Can the GOP Change?

[question everything]

Love this WSJ editorial:

Republicans in Congress are off to a less than flying start after a month in power, dividing their own conference more than Democrats. Take the response to President Obama ’s immigration order, which seems headed for failure if not a more spectacular crack-up.

(snip)

But immigration restrictionists wanted a larger brawl, and they browbeat GOP leaders into adding needless policy amendments. The House reached back to rescind Mr. Obama’s enforcement memos from 2011 that instructed Homeland Security to prioritize deportations of illegals with criminal backgrounds. That is legitimate prosecutorial discretion, and in opposing it Republicans are undermining their crime-fighting credentials. The House even adopted a provision to roll back Mr. Obama’s 2012 order deferring deportation for young adults brought to the U.S. illegally as children by their parents—the so-called dreamers. The GOP lost 26 of its own Members on that one, passing it with only 218 votes.

(snip)

Whatever their view of Mr. Obama’s order, why would Democrats vote to deport people who were brought here as kids through no fault of their own? Mr. Obama issued a veto threat to legislation that will never get to his desk, and he must be delighted that Republicans are fighting with each other rather than with him. Restrictionists like Sens. Ted Cruz and Jeff Sessions are offering their familiar advice to fight harder and hold firm against “executive amnesty,” but as usual their strategy for victory is nowhere to be found. So Republicans are now heading toward the same cul de sac that they did on the ObamaCare government shutdown.

If Homeland Security funding lapses on Feb. 27, the agency will be pushed into a partial shutdown even as the terrorist threat is at the forefront of public attention with the Charlie Hebdo and Islamic State murders. Imagine if the Transportation Security Administration, a unit of DHS, fails to intercept an Islamic State agent en route to Detroit.

So Republicans are facing what is likely to be another embarrassing political retreat and more intra-party recriminations. The GOP’s restrictionist wing will blame the leadership for a failure they share responsibility for, and the rest of America will wonder anew about the gang that couldn’t shoot straight.

More..

http://www.wsj.com/articles/can-the-gop-change-1423438126

[oldandhappy]

1. can -- yes, will -- no

There are lots of repubs who are sensible. But the far right element still has power. Until the party is willing to close the door on the far right, no progress will be made for that party.

[Thor_MN]

7. I don't think it can, as the far right has gained enough of a voice to tear the party apart.

The far right can not change - they irrationally believe, in spite of evidence, that only they hold the truth. The sensible Republicans don't hold enough power to eject the far right. The only choice for them is to try to hold the party together, as a split is instant annihilation.

[Cal33]

12. And I'd bet the vast majority of those who vote Republican haven't the slightest idea

of what's going on in this area - they know zilch. All they hear of their own Party is
the propaganda from the likes of Faux News and others of that ilk.

[msongs]

2. why should it? it controls congress and a majority of states. they think they are doing things

right...for them

[question everything]

3. I hope they should not

Let the voters wonder about their governing capabilities. And, perhaps, finally make the right choice.

[merrily]

5. Exactly.

[HappyMe]

11. Excellent point.

[Agnosticsherbet]

4. Why should they?

They ran the most do nothing Congress in history, and were rewarded by a bigger majority in the House and won the Senate.

From their point of view they were rewarded for their massive clusterfuck on the behalf of Americans.

The election told them that Americans really do want a stark Conservative government that does nothing.

Change doesn't happen because you get a reward. Change comes form getting your ass righteously kicked until a clue is knocked loose with a tooth.

They are going to pile the Clusterfuck higher until Washington DC collapses from its sheer mass.

[merrily]

6. Not only historic majorities in the house and Senate, but in states legislatures and

Governor's mansions as well.

[Agnosticsherbet]

13. Exactly. They are quite successful, so there is no impetus to change.

Unless Democrats win elections by getting their people out to vote in every election this will not get better.

[merrily]

17. Not to get too metaphysical, but IMO, Republicans succeed mostly when Democrats fail.

[Agnosticsherbet]

18. Republicans succeed when Democrats fail to vote.

The 2010 and 2014 voter turn out leaned heavily on older, whiter, more conservative voters. Democratic Voters under 40 and minority voters who voted in 2008 and 2014 did not show up at the polls in anything like their numbers during Presidential elections.

Republicans see their success only in terms of their actions. To them, they gave American voters who turned up at the polls exactly what they wanted.

We have a government elected by a majority of those who vote.

When voters fail to do their job, we all get screwed.

[merrily]

19. Also true. More Democrats vote when they are energized, though.

You can't expect GOTV to do in a few weeks what people failed in 2, 4 or 6 to do.

[Agnosticsherbet]

21. I motivate myself to vote. I don't need to be lead to the voting booth.

I look at the issues and decide who will best represent me because somebody must do the job and I want to have my say.

I vote in every election because I view it as a responsibility.

I have seen a number of threads where the complaint is that Democrats, or Reid, or Pelosi, or Obama, or some other person who holds that job just doesn't inspire people to vote or they didn't pass the right legislation.

We have a government that requires citizens be involved. When people choose not to involved themselves they get the crappy government they deserve.

[Cosmocat]

22. YEP!

well said.

I would add, they didn't "change" when they DID get their asses kicked in 06,08 and when BO won in 12 ...

So, yeah, why change when they WON elections?

[Agnosticsherbet]

23. Even when they lost, their complaint was that they were not conservative enough.

The only change they ever make is to get worse.

[DFW]

8. Of course they CAN change

They CAN all come onto the floors of the Senate and the House wearing identical green Kermit costumes, too.

I just don't see the likelihood of either one.

[SmittynMo]

9. GOP change? You're kidding, right?

It took me 1/2 hour to stop laughing at this post. (No offense intended)

These people will NEVER change. They are out to destroy democracy as we know it, and this country as a whole.

They support everything this country is against. It's almost like they came from another world, out to destroy everything, and leave no survivors. I trust them about as far as I can throw my house.

[question everything]

10. I know. This is why I enjoyed the WSJ

desperation.

Perhaps I should add that popcorn icon...

[kairos12]

15. Rethugs are the Neutron bomb of democracy. Destroy the people, leave the buildings standing.

[blkmusclmachine]

14. Party of NO!!!

[kairos12]

16. I think its like the Party of NOOOOOOOOOO-they have the country in a steep dive and wont

let go of the controls.

[Jamaal510]

20. They'll change

when their tycoons and handlers want them to.