Right-Wing Extremists Now Define the Republican Party

"If the Republicans ever want to regain power in America, they will have to shed the extremist label, as Americans now see them.   We are a middle-of-the-road nation, perhaps leaning ever so slightly toward the left of center.  To be viable in 2010, Republicans should remember this point well."   ~ B. Herzog

I agree.  I hope they find their voice, because the embattled Michael Steele doesn't seem to have their mandate any more.  The party seems to be fragmented and they haven't found a 'center' around which large numbers of people can rally.  It has been that way ever since McCain chose Palin for VP and later trashed her.

I am not in favor of the current one-party system. It skews the necessary checks and balances safeguards.

And here is a smattering of quotes on the subject for your collective amusement:

Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.  ~Richard Armour

 There are many men of principle in both parties in America, but there is no party of principle.  ~Alexis de Tocqueville

Under democracy one party always devotes its chief energies to trying to prove that the other party is unfit to rule - and both commonly succeed, and are right.  ~H.L. Mencken, 1956

The Democrats are the party that says government will make you smarter, taller, richer, and remove the crabgrass on your lawn.  The Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work and then they get elected and prove it.  ~P.J. O'Rourke

 Every two years the American politics industry fills the airwaves with the most virulent, scurrilous, wall-to-wall character assassination of nearly every political practitioner in the country - and then declares itself puzzled that America has lost trust in its politicians.  ~Charles Krauthammer

There are always too many Democratic congressmen, too many Republican congressmen, and never enough U.S. congressmen.  ~Author Unknown

Politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich, by promising to protect each from the other.  ~Oscar Ameringe

Politicians say they're beefing up our economy.  Most don't know beef from pork.  ~Harold Lowman

The Democrats seem to be basically nicer people, but they have demonstrated time and again that they have the management skills of celery.  They're the kind of people who'd stop to help you change a flat, but would somehow manage to set your car on fire.  I would be reluctant to entrust them with a Cuisinart, let alone the economy.  The Republicans, on the other hand, would know how to fix your tire, but they wouldn't bother to stop because they'd want to be on time for Ugly Pants Night at the country club.  ~Dave Barry

If we got one-tenth of what was promised to us in these acceptance speeches there wouldn't be any inducement to go to heaven.  ~Will Rogers

 When buying and selling are controlled by legislation, the first things to be bought and sold are legislators.  ~P.J. O'Rourke

The only difference between the Democrats and the Republicans is that the Democrats allow the poor to be corrupt, too.  ~Oscar Levant

Here is a fitting quote.

"Propaganda proceeds by psychological manipulations, character modifications, by creation of stereotypes useful for when the time comes, the two great routes that this sub-propaganda takes are conditioned reflex & the myth" - Jacques Ellul.

 Have one on me Bob.

 I am confused here Bob. I do not watch Glenn Beck so I am not defending him. I do wonder however if he is saying that Pres. Obama does not like white people he would be calling him a racist according to you, correct? And if him calling Pres. Obama a racist  makes him a racist according to you, then doesn't you calling Beck a racist also make you a racist? Further if Becks actions rubs off on the Republican party wouldn't your actions rub off on the Democratic party as well? I am not taking sides on this I am just making an observation mainly. Can you clear this up for me Bob?

Hello Bard... Thanks for the comment.  We do agree, I think, America is best when we have at least two viable political parties.  Personally, I would like to see more than two, but that is not our system.  

Hey Richard and Braveheart ... Thanks for your comments.

Hello Andersobrent... Thanks for your comment.  In answer to your first question.  No, I did not make a racist statement as did Beck.  "Obama hates white people."  That's Beck's statement not mine.  He is a professional TV person he said it and It was not a slip of the tongue.  I can see racist behavior and call it what it is.  That does not make me a racist.  In answer to your second question... Since I don't think I'm a racist, it cannot rub of on anything.  No matter, however, few if any people in the Democrat Party are really listening to me.  So, I doubt what I say will make a difference anyway.   

Trust me, I'd like to see at least half a dozen.  I don't think that will happen due to the constraints of financing a presidential campaign without Big Business or Unions behind you.  Very sad for this country, imo.

I still do not see how him saying that Obama hates white people is a racist comment. If he had said something about  Pres. Obama because he was black then I would agree that was a racist comment.  I do not really know one way or another how the President feels about white people. But if I thought that he did not like white people and I had specific reasons I do not think that would make me a racist, because I would not judge a whole race over how I feel about one person. So is there more that Glenn Beck said than Obama hates white people that makes you feel he is racist? Like I said I do not watch him and only ever heard of him yesterday so I will take you at your word if you say there is more. But if there is I would like to know what so that I can get on board with what you say.

Because Beck is deliberately creating the impression that Obama himself is a racist, the idea is that Beck is playing a reverse racism card.   I think that is what gives his statement the flavor of racism.

Glenn Beck seems to create more heat than light.  I prefer people who deal more calmly with facts, like Tom Brokaw or Brian Williams.

Well said Bard.... Thanks for the clarification.

I want to see a Republican recovery.  If they don't, the Democrats will have far too much power to be healthy for this country, no pun intended.  I don't mean to diss the Dems, I just want a healthy balance.

If the Republicans can't broaden their base, I would like to see another party step into the gap.  Which one could pull it off, I don't know, but I hope one does.