The paranoid mind has overtaken the GOP. The only way forward for conservatives is a new party.

I disagree. I believe that the pollsters and marketer and hidden "message crafters" have tapped into the most ignorant, stupid and angry part of our society and the politicians are reading from the provided party playbook. For the first time in a long, long time Republican Party Leaders have found an idea that they can crystalize a large number of voters that cut across numerous demographics - and they can pitch it. The idea is HATE.

Tap into the poor white HATE of blacks - "Libbie's are taking your money and giving it away to 'them people'"!
Tap into the HATE by the Religious Right - "Libbie's have been taking away your religious freedom for years"!
Double Tap in the HATE the so-called Christians of non-traditional gender discussions - "Libbies are going to make your kids gay and trans"!
Tap into the HATE of Hispanic immigrants - "Commie's are going to make your new country just like your old commie country"!!
And on, and on, and on.....

Who is the MESSIAH who can these forces of darkness?? Their Savior - Trump. A blessed, righteous man who God would never let lose an election to side of darkness. The Dark Servants MUST have stolen the election to thwart the will of the Righteous!!!

The Republican Party is following the same party politics that they always have, they have just found a message that appeals to far too many in this country. HATE. I would liken this more to rise of a certain political party in 1930's era Germany or even akin in some ways to how the Nobles used the poor and ignorant to topple the government of France than I would conceed that this is the Rise of the Paranoid Mind.

 

I was writting a similar post when yours popped up, you wrote it better, I'd just add ...

GOP is supported by poor people voting against their own interests so rich people can get tax cuts and companies can have less environmental regulations. That's pretty much all the republicans do anymore. Funny thing is, the studies show poor people are the most affected by pollution and NIMBY's. Well, that an write abortion laws that only affect poor people.... having babies makes you poorer and more reliant on the state. Of course middle class and rich people can easily travel to other states, get their abortions ... no problem. And if these states do start to try to arrest people for abortions outside of the state, as some apparently want to do, I'm willing to bet a wealthy person never gets charged. There is a reason why the Texas laws are written so that "people who assist women getting an abortion in other states" can have suits brought against them.... I mean, only poor people need assistance in getting to other states, middle class and above can easily travel on their own, so they are fine.

 

Not sure we have a chance of getting the Republican Party back. Back to what it once was - a party of ideas and policies, a party of bipartisanship. We need that but don’t think it comes back anytime soon. It’s regrettable because the country needs for the Rs to present viable alternatives again.

 

I’d be okay with a conservative party. The Republicans and Democrats are joined at the hip.

 

Why? Seems like running on paranoia/grievance is much more successful strategy for conservatives and achieving conservative policy than running on actual conservativism.

 

You see from the funny responses to posts such as this what you're dealing with: ignorant people who are unable to voice a cogent counter-argument.....just a "duh, funny".

 

After the outcome of the mid-terms, if truly a red wave, and legislation is not proposed as conservatives want, you may need to see another party. But if conservative ideas are put forward, I don't see another party taking off.

 

Now do the Dem party. Because if you are truly wanting to be down the middle, then show how far left the Dem party has gone. Otherwise this is just partisan garbage.

 

You really believe this drivel?

 

Yeah I don't think the GOP is salvageable as an actual rational political party in a democratic society. The election denialism is too extensive in the party. They've created an excuse (that Dems cheated to win the election) that rationalizes all of their anti-democratic actions to maintain power. If the GOP in its current state regains full power (executive and legislative, they already have the SC) I'm not sure our democracy survives that.

 

And them dems long ago unified their message around the offended and the oppressed. Everyone is offended. Everyone is oppressed. Neither party is worth anything. Both parties are only out for themselves and how much power they can gather. They do not care about the country or the citizens. We see it every day.
But everyone will take their appoint place on the chosen side and point fingers across the aisle and say shame shame shame.
Whatever.
Politicians are all garbage.

 

Yes, but not because anyone in the party believes it, they believe it is a winning strategy because the hate mongers, long repressed in our country do believe in it.

 

Obama planning an army of armed brownshirts at his disposal. Obama declaring martial law. Jade Helm. Democrats, including Hillary, operating a child sexual ring in tunnels underneath the streets of DC.
Do those count as paranoia?

How about this?
Marjorie Taylor Greene Claims 'Democrats Want Republicans Dead,' Have 'Started The Killings'

 

I have mixed feelings because I think there are at least two different aspects here to include means versus ends - or put another way, personality versus policy.

The GOP is changing, and I suppose that could be said of both parties during our history. Many Republicans no longer want to be seen as the country club party of educated "nice guys" like Bush and Romney, whom they see as being weak and too eager to negotiate. They will still push for tax cuts to help the rich, but they want to appeal to blue collar workers, religious voters, and other groups who feel marginalized and that they have lost cultural and political capital in recent years. Policy wise, Trump is a mainstream Republican. For example, I don't think Trump really changed the debate on immigration but he seized on that issue because he sensed a lot of anger about it on the right and made it a unifying issue.

Putting aside policy positions, there is also the cult of personality factor. We will probably see more candidates like MTG, Boebart, and Gaetz, but I still maintain that Trump is unique in terms of his background, his personality, his resources, his political skill, and the threat he poses. Others will try to mimic Trump. A few may be able to pull it off. But I simply don't think it's easy to plug other candidates into that mold. I'm convinced most Republicans in Congress know he lost the election and are scared of Trump and/or his most ardent supporters.

 

Democrats utilizing the WaPo as justification to analyze the Republicans…. What could go wrong????

 

I honestly do think I understand what you're saying here. But I will give you an example of my frustration with this sort of thing. I heard an argument (I think it was on Bill Maher) about how both sides are fighting to win the Victimhood Olympics or something to that effect. I thought to myself how women, racial minorities, and gays and lesbians, have actually been oppressed in modern history. The notion that American Christians, White men, or straight people are in an analogous situation to make the analysis at all comparable doesn't make any sense historically or ethically.

That's not to say it can't go too far - like when I saw White professors being threatened for not leaving a campus on a day students designated for students of color only. I didn't agree with that, but I don't think most Democrats are advocating that sort of extreme either. Obama cautioned young people not to let their "wokeness" get in the way of acknowledging advances and making practical progress. Biden has rejected de-funding the police and wants to give them even more money. The extremes get the headlines, but I don't think that's where the core of the Democratic party is.

 

But the Republicans are clearly there… right …following the extremes?
“Well your side is ACTUALLY doing this ..our side just kind of looks like it is doing it…
SMH

 

The intellectual degradation of discourse is mind-blowing.