Reporter, editor, bon vivant, and all-around douchebag Robert Stacy McCain has yet another in what promises to be an infinitely extended series of ludicrous explanations for why the GOP is currently a-swirl in the porcelain Maelstrom: Insufficent Doctrinal Purity on Anti-La Raza Demagoguery.
One of the big reasons for the 2006 disaster was that John McCain's amnesty bill alienated many blue-collar voters who had been voting Republican in recent elections. Yet not only did McCain try to pass amnesty again in 2007, but then the Republican Party nominated the La Raza-loving author of this anti-American legislation as its 2008 presidential candidate.
It was President Bush himself who, in January 2004, proposed guest-worker status and amnesty for "undocument workers." In his second term, Bush pressured Republicans in Congress to support such legislation. No doubt other factors are involved in the collapse of the GOP coalition, but it's imp0ssible to ignore the role of Bush, McCain and amnesty in this disaster.
Yeah, there really is no doubt about that, since there is absolutely no evidence that "blue-collar voters" were ever especially worked up over the "amnesty" legislation. ("Illegal immigration" does not poll well, duh, but that's different from the question of support for the legislation -- see especially in that last link the November 2007 LA Times/Bloomberg poll). More to the point, there is no evidence that immigration is much on the minds of American voters at all.
Everyone hates the war because it's been a pointless disaster, and the GOP has run the economy into the shitter, and Greater Wingnuttia has nothing to offer as far as answers except dumbass demagoguery. Their chief error lies in their ridiculous belief that their pet obsessions resonate with anyone but their own captive audience of intellectual shut-ins, moral cripples, and policy-ignorant fuckheads.
If you look at the majority of issues/legislation that gets The Base fired up, it's always about doing something to someone or taking something away from someone. In essence, "We want legislation that makes someone else's life more difficult or miserable!" Immigration, gay marriage, Iraq, Iran, etc. - it's all based on a cliquish bullyism. When it's legislation that affects the entire population? Dullsville, Daddy!
It's like they can't stand the thought that someone different might get ahead or improve their station in life. Economic, racial, nationalist, sexual Puritanism, with an epic record of legislative failure (Iraq may be the exception to the record). Oh, and taxes... don't forget taxes.
That some of these people claim to be followers of Christ makes my skin crawl, frankly. (I make no such claim, for the record.) They really are children - morally retarded, socially underdeveloped children who view Life in America as nothing more than a pathetic round of Keep Away, taunting and mocking and denigrating anyone who's not part of their He Man (pick your group) Haters Club.
Posted by: Ripley | May 14, 2008 at 05:27 PM
No doubt other factors are involved in the collapse of the GOP coalition...
Gee, this guy is perceptive. Maybe his next thundering insight will be the possible correlation between McCain representing a state that borders Mexico, and his lack of enthusiasm for the Star-Spangled Berlin Wall.
Posted by: Bitter Scribe | May 14, 2008 at 05:32 PM
This is akin to seeing a house on fire and complaining that the back door is unlocked.
Posted by: Jay B. | May 14, 2008 at 05:41 PM
Cripples? Shut-ins? Is it 1950's day?
Posted by: chiggins | May 14, 2008 at 06:27 PM
Cripples? Shut-ins? Is it 1950's day?
Hmmm?
Posted by: Thers | May 14, 2008 at 07:08 PM
"intellectual shut-ins, moral cripples, and policy-ignorant fuckheads"
Pretty much describes the GOP, doesn't it?
Posted by: DrDick | May 14, 2008 at 07:40 PM
the morally differently abled sounds way better Thers.
Posted by: Jay B. | May 14, 2008 at 08:21 PM
Their chief error lies in their ridiculous belief that their pet obsessions resonate with anyone but their own captive audience of intellectual shut-ins, moral cripples, and policy-ignorant fuckheads.
Yeah, but it's not entirely their fault. For fifteen years we've had the corporate media telling us how the GOP's pet obsessions -- the three Gs -- resonate with the heartland. So you can't entirely blame the party's mentally challenged 'intellectuals' for believing it.
Posted by: flory | May 14, 2008 at 11:23 PM
personally, I think this idiots screed really deserves a wider reception. maybe as an op-ed in el Diario, or Noticias. a guest spot on Telemundo?
the more the toads rail against Amnesty, and McBush has to wiggle and giggle, the better Obama's electoral prospects will be in NM, CO, and NV.
Posted by: mrs. ibrahim al-jafaari | May 15, 2008 at 12:15 AM