Last updated on September 25th, 2023 at 02:46 pm
It is no exaggeration to say Republicans have been on an anti-government crusade since the GOP man-turned-god Ronald Reagan convinced a fair number of Americans that their government posed an existential threat to their survival. Of course, over the past few years Republicans have ramped up their anti-government rhetoric by calling for smaller government, but their intent has always been, as one of their anti-government leaders said, “to drown the government in a bathtub.” Now it has come to a point where the extremists controlling the GOP will not settle for anything less than either destroying the government by shrinking it or just shutting it down because they are constitutionally prohibited from unilaterally shrinking it into oblivion.
Since 2011 when Republicans won control of the House, there has been a war for the soul of the Republican Party and it is about something more important than ideology; all Republicans share the same fundamental anti-government philosophy. This escalating war is about the very concept of Republicans coexisting with anyone, even other Republicans, whose methods or beliefs are antithetical to their own. Believe it or not there are still one or two Republicans who exist in the universe of realism necessary for responsible governance, but it appears more and more every day that an increasing number cannot or will not work to govern. Governing is not their intent; dictating is.
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Although Speaker John Boehner wholeheartedly embraced the GOP extremists’ ideological bent, he belonged to what can loosely be labeled “the realist caucus.” Since it is a position the tea party nihilists will not countenance, they made leading the House miserable and Boehner realized his efforts were futile and he naturally folded. It is unlikely the next speaker will make the same mistake as Boehner and it is why Americans should expect some serious trouble in the very near future and for as long as the GOP controls the House.
The two leading candidates for House speaker are mirror images and both will dutifully follow the Ted Cruz fascist agenda and have had no qualms telegraphing their intent to burn down the government if their extremist agenda to eliminate large swathes of government is not enacted. Some pundits claim that both House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Jason Chaffetz (Mormon-UT) are simply spouting their extremist intent to go full-blown tea party on government is to win votes for the House Speaker position, but that is simply not the case. It does not matter which extremist wins the Speaker’s chair, they both comprehend that one false step in “doing everything in their power” to “achieve Republican goals” means following John Boehner out of Congress. It is important to remember that the really extremist wing of the GOP embraces the George W. Bush philosophy that “if you’re not with us, you are the enemy,” and it applies equally to Republicans and Democrats.
If there is any question just how extreme, and how far, both Chaffetz and McCarthy are willing to go to “achieve Republican goals” of decimating the government, especially as “second in the line” to the presidency, their own words should terrify Americans. Some Americans are aware that, like all Republicans, both maniacs want to eviscerate domestic spending on social programs, destroy Social Security and Medicare, “Christianize” America, wipe out the Environmental Protection Agency and hand corporations and Wall Street power over the people, but it is their blatant threats to shut down the government and destroy the full faith and credit of the United States to achieve their goals that is very revealing. Make no mistake, when these maniacs go on television and pledge to conservatives they will have it their way or they will shutter the government and cause a credit default, they are not bluffing.
For example, the House Majority Leader and aspirant to the speaker’s chair, Kevin McCarthy, made a pledge on Sean Hannity’s program that he would use the appropriations process to achieve the Republicans’ goals or close government. Hannity told McCarthy that if he wins the speaker’s leadership position that he better give regular progress reports on at least four different promises McCarthy made to him. Hannity listed ‘his’ top priorities for the possible speaker to deliver on even before the debt ceiling and budget deadlines arrive. Hannity said, “Defunding Planned Parenthood, defunding executive amnesty and immigration, defunding Obamacare, and this Iranian deal is an unmitigated disaster that will lead to a modern day Holocaust. Will you tell conservative America tonight that you will fight to defund those issues and use the power of the purse?” McCarthy replied like a Ted Cruz acolyte; “Yes, the answer is yes!” Knowing full well that President Obama will veto, and Democrats will back his rejection, each of those ‘issues, McCarthy pledged the result will be Republicans shutting down the government.
Chaffetz was swept into the House in the tea party wave in 2010 and has only increased his extremist credentials over the past five years. Some Americans may recall that Chaffetz has called for drastically slashing Social Security he claims is driving the nation’s deficit even though it is forbidden by law to add one cent to the debt or deficit. Chaffetz is aware of that inconvenient truth, but like Willard Romney, Chaffetz is a Mormon and mendacity is part and parcel of their “faith.”
Chaffetz also wants President Obama impeached for some undetermined reason, and insists that banning same-sex marriage is critical to save America. However, it is Chaffetz’ pledge last weekend to unconstitutionally jeopardize the full faith and credit of the United States to send Republicans a message he is the man to “achieve Republican goals” no matter the consequences. He said, “I have no interest in just simply raising the debt ceiling without changing the trajectory of spending.” Notice that Chaffetz failed to say that the American people have no interest in paying the nation’s debts that Chaffetz helped create. No, he said “I have no interest” and it is the same language spouted ad nauseum by the Cruz acolytes in the House and Senate.
It is likely that few Americans ever believed they would witness the two candidates crusading to be second in line to the presidency would openly campaign on jeopardizing the solvency of the United States government or pledge to shut it down if their extremist anti-government agenda is not embraced with open arms.
Both McCarthy and Chaffetz are fundamentally fascists with no interest whatsoever in governing and it does not bode well for America because Republicans control the appropriations process. Whichever idiot wins the speaker’s position will not disappoint their extremist supporters because they fear their fellow extremists.
Now, maybe all the pundits who claimed that the tea party is dead or dying, and will never gain control of the government will re-evaluate their position. Regardless who wins the speaker’s chair this week, it is safe to say that tea party extremists will have the “power of the purse” and they will use it to achieve their extremist goals” or they will destroy the government one way or the other.
Audio engineer and instructor for SAE. Writes op/ed commentary supporting Secular Humanist causes, and exposing suppression of women, the poor, and minorities. An advocate for freedom of religion and particularly, freedom of NO religion.
Born in the South, raised in the Mid-West and California for a well-rounded view of America; it doesn’t look good.
Former minister, lifelong musician, Mahayana Zen-Buddhist.
