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Edited on Mon Oct-27-08 07:22 AM by Essene
This notion that ALL conservatives and republicans are equally insane "freepers" is itself an unhealthy reactionary identity politic, I'm afraid. Let's not exhibit Stockholm Syndrome.
I think it's important for the left and moderates to acknowledge the arguments on the right... about how Palin "represents a cancer in the Republican Party." Let's appreciate how some conservatives have spoken out against the nativism, the fear mongering, the unhealthy nationalism, the lack of vision, the lack of serious ideas, etc.
Here's how i see it.
In the early 90s, the "culture wars" perspective came to dominate the right-wing. They had lost Congress and with the rise of Bill Clinton they turned to pure reactionary politics. The Gingrich revolution was very much about a new type of cultural warfare. It ended the "conservative coalition" with Reagan Democrats and ushered in the new mode of "social conservatism" that would empower the christian right and the strategies of cynics like Karl Rove. They learned to circle the wagon around wedge issues, nationalistic ploys and a new type of Republican identity that would take root with Bush Jr.
That Gingrich revolution had strong ideas and a strong commitment to ideas.
Since then, the more underlying cultural warfare has turned its back on ideas entirely. In 2000, the social conservatives effectively had come to define the party, and all other republicans quietly circled the wagons out of mere interest in consolidating power. Post-9/11, the cultural warriors simply embraced cynical reactionary politics. Truth no longer mattered. Laws didn't even matter. Power mattered and they wrapped themselves in the Flag and fear-driven rhetoric of "necessity."
They did plant the seeds of their own political destruction.
However, let's look careful at what's being destroyed.
What i think has been "lost" on the republican side is that sense that our nation's politics ought to be viewed as a necessary cultural war. The moral arguments and anti-secular society backlash of the 90s have mostly fallen on their faces, even among many evangelicals (i.e. evangelicals aren't as interested in the old wedge issues). The "welfare" rhetoric doesn't even echo in this environment, let alone garner attention. Their laissez faire economic arguments and anti-government libertarian rhetoric have imploded. The post-9/11 nationalist arguments cause anxiety and frustration. Even the nativist arguments have fragmented their base.
The collective identity of the GOP has snapped apart having been forged in the 1990s.
They tried to rebuild under an image of Reagan and failed, due to Mccain campaign's implementation of the cultural war approach rather than to embrace a more inclusive, idea-oriented approach.
In this mess, we oughta respect those Republicans speaking out... engaging in a healthy rebellion and rejecting the culture warriors. With that respect ought to also be some caution, as some of these rebels may propose sane movements back to the center while others may propose even more cynical directions.
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