LF: Why the GOP Aims to Sink the Economy

"Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself."
~ Mark Twain ~

If our economy was the RMS Titanic, Republicans would be like an ambitious first mate, so eager to seize power from the captain that he steers the ship of state into an iceberg, thinking he'll take over when the captain goes down with the ship. Republicans have forgotten — or no longer care — they're on the boat too, and they're working very hard to ensure that the country will be nearly ungovernable should they succeed in seizing the reins of government.

If it seems like the White House is arranging deck chairs on the Titanic, the GOP is busy measuring the the captain's quarters for drapes, even as the ocean pours in. And the tea party orchestra plays on, with just one song on the playlist — "Under the Sea."

You can take your pick for the moment the GOP noticably went off the rails. I have two favorites: when it fell to Peggy Noonan to be the Republicans' voice of reason following Sarah Palin's VP nomination, and when David Brooks warned the GOP that it "may no longer be a normal party". Together, they're the political equivalent of Courtney Love showing up at your intervention and Charlie Sheen offering you a ride to rehab. But this Republican party isn't likely to heed such sane voices as Noonan and Brooks, and would just as soon throw them overboard.

The defining moment, as Carl Pope points out, is one that shows how disturbingly deep the GOP's current brand of crazy (that Noonan, Books and others are just noticing) runs, and how far back it goes.

Paul Krugman last week argued that commentators who are suddenly lamenting the "insanity" of the Republican Party are culpable, because they didn't call the craziness out when it began to surface. He's right, in the sense that the American Right began to unmoor itself from reality long before the Tea Party, or even Barack Obama's nomination. One of the lamentably ignored alarm bells came with an "undisclosed" Bush administration official who dismissed his opponents in 2002 on the grounds they were "reality based."
By that he meant "people who believe solutions emerge from study of discernible reality." The aide went on that "that's not the way the world works anymore. We're an empire, and when we act, we create our own reality."
While these comments generated a certain amount of mockery in the blogosphere, most political, economic, and media leaders shrugged it off. The obvious resonance with Fascist theories -- that "will" creates truth, rather than truth being an external reality to be determined -- alarmed far too few.

While GOP confidence in the ability of imperial "will" to reshape the politics and cultures of Iraq and Afghanistan has dimmed over the past nine years, the scope of their ambition has merely grown. Most recently the Right appears to believe that its desires can reshape the global bond markets, so that a U.S. default would become simply "short term volatility."

There have been other moments, and debt deal debacle has spawned some real jaw-droppers — like Sen. John McCain, fresh from blaming Arizona's forest fires on illegal immigrants — calling the GOP's game of chicken on the debt limit "foolish" and "bizarre." One that was brought to my attention this morning, was former Club For Growth vice president, Sen. Pete Toomey's interview with CNN's Ali Velshi.

OK. Let's just stop right there, shall we? Notice that there is no hesitation on Toomey's part when Velshi asks whether it would be worth it to close a few corporate tax loopholes to avoid default and the immediate cessation of about 40% of government spending. He says, "No," without even pausing to think about it. If the GOP's and the tea party's corporate funders can't keep their tax loopholes wide open, there's no deal.

Just to prove he's a reasonable man, Toomey proposed a partial shutdown that would keep Social Security checks and military paychecks flowing while everything else gets zeroed out. (I'm guessing this is the Michelle Bachmann legislation, which basically empowers the federal government to squeeze blood from turnips.) But it's not until you look at a list of what Toomey and the rest of his caucus are would rather see come to pass that you get a look at how deep this goes. Kevin Drum posted just such a list (borrowed from Megan McArdle) at Mother Jones.

Rule of Disinformation #15. Fit the facts to alternate conclusions. This requires creative thinking unless the crime was planned with contingency conclusions in place.

Rule of Disinformation #20. False evidence. Whenever possible, introduce new facts or clues designed and manufactured to conflict with opponent presentations as useful tools to neutralize sensitive issues or impede resolution. This works best when the crime was designed with contingencies for the purpose, and the facts cannot be easily separated from the fabrications.

Rule of Disinformation #18. Emotionalize, Antagonize, and Goad Opponents. If you can’t do anything else, chide and taunt your opponents and draw them into emotional responses which will tend to make them look foolish and overly motivated, and generally render their material somewhat less coherent. Not only will you avoid discussing the issues in the first instance, but even if their emotional response addresses the issue, you can further avoid the issues by then focusing on how “sensitive they are to criticism”.

It used to be the leftists that had bumper-stickers that said things like "Question Authority.' Today they follow slogans from 1984:

They blindly LOVE Big Brother. They believe competition, pride & profiting from ones labor, are evil things to be banished.

Stephen King observed, "The beauty of religion mania is that it has the power to explain everything... [so] logic can be happily tossed out the window.

This describes socialists. They will ignore logic and "common sense." They will ignore REALITY. Because THEY are religious zealots...

Never swear "allegiance" to anything other than the 'right to change your mind'!

You NEVER come up with anything original, always relying on the same DISINFO methods.

It used to be the leftists that had bumper-stickers that said things like "Question Authority.' Today they follow slogans from 1984:

They blindly LOVE Big Brother. They believe competition, pride & profiting from ones labor, are evil things to be banished.

Stephen King observed, "The beauty of religion mania is that it has the power to explain everything... [so] logic can be happily tossed out the window.

This describes socialists. They will ignore logic and "common sense." They will ignore REALITY. Because THEY are religious zealots...

"...all of the equations in neoclassical economics are rubbish. The differential equations describe nothing. Economics is not about mathematics, it is about the human being." Sandeep Jaitly

You wear rose-colored glasses... And ANYBODY that interferes with your delusions is to be attacked.

In other news, it seems middle-aged women from 40-69 are increasingly committing suicide... a bump of something like 48%!

It used to be the leftists that had bumper-stickers that said things like "Question Authority.' Today they follow slogans from 1984:

They blindly LOVE Big Brother. They believe competition, pride & profiting from ones labor, are evil things to be banished.

Stephen King observed, "The beauty of religion mania is that it has the power to explain everything... [so] logic can be happily tossed out the window.

This describes socialists. They will ignore logic and "common sense." They will ignore REALITY. Because THEY are religious zealots...

Obama's watch stopped on 24 May 2008, but he's been too busy smoking crack to notice.

So you have now resorted to stealing photo shopped pictures and captions from byeltsin now. Or maybe you are byeltsin.

In other news, it seems middle-aged women from 40-69 are increasingly committing suicide... a bump of something like 48%!

"...all of the equations in neoclassical economics are rubbish. The differential equations describe nothing. Economics is not about mathematics, it is about the human being." Sandeep Jaitly

Do you think Murron is the expression of Eric's inner woman? Maybe it's the other way around.

"...all of the equations in neoclassical economics are rubbish. The differential equations describe nothing. Economics is not about mathematics, it is about the human being." Sandeep Jaitly

It used to be the leftists that had bumper-stickers that said things like "Question Authority.' Today they follow slogans from 1984:

They blindly LOVE Big Brother. They believe competition, pride & profiting from ones labor, are evil things to be banished.

Stephen King observed, "The beauty of religion mania is that it has the power to explain everything... [so] logic can be happily tossed out the window.

This describes socialists. They will ignore logic and "common sense." They will ignore REALITY. Because THEY are religious zealots...

Having another conversation with your OTHER screen name, in a vain attempt to bolster yourself?

It used to be the leftists that had bumper-stickers that said things like "Question Authority.' Today they follow slogans from 1984:

They blindly LOVE Big Brother. They believe competition, pride & profiting from ones labor, are evil things to be banished.

Stephen King observed, "The beauty of religion mania is that it has the power to explain everything... [so] logic can be happily tossed out the window.

This describes socialists. They will ignore logic and "common sense." They will ignore REALITY. Because THEY are religious zealots...

Let's see....both you and Murron act like you are perennially on the rag for one, while always trying to out shout other posters in extra large fonts rather than present a reasoned argument for two. And you both Bozo others quite readily for three. And seem to have almost the exact same opinion on every issue for four and even use many of the same nasty phrases for five, and wish posters to commit suicide for six. Yep... it's entirely possible.

It's Obamas economy. Also, people that start off opinion pieces like that this are stupid, in this case,
Terrance Heath, Campaign for America's Future. Here he is in a less melodramatic moment...

"...all of the equations in neoclassical economics are rubbish. The differential equations describe nothing. Economics is not about mathematics, it is about the human being." Sandeep Jaitly

The author is a black, flaming homosexual and frequent guest to Obama's parties writing anti-GOP drivel.
Fair to point that out, I think.

Pointing out is one thing. Using it to obviate the observations made is another.

Poe was an opium addicted drunken pedophile but his writing is still as brilliant today as it was then.

"THE MILITIA IS COMING!!! THE MILITIA IS COMING!!!"
--Sarah Palin's version of "The Midnight Ride of Paul revere"

I forgot to add they are both totally lacking in the recognition of any insight into their own personal behavior, for seven.

Remember the white, homosexual, journalist/prostitute, right-wing nut who was a frequent visitor to the Bush White House?

"...all of the equations in neoclassical economics are rubbish. The differential equations describe nothing. Economics is not about mathematics, it is about the human being." Sandeep Jaitly

"If our economy was the RMS Titanic, Republicans would be like an ambitious first mate, so eager to seize power from the captain that he steers the ship of state into an iceberg, thinking he'll take over when the captain goes down with the ship."

But it's not until you look at a list of what Toomey and the rest of his caucus are would rather see come to pass that you get a look at how deep this goes."

I googled him because I wondered what kind of freak writes for Truth Out...he and his husband went to one Bush White House function and were "forced" to stand in the "lesbian tent".

"...all of the equations in neoclassical economics are rubbish. The differential equations describe nothing. Economics is not about mathematics, it is about the human being." Sandeep Jaitly

I googled him because I wondered what kind of freak writes for Truth Out...he and his husband went to one Bush White House function and were "forced" to stand in the "lesbian tent".

"THE MILITIA IS COMING!!! THE MILITIA IS COMING!!!"
--Sarah Palin's version of "The Midnight Ride of Paul revere"

I do remember the left wondering who the prostitute was visiting in the "family values" White House.

"...all of the equations in neoclassical economics are rubbish. The differential equations describe nothing. Economics is not about mathematics, it is about the human being." Sandeep Jaitly

Whgat I remember is "the left" laughing, again, at the blatant hypocrisy of the right.

"THE MILITIA IS COMING!!! THE MILITIA IS COMING!!!"
--Sarah Palin's version of "The Midnight Ride of Paul revere"

The hypocrisy on this thread isn't mine...
What do past scandals have to do with the factors that shaped Terrance Heath's poorly written "opinion"?

I also think it's a hoot that Honda and byeltsin are now posting some of the same photoshopped pictures with the same captions.

"...all of the equations in neoclassical economics are rubbish. The differential equations describe nothing. Economics is not about mathematics, it is about the human being." Sandeep Jaitly

Nothing. Nor does his homosexuality nor what tent he was forced into by the self-loathing closet sausage jockeys that populated the Bush administration.

Are you now ready to discuss his very valid premise which is that the GOP is focued on the election rather than getting anything done?

"THE MILITIA IS COMING!!! THE MILITIA IS COMING!!!"
--Sarah Palin's version of "The Midnight Ride of Paul revere"

Obama's watch stopped on 24 May 2008, but he's been too busy smoking crack to notice.

Obama has played at being a president while enjoying the perks … golf, insanely expensive vacations at tax-payer expense. He has ignored the responsibilities of the job; no plans, no budgets, no alternatives … just finger pointing; making him a complete failure as a president

So who you gonna' reply as, ming or loon? Or have you acquired MORE screen- names, to help bolster your vapid ideas...?

It used to be the leftists that had bumper-stickers that said things like "Question Authority.' Today they follow slogans from 1984:

They blindly LOVE Big Brother. They believe competition, pride & profiting from ones labor, are evil things to be banished.

Stephen King observed, "The beauty of religion mania is that it has the power to explain everything... [so] logic can be happily tossed out the window.

This describes socialists. They will ignore logic and "common sense." They will ignore REALITY. Because THEY are religious zealots...

Sure. You said, "So what?" Then switched gears to, "...prostitute was visiting in the "family values" White House."

So what, in deed. I brought up info on the author of this poorly written TruthOut article. How do prostitutes and family values fit into that?