Has the GOP lost all of their sanity?

[Republic of Coldwater]

The GOP has gone through various changes throughout their history. From a Hamiltonian party which stood for a strong federal government and the union, to the party of populism and free blacks in reconstruction, before moving to be the party of free-markets in the 20s, to the party of moderates up until the 80s and 90s, and in the 2010s, the GOP is in a new era, where incredibly energetic and bombastic, or completely comical individuals are leading national polls in the GOP nomination. Many of these comical, or completely bombastic candidates include unelectable people such as Donald Trump and Ben Carson.

Even though its very likely that both of them will be decimated in the general election, the electorate loves them, and if trends continue, one of the two will become the Republican Presidential candidate. On the other hand, reasonable and intelligent people are relegated or scared from running. The most prominent being Jon Huntsman, who the Obama campaign was the most fearful of in the 2012 election. Now, he is lamenting about a third party and has literally been scared from running for office in 2016.

Has the GOP lost their sanity? Have they given up their odds of being elected for the sake of their comical relief?

In my opinion, the GOP has grown insane, and is consistently going for the weirdest or seemingly most belligerent, but not necessarily the most likable or electable candidate. The GOP hates people like Jon Huntsman or Rand Paul, who would cross over most of the moderate vote, and help win the general, and replaces them with people like Donald Trump or Ben Carson, who will likely bring the end to the GOP as a whole. The GOP, whilst having the establishment and the opposition is no longer about establishment and opposition, very insane vs not insane, and unfortunately, the sane element of the GOP is dying out, fast.

[Dumb Ideologies]

The party needs a thorough detox to get all the tea out of its system.

[The Holy Therns]

The party needs a thorough detox to get all the tea out of its system.

Teatox.

[Ashmoria]

well it may be crazy on a national level but it is dead serious sane on a state and local level.

[Mienon]

The whole political system is screwed up. Targeting to GOP in particular isn't really appropriate.

[Tinfect]

Ideally, we could replace both established parties with ones that actually have political motivations that go beyond 'stay in power and make money'.

[Greater Istanistan]

They're clearly not insane, or the hard right wouldn't have the House of Representatives firmly by the balls. Their strategy of putting up angry whackjobs works very well for picking up states. As for the Presidency, the Trump Legion was insane long before this cycle. The GOP ain't insane - but their most dedicated voters? Hell yes.

[Glorious KASSRD]

The common people? No, they're mostly fine. The candidates and a Fox News though, they've gotten worse.

[Ostroeuropa]

The GOP has gone through various changes throughout their history. From a Hamiltonian party which stood for a strong federal government and the union, to the party of populism and free blacks in reconstruction, before moving to be the party of free-markets in the 20s, to the party of moderates up until the 80s and 90s, and in the 2010s, the GOP is in a new era, where incredibly energetic and bombastic, or completely comical individuals are leading national polls in the GOP nomination. Many of these comical, or completely bombastic candidates include unelectable people such as Donald Trump and Ben Carson.

Even though its very likely that both of them will be decimated in the general election, the electorate loves them, and if trends continue, one of the two will become the Republican Presidential candidate. On the other hand, reasonable and intelligent people are relegated or scared from running. The most prominent being Jon Huntsman, who the Obama campaign was the most fearful of in the 2012 election. Now, he is lamenting about a third party and has literally been scared from running for office in 2016.

Has the GOP lost their sanity? Have they given up their odds of being elected for the sake of their comical relief?

In my opinion, the GOP has grown insane, and is consistently going for the weirdest or seemingly most belligerent, but not necessarily the most likable or electable candidate. The GOP hates people like Jon Huntsman or Rand Paul, who would cross over most of the moderate vote, and help win the general, and replaces them with people like Donald Trump or Ben Carson, who will likely bring the end to the GOP as a whole. The GOP, whilst having the establishment and the opposition is no longer about establishment and opposition, very insane vs not insane, and unfortunately, the sane element of the GOP is dying out, fast.

This is because of Gerrymandering.
Republicans rigged their districts and boundaries to ensure safe seats.

Problem was, once they did that, all the moderate and liberal republicans were suddenly in constituencies where the "Centre-Right" was now LEFT WING COMMUNIZM! and the Right Wing were centrists, with the far right being a sizable portion of the constituents.

Because they gerrymandered, they shifted to the right considerably and were no longer moderated by the presence of democrats. In an echo chamber, crazy shit gets said.
Republicans made it so that their candidates can say utterly batshit things and still be elected.
This caused a feedback loop where more and more republican voters start listening to batshit politicians saying batshit things, and themselves drift further and further to the right until they drop off the scale and become loony toon characters.
It's not all of the republican voters, certainly not. The traditional constitutency of Eisenhowers, Nixonians, and Goldwaters is still there. It's just drowning beneath a wave of fundamntalist right wingers.

*shrug*

They are reaping what their corrupt politicians sowed. The gerrymandering is leading to the death of the party from putting itself inside a hugbox, and so they cannot appeal to many new voters. They'll slowly die off.

[Kincoboh]

Apparently its worked well enough for them to be batshit crazy, considering they hold a majority in state representatives, governorships, federal representatives and the senate. I seriously doubt that the Republicans will see the White House until they get rid of the crazy, though. Even compromise candidates like Marco Rubio (who I think will ultimately get the presidential nomination) will be unable to be president. Hillary Clinton is no crazy socialist, but she is seen as much more moderate and acceptable to a majority of Americans, compared to the current crop of Republican batshitters that we see now.

[Diopolis]

Sanity is not a common trait of a two party system.

[Ashmoria]

The GOP has gone through various changes throughout their history. From a Hamiltonian party which stood for a strong federal government and the union, to the party of populism and free blacks in reconstruction, before moving to be the party of free-markets in the 20s, to the party of moderates up until the 80s and 90s, and in the 2010s, the GOP is in a new era, where incredibly energetic and bombastic, or completely comical individuals are leading national polls in the GOP nomination. Many of these comical, or completely bombastic candidates include unelectable people such as Donald Trump and Ben Carson.

Even though its very likely that both of them will be decimated in the general election, the electorate loves them, and if trends continue, one of the two will become the Republican Presidential candidate. On the other hand, reasonable and intelligent people are relegated or scared from running. The most prominent being Jon Huntsman, who the Obama campaign was the most fearful of in the 2012 election. Now, he is lamenting about a third party and has literally been scared from running for office in 2016.

Has the GOP lost their sanity? Have they given up their odds of being elected for the sake of their comical relief?

In my opinion, the GOP has grown insane, and is consistently going for the weirdest or seemingly most belligerent, but not necessarily the most likable or electable candidate. The GOP hates people like Jon Huntsman or Rand Paul, who would cross over most of the moderate vote, and help win the general, and replaces them with people like Donald Trump or Ben Carson, who will likely bring the end to the GOP as a whole. The GOP, whilst having the establishment and the opposition is no longer about establishment and opposition, very insane vs not insane, and unfortunately, the sane element of the GOP is dying out, fast.

This is because of Gerrymandering.
Republicans rigged their districts and boundaries to ensure safe seats.

Problem was, once they did that, all the moderate and liberal republicans were suddenly in constituencies where the "Centre-Right" was now LEFT WING COMMUNIZM! and the Right Wing were centrists, with the far right being a sizable portion of the constituents.

Because they gerrymandered, they shifted to the right considerably and were no longer moderated by the presence of democrats. In an echo chamber, crazy shit gets said.
Republicans made it so that their candidates can say utterly batshit things and still be elected.
This caused a feedback loop where more and more republican voters start listening to batshit politicians saying batshit things, and themselves drift further and further to the right until they drop off the scale and become loony toon characters.
It's not all of the republican voters, certainly not. The traditional constitutency of Eisenhowers, Nixonians, and Goldwaters is still there. It's just drowning beneath a wave of fundamntalist right wingers.

*shrug*

They are reaping what their corrupt politicians sowed. The gerrymandering is leading to the death of the party from putting itself inside a hugbox, and so they cannot appeal to many new voters. They'll slowly die off.

that is so true.

and its not just a problem in republican states. in democratic states the party's outsized influence leads to corrupt pieces of shit keeping their jobs because republicans have no real way of competing for those seats. (check out how many people in the state legislature of new York got indicted last year)

we need a competitive system so that our elected officials have to think about ALL their constituents not just those in the base of their party.

[Infected Mushroom]

No its fine.

They produce exactly the type of populist candidates that you would expect democracies to produce; it is after all nothing but a mix of popularity contests and corporate sponsorships.

[Lunatic Goofballs]

Sanity is overrated anyway. Besides, what's more insane: our politicians or the public that keeps voting for them every election cycle despite nothing ever being resolved? We're having the same exact arguments as when I was a child: Abortion, Homosexuality. Immigration, National Debt, Foreign Policy(particularly the Middle East), the Economy and how to fix Social Security.

Same old song and dance.

[Korlsan]

We are generally seeing the death of democracy in America. The local towns may listen, but states and the feds? Hell no. They'll lose out on their profits doing so. Especially since a majority of the Senate and Reps have some connection to a CEO or the other, they're continuing Reaganomics which has overall been what's killing America both financially and socially. It killed small business and made it impossible for them to compete on the levels of corporates in their local towns resulting in the decrese in jobs, value of our currency, and the increasing of tension due to increased poverty from lack of said work places and strong currency. We used to be #1, but now it just feels like we've turned into #80-something. Our education has turned to garbage, our infrastructure is crumbling, and our parties seem ever so centralized in having the same stance on everything while using face to "portray it differently".

We need small business back, not more Apple and Wal-Mart. They wonder why all of our economics are being out-sourced. It's because they're too "rich" to supply their own nation and it's how they crush the small business that plays as competition. Trump threatens a corporate dictatorship, Hillary will cause a collapse in the societal boundaries that keeps America stable, and Bernie will result in a government shutdown due to their refusal to cooperate with him. Bernie, at least, is a good guy. Things wouldn't be so bad if people realized you can't just change things by voting in a new president. That's why I believe in a lack of term limits, don't like him leading? Vote him out. Want him to continue leading? Vote him to stay. That's democracy. Not everything is fair and even Washington considered having the term limit be 4 terms, but he left due to health reasons after his 2nd term. If anything, the term limit should be four, the minimum wage $10, and the currency re-sumed in having a gold and silver backing so our currency is worth something.

You can't just fix society's problems by telling people to stop, you have to do something, but given we're all keyboard warriors here, it won't ever happen.

TL;DR we're f*cked

[The Holy Therns]

We are generally seeing the death of democracy in America. The local towns may listen, but states and the feds? Hell no. They'll lose out on their profits doing so. Especially since a majority of the Senate and Reps have some connection to a CEO or the other, they're continuing Reaganomics which has overall been what's killing America both financially and socially. It killed small business and made it impossible for them to compete on the levels of corporates in their local towns resulting in the decrese in jobs, value of our currency, and the increasing of tension due to increased poverty from lack of said work places and strong currency. We used to be #1, but now it just feels like we've turned into #80-something. Our education has turned to garbage, our infrastructure is crumbling, and our parties seem ever so centralized in having the same stance on everything while using face to "portray it differently".

We need small business back, not more Apple and Wal-Mart. They wonder why all of our economics are being out-sourced. It's because they're too "rich" to supply their own nation and it's how they crush the small business that plays as competition. Trump threatens a corporate dictatorship, Hillary will cause a collapse in the societal boundaries that keeps America stable, and Bernie will result in a government shutdown due to their refusal to cooperate with him. Bernie, at least, is a good guy. Things wouldn't be so bad if people realized you can't just change things by voting in a new president. That's why I believe in a lack of term limits, don't like him leading? Vote him out. Want him to continue leading? Vote him to stay. That's democracy. Not everything is fair and even Washington considered having the term limit be 4 terms, but he left due to health reasons after his 2nd term. If anything, the term limit should be four, the minimum wage $10, and the currency re-sumed in having a gold and silver backing so our currency is worth something.

You can't just fix society's problems by telling people to stop, you have to do something, but given we're all keyboard warriors here, it won't ever happen.

TL;DR we're f*cked

If I had one of any damned currency whenever I heard a variation on the bolded, I'd go ahead and just buy democracy in the USA.

[Khadgar]

We are generally seeing the death of democracy in America. The local towns may listen, but states and the feds? Hell no. They'll lose out on their profits doing so. Especially since a majority of the Senate and Reps have some connection to a CEO or the other, they're continuing Reaganomics which has overall been what's killing America both financially and socially. It killed small business and made it impossible for them to compete on the levels of corporates in their local towns resulting in the decrese in jobs, value of our currency, and the increasing of tension due to increased poverty from lack of said work places and strong currency. We used to be #1, but now it just feels like we've turned into #80-something. Our education has turned to garbage, our infrastructure is crumbling, and our parties seem ever so centralized in having the same stance on everything while using face to "portray it differently".

We need small business back, not more Apple and Wal-Mart. They wonder why all of our economics are being out-sourced. It's because they're too "rich" to supply their own nation and it's how they crush the small business that plays as competition. Trump threatens a corporate dictatorship, Hillary will cause a collapse in the societal boundaries that keeps America stable, and Bernie will result in a government shutdown due to their refusal to cooperate with him. Bernie, at least, is a good guy. Things wouldn't be so bad if people realized you can't just change things by voting in a new president. That's why I believe in a lack of term limits, don't like him leading? Vote him out. Want him to continue leading? Vote him to stay. That's democracy. Not everything is fair and even Washington considered having the term limit be 4 terms, but he left due to health reasons after his 2nd term. If anything, the term limit should be four, the minimum wage $10, and the currency re-sumed in having a gold and silver backing so our currency is worth something.

You can't just fix society's problems by telling people to stop, you have to do something, but given we're all keyboard warriors here, it won't ever happen. :meh:

TL;DR we're f*cked

If you think local government is less corrupt than Washington government you're not paying enough attention to your local government. And it's a good thing you threw that gold standard hilarity in last because if it'd been the first sentence I wouldn't have read further.

[Linenr]

We are generally seeing the death of democracy in America. The local towns may listen, but states and the feds? Hell no. They'll lose out on their profits doing so. Especially since a majority of the Senate and Reps have some connection to a CEO or the other, they're continuing Reaganomics which has overall been what's killing America both financially and socially. It killed small business and made it impossible for them to compete on the levels of corporates in their local towns resulting in the decrese in jobs, value of our currency, and the increasing of tension due to increased poverty from lack of said work places and strong currency. We used to be #1, but now it just feels like we've turned into #80-something. Our education has turned to garbage, our infrastructure is crumbling, and our parties seem ever so centralized in having the same stance on everything while using face to "portray it differently".

We need small business back, not more Apple and Wal-Mart. They wonder why all of our economics are being out-sourced. It's because they're too "rich" to supply their own nation and it's how they crush the small business that plays as competition. Donald "My I.Q. is one of the highest" Trump threatens a corporate dictatorship, Hillary will cause a collapse in the societal boundaries that keeps America stable, and Bernie will result in a government shutdown due to their refusal to cooperate with him. Bernie, at least, is a good guy. Things wouldn't be so bad if people realized you can't just change things by voting in a new president. That's why I believe in a lack of term limits, don't like him leading? Vote him out. Want him to continue leading? Vote him to stay. That's democracy. Not everything is fair and even Washington considered having the term limit be 4 terms, but he left due to health reasons after his 2nd term. If anything, the term limit should be four, the minimum wage $10, and the currency re-sumed in having a gold and silver backing so our currency is worth something.

You can't just fix society's problems by telling people to stop, you have to do something, but given we're all keyboard warriors here, it won't ever happen.

TL;DR we're f*cked

Implying that we ever had democracy in the first place.

[Gauthier]

We are generally seeing the death of democracy in America. The local towns may listen, but states and the feds? Hell no. They'll lose out on their profits doing so. Especially since a majority of the Senate and Reps have some connection to a CEO or the other, they're continuing Reaganomics which has overall been what's killing America both financially and socially. It killed small business and made it impossible for them to compete on the levels of corporates in their local towns resulting in the decrese in jobs, value of our currency, and the increasing of tension due to increased poverty from lack of said work places and strong currency. We used to be #1, but now it just feels like we've turned into #80-something. Our education has turned to garbage, our infrastructure is crumbling, and our parties seem ever so centralized in having the same stance on everything while using face to "portray it differently".

We need small business back, not more Apple and Wal-Mart. They wonder why all of our economics are being out-sourced. It's because they're too "rich" to supply their own nation and it's how they crush the small business that plays as competition. Trump threatens a corporate dictatorship, Hillary will cause a collapse in the societal boundaries that keeps America stable, and Bernie will result in a government shutdown due to their refusal to cooperate with him. Bernie, at least, is a good guy. Things wouldn't be so bad if people realized you can't just change things by voting in a new president. That's why I believe in a lack of term limits, don't like him leading? Vote him out. Want him to continue leading? Vote him to stay. That's democracy. Not everything is fair and even Washington considered having the term limit be 4 terms, but he left due to health reasons after his 2nd term. If anything, the term limit should be four, the minimum wage $10, and the currency re-sumed in having a gold and silver backing so our currency is worth something.

You can't just fix society's problems by telling people to stop, you have to do something, but given we're all keyboard warriors here, it won't ever happen.

TL;DR we're f*cked

If you think local government is less corrupt than Washington government you're not paying enough attention to your local government. And it's a good thing you threw that gold standard hilarity in last because if it'd been the first sentence I wouldn't have read further.

BUY GOLD NOW

[Korlsan]

If you think local government is less corrupt than Washington government you're not paying enough attention to your local government. And it's a good thing you threw that gold standard hilarity in last because if it'd been the first sentence I wouldn't have read further.

Well, the difference between the local government and the federal government is that if you actually gather people against it, they will change. From all I've seen with my local goverment, (AKA the towns of America if you did not understand what I meant "local") they will give in if you apply pressure on them.

If I had one of any damned currency whenever I heard a variation on the bolded, I'd go ahead and just buy democracy in the USA.

It's overstated but it's all slowly becoming true. Things aren't that great as they used to be but, is there really a way to change it back into a better era for all of us no matter how many times we try and vote in a person who claims they'll bring a better economy?

[Lunatic Goofballs]

If you think local government is less corrupt than Washington government you're not paying enough attention to your local government. And it's a good thing you threw that gold standard hilarity in last because if it'd been the first sentence I wouldn't have read further.

Well, the difference between the local government and the federal government is that if you actually gather people against it, they will change. From all I've seen with my local goverment, (AKA the towns of America if you did not understand what I meant "local") they will give in if you apply pressure on them.

If I had one of any damned currency whenever I heard a variation on the bolded, I'd go ahead and just buy democracy in the USA.

It's overstated but it's all slowly becoming true. Things aren't that great as they used to be but, is there really a way to change it back into a better era for all of us no matter how many times we try and vote in a person who claims they'll bring a better economy?

Local, State, Federal; it doesn't matter. They're all controlled by the same two-headed Party. You don't matter. Only their agenda matters.

[Gauthier]

Well, the difference between the local government and the federal government is that if you actually gather people against it, they will change. From all I've seen with my local goverment, (AKA the towns of America if you did not understand what I meant "local") they will give in if you apply pressure on them.
It's overstated but it's all slowly becoming true. Things aren't that great as they used to be but, is there really a way to change it back into a better era for all of us no matter how many times we try and vote in a person who claims they'll bring a better economy?

Local, State, Federal; it doesn't matter. They're all controlled by the same two-headed Party. You don't matter. Only their agenda matters.

So don't complain and call for change. Just accept life for what it is and when it gives you surprise buttsecks just say "Thank you please may I have another?" That or live off the grid as an extra on Doomdsday Preppers.

[Lunatic Goofballs]

Local, State, Federal; it doesn't matter. They're all controlled by the same two-headed Party. You don't matter. Only their agenda matters.

So don't complain and call for change. Just accept life for what it is and when it gives you surprise buttsecks just say "Thank you please may I have another?" That or live off the grid as an extra on Doomdsday Preppers.

Or, we could stop voting for Democrats and Republicans.

Who am I kidding?

[Gauthier]

So don't complain and call for change. Just accept life for what it is and when it gives you surprise buttsecks just say "Thank you please may I have another?" That or live off the grid as an extra on Doomdsday Preppers.

Or, we could stop voting for Democrats and Republicans.

Who am I kidding?

So "Thank you please may I have another?"

[San Lumen]

Dumb people keep voting for them though. Its really sad to see people voting against their own interests.