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sharedvalues

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12. Morphing? The GOP propagandists and billionaires built this party

Sat May 5, 2018, 07:06 PM

May 2018

For forty years the GOP has used hatemongering and racism to get votes. Trump took over the base that GOP billionaires built and thought they could control. Trump showed that explicit racism could rally the base that GOP propaganda had dog whistled at for decades. Now the base is loyal to Trump.

Today’s GOP is the natural consequence of the modern Republican coalition— billionaire funders and identity politics and racism to get votes.

Today’s GOP is the 1970s GOP of Nixon’s Southern Strategy and the Koch Institute. It is the 1980s GOP of Lee Atwater and Grover Norquist and Reagan’s racist-courting at Neshoba County. It is the 1990s GOP of Newt Gingrich and anti-gay anti-marriage identity politics. It is the 2000s GOP of lies to get us into wars on a credit card, of attacks on McCain’s black child. And it is today’s GOP.

Nothing new under the sun. The GOP is the party of lies and propaganda to get votes for billionaires. Has been that way for forty years.

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DU POLL: Do you think the GOP is morphing into some form of the KKK, Nazi Party, Supremacist Power or [View all] RKP5637 May 2018 OP

A big, fat K&R! CaliforniaPeggy May 2018 #1

I'm a bit scared by it all ... I can feel it happening. n/t RKP5637 May 2018 #5

OF COURSE they are, already have and Anyone who says they are not Eliot Rosewater May 2018 #127

What do the new guys stand for in the gop? Crutchez_CuiBono May 2018 #2

It's a disgusting lot of people!!! n/t RKP5637 May 2018 #3

Sobering. I wouldn't choose to live in a country that fit that description. VOX May 2018 #10

If young I'd be out of here too. I do not see much of a future for the US if this continues. n/t RKP5637 May 2018 #26

No. Even when 45 eventually goes down, the 30-40% who support him will still be here. VOX May 2018 #36

It is, and it will not heal. I really despise what the GOP stands for. Exactly as you say, they RKP5637 May 2018 #41

We're two countries with two different realities that exist (for now) superimposed on one another. VOX May 2018 #47

Yes, I definitely agree, and life is short. The core differences seem to be so out of phase that RKP5637 May 2018 #55

Getting shorter by the minute! VOX May 2018 #57

Good talking with you too! RKP5637 May 2018 #62

Pip pip. Crutchez_CuiBono May 2018 #69

And pense is worse pangaia May 2018 #81

Yep! In many ways we might be better with Trump. Pence, is really a twisted person and to RKP5637 May 2018 #113

This: What they believe and what I believe are a full 180 degrees apart. CrispyQ May 2018 #122

Well said, I share those concerns. It's a real mess now. appalachiablue May 2018 #146

I am not chomping at the bit to ever come back atm. Exotica May 2018 #140

Hey, you left out one thing... japple May 2018 #54

There are plenty of Democrats who are Christians tavernier May 2018 #109

Excellent points! Truth bomb!! Nt Docreed2003 May 2018 #94

A couple more BlueIndyBlue May 2018 #121

Time to retire the donkey and adopt the mustang DemocracyMouse May 2018 #125

That I like, donkeys are cool but mustang has more edge to it. appalachiablue May 2018 #143

A trend to authoritarian and fascistic thinking is unmistakable. Hortensis May 2018 #4

I never knew the US had so much humanity in support of this, but looking at history in the US I was RKP5637 May 2018 #6

The human race. At least 20% are strongly disposed to authoritarian Hortensis May 2018 #43

Yes, at least 20-25%. Years ago at the university it was said about 25% of the country had some RKP5637 May 2018 #52

Another concern I have is that most American authoritarians Hortensis May 2018 #58

Interesting times ahead, but I wish I were not part of the movie. n/t RKP5637 May 2018 #65

I'd like to grab the popcorn and leave too. Hortensis May 2018 #71

Really. It's not a movie I want to be in, either. I CAN move to my second country Nay May 2018 #131

I think that strain of humanity also attracts psychopaths.... KY_EnviroGuy May 2018 #92

Yes. Seriously, just look at who's risen in the GOP Hortensis May 2018 #107

Thanks, Hortensis - well said. KY_EnviroGuy May 2018 #147

Very interesting. Little to change us, perhaps, but Hortensis May 2018 #148

Absolutely!!! And Trump knows how to unite them while leading in people that can't RKP5637 May 2018 #114

So True True Blue American May 2018 #99

The Republican party is the new face of Fascism. lastlib May 2018 #39

It's like we're repeating the past. We had thought these creatures had died off and humanity was RKP5637 May 2018 #115

It is not morphing... S.E. TN Liberal May 2018 #7

Recently I was thinking about all the havoc brought by the GOP's appalachiablue May 2018 #14

Yep, but it feels like it might be on steroids this time as it moves along. n/t RKP5637 May 2018 #15

has morphed. NRaleighLiberal May 2018 #8

Definitely, and growing IMO. n/t RKP5637 May 2018 #29

I voted yes but to me it's not unlike UKIP in Britain BannonsLiver May 2018 #9

Isn't UKIP weak now in Britain after Brexit blahs? GOP has almost complete federal level and many lunasun May 2018 #82

It's always been weak BannonsLiver May 2018 #133

The morph is 99% complete. Started back in the '80s. nt MANative May 2018 #11

Yup. +100 sharedvalues May 2018 #13

Yep, as LBJ said when he signed the civil rights act, I've forever lost the south for the democrats, RKP5637 May 2018 #17

It was, I believe "a generation." n/t rzemanfl May 2018 #76

Yes, that was it! Thanks! n/t RKP5637 May 2018 #80

You're welcome. n/t rzemanfl May 2018 #102

I'd say it was 100% complete by the time Dumbya got into office. GoCubsGo May 2018 #104

Morphing? The GOP propagandists and billionaires built this party sharedvalues May 2018 #12

Excellent analysis! ... it feels like it is radically coming to a head under Trump for the grand RKP5637 May 2018 #22

Yup. I just wish the national media would talk about this sharedvalues May 2018 #27

Yeah they do. Their bosses are just paid to ignore it. PatrickforO May 2018 #40

Truth all around sharedvalues May 2018 #95

And de-privatize education! And FULLY FUND it! lastlib May 2018 #120

Agreed. The big boys will just throw more money at it and... KY_EnviroGuy May 2018 #89

Yep, fresh coat of paint on the clown car. Sand, patch a bit and paint over the rust ... and forget RKP5637 May 2018 #116

100% true! BlueJac May 2018 #101

That happened 50 years ago? Spider Jerusalem May 2018 #16

Never forget Haggis for Breakfast May 2018 #19

And meanwhile his erstwhile partners Manafort and Stone are unrepentant (n/t) Spider Jerusalem May 2018 #20

+100 sharedvalues May 2018 #30

No. johnp3907 May 2018 #18

Yeah, I think that's a lot of it, and tRump pulled the scab off of it. n/t RKP5637 May 2018 #24

As I wrote earlier today, there's a danger in denormalizing Trump. Garrett78 May 2018 #46

Think of the fear we now inflict on immigrants. bronxiteforever May 2018 #21

It's a frightening country, one I would cross off my list to visit. And, the next election RKP5637 May 2018 #32

I really wish I could disagree with your forecast but I can't. bronxiteforever May 2018 #37

Yep, it really makes me sad to have come to that conclusion, but over and over I work and hope RKP5637 May 2018 #42

Again sad but agree. bronxiteforever May 2018 #50

A Nazi crime family. Elwood P Dowd May 2018 #23

That's my feeling! n/t RKP5637 May 2018 #25

"Make Germany Great Again" Elwood P Dowd May 2018 #31

Yeah, brings back some painful memories. I fear tRump idolizes Hitler in secret. n/t RKP5637 May 2018 #33

It's up to us to fight this n/t gay texan May 2018 #28

It is, it's the only way. It must be fought. I hope more Americans are waking up to what is going RKP5637 May 2018 #35

Just in the process now of making it more visible and out in the open RandomAccess May 2018 #34

I hope it is over, but it's so deep rooted now and has so much money and power behind RKP5637 May 2018 #38

Out of 17 candidates, they picked the one who was by far the most bigoted. Doodley May 2018 #44

All are cut from the same piece of cloth! n/t RKP5637 May 2018 #56

It happened a long, long time ago TheSmarterDog May 2018 #45

It started in 1968. guillaumeb May 2018 #48

The party of tRump AmandaRuth May 2018 #49

If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck... Amimnoch May 2018 #51

Yep, it's the whole lot of them. If one or two, several, one could say it would go away, but frankly RKP5637 May 2018 #60

It already happened on Nov. 8, 2016 louis c May 2018 #53

That would be a losing battle. The base is but a lot of the leaders don't want anything to do with Quixote1818 May 2018 #59

They always were. They just managed to be polite about it until now n/t Blaukraut May 2018 #61

Yep! n/t RKP5637 May 2018 #66

The good Republicans are leaving the GOP. forgotmylogin May 2018 #63

"credible republicans" vi5 May 2018 #64

That is my hope, that the majority of Americans are waking up to what the GOP is about. RKP5637 May 2018 #67

Part of the problem is.... vi5 May 2018 #117

Agree so much. In essence, Trump is not the problem, he is the symptom of what lies RKP5637 May 2018 #119

I don't think they're exactly morphing.... TalenaGor May 2018 #68

Yep, agree, morphing was not the best word choice. They have been there, but now they are open RKP5637 May 2018 #70

I'd say public opinion is morphing for sure LOL TalenaGor May 2018 #84

Definitely!!!! n/t RKP5637 May 2018 #85

To me they're like members of some kind of crime syndicate, funded by scumbag oligarchs like diane in sf May 2018 #72

It's damn scary when a large portion of the voting population of the US favors a corrupt and highly RKP5637 May 2018 #74

Sadly, Yes MarkEzra May 2018 #73

Yeah, they are like an evil empire that has hijacked the US government. n/t RKP5637 May 2018 #75

No. Bok_Tukalo May 2018 #77

"morphing" ??????? Cryptoad May 2018 #78

No because they have always been for sale ... jimlup May 2018 #79

I certainly hope they are doomed. I just can't believe that the majority of Americans want to RKP5637 May 2018 #83

For sure. Next question. nt Blue_true May 2018 #86

They've been on that path since 9/11. Initech May 2018 #87

Scary times for sure! There is a major fork in the road ahead, hopefully America will RKP5637 May 2018 #88

I thought with Obama we were on the right path. Initech May 2018 #91

Yes and MarvinGardens May 2018 #90

When Dump defended the nazi kkk scum workinclasszero May 2018 #93

It's turning into the National Party from South Africa under white rule. roamer65 May 2018 #96

No, because it's still the money boys who have the most power. Jim Lane May 2018 #97

They hold the power and it may be more difficult than expected to wrest it away. Kablooie May 2018 #98

I've been wondering the same. If NK goes well and the 2018 elections allow them to keep RKP5637 May 2018 #110

K&R from Florida... BlueJac May 2018 #100

It's morphing into a cross between the Christian Taliban & The Republic of Gilead. catbyte May 2018 #103

It's been like that since 64 when they were the champions of States' Rights The Wizard May 2018 #105

I think the members of the Republican Party are in the middle of a "Power Grab". UCmeNdc May 2018 #106

I'm wondering how far it will go. I know this sounds far out, but I'm starting to RKP5637 May 2018 #112

republicans are pissing on the American vision that truly made America great Achilleaze May 2018 #108

This really sums it up well! n/t RKP5637 May 2018 #111

The US is rooted in white supremacy loyalsister May 2018 #118

Like the statue that already exists in the giant lump of marble. Mc Mike May 2018 #123

Most of them have always been like that nini May 2018 #124

Thank you for this, this is VERY ENLIGHTENING, isnt it. Eliot Rosewater May 2018 #126

When will they change the name GOP, to something like: RKP5637 May 2018 #134

Of non POC since that W word is dangerous to use. Eliot Rosewater May 2018 #136

This poll and its repsonses is very valuable, it needs to be on the greatest page, how do we get Eliot Rosewater May 2018 #128

Yes! n/t RKP5637 May 2018 #132

It's a done deal Cary May 2018 #129

And sadly Trump is good at finding scapegoats and rallying his idiots. n/t RKP5637 May 2018 #137

It is an already completed process DFW May 2018 #130

When/if Sinclair Broadcast Group takes over they will have significant control. This country is RKP5637 May 2018 #135

I voted "no" because my take is the the party has no consistent ideology or values anymore. Nitram May 2018 #138

Good point!!! n/t RKP5637 May 2018 #141

KR NT ProudProgressiveNow May 2018 #139

It is, he's following his playbook. Very reminiscent! n/t RKP5637 May 2018 #142

Purity's been in the closet since '1492' OxQQme May 2018 #144

And a Trump hero! n/t RKP5637 May 2018 #145