In recent years the Republican Party has never been a monolithic unit, and on several occasions, I have pointed out that the different wings are Neocon (war mongers), Theocon (pseudo-Christians), Corporacon (corporate criminals), Plutocon (the 0.1%), and InsaniTEA (hate mongers). In the past, they have seemed monolithic, because they have goose-stepped to each others’ betrayals of America. No more.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.As most are now aware, the Republican Party is taking a beating at the polls. GOP favorability is now at historic lows and they are taking the brunt of the blame for the government shutdown.
These numbers are bad enough for Republicans. But the situation may be far worse. The GOP is not only being defeated, but it is in some serious danger of falling apart. Republican infighting could cost Republicans enough votes among its white base to take out of serious competition in national politics.
The contours of the coming GOP crackup were ably identified [Goose-steppers delinked] by John Judis in a recent New Republic article. Judis sees a the beginning of an insurrection by a newly empowered base against the traditional GOP power structure:
The battle over the shutdown has highlighted the cracks and fissures within the party. The party’s leadership has begun to lose control of its members in Congress. The party’s base has become increasingly shrill and is almost as dissatisfied with the Republican leadership in Washington as it is with President Obama. New conservative groups have echoed, and taken advantage of, this sentiment by targeting Republicans identified with the leadership for defeat. And a growing group of Republican politicians, who owe their election to these groups, has carried the battle into the halls of Congress. That is spelling doom for the Republican coalition that has kept the party afloat for the last two decades.
All parties of course are coalitions of interest groups, factions and more. It is when the differences between these groups become irreconcilable that serious trouble arises. We may be at that point right now…
Inserted from <Think Progress>
At the moment the InsaniTEA and Theocon wings are refusing to goose-step with the Corporacon and Neocon wings. The Plutocon wing is split between the two opposing groups. If things keep up at this rate we may have a three way race in 2016, which could be the welcome last Republican gasp.
