GOP moderates shrinking in numbers - and impact

[Forkboy]

WASHINGTON - As Tom Russell watches the nation’s debt ceiling drama drag on day after day, the 44-year-old Republican from Keene, N.H., sees a dysfunctional family careening toward economic disaster, with leaders from his own party mostly to blame.

A self-described moderate, Russell said he feels abandoned by the Republican Party as its base shifts to the right and politicians respond with ideological zealotry, refusing to compromise even as the Aug. 2 deadline to raise the debt limit looms and the country nears the brink of defaulting on its debts for the first time in history.

The former stockbroker who now sells solar panels for a living says he believes that the seemingly defunct bipartisan plan by the Gang of Six to reduce the nation’s deficit by combining program cuts with tax increases made sense. But many Republican lawmakers stood firm against taxes, and talks imploded.

“The Republicans have become the party of no,’’ Russell said. “Now that we’re at a tremendous crossroad when things are going down the tubes, it’s kind of an embarrassment to say that we’re even in the same party.’’

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2011/07/27/gop_moderates_shrinking_in_numbers___and_impact/

[boston bean]

1. he will fit in perfectly with the New Democratic Party. Many like him have already jumped ship

and joined.

[Creideiki]

3. The problem is that we have a New Democratic Party that doesn't act like Democrats.

It might actually be time for a progressive takeover of the Republican Party.

[boston bean]

4. It's certainly getting crowded under the big tent. I use to fight these fuckers tooth and nail.

Now we are suppose to welcome them and agree?!

Can't do it. sorry.....

[Big Blue Marble]

7. New Democratic Party is perfectly suited for them.

At the same time. it leaves us on left way out in the cold.

[The Wizard]

2. Moderate Republican is an oxymoron

The Republican Party is a death cult much like The Peoples Temple, Heaven's Gate or Branch Davidians. A comparison to the Taliban or Kamikaze would also be fair. Their psychosis is hurting normal Americans who do the right thing every day.
Like Germany's National Socialists of the 1930s, the Republican Party must be purged from the landscape if we are to survive as a nation and culture.

[MyshkinCommaPrince]

6. It would grow back, I fear.

They have the monied backers, the RW think tanks, their whole infrastructure, their media empire promoting their goals, all of that. That won't go away. Even if the Republican party itself fell apart, something equivalent to it would soon enough be back on our political landscape. We just have a lot of angries, crazies, and gullibles in this country, and the RW will always have some way of sweeping them up in support of its cause.

Possibly today I'm feeling too depressed and gloom-and-doom, and I should try to avoid posting on DU. :(

[jamieque]

8. Well... then prehaps it is time to purge the supporters of the Republicans

by getting rid of them as well. I think we are past the time for needing to taking some radical action against the bastards. They are so fucking corrupt that the only way to deal with them is to remove the from power. Cheer up because there is always a way to solve a problem. We just have to work together to do it. The president tried to tell everyone the truth during his campaign. Change begins at the bottom not at the top. The people have to the courage to stand up and fight the powers that be. Otherwise nothing will change. You know what I am saying is right so don't you dare deny it.

We the people hold the true power to change this country. The only question we need to ask ourselves is when do we exercise that power and throw the crazy fucking bastards out.

[BeyondGeography]

5. So will these white guys be saying I didn't leave the Republican Party

The Republican Party left me? Or will they keep voting against their instincts for "cultural" reasons?