Republicans In Wonderland

I can't explain myself, I'm afraid, Sir because I'm not myself you see.

So might the Republicans describe the state of their political party. I used to say the R in Republican stood for Responsibility in contrast to the woolly headed schemes propagated by democrats, Republicans were fiscally sound, pro-business and practical. The debt ceiling debacle clearly shows this is no longer the case. As a former Republican myself the realization that this party was heading south made me head to hills a few years ago. Today, its gotten much worse – just like our 401Ks.

"I--I hardly know, sir, just at present-- at least I know who I WAS when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then."

The transformation is nearly complete - from the party of Lincoln to the party of Jefferson Davis, from the party of sound government finances to the party where deficits don't matter, from the party of reality to the party of religious dogma. The loss of that formidable enemy the Soviet Union left the Republicans drifting about looking for it's raison d'etre. Into the void marched the armies of the evangelicals, the ones that want government out of our lives but to be involved helping spoon feed us their religion. In times gone by a Ronald Reagan could give them the lip service they required, but choose to not implement the programs they desired. Today, they have an iron grip.

"When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."

The decidedly hostile attitude to science or even intellectual thought has been one of the striking features of this new Republican party. Global warming is of course denied as a hoax, foisted upon us by a vast conspiracy of ninety five plus percent of the scientists on the planet. Evolution is derided as nonsense and many believe the planet is only 6,000 years old in conformance with biblical prophecy. These people must not visit the Grand Canyon or even the Delaware Water Gap for that matter, or perhaps they just don't think. Mathematics is especially challenging to this group when they look to balance the Federal budget and keep incessantly pointing out small slivers that can be cut while ignoring the staggering size and scope of what is befalling this country.

"Curiouser and curiouser!"

During the early days of the war in Iraq, the State Department experts that had studied the country in detail and were trying to come to grips with running it were fired to be replaced by young Republican zealots that were primarily chosen for their stances on abortion and other litmus tests. Thus, Iraq would become yet another American fiasco. In case after case having a scientific background or a well grounding in history makes one suspect in the Republican party.

" Well! I've often seen a cat without a grin," thought Alice; " but a grin without a cat! It's the most curious thing I ever say in my life!"

These people lack historical perspective and cling to the myth of American exceptionalism despite all evidence that we are no longer as exceptional as we have been telling ourselves. Many great empires have come and gone and most of them thought they were pretty exceptional too. Trusting to god for our nation's salvation they help lead us over the cliff.

"Oh, you can't help that," said the Cat: "we're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad."

As the Republicans have become the party of the south, they more and more resemble the old Republican party which eventually became the Democratic party in the time of Andrew Jackson. This sounds benign until you get to the bottom of all the “states rights” talk, the nullification of federal laws and outright secession that has been running from the mouths of a prick like Texas Governor and aspiring Presidential contender Rick Perry. Plenty of the old imbecility of the old south is evidenced by these people. It seems more and more a replay of the early 19^th century with the lead up to the civil war. Once again the southerners are going to hold the country hostage. Not another President from Texas!

"Now, here, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place. If you want to get somewhere else, you must run at least twice as fast as that!"

Where does this leave the country? Well its standing still watching the world pass us by. Our biggest hope, that the Chinese real estate bubble bursts landing them on their ass. We have a spineless Democratic President but at least he is sane. We have one Republican contender that threatens to do real bad things to Ben Bernanke the Fed Chairman while trying to solve the Texas drought and fiscal problems by holding prayer sessions. We have another one that promises us we will have under $2 gas when she is elected, how this is to be done she never says. I guess we must take it on faith. Perhaps, they will have to look for some volunteers, three virgin boys and girls and three black rams to use as a sacrifice just like they did in the time of Abraham.