Talk show host Rush Limbaugh: He may be
the last thing needed by the party he loves.
Die Zeit, Germany
The 'Catastrophe' of the American Republican Party
"This
debacle of the American political right is mainly because it acts as though the
past eight years of Bush, with its catastrophic mistakes and miscalculations,
never occurred. … Of course, someday the Republicans will get back on their
feet. Eventually, Cheney & Co. will disappear and newer, better people will
emerge. But someday is not today - and it is now that Obama and America are in
urgent need of an intelligent, quick-witted opposition."
By Martin Klingst
Translated By Ulf Behncke
May 16, 2009
Germany - Die Zeit - Original Article
(German)
Washington D.C.: Barack Obama hasn't earned this - and it's
even harmful for the country: The new president governs without opposition. Naturally
the Republicans are still around, albeit in diminished numbers. And they aren’t
silent. On the contrary, one or another of them is invariably speaking up. But
those doing the most talking right now are of little relevance. And what they
have to say is still less significant.
Nevertheless,
it's not as though Obama can govern as he sees fit. He always needs the odd
Republican on his side. But what’s missing is an intellectual, substantive counterweight.
The party of
Abraham Lincoln is completely befuddled - at a time when the government is
spending trillions of dollars, more than any government has ever spent before.
Ironically, this is all at a time that America is being turned inside out -
from healthcare to foreign policy. The need for oversight and a strong
opposition - has rarely been more essential.
Where are the new
Reagan and McCain? Both in terms of personnel and substance, Republicans are
looking into a very large and very deep hole. For a brief moment, Republicans
were incredibly proud. After a Black candidate had won the Democratic
presidential nomination, they at least managed to come up with a black party
chairman. That was still a minor coup, if only incredibly late for the party
that freed the slaves.
Only the
Republicans unfortunately failed to properly vet their new front man. If they
had they would have found that he doesn't have what it takes to do the job. Now
they have a mess. Mr. Steele shoots his mouth off with such regularity that one
almost feels sorry for him. For comedy shows, he's just as golden as Sarah Palin
was before him.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
In terms of
substance, there is also chaos. Since the bitter defeat of November 4th, conservatives
no longer have a clue about what to think. This is mainly due to the fact that
they themselves no longer know who they are. Some want very badly to continue
on as they were before November 4 - only without Bush. Others want
to completely transform the party, open it up to minorities, adjust its focus
on social issues and make it more compassionate. They would like, so to speak, the
Republicans to be "Democrats light."
The latter are in
the minority and they will continue to be so, as long as there are "Obama-Democrats"
and "Obama-Republicans." But to carry on with business as usual is no
alternative. Voters may have short memories, but not short enough to forget who
gave them the economic crises, war, torture and the tarnished global reputation
that these brought about. The Republicans!
Although it’s not
like all of America is suffering from Obama intoxication. Not everyone sees the
rain of money as a great salvation - not even those who benefit from it. Many
have their concerns. They ask if thanks to this rain of money the U.S. will
reap a rich harvest or instead, see the dollar disappear like water seeping
into the parched earth.
But the stubborn
refusal on the part of Republicans to support to Obama's economic stimulus
package is no alternative. How could this be when people are worried about
losing their jobs, making their next mortgage payments or paying medical bills?
It seemed rather pig-headed and heartless when for ideological reasons, one conservative
South Carolina Governor [Mark Sanford] rejected federal stimulus money, despite
the fact that his state could use every penny to renovate his state's dilapidated
schools.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
Just how bad
things are for Republicans can be seen not only in the general mood, but in the
opinion polls and later election results. Recently, they lost in a constituency
of New York State that was considered a lock. A Republican senator recently
switched sides [Arlen Spector]. And to make matters worse, pollsters now
believe that just 31 percent of Americans identify themselves as Republican,
down from 37 percent just a few weeks ago.
No, this debacle
of the political right is mainly because it acts as though the past eight years
of Bush, with its catastrophic mistakes and miscalculations, never occurred -
and because once again, ideological rabble-rousers like Cheney, Limbaugh and
Rove have the upper hand. Ironically, former Vice President Dick Cheney is the
Republican spearhead against Obama.
This sinister
character, who would be better off remaining silent, is doing the rounds from
talk show to talk show, ranting against the stimulus package, the release of
the torture memos and the diplomatic opening to Iran.
Of course, someday
the Republicans will get back on their feet. Eventually, Cheney & Co. will
disappear and newer, better people will emerge. But someday is not today - and
it is now that Obama and America are in urgent need of an intelligent,
quick-witted opposition.
CLICK HERE FOR GERMAN VERSION
[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US May 23, 5:35pm]
