Paul Krugman: The Politics of Spite

Published: October 4, 2009 

There was what President Obama likes to call a teachable moment last week, when the International Olympic Committee rejected Chicago’s bid to be host of the 2016 Summer Games.

The modern Republican Party, has the emotional maturity of a bratty 13-year-old. 
 

Paul Krugman

“Cheers erupted” at the headquarters of the conservative Weekly Standard, according to a blog post by a member of the magazine’s staff, with the headline “Obama loses! Obama loses!” Rush Limbaugh declared himself “gleeful.” “World Rejects Obama,” gloated the Drudge Report. And so on.

So what did we learn from this moment? For one thing, we learned that the modern conservative movement, which dominates the modern Republican Party, has the emotional maturity of a bratty 13-year-old. 

But more important, the episode illustrated an essential truth about the state of American politics: at this point, the guiding principle of one of our nation’s two great political parties is spite pure and simple. If Republicans think something might be good for the president, they’re against it — whether or not it’s good for America.

To be sure, while celebrating America’s rebuff by the Olympic Committee was puerile, it didn’t do any real harm. But the same principle of spite has determined Republican positions on more serious matters, with potentially serious consequences — in particular, in the debate over health care reform.

Rightardia comment:  Republican bitterness over the 2008 election defeats has made the GOP into sunshine patriots and a disloyal opposition. When a Republican is president , America is supposed to salute smartly, march off to war and pray to Jesus.

A big part of the problem with Republicans is that they think they own the United States. Using a quote form a few good men, "You (the GOP) can't handle the truth!"

The truth is the GOP came perilously close to leading this country into a second depression with its fantasy ideology about free enterprise and deregulation. While the US is in decline, the Chinese are doing marvellous things.

Rightardia agrees with Paul Krugman. The GOP needs to grow up. 

See the rest of the editorial at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/05/opinion/05krugman.html?ref=opinion


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