble the repukes in the least....including the dissolution of Congress. They would rather have a dictator anyway.

<snip>

“No more national parks, no more Small Business Administration loans, no more export subsidies, no more N.I.H. No more Medicaid (one-third of its budget pays for long-term care for our parents and others with disabilities). No more child health or child nutrition programs. No more highway construction. No more homeland security. Oh, and no more Congress.”

<snip>

Not to mention the VA, SS, EPA, FEMA, and all the other govt agencies that make our lives safe and secure.

The only thing they would want is the military budget..to support their dictator.

Krugman is 100% right. An American Banana Republic is their wet dream.

[SteveM]

2. Like the habits attributed to the wolverine...

This animal is reputed to sneak into camps, eat everything it can, rip open the rest and piss and crap on it before bidding "ta-ta."

[izquierdista]

3. They have enough power now to 'ungovern'

Or do we still think of the Senate as an effective branch of government?