General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: A question for older DUers and those who study history: Were repubicans always this nuts? [View all]LeftishBrit
(41,205 posts)with Joe McCarthy perhaps being the most noted example.
But the worst examples of Republican looniness tend to occur when the economic-right extremism of some traditional Republicans meets the ultra-racism of what were the Dixiecrats/ Boll Weevil Democrats. This has early origins, from when the Democrats were persuaded to accept the stolen election of 1876 in return for the Republicans ceasing to interfere with segregation and racist policies in the former Confederate states. But it became much more marked when former Dixiecrats switched parties after the 1960s civil rights legislation. And then the 'Moral Majority' brought religious nuttery into the mix in the 80s, making things even worse.
Nevertheless, there seem to have been some liberal and moderate Republicans until very recently. Jeffords left the party only in the early 2000s; and I understand that the last two liberal Supreme Court Justices to retire were nominally Republican, or at least appointed by Republicans.
I could a tale unfold about the loonification of the British Conservative Party under Thatcher; but that is for another post.