Republican Watch

Digby and Yglesias take a stab at diagnosing the problems in Washington. Inevitably they get to Republican Watch ....

Here's Digby quoting Yglesias

As Matt Yglesias wrote here:

Much of the crisis in Washington today boils down precisely to the congressional GOP's unwillingness not so much to "do the right thing" but unwillingness to even be petty and power-hungry; their decision to see their job as backstopping the president come what may rather than to jealously horde[sic] the powers of their own offices.

This is why our institutions are failing. The founders never counted on politicians "doing the right thing." Profiles in courage are always in short supply and no government can depend upon good intentions. But they did assume that they would, at least, want to preserve their own careers and constitutional prerogatives. The modern Republicans are so committed to their party that they will follow their 28% president over the cliff, and that is a mindset we haven't seen since the civil war.

This is the nut of my Republican watch.

And I keep watching.

Republicans weren't thoroughly clean when it came to getting rid of tricky Dick, but in the end they did come through to save their own rearends. This bunch, indeed, looks to be willing to go over the cliff. And as is pointed out in the above post, ultimately the electorate has to thoroughly repudiate the current Republican totalitarian fiefdom at the ballot box .... and keep dumping them until they get the picture. If this doesn't happen, the Republic is in danger. The polls make me optimistic. But I'm also holding my breath.

Let's hope voters send a simple message in 2008:

Seeya! Wouldn't wannabeya. Don't let that electoral door hit you in the ass on the way out.