- Joined
- Apr 18, 2013
- Messages
- 93,583
- Reaction score
- 81,661
- Location
- Barsoom
- Gender
- Male
- Political Leaning
- Independent
Where did the traditional GOP go?
Amen. The traditional Republican party has been hijacked by Steve Bannon's Alt-Right movement.
Dec. 20, 2017
“The great corporations …the State not only has the right to control them, but it is duty bound to control them” – Teddy Roosevelt
“Senator Jacob Javits (R-NY) introduced a bill to extend Medicare to all – retaining existing Medicare cost sharing and coverage limits.” – Wikipedia
We must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex.” – Ike
“Not all of those people were white supremacists by any stretch.” –Trump quote regarding Charlottesville racists
If a self-identified Republican believes in the philosophy exemplified by the first three quotes… and not the fourth… is he a RINO, a Republican in Name Only? According to many right-wingers, the answer is a resounding “yes”. But the situation is even more extreme than that in the GOP of Roy Moore. Here are the supposed top RINOs in the Senate per the Conservative Review: McCain, Murkowski, Collins, McConnell, Alexander, Cochran, Graham, Flake and Hatch. All of them support military expansion and corporate tax cuts. None support single-payer health insurance. So, why are they on the list? The answer is that the GOP is increasingly controlled by the very far right. These extremists will brook no dissent. You tow the line or Koch brothers-funded PACs will bring you down in primaries. Wouldn't it make sense for the GOP to moderate its positions? Yes, except for the extremist moneyed interests. Corporations exist to make profits… and must be regulated, in my opinion. Once upon a time, the majority of the GOP agreed with me. In 2007, only 40 percent of Republicans thought that there was overregulation of business. After the GOP’s rightward wing swing, 76 percent now believe that government overregulates. Massive amounts of lobbying money have gone to elect politicians pushing this position.
The original Medicare bill was approved by a majority of Republicans in the House, as well as 13 GOP Senators. Without this support from “RINOs,” Medicare would not have become law due to opposition from Southern Democrats. With 2 percent overhead – versus 12 percent private sector, Medicare should be expanded. Instead, Speaker Ryan is pushing Medicare/Medicaid cuts (2-28-17, CNN). Do moderate views make me a RINO? There are numerous other areas where it has become politically incorrect in the GOP to just do the right thing. With GOP support, Richard Nixon started the EPA, believing humans were responsible for climate change and pollution. Now, it is heresy to state facts rather than disingenuously saying "nobody knows.” In 1993, 47 percent of Republicans believed that it was more important to control guns than to protect the rights of Americans to own guns. Two decades later, only a fourth support gun control (Pew, 12-14). Per the Washington Post (8-12): “The quest for lower taxes does not define Republicanism until the 1980s, and matters of faith play almost no role in the GOP’s plank until the 1990s.” Now, we have accused child molester Roy Moore winning most white votes simply because he is anti-abortion. Plus, the GOPs plan to raise the deficit while giving tremendous tax cuts to the wealthy. And, “conservative” Ryan’s excuse: Voodoo economics will balance the budget. My position is that the shameful people currently heading the GOP are the RINOs. They need to leave, not me.
Amen. The traditional Republican party has been hijacked by Steve Bannon's Alt-Right movement.