The worst thing the GOP has ever done?

[ProSense]

The worst thing the GOP has ever done?

By Steve Benen

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My mind quickly went to the war in Iraq and all that’s associated with it — the casualties, the lies, the torture, the many costs — as the worst thing Republicans have ever done, but for the sake of conversation, let’s stick primarily to domestic politics.

Where would the GOP’s hostage fiasco rank on the list of modern Republican misdeeds?

The list, alas, isn’t brief. We could go through Hoover’s failures of the late 1920s, or perhaps Joe McCarthy’s crusade in the 1950s. Nixon’s crimes in the early 1970s are legendary, as are the many Reagan-era scandals — Iran-Contra, criminal fiasco at H.U.D., the Savings & Loan debacle — of the 1980s.

The more contemporary offenses are no doubt fresher in everyone’s minds: the Gingrich/Dole government shutdowns, the Clinton impeachment debacle, the Bush v. Gore scandal, the politicization of the Justice Department, the Plame scandal, the fiscal recklessness, the financial industry negligence that contributed to the 2008 crash, etc.

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Indeed, consider the apparent consequences. This one radical scheme has helped lead to the first-ever downgrade of U.S. debt; it has riled financial markets and generated widespread uncertainty about the stability of the American system; and it has severely undermined American credibility on the global stage. Indeed, in many parts of the world, observers haven’t just lost respect for us, they’re actually laughing at us.

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[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. Chimp.

Hands down.

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. Giving birth to Teabagger movement

is right up there.

We'll pay dearly for that sordid romance.

[southernyankeebelle]

3. Well it is after all what the republicans wanted the downfall of the government. Welfare for

corporations only. They wanted everything pay to go. That includes education, health care, police department, fire department. Forget roads and bridges your on your own.

[Pacifist Patriot]

4. I wouldn't even know where to start.

[Vanje]

5. Stealing the 2000 election

is right up there.

[Peregrine Took]

6. +1 and the fact that we didn't take to the streets? Worse thing we ever did

or never did. I think if it happened now there would be a tremendous amount of activity but back then we weren't that wired up, internet, etc.

[former9thward]

8. Ahh yeah the internet did exist then and most people were on it.

Which is probably why people didn't and don't take to the streets.

[polichick]

10. Agreed - that was the official end of democracy imo.

[pscot]

7. Systematic voter suppression

and election theft

[saras]

9. Let the crazies in...it's a problem they've had for many decades

[COLGATE4]

11. Draw breath?

[Drahthaardogs]

12. Existed.

.

[izquierdista]

13. Tried to govern

Every single time they get their hands on it.....aw SHIT!....look what you fucking did now!

[GoCubsGo]

14. They never tried to govern.

And, that is the problem. They never had any intention of governing. They are only there to take whatever they can from everyone they can, and damn the consequences.