Two well known scholars, Thomas Mann of the Brookings Institution and Norman J. Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute, have recently published a book and authored articles criticizing the Republican Party for the stalemate in the 112th Congress.
The Republican Party is blamed for its refusal to hold members of their party in Congress accountable for their wild statements; is seen as totally against compromise; refuses to accept facts, evidence and science; lacks respect for the legitimacy of the opposition party and its members; and is so far outside the mainstream as to be alarming for any hope of accomplishment of any goals or programs!
The two people most responsible for this extremism are former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, and Grover Norquist of the Americans for Tax Reform. But also the filibuster has been abused in the Senate, and prevented many executive branch appointments from being confirmed, both in the government agencies and in the court system.
The reaction to Roe V. Wade after 1973 mobilized social conservatives, while the tax revolt in California in 1978 mobilized anti tax activists. Also, the South turned conservative Republican after the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s; and the rise of conservative talk radio, and the growing impact of Fox News on cable, also had a great impact on what has become a growing stalemate and gridlock.
Health care reform, climate change, economic recovery, deficits, and debt issues have become a chasm between the two major political parties. Polarization has become the norm, and is a dangerous trend which may continue, if the voters again send a confusing message of a divided Congress in the 2012 Congressional elections. The Tea Party movement, if it grows, will further create conflict at a time when we need negotiation and compromise!
This assessment is extremely worrisome, as it means that our national government may be totally paralyzed, when we need true statesmen in both parties dealing with our important national agenda!
I like the football analogy Ornstein used to compare where the two parties stand on compromising on the issues:
“When you look at the data, including voting records … the Democrats have moved left, to probably their own 25 yard line. President Obama’s probably around the 40,” said the American Enterprise Institute scholar. “The Republicans have moved behind their own goal post.”
Yes, I agree with you, Paul! It was a brilliant analysis of the GOP and the political situation today!
Hello Professor,
This is a subject that really hits home with me. The Republican Party’s Leadership’s lack of responsibility of calling out those members of the Party in Congress and Senate on their accountability for any “Wild Ass Statements†on the floor of the House or Senate is despicable. We as a Party were once better than this.
Whatever is said today is to be “Blind Eyed†tolerated so long as it is derogatory against the President. The attitude of “NO Positive Credit†should be admitted or offered to anything the President has done well in this last four years is the standard today.
These self-consuming “Parasitic Ideals†have just digressed to the Gush Limblob’s tactics of “Any Hateful Bull Shit†slinging that is only sucking the “Positive Life Blood Viewpoints†out of this Nation.
This of course is just the voice of desperation because they really have nothing constructive or any positive solution to put forth to address the current problems of today. Very Freudian exposing to those of us who can recognize the “Tell-Tale Signs.â€
Again, no argument here with what you are saying!
The day President Obama was inaugurated, Republicans were meeting to set their agenda of a unified strategy of opposing, obstructing, discrediting and nullifying every piece of legislation and proposal from the Democrats and especially anything Obama supported. The Republican party sat this one out, refused to engage or promote anything that would help Americans…except of course big corporations and wealthy. They continued their dispicable strategy of hostage taking instead of acting like statesmen and toward rebuilding our economy. I would ask those who still want republicans to win to explain how they can continue to support a party that is determined to block constructive action for a recovery just so they can blame President Obama and grab back power? The voting base of the republican party continue to elect a group of people who are totally unwilling and in fact incapable of compromise to create solutions to the pressing problems of the US. They want to blame Preisdent Obama for not magically fixing the economy, yet they ignore the obstruction of their own party.