The Germans have a word for it . . .

[flamin lib]

Schadenfreude; noun, the unreasonable delight in someone else’s misfortune.

I’ve been enjoying the condition of the Republican Party far too much lately. They are completely and utterly without leadership. They’ve spent their capitol with fiscal conservatives over Bush’s reckless spending, the militarists are in retreat because we spend more on the military than the rest of the world and still can’t win a war in a country without an army and the religious right is wandering lost in the desert with their numbers dwindling daily. They’re like so many high school bands, each following a different drum major. Even worse, the drum majors seem to keep changing.

The intellectually challenged continue to cling to talk radio with Rush Limbaugh currently carrying the baton although Sean Hannity and Bill O’Reilly tug at it from time to time. Glen Beck tried for the brass ring but only succeeded in becoming the poster boy for 12 step programs. So far Sean and Bill haven’t managed to make GOP politicians grovel on live radio but I assume that’s a temporary situation.

The intellectual elite lost an icon in Bobby Jindal when he devoured both of his Guchi loafers on national television during his response to Obama’s State of the Union address. He’s now been replaced by Newt Gingrich who has lots of new ideas; none of them particularly good or well though out, but lots of them.

The religious right, having been exposed as mean spirited, ignorant and intolerant has dwindled in number to the point of political irrelevance, has been distracted from Mike Huckaby by a new shiny object in the form of Sarah Palin only to have that star tarnished by a tabloid fight with the father (whose mother was busted for selling Oxycontin) of her illegitimate grandchild and a daughter that contradicts the whole concept of abstinence and the nuclear family.

The only emerging GOP spokesperson we Democrats have any reason to be concerned about is Megan McCain. She sounds way too much like Barry Goldwater, the founder of modern (real) conservatism.

She could be trouble if there were a party for her to lead.

[KansDem]

1. Well, after all the "weltschmertz" the GOP has caused...

A little "schadenfreude" is a welcome relief.

And it couldn't happen to a more-deserving lot!

[maxsolomon]

2. it's not something to be proud of

i've heard that it's "shameful" joy in other's misfortune. but as long as you know that, keep feeling it, because they fucking deserve it.

[Warpy]

3. I'm not enjoying them quite as much as I am

ordinary people who have finally seen that the Emperor was naked as a jaybird all along, people who are angry that they allowed themselves to be fooled. I've waited 28 years for them to wake up.

Meghan has the misfortune to have been born just a little too soon to be much of a force. Chances are she'll be a little old lady by the time the conservatives manage to convince enough suckers they know what they're talking about.

[MindPilot]

5. I want a tee-shirt that simply says "I told you so" n/t

[MindPilot]

4. My delight is not unreasonable.

In fact I would say it is quite well-deserved.

[gordianot]

6. The GOP has only one real option left and it is outright violence.

This is the basis for the GOP complaints about Napolitano's admonition against right wing violence.