Can we stop pretending like the GOP is confused...

[zaj]

... they don't want Democracy anymore. Because they feel a demographic shift away from white, Christian men.

So they seek to end democracy
Replace it with authoritarianism
Rule from the minority

That's why they keep following Trump off the cliff
That's why they are gerrymandering
That's why they embrace Russia
That's why facts don't matter
That's why they are packing the courts
That's why they say "get over it"

It's also why this is so much worse than Watergate. Nixon happened during an era of peak white-male-christian power. The party didn't need to burn down American democracy to keep power.

Today, they believe everything is over if they don't destroy access to power for the party that empowers the majority minority people.

[unblock]

1. Yup, pretty much. They are still freaking out over a black man as president.

The prospect of it being followed by a woman as president pushed them over the edge.

The *only* thing they object to about Donnie is that he's bad for the brand.

His *only* crime he could possibly commit in republicans' eyes is being too incompetent to get away with it all.

[Baitball Blogger]

2. They're getting a taste of an authoritarian world with Trump

and they see the writing on the wall. Someone like Trump who callously makes deal for personal profit and doesn't respect the history and culture of other countries will walk us into World War III.

[FiveGoodMen]

5. "they see the writing on the wall"

I don't think the GOP is seeing it.

I don't think Trump's mob is seeing it.

Who is "they"?

[Baitball Blogger]

6. There is a break in the wall.

You have Republicans siding with Democrats in their vote against Trump over the withdrawal that is harming the Kurds, our allies. Republicans for the Rule of Law are paying for an anti-Trump ad on FoxNews, Rooney from the Foreign Affairs committee affirms his belief that there was quid pro quo; Kasich is pro-impeachment. People like Rick Perry are fleeing because they know they were too close to the president.

Every day we'll have another peel-off from Trump support.

[58Sunliner]

3. Well the Christian aspect is just a dog whistle for suppressing females, choice, and LGBTQ.

And they are happy to have minority groups that will push for the same policies as theirs
which are based on a toxic male model, like conservative Hispanics. Russia is deeply corrupt and has power through fear/compronant and murderous tactics, not to mention whole scale meddling/hacking of voting. Putin took a cue and started touting Christianity. What a crock of bullshit. He is the front for drug smuggling as well as trafficking, etc... Putin is the master mind behind much of this and the corrupt hacks in our country play along to maintain power, hide crimes and try to maintain the old status quo. Putin is a sociopath/psychopath like many of the people like Trump. It is worse than just a white male power grab. And I agree that they are not confused, they just have nothing to hide behind anymore, so they say nothing. It's a giant FU to the citizens. Everyone will be under that bus. That is fascism.
This is not Watergate, it's more akin to Mussolini, Nazism, and a handful of other dictators who ascended to power.

[calimary]

4. K&R

[debsy]

7. Could not agree more!

I've been saying this for years!

[Garrett78]

8. The goal for decades has been to undermine democratic institutions.

That's why Republicans don't mind aligning with dictators who share the same goal. This alignment has become more brazen in the face of social progression, increased secularization and changing demographics.

[appalachiablue]

9. Many elites and groups opposed democracy from the beginning,

and in 19th c. Europe, during the rise of fascism there in the 1920s and 1930s and all around the globe.

Authoritarians, dictators and anti democratic forces are on the rise on all continents.

The US crisis is much worse than the Nixon-Watergate scandal, it's deeper, broader and very dangerous to democracy.

[Lonestarblue]

10. They've been following the Karl Rove REDMAP playbook.

We all know the plan. Using fear of nonwhite Christians, racism, and blatant lies about liberal policies, Republicans gained control of local, state, and federal offices. They then gerrymandered districts to ensure their long-term majority and packed the courts with right-wing conservatives. Rove’s goal was to keep the Democratic Party as a permanent minority and thus with no power to stop Republican leaders from self dealing and anti-democratic practices and laws.

At the moment, we are teetering on the Republican achievement of Rove’s plan, though we have the numbers on our side to stop it IF younger people and minorities vote for Democrats at all levels in 2020. That’s a big if—because we know that only about 50% of eligible voters bothered to vote in 2016. We will need saturation ads explaining the importance of this vote for the future of the country and the very idea of democratic principles. The Republican Party needs to be demonized not because of conservative ideas but because of their anti-democratic ideas that are in direct opposition to the rule of law and the US Constitution. They are the party of the 1% and Democrats are the party of the 99%.

[TryLogic]

22. As you say:

"The Republican Party needs to be demonized not because of conservative ideas but because of their anti-democratic ideas that are in direct opposition to the rule of law and the US Constitution."

[JohnnyRingo]

11. I'll never forget the quote from Newt Gingrich...

"Our goal isn't to beat the democrats, it is to destroy the democratic party". Stating that he was working toward permanent one party rule.

[demigoddess]

12. I've been saying this for a while now. They want one party rule.

They want to be the only party elected to anything. They want us to have no say in government. No say in this country.

[lambchopp59]

13. I don't think the ubiquitous "we" is the problem

Certainly many press outlets keep giving the GOP softball inquiries regarding their improprieties, but I don't believe there are any DU'ers who would label the Uglicans as "confused". Depraved, nefarious, malicious, despicable tops any "confusion" any of these complicit GOP'ers engender.
It is the exact demonization of democrats, however, that makes me truly fearful. The hate-media is inciting violent acts from the most well-armed, unenlightened and easily angered demographic.
Impeachment and/or losing the election could make any number of the MAGA's go totally postal.

[ecstatic]

14. Good point! Scary point.

They're OK with the USA becoming a fascist dictatorship as long as they are the ones in control.

It's disturbing as hell, but makes me wonder if we're trying to force this "marriage" to work (for the kid's sake) when it's time to make a peaceful split?

Let "the kids" decide if they want to live in the USA or the United States of Gilead.

It may not even be necessary to split geographically--just change driver's license colors (and tag colors) to red or blue.

[Kaleva]

15. You can stop pretending like the GOP is confused anytime you wish.

You hold in your own hand the key that will open the door to the jail you have placed yourself in.

[love_katz]

16. Kick and rec.

K and R for the OP, and the discussion.

[Nitram]

17. I agree 100%. Republicans grew suspicious of Democracy long ago, and they are now actively working

to dismantle it to keep themselves in power.

[dbonds]

18. I've seen them saying 'We are a republic not a democracy'...

I've seen them saying 'We are a republic not a democracy. We don't need mob rule'.

So referring to democracy as mob rule, which will stop them from doing what they want to do. And the republic part is the majority ruled by the minority thoughts.

[VOX]

19. Republicans have taken to fascism like ducks to water.

And they are LOVING it. They had democracy on the ropes until Democrats won the House. And the larger contested issues are still in doubt.

Republicans can NEVER again mention their long-standing claims without the laughingly absurd specter of Trump making them a mockery. Gone are their shopworn and devalued cards labeled, “morality,” “family values,” “fiscal responsibility,” “making America safer,” “strict adherence to the U.S.Constitution,” and so on.

[TryLogic]

23. Bingo. You hit the nail on the head.

[GulfCoast66]

20. Many of their voters are almost incapable of deductive reasoning.

They have listened to the same bullshit for so long they have essentially become a cult.

I will see it again in a month or so when I visit my family for a hunting week and will be perhaps the only liberal there.

I present a special mental challenge to them because they know I used to think like them, minus the blatant racism.

Here’s what I bring up every year:

Tax cuts for the rich do not reduce the debt. Since Reagan when republicans get in power the debt skyrockets. And now they really can’t deny it. Trump has tripled the dept. When I point this out they bring up Hillary.

Every advancement in their poor southern state was paid for by the federal government. Roads, the phone system(making AT&T provide service for everyone in exchange for the monopoly they had) power with electric coops provided through the REA. Retirement and medical care in old age with SS and Medicare. School funding... you get the picture. My older relatives that lived before these things, though they hate it, have to admit it is true. So they will bring up Hillary.

The fact many in their families have had abortions and still are if necessary. The fact my wife’s life was save with an Abortion is extra ammunition. Hillary again.

Guns. Democrats don’t want to take their guns. Our Party Platform clearly states ownership of firearms is a right. With reasonable restrictions. Hillary again.

Once a year they hear an alternative view from someone they have loved for 50 years. And It gets through for a few days.

Then I leave and Rush and Fox remove any doubts they might have been feeling.

[lunasun]

21. 100% Extinction Anxiety

[Initech]

24. Economics 101, there's a dynamic shift in the market.

And that market is moving away from white Christian males. Their bubble is bursting and they don't like it.