GOP to greet Obama's second term with party's customary thoughtfulness and grace

Had Romney somehow managed to win the election, he might have passed a comprehensive immigration reform law (out of cynical political expediency, mind) and perhaps done much to correct the Latino electorate's rightfully disdainful view of Republicans. Romney, and by extension Republicans, would have also collected credit (wholly undeserved, mind) for the recovering economy. The Supreme Court appointments, the evisceration of health care reform, the coddling of corporations, the acceleration of wealth polarization and all the other horrible consequences of a Romney administration notwithstanding, the Republican Party would have, or could have, become a formidable political concern, going forward.

Instead, the party's thought leaders on Fox, talk radio and in the Tea Party House of Representatives, complaining that Romney was too moderate, will do all they can to drag the party further to the right, which is to say further into the political wasteland.

It sucks from an immediate policy standpoint. There is little if any reason to share the Democratic hope, expressed during the campaign, that the Republican "fever" will break after the election and that Republicans will be willing to compromise. Nevada Republicans Dean Heller and Joe Heck, who both won reelection while pretending to be moderates, have signed Grover's pledge. Heck in particular mustn't break it, lest he find himself facing a Todd Akin/Sharron Angle style challenger in a 2014 primary. Fiscal cliff? At this point, the kicking of a can down the road of which people always speak so derisively would be a significant achievement.

But  in time, on that and other issues the chances for progressive victories in the ongoing struggle to, you know, make the the world a better place, are immeasurably better as a result of the 2012 election, not just in Obama's second term, but beyond.

Comments

[Observer]

Many people have noted on the Internets that Sheldon Adelson gave away a frigging megaton of money, but in the end had very little to show for it.

[Gary Kilbride]

Any photo of a white person, frightened or otherwise, should be sized at 72%.

On Republican computers it will appear at 90%.

[mike schnee]

if you read this article from the "morning after" http://tinyurl.com/ahgp39t it's readily apparent that there's not a shot in hell of there being any self-awareness and or / reflection.

funny, too --- those blokes are always touting personal responsibility --- yet never ever take the step towards it.

[ColinFromLasVegas]

Welcome back, Gleanster. Enjoyed the article.

I just read an article that showed Karl Rove enjoyed a success rate of one percent on every $103 million dollars spent! This classifies him as a fraud, a buffoon and someone that cannot be trusted anymore. Watch Karl Rove's star fall from the sky and burn up in the atmostphere very soon.

It's too early to tell right now, but I see every indication that the Tea/Republican Party has not...changed.

They still want pundit losers like Dick Morris, Sarah Palin, Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity and that disgusting wreck of a human being Rush Limbaugh dictate their ultra-conservative agenda.

I really, really hope it continues too. Because the more they double down on the ultra-right wing nutball shit, the more their dumb political party is going to go downhill. The funny thing is it's not from outside sources. From within. They keep following this course of action where Fox News tells them what to do, it's self-destruction. Nobody to blame but themselves.

I am indeed happy that people are not letting the villainaires run this country. This election proved dirty angry money don't matter. Not when it's stacked up against boots on the ground, get out the vote efforts.

Lemme tell ya, Gleanster, it's gonna be music to my ears to hear both Sheldon Adelson and Steve Wynn both howling and screaming in frustration like disease ridden flea bitten desert coyotes on January 1, 2013 when they are gonna be forced to pay their fair share of income taxes after the hated Former President George W. Bush Jr. Tax Cuts For The Rich, The Filthy Rich, And The Obscenely Filthy Rich expire.

Because they can't do a fucking thing to stop it now.

[Observer]

Gleaner, I enjoy watching you and Elizabeth Crum analyze the events of the day, from the left and right respectively. 12:30 PM on the teevee, channel 3. I have to record it on the TiVo because I have - you know - a job. The TiVo describes the show as "Entertainment". Although given the state of politics, maybe a better word is "Science Fiction" or maybe even "Horror". After all, as Germany's Iron Chancellor, Bismarck, alleged said, "there are two things you never want to see being made: sausage and legislation".

[Oneetime Las Vegan, Back in New York]

Just noticed who won NV-4. I look forward to Danny Tarkanian's presidential bid in 2016 as the pinnacle of his Failing Upwards Tour.

[Observer]

Danny Tarkanian lost millions of dollars of his family's money in a real estate deal that went sour. Now the IRS wants $17M from him. It all could have been avoided if Tiny Tark had carried out his due diligence.

If that's what he did with his OWN money, what would he have with the public treasury???