That was an insightful (transcript) read.
On one hand, this kind of crash and burn might cripple the republicans forever and open up avenues for a real shakeup in the political composition. On the other hand, they're clearly willing to bring the whole thing down if they can't get their way.
What I took away from the article is this: we might be seeing the dissolution of the traditional Republican party establishment. One thing he kept hammering on in that piece: the Freedom Caucus/Tea Party Caucus is
responsive to their base. Or at least appears responsive to them. They do what their constituents ask for: they make hell for the establishment of both parties.
That keeps getting them elected and reelected. Citizens United + Billionaire idealists has taken away the Republican establishment's biggest carrot. Money. If you don't need the establishment's money and thumbing your nose at them gets you re-elected.....that's seemingly a better strategy for
getting elected than having to be a moderate, court women and latinos, negotiate, compromise.....And being shut out of the inside track in Washington? What does that matter if your plan is to say no unless you get exactly what you want anyways?
In effect they may be teaching the next generation of Republican politicians a different path to political power than what has worked in the past. It used to be you talked loudly about hot button issues, espoused your conservative purity and, once elected, you joined the establishment, learned how to play ball with it, got some cushy appointments and lobbying directed at you, yadda yadda...
They could be presenting a different, more attractive path to power now: Talk loudly about hot button issues, espouse your conservative purity, get elected....and then refuse to do other than create obstructions until the machinery of government breaks down. And you watch as the veteran establishment operators drop one by one, from old age, challenges from New-New Republicans, etc....Eventually, when everyone has been forced out of office as Boehner effectively was, your caucus will be the only one to turn to.
And to be honest....between my friends and I, we've long been saying that perhaps the only thing might actually change America at this point is a shitstorm of ruination. It might be the only thing that can truly unite people. In a sense that's what the Freedom Caucus thinks too. And it has the benefit of fulfilling the narrative their constituency thrives on. Obama will plunge America into a 3rd world hell hole, all security will be lost and it'll be the end of America as we know it. By fomenting that kind of chaos and trying to bring it to pass, the Freedom Caucus has basically created a political feedback loop.
Conservative constituency believes America is being ruined, will elect someone who says they will fight the establishment that's doing it -->
People like the Freedom Caucus campaign on fighting da power and bringing real change to America -->
They obstruct the function of government so things do get worse -->
Conservative constituency believes America is being ruined, will elect someone who says they will fight the establishment that's doing it -->
.....
Until America is a flaming shit hole and the only people left in power are the ones that caused it, and they're in charge now.
The fact half of these guys probably swear the Biblical End Times are right around the corner (still) is just icing on the cake.
Normally I'd say: gee, it'd be interesting to see what this plays out like with a Republican president. Except Trump would be
exactly the Republican president they'd need. One who is universally hated, easy to obstruct at no political cost to themselves and who has the kind of ideas that really would wreck the country.