You could see it as an opportunity for the opposition to get ahead of the incumbent. On one side you have the president, stuck with a hard job and not much time to campaign -- and no one to debate or grab camera-time with. On the other side, you have an eye-grabbing group of Republicans debating important policy points in interesting settings and with loudly cheering audiences.
Well, not exactly.
What we may be seeing is a year's worth of self-destruction on the part of Republicans and on camera. That's kind of what it comes down to, and the media are taking notice.
Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney may be on a path toward mutually assured destruction, and both are refusing to unilaterally disarm.
Gone from the race in Florida are the long-winded outlines of their plans to create jobs, cut the national debt and pull homeowners out of foreclosure. Gone are the policy-based condemnations of who is too moderate or whose tax plan too unrealistic.
They’ve been replaced by attacks that would make a kindergarten teacher call a foul: Gingrich says Romney is a liar; Romney says Gingrich is a failure.
Republican insiders worry it’s not just bad for party unity, but could sink the GOP’s electoral chances far beyond the presidential race. ...The Hill
Let's also notice that the Republican audiences have tended to assist in that self-destruction, cheering racist comments and state-sponsored executions. Many Americans watching the debates don't like what America has become or, above all, the kind of "conservatism" their party represents these days. And it's not just that they don't much care for it, they're changing their minds about how much of it they can tolerate.
“This has got to stop,” said Al Cardenas, the former chairman of the Republican Party of Florida and head of the American Conservative Union. “Either because someone very soon becomes the de facto nominee or because they agree to a truce on personal issues.”
As the political atmosphere has become more primal over the past few weeks, polls show President Obama expanding his spread over his potential November opponents, Cardenas said — and the correlation is not coincidental. ...The Hill
Republicans themselves have come to realize what Cardenas also notices: The party rejected Newt Gingrich years ago and with good reason. What does it say about the party that he's back as a major contestant in their presidential primaries?
“He was given the opportunity to lead our party. You’re right, he failed,” Romney said. “What happened four years later? Well, he was fined for ethics violations. He ultimately had to resign in disgrace.” ...The Hill
All this adds up to a curious sense of fizzle on the right.
“The big loser is everybody in the conservative movement,” said Cardenas. “The whole ticket — up and down the ballot.” ...The Hill
Probably the most important outcome includes what we may be seeing hints of now: a conclusive defeat -- death, absence of mourners, quiet burial -- of both extremism and narcissism on the right.
Over at American Conservative, the headlines suggest interesting questions being discussed by conservatives -- with some surprises. Like "Is Israel a Failed State?" And whether justice is working at Gitmo. And the "wreck of capitalism." Not to mention a defense of Bradley Manning.
And questions about the defense industry, for god's sake!
Aren't those the real debates we should be having?
They are eating their own and they have no one to blame but themselves.
I find it very ironic and satisfying, that it was Newt Gingrich who did more to promote fighting and bickering between the two parties. And now he is reaping what he sowed. A nasty party that goes after democrats but is turning the attack machine on each other.
What a poor parody of the party of Lincoln.
Posted by: Diane | January 30, 2012 at 01:42 AM