Tea party affair could doom GOP (More free advice from the Left)

The Politico ^ | April 4, 2011 | Michael A. Cohen

[2ndDivisionVet]

It’s not unusual for Republican presidential aspirants to shore up their conservative credentials by pledging to cut taxes, slash spending or increase defense funding. This year, however, the way to the hearts of GOP primary voters seems to be through the Quran.

Already, more than a half-dozen GOP hopefuls have publicly warned about the imposition of Islamic law, Shariah, in America. Herman Cain, the only Republican to have formally announced his candidacy, is vowing not to appoint Muslims to his Cabinet.

This is the increasingly radicalized GOP — the 2011 version. The GOP’s most extreme wing, the tea party, is setting the party’s political direction not just in Congress, but on the presidential campaign trail.

The further right Republican presidential hopefuls move, as the political truism goes, the harder it will be for the party’s eventual nominee to craft a political appeal that will attract independent voters at the center — where elections are won. In their efforts to capture the hearts of tea party followers, Republicans may be sowing the seeds of their own 2012 demise.

Indeed, as overtly conservative as the Republican Party has become in recent years, the tea party is pushing the GOP further to the right.

The movement’s members hold views far more radical than those of other conservatives. For example, 71 percent think President Barack Obama is “destroying the country,” versus 6 percent of non-tea party conservatives, according to recent polling by the University of Washington. Three-quarters of self-identified tea partiers surveyed believe the president’s policies are moving the country toward “socialism,” as opposed to 40 percent of “mainstream conservatives.” And tea partiers are more likely to believe that Obama was not born in America and is a practicing Muslim....

[OrioleFan]

If Boehner falls for this, I’m taking away his cigarettes.

[OldNewYork]

There’s been more than the fair share of nonsense with the upstate Republican Party here, as well as downstate. Gary Berntsen was the CIA operative actually within physical sight of Osama bin Laden’s position in Afghanistan but was not allowed to proceed. Because of that, Al Qaeda exfiltrated into Pakistan... and you know the rest. He wanted to run for the senate seat currently held by Chuck Schumer, but the GOP’s support for a candidate that might actually have a chance in the state and city where almost 3000 people died on September 11th wasn’t really forthcoming. Similarly for a veteran upstate interested in serving in the legislature told to ‘wait his turn’ - instead, New York got a shirtless millionaire would-be adulterer braggart who resigned quickly. And the GOP somehow thinks that the veteran hasn’t yet waited his turn even after deferring then and supporting the future resignee. With friends like this...

[TheClintons-STILLAnti-American]

"Indeed, as overtly conservative as the Republican Party has become in recent years, the tea party is pushing the GOP further to the right. "

If this dolt sees the Republican Party as having become "overtly conservative" in recent years then no one with any sense would give the dope credit for having a clue in any other opinion he has to offer.

Go get another cup of KoolAid, Mikey.

[TheClintons-STILLAnti-American]

"If Boehner falls for this, I’m taking away his cigarettes."

Please, I don't want to see him cry...again.

[kcvl]

Prior to joining New America, Mr. Cohen served in the U.S. Department of State as chief speechwriter for U.S. Representative to the United Nations Bill Richardson and chief speechwriter for Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT).

[OrioleFan]

That was good.