2016 - The Republican Kamikaze Mission

The term “Kamikaze” generally refers to suicide attacks by military aviators from Japan against Allied naval vessels in the closing stages of World War II, designed to destroy warships more effectively than conventional attacks. If you search the Wikipedia about the Kamikaze pilots of World War II you will find the following passage:

“These attacks, which began in October 1944, followed several critical military defeats for the Japanese. They had long since lost aerial dominance due to outdated aircraft and the loss of experienced pilots. On a macroeconomic scale, Japan suffered from a diminishing capacity for war, and a rapidly declining industrial capacity relative to the Allies. Despite these problems, the Japanese government expressed its reluctance to surrender. In combination, these factors led to the use of kamikaze tactics as Allied forces advanced towards the Japanese home islands.”

If the last few days and weeks have demonstrated anything, it is that the Republican Party in the United States has decided to turn their 2016 campaign into a political and electoral suicide mission. In that context the above referenced Wikipedia entry could easily be rewritten as:

“This obstruction at all costs , which began in December 2008, was further fuelled by critical defeats for the GOP over health care, and the 2012 Presidential race. They had long since lost cultural dominance due to outdated ideas and the loss of experienced and principled candidates On a macro-political scale, the GOP suffered from a diminishing capacity to win Nationally , and a rapidly declining relevance relative to the shifting demographics of the American population Despite these problems, the Base of the party expressed its reluctance to accept any adaptation.   In combination, these factors led to the use of kamikaze tactics such as Government shut downs, mindless filibusters of all nominees, wildly radical candidates, and demands that THIS President not be allowed to use the powers of the office outlined in the constitution.”

I have blogged at length about how the Republican Party is no longer the party of Reagan, Ford, Nixon or even George HW Bush let alone Abraham Lincoln. On the eve of the South Carolina primary the Republican party is poised to nominate as their standard bearer, either Donald Trump, Ted Cruz or Marco Rubio. I can only assume that the base of the GOP, so demoralized by having lost to President Obama twice; Has decided to go out in a blaze of crazy, and try to inflict as much damage as possible on their own Party and the nation in the process.

This week we see  the latest Zero to take off from the deck of the GOP. The demand that the President of the United States, with nearly a full year left in his term, not be allowed to nominate a candidate to fill the vacancy on the US Supreme Court, resulting from the tragic death of Justice Antonin Scalia over the weekend. The republicans feel that fact the United States Constitution clearly gives the President the duty to nominate justices to the high court can be completely ignored because they don’t like THIS President. 

Lets be clear, that is what this is about. The Republicans still can’t stomach the fact that they lost to Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012, They don’t believe he should be President, so they have done nothing but try to destroy his Presidency from day one.

The facts are appointments to the Supreme Court HAVE been voted on in an election year.  The facts are the Affordable Care Act (as imperfect a first step as it is,) is WORKING,  The facts are as President, Barack Obama has issued FEWER executive orders, and spent LESS time on vacation than any of his Republican predecessors.  Not to mention the guy was born in Hawaii and is a Christian.  

Facts, that in the face of which,  the base of the GOP has chosen to simply pretend reality doesn't exist, as they stick their fingers in their ears and yell "LA LA LA LA LA!!! I AM NOT LISTENING!!"  as loud as they can.

Instead the GOP's most faithful have decided to strap themselves to Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, and take a flaming nosedive at American Democracy.  Seeking to replace it with a right wing evangelical theocracy (Cruz), where being a Muslim is a crime (Trump) but not nearly as big a crime as being Gay or Lesbian (Rubio).  All while turning the entire American economy into a  funnel-up / Trickle-down dystopia where the top 1% have it all and everyone else battles it out for the nothing left over.

When the current crop of GOP Presidential contenders talk about "restoring America" what they mean is:  A country  where millions of Americans will once again have to choose between living in poor health or bankruptcy.  Where Civil Rights and Science are treated at an "attacks on religion" Where cities like Flint Michigan  face mass poisoning because it makes financial sense.   Where American men and women are disposable cannon fodder in an all new series of unending wars in the  Middle East  to either: 1) bring about the "end times" or 2)  get Oil back up above $100 a barrel.

Facing a world that is no longer is "all about them". Knowing that even legislative gerrymandering of Congressional Districts,( the GOP's great "firewall" to protect their Congressional majority), will inevitably fall to changing demographics. Unable to restrict voting rights for minorities outside of deep red states, the Republican Party has decided to go all in on Crazy.    

They see the choice for 2016 as literally victory or death for the GOP. They will win, or by gosh, they will destroy their own party while trying.

That my friends, is what the Republican Party in 2016 is offering to America.  A party that has lost its mind, sold its soul and has  a platform that is entirely based on insanity, hypocrisy and hyperbole.