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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhy the GOP Is So Extremist and Reactionary{long read}
http://www.alternet.org/tea-party-and-right/grand-old-tea-party-0A Democratic president begins a new term in the White House. Two years later, America votes a cadre of aggressive conservatives into Congress, loaded for bear. At first the Republican establishment, thrilled to have the Democrats on the run, puts its wariness about the fire-breathers aside. Within a few years, though, the new guys throw out all the old rules of consensus and compromise, and the establishment shows signs of buyers remorse. One of the new conservatives, a bulky, take-no-prisoners senator who sees socialist quislings everywhere, takes control of the agenda and threatens to drive the GOP into the ground.
But this is not 2008 or 2013. Its the late 1940s and early 1950s, and the senator is not Ted Cruz but Joseph McCarthy.
A new sort of conservative has taken over the Republican Party from the ground upand they dont give a goddamn about anything the U.S. Chamber of Commerce says. They want a total divorce between capitalism and the government, and whoever disagrees can go straight to hell. Business people, above all else pragmatists, are alarmed at the prospect of losing control of the party of business and hatch schemes to take it back. The Democratic president, for his part, declares a White House open-door policy for business leaders and makes maintaining a climate favorable to business a keynote of his administration. Suddenly, the direction of the Republican Party itself seems to be at stake.
But this is not 2013. It is 1964. The business-friendly president is Lyndon Johnson, and the Republican insurgents are followers of Barry Goldwater.
Laelth
(32,017 posts)-Laelth
Arkansas Granny
(31,526 posts)Liberal_Stalwart71
(20,450 posts)...it's all about Obama's skin color. That's all I need to know.
rock
(13,218 posts)(And every repiggie has been thinking since Obama was elected) "Can't you see that man's a ni...!"
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)Where'd the OP writer get that idea? Maybe the OP will go into it?
sendero
(28,552 posts)... is your good old friend Libertarianism. Libertarians want nothing less than for government to butt out of all business dealings. No regulations, no subsidies, no taxes no nothing.
I'm pretty sure this is what he is alluding to. Also, they do not NAME Libertarianism as their guiding light, but their policy aims are 100% there when it comes to economics and its sphere.
This is no accident, the deep pockets who are funding all of this are, you guessed it, Libertarians in policy if not name also.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)I can get with that.
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)ThomThom
(1,486 posts)I almost can remember Goldwater, he would be preferable to the baggers of today or so I have heard. If they can't get the C of C on board they are in trouble. Sinking Ship politics.