I would welcome a return of rational Republicans. Loyal opposition and all that. And rational.

[pinto]

The RW extremists have infused their party with bizarre agendas, obstructionism for obstructionism's sake, endless political side tracks, etc. We've seen plenty of it. Showboating at the local, state and federal levels. That's all they've shown in their position as a majority in the House and a minority in the Senate.

Yet I'm old enough to remember a rational wing of the Republican party that was actually interested in getting the job of politics done. And to do that they had to engage with Democrats on the merits of proposals. Voice their objections in the process of legislation. And in due course come to an often awkward consensus to support the bigger role of a political system.

The Dem's have taken similar established paths to promote a Democratic point of view and propose actions to support them. Yet our representatives have not promoted undermining the process, in and of itself. There's a big difference there, imo.

Today's (R) party is fostering a dangerous approach to governing. Some openly disavow any positive role of the democratic process at all. Ironically, they were elected to support that process yet seem bent on undermining it all. Some of their extreme partisans among the general public have heard and support that message. That does not bode well.

[jwirr]

1. I actually remember those good old days. However, I do not think they will ever be back. As long as

corporations are powerful enough to own our government there will be no rational Rs.

[pinto]

2. Yeah, may well be the case. I hold out some hope for a crack in that wall.

And hope whoever becomes the "loyal opposition" has a take on the history.

[Gothmog]

3. In Texas, the nut jobs have taken over the GOP

The Texas GOP is now controlled by total nut jobs who are scary

[Sunlei]

4. For some reason those few Republicans are terrified,quiet & stay away from todays angry Rwingers.

They're afraid to even speak on any real issue in a positive way.

[SharonAnn]

5. And yet, they still vote Republican. Even when they disavow all the nutjob, right-wing, legislation

[elleng]

6. Yes, please.

[CTyankee]

7. gone and long forgotten. ACK...

[blkmusclmachine]

8. The rational GOP ain't ever coming back. The rational ones will just become Blue Dog "New Democrats"

[BlueDemKev]

10. You're right

[BlueDemKev]

9. So would I, but we all know that's never going to happen.

Republicans today are nothing but wide-eyed extremists who couldn't care less about the facts and believe whatever Rush Limbaugh, Herman Cain, and Sarah Palin tell them.

[Cracklin Charlie]

11. Sadly enough,

I don't believe they have it in them.

[tuhaybey]

12. social conservatism is inherently non-rational

Economic conservativism has been proven to be wrong by history many times. For example, look at the GDP performance of the parties. But, it is still a potentially "rational" position. There are logical arguments one could make about why the data isn't representative of future outcomes or whatnot. There is theory underlying conservative economics, even economists have generally walked away from it at this point.

Not so with social conservatism. Social conservatism is fundamentally an emotional response, not a logical position. They don't like difference. That's all that is. The thin rationalizations, such as the idea that society gets wobbly if it changes too fast, have no basis in fact at all and frankly, that isn't really what conservatives are thinking, that's just how they try to rationalize it. Showing a conservative that, for example, homosexuality isn't causing some kind of external harm to society doesn't dissuade a social conservative from opposing gay rights. The homosexuality itself is the "harm" in their view. They just don't like it, so they oppose it. That has nothing to do with rationality. It isn't even incorrect, it just doesn't even get measured on that scale any more than a view that gummy bears are "icky" or whatever.