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(CNN) -- Last month, two political scientists published one of those rare op-eds that gets the political community talking.
The thesis of the piece was contained in the title: "Let's just say it: The Republicans are the problem."
In case that was not clear enough, the authors elaborated: "We have been studying Washington politics and Congress for more than 40 years, and never have we seen them this dysfunctional.
The GOP has become an insurgent outlier in American politics. It is ideologically extreme; scornful of compromise; unmoved by conventional understanding of facts, evidence and science; and dismissive of the legitimacy of its political opposition.
When one party moves this far from the mainstream, it makes it nearly impossible for the political system to deal constructively with the country’s challenges
Originally posted by onthedownlow
I think what the left is refering to as extremism is just a skewed perception. The middle has moved so far to the left that mere republicans are called extremists now, not just the standard bearing conservative. We are in a serious battle over mainstream ideology, and the left is losing, soon the moderate liberals will be classified as right-wing extremists and the pendulum swing will make a correction that cuts deeper than any could ever imagine.
Originally posted by LDragonFire
Originally posted by onthedownlow
I think what the left is refering to as extremism is just a skewed perception. The middle has moved so far to the left that mere republicans are called extremists now, not just the standard bearing conservative. We are in a serious battle over mainstream ideology, and the left is losing, soon the moderate liberals will be classified as right-wing extremists and the pendulum swing will make a correction that cuts deeper than any could ever imagine.
What left? These opinions are from conservative authors? Are you so ingrained in the left right you can't see or comprehend whats written?
America witnessed this first hand during the budget crisis, when a small tea party group in congress was willing to let the Government fail or default based on political ideology.
"The GOP has become an insurgent outlier in American politics. It is ideologically extreme; scornful of compromise; unmoved by conventional understanding of facts, evidence and science; and dismissive of the legitimacy of its political opposition.
The piece drew its authority from the authors' identity: Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein, two of Washington's most veteran watchers of Congress. Both men have hard-earned reputations for nonideological independence of mind despite their institutional affiliations: Mann works at the liberal Brookings Institution, Ornstein at the conservative American Enterprise Institute. (Ornstein is a friend of mine, and was a colleague until I was given the heave-ho from AEI in March 2010.)
Now they have backed their provocative op-ed with a new book, "It's Even Worse Than It Looks: How the American Constitutional System Collided With the New Politics of Extremism."
The book backs the arresting op-ed with a battery of depressing research, substantiating their charge that congressional Republicans now act in a uniquely irresponsible way.
The debt showdown last summer was the ultimate case: congressional Republicans nearly forcing a default on the obligations of the United States to get their way on a budget agreement.
But the pattern manifests itself in almost all the business of government, down to the most mundane.
Newt Gingrich is a horror, always has been. Made my skin crawl from the moment I first saw his face and heard his voice.
From the day he entered Congress in 1979, Gingrich had a strategy to create a Republican majority in the House: convincing voters that the institution was so corrupt that anyone would be better than the incumbents, especially those in the Democratic majority.
How anyone who pays attention and who wants some sort of peace and workable compromise leading to future prosperity can watch this farce and still want the GOP in charge is really beyond me. It's truly frightening.
The GOP’s evolution has become too much for some longtime Republicans. Former senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska called his party “irresponsible”
And Mike Lofgren, a veteran Republican congressional staffer, wrote “The Republican Party is...becoming more like an apocalyptic cult, or one of the intensely ideological authoritarian parties of 20th century Europe,”
I can only hope the press takes heed...and that the editors in chief adopt this stance.
We understand the values of mainstream journalists, including the effort to report both sides of a story. But a balanced treatment of an unbalanced phenomenon distorts reality. If the political dynamics of Washington are unlikely to change anytime soon, at least we should change the way that reality is portrayed to the public.
...
In the end, while the press can make certain political choices understandable, it is up to voters to decide. If they can punish ideological extremism at the polls and look skeptically upon candidates who profess to reject all dialogue and bargaining with opponents, then an insurgent outlier party will have some impetus to return to the center. Otherwise, our politics will get worse before it gets better.
Originally posted by SaturnFX
I am sure this thread will go over well. Nice calm thoughtful posts no doubt
Anyhow, the loud minority traditionally has been ultimately ignored. Its odd that the right wing has decided to take their minority and push them right into the limelight.
Its akin to having peta and code pink (or the like) become the spokespeople for the democratic party...
never let extreme ends of any organization speak as if they are the all encompassing aspect.
But, it makes for good news commentary. So, ya..all about marketing and sensationalism. We are in a corpratocracy, and the political news is now just advertisements on the washington reality tv
Originally posted by jimmyx
"code pink" ??? here is what they stand for"
en.wikipedia.org...
ooohhh!!!...women that want to end the constant wars, and have that money spent here in the united states helping our own economy and it's citizens....oohh!!!!...what a diabolical plot!!!!!!
Originally posted by beezzer
reply to post by LDragonFire
Maybe I'm missing something here.
The thrust of the article appears to state that republicans are at fault because they aren't democrats.
That they didn't listen and capitulate towards liberal demands so they are at fault.
Will reread it again, just to make sure.
Originally posted by SaturnFX
Originally posted by jimmyx
"code pink" ??? here is what they stand for"
en.wikipedia.org...
ooohhh!!!...women that want to end the constant wars, and have that money spent here in the united states helping our own economy and it's citizens....oohh!!!!...what a diabolical plot!!!!!!
Hey, I got no issues with Code Pink. Their methods are obviously a bit loud and abrasive, but their message is tight.
Just, when you bring it up, the conservatives go into triple backflips in annoyance and outrage. Best not to use them as your mascot when trying to win over the middle..
again, good message, bad marketing.
Originally posted by onthedownlow
I think what the left is refering to as extremism is just a skewed perception. The middle has moved so far to the left that mere republicans are called extremists now, not just the standard bearing conservative. We are in a serious battle over mainstream ideology, and the left is losing, soon the moderate liberals will be classified as right-wing extremists and the pendulum swing will make a correction that cuts deeper than any could ever imagine.