John Boehner, Speaker of the House of Representatives, gave a speech to a gathering of Republicans in Washington, D. C., a couple of weeks ago. Boehner told the gathering the President was trying to destroy the Republican Party. So, Mr. Speaker, I have news for you! The President isn’t going to have to lift a finger to destroy the Republican Party. It is well on its way to implode and destroy itself.
It isn’t a case of having more than one side to an issue. It’s a case of obstruction, paranoia, and plain, old-fashioned stupidity.
The leadership of the party, if it can be called that, does not have even the slightest amount of control over its membership. It’s a sailing ship whose sails are propelled by hot air and on its decks a whole bunch of loose cannon balls. It doesn’t appear the Republicans can get together and go in a straight line on most issues. It looks as if more are against gun control than for gun control. Then there are those who are steadfast against any kind of female medical rights (call this anti-abortion, but it’s much more than that). Their hard-line stand about illegal immigration certainly was a big factor in the Hispanic vote for President Obama.
Our military budget is bigger than nearly any other in the world, yet the Republicans are divided on cutting any of that. But it does appear they want to throw Medicare, Social Security and other programs in the fire and the devil take the rest of it. At this point, the Republican Party can’t get unified on what they’re for and what they’re against. Frankly, it looks like they’re against nearly everything. The power brokers have their own agenda. The NRA is so right wing you can’t find a left-handed person in the building. (That’s a joke, son!)
Once there were certain things the Republican Party and the Democratic Party agreed upon. Now, they don’t dare be seen together having a cup of coffee. The rift between the two parties is wide and deep. The rift between the moderate Republicans and the hard-right Republicans is wide and just as deep. You can’t even call yourself a moderate Republican anymore or the storm troopers of the hard right will be out to hunt you down.
Perhaps, Mr. Boehner, it might behoove the Republican Party to actually split up into those who would like to think they are Eisenhower moderates and those Grover Norquist signers of no taxes. It’s an interesting thought. But I’ll leave the division of the Republican Party to its own ways and its own means. The question of whether or not the President is trying to destroy them will have to wait for another time to come to a conclusion.
Ronn Mott, a longtime radio personality in Terre Haute, writes commentaries for the Tribune-Star. His pieces are published online Tuesday and Thursday on Tribstar.com, and in the print and online editions on Saturday.
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RONN MOTT: Imploding
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