'Nice' Conservatives Crying That Their Party's Lost Its Way Are Mostly Full Of S**t

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WHILE it's undeniable that the worst instincts and ambitions of the republican party are in full view these days, and amplified by the media promotion (and some voter identification) of their most extreme whack-jobs, I can't remember this fantastical time in history when republicans and their policies were devoid of the bigotry, racism, xenophobia, corporate love, and greed that's front and center today; prominent in this presidential election.

Without arguing individual motives and efforts of folks like D. Frum, A. Sullivan - and others, like A .Fleisher and J. Goldberg, who've criticized their party's ineptness or tone to some extent - it's transparent from their clinging to their party identification and support for republican candidates that the only thing they actually decry about their party is that they seem to be losing ground and losing elections with every unapologetic, divisive appeal - with every divisive, elitist policy they promote.

What gives the most rabid among republicans hope that someone outside of the mob of paranoid, frightened rabble that makes up their base is listening to their drivel this time around is their success in the last midterm freak-out where they managed to turn out their sour-grapes supporters to stick it to President Obama and take over the mouthpiece of the House.

However, the polling this election which shows very little traction gained by republicans off of a chronically ill economy is a clear repudiation of whatever message Americans are taking from the latest conservative agenda. It's as if the old bugaboos and whistles have lost their luster and din for voters outside of the narrow republican margin of support looking forward to November.

No matter to the Romney team, though (and the congressional campaign managers, as well) . . . Like conservatives pined for more bombs to drop on Vietnam in a vain attempt to steal victory out of the mouth of certain defeat, today's republicans - save for the recalcitrant ones embarrassed by the audacity of Mitt's and Ryan's mendacity - are angling to empty their arsenal of demagoguery onto the already slippery floor of their faltering presidential campaign to rescue Romney from a crushing November.

But, don't let the timid ones fool you. All they really wish for is that all of the blatant and open racism, bigotry, homophobia, sexism, xenophobia, corporate love, and greed that has always under-girded republican victories was, somehow, put back undercover - out of public perception - and that their party would get back to devising and employing those clever codes and whistles that masked their most fervent motivations to divide and conquer.

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[Proud Liberal Dem]

2. I feel the exact same way

I especially hate the so-called "moderate Republicans" whom decry the extremism but do nothing to really change things within the party and still vote the way the leadership wants- and/or simply retire only to be replaced by a teabagger. What I hate even more is the fawning coverage the GOP MSM gives them when they announce that they're retiring and how "principled" they are.

[wickerwoman]

3. Excellent point

and as much as I'd like to embrace converts, honestly if you were old enough to vote in 2004 and you voted for George W. Bush but you have a problem suddenly with Mitt Romney then I don't even know what to say to you.

Romney's pushing the same economic message the majority of the Republican party has been pushing since 1980 (and the same social message since the 1950s). He's just a particularly inept and craven spokesman for them.

[Surya Gayatri]

4. Very perceptive analysis--and sadly, only too accurate.

[Blue Owl]

5. They haven't lost their way -- they've lost their freaking minds.

Seriously.