Texas Republican platform

[Ed W]

Yes, I know that in the general election candidates have only a nodding regard for their party's platform, and that the platform is little more than a wish list formulated by the most strident elements within the party.  But honestly, this one reads like a shopping list from Planet Wingnuttia.

http://static.texastribune.org/media/documents/FINAL_2010_STATE_REPUBLICAN_PARTY_PLATFORM.pdf

There's the obligatory demand for less intrusive government and more personal responsibility, but then it has to include MORE intrusive government for those with, say, lady parts, gays, muslims, sick people, drug addicts, or kids with learning or developmental disabilities.  There's unintended irony in this.

Now, I admit that I didn't read this thing fully.  I merely skimmed it so I may have missed the part about President Obama being a secret Muslim and all.  But seriously, though, I don't think that dragging the Republican party further to the right is good for the party or the nation.  Despite their illusions, no one ever gained political clout by appealing to an ever smaller segment of voters, yet this is precisely the path they've chosen.  We need a credible opposition to inevitable Democratic over-reaching, but documents like this one which presumes to lay out that opposition have little credibility or appeal beyond the narrow ranks of the tea baggers.

[rwarn17588]

Yes, I know that in the general election candidates have only a nodding regard for their party's platform, and that the platform is little more than a wish list formulated by the most strident elements within the party.  But honestly, this one reads like a shopping list from Planet Wingnuttia.

http://static.texastribune.org/media/documents/FINAL_2010_STATE_REPUBLICAN_PARTY_PLATFORM.pdf

There's the obligatory demand for less intrusive government and more personal responsibility, but then it has to include MORE intrusive government for those with, say, lady parts, gays, muslims, sick people, drug addicts, or kids with learning or developmental disabilities.  There's unintended irony in this.

Now, I admit that I didn't read this thing fully.  I merely skimmed it so I may have missed the part about President Obama being a secret Muslim and all.  But seriously, though, I don't think that dragging the Republican party further to the right is good for the party or the nation.  Despite their illusions, no one ever gained political clout by appealing to an ever smaller segment of voters, yet this is precisely the path they've chosen.  We need a credible opposition to inevitable Democratic over-reaching, but documents like this one which presumes to lay out that opposition have little credibility or appeal beyond the narrow ranks of the tea baggers.

+1

I read a report a couple of weeks ago (forgot where) that the Republicans have essentially given up taking back the Senate this fall. The GOP leadership loathed to say why, but you'd have to conclude that the Tea Party extremists having a limited appeal to general voters being a factor.