By Daniel Rigney
In the months since November’s presidential election, Republican Party leaders seem to be turning their collective grief and anger back upon each other, setting off a ferocious melee among the party’s numerous factions.
Each day’s news brings fresh evidence that the party's conservative thought leaders are turning on one another and letting arrows of rancor fly that once were saved for the likes of socialists, Muslims, and climate scientists.
We can begin to see the outlines of an incipient Republican civil war emerging along multiple and cross-cutting battle lines. The old GOP establishment is lining up against upstart teabaggers. Social conservatives are standing firm against lifestyle libertarians. Militarists are pushing back against isolationists. Urbanites against small-town and rural folk. Hunters against gun fanatics on the semi-automatic right. Science advocates against science deniers. GOP environmentalists and conservationists against carbon conservatives. Log Cabin gays against their haters. Younger conservatarians against older generations. Modern-minded women against traditionalist (often older white Southern) men. Big-tent pluralists against monoculturalists. Pitchfork populists and religious evangelicals against a cynically secular financial elite. RINOs against dinosaurs. Moderates against immoderates. And as always, money against money.
In general, it’s a battle between the party’s near right and its far right, with no armistice in sight.
Future political historians may argue that the party’s current surge of self-destructive behavior began in the Republican primary campaigns of 2012, when presidential aspirants eviscerated each other in nationally televised debates and intraparty attack ads. The primary campaign of 2012, lavishly funded by wealthy political investors -- the Koch brothers (supporting Cain and Gingrich), Sheldon Adelson (Gingrich and Romney) and others -- spurred on the party's political mudders in the run for the Rose Garden.
The primary season saw one round after another of Republican self-abuse. Newt Gingrich attacked Romney for his knowledge of the French language, and for having the gall to perform shameless francophonic acts in public. Ron Paul, when asked why his campaign had run an ad calling Rick Santorum a “fake,” replied flatly, "because he's a fake!" (Santorum was seated next to him at the time.) The elevation of Republican discourse went downhill from there.
Fresh and abundant new signs of Republican self-destruction are everywhere to be seen in the days since the November elections. Did you miss any of these post-election stories?
John McCain Calls Ted Cruz, Rand Paul 'Wacko Birds'
Bobby Jindal Calls Republicans ‘Stupid Party’; Donald Trump Recoils
Michelle Malkin Takes Aim at Bill O'Reilly, Who Fires Back
Donald Trump Calls Michelle Malkin a 'Dummy'; Malkin Calls Trump a ‘Fraud’
Joe Scarborough Rips John McCain and Ted Cruz for Embarrassing Handling of Hagel Nomination
Joe Scarborough Slams NRA's Wayne LaPierre for Racialized Op-Ed
Chris Christie Blasts 'Reprehensible' NRA Ad
Gov. Susan Martinez (R-NM) Criticizes Romney's Immigration Campaign Rhetoric
Rand Paul Has News Flash for Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh on Immigration Reform
Sen. Lisa Murkowski Becomes Third Republican Senator to Criticize GOP's War on Women
Conservative Policy Wonks Criticize Paul Ryan's Budget
Rick Perry Breaks with GOP Establishment, Blasts McCain and Romney at CPAC
Michael Steele Chastises Rush Limbaugh for Racist Remarks
NJ Gov. Chris Christie Slams John Boehner, Republicans
You Disgust Me, Christie Tells Boehner
In a related story, former president Ronald Reagan, giver of the G.O.P.’s legendary Eleventh Commandment (“Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican”) is reported to be turning dejectedly in his grave.
Note: Readers who disliked this post may also dislike Ten Republican Wars of 2012.
Danagram
: Pissing against the hurricane since 2011
In the months since November’s presidential election, Republican Party leaders seem to be turning their collective grief and anger back upon each other, setting off a ferocious melee among the party’s numerous factions.
Each day’s news brings fresh evidence that the party's conservative thought leaders are turning on one another and letting arrows of rancor fly that once were saved for the likes of socialists, Muslims, and climate scientists.
We can begin to see the outlines of an incipient Republican civil war emerging along multiple and cross-cutting battle lines. The old GOP establishment is lining up against upstart teabaggers. Social conservatives are standing firm against lifestyle libertarians. Militarists are pushing back against isolationists. Urbanites against small-town and rural folk. Hunters against gun fanatics on the semi-automatic right. Science advocates against science deniers. GOP environmentalists and conservationists against carbon conservatives. Log Cabin gays against their haters. Younger conservatarians against older generations. Modern-minded women against traditionalist (often older white Southern) men. Big-tent pluralists against monoculturalists. Pitchfork populists and religious evangelicals against a cynically secular financial elite. RINOs against dinosaurs. Moderates against immoderates. And as always, money against money.
In general, it’s a battle between the party’s near right and its far right, with no armistice in sight.
Future political historians may argue that the party’s current surge of self-destructive behavior began in the Republican primary campaigns of 2012, when presidential aspirants eviscerated each other in nationally televised debates and intraparty attack ads. The primary campaign of 2012, lavishly funded by wealthy political investors -- the Koch brothers (supporting Cain and Gingrich), Sheldon Adelson (Gingrich and Romney) and others -- spurred on the party's political mudders in the run for the Rose Garden.
The primary season saw one round after another of Republican self-abuse. Newt Gingrich attacked Romney for his knowledge of the French language, and for having the gall to perform shameless francophonic acts in public. Ron Paul, when asked why his campaign had run an ad calling Rick Santorum a “fake,” replied flatly, "because he's a fake!" (Santorum was seated next to him at the time.) The elevation of Republican discourse went downhill from there.
Fresh and abundant new signs of Republican self-destruction are everywhere to be seen in the days since the November elections. Did you miss any of these post-election stories?
John McCain Calls Ted Cruz, Rand Paul 'Wacko Birds'
Bobby Jindal Calls Republicans ‘Stupid Party’; Donald Trump Recoils
Michelle Malkin Takes Aim at Bill O'Reilly, Who Fires Back
Donald Trump Calls Michelle Malkin a 'Dummy'; Malkin Calls Trump a ‘Fraud’
Joe Scarborough Rips John McCain and Ted Cruz for Embarrassing Handling of Hagel Nomination
Joe Scarborough Slams NRA's Wayne LaPierre for Racialized Op-Ed
Chris Christie Blasts 'Reprehensible' NRA Ad
Gov. Susan Martinez (R-NM) Criticizes Romney's Immigration Campaign Rhetoric
Rand Paul Has News Flash for Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh on Immigration Reform
Sen. Lisa Murkowski Becomes Third Republican Senator to Criticize GOP's War on Women
Conservative Policy Wonks Criticize Paul Ryan's Budget
Rick Perry Breaks with GOP Establishment, Blasts McCain and Romney at CPAC
Michael Steele Chastises Rush Limbaugh for Racist Remarks
NJ Gov. Chris Christie Slams John Boehner, Republicans
You Disgust Me, Christie Tells Boehner
In a related story, former president Ronald Reagan, giver of the G.O.P.’s legendary Eleventh Commandment (“Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican”) is reported to be turning dejectedly in his grave.
Note: Readers who disliked this post may also dislike Ten Republican Wars of 2012.
Danagram
: Pissing against the hurricane since 2011
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