General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Wow, maybe there is still hope-Washington Examiner columnist: "I am sickened to be a Republican" [View all]JHB
(37,160 posts)Russians didn't launch the Southern Strategy.
Putin didn't have Reagan launch his campaign with a speech about "states rights" in a place best known for the murder of civil rights workers.
Putin didn't put Rush Limbaugh on the air, nor make Newt Gingrich Speaker of the House.
Putin didn't make millions of people grind axes about, y'know, those people.
Putin didn't make George W. Bush treat a razor-thin election with clear signs of interference (by Republicans) like Daffy Duck at the genie's treasure ("MINE MINE MINE! GO GO GO! MINE MINE MINE!).
Vladimir Putin didn't whip up war fever over false pretenses just to launch a neoconservative pet project.
The GOP was the first victim of intransigent, compromise-loathing, brazen norm-breaking Movement Conservatives. Putin saw their success and decided to make it work for him instead. And, honestly, this sort of conservative have always been comfy with fascists, dictators, and banana republics. Their goals aren't all that far apart.