EAllusion wrote:It's a decent article, but I think there is a major factor that doesn't get a lot of play in it. That is the rise of rightwing media, more specifically the growth of right wing talk radio, its TV equivalent in Fox News, and a spread of that model from there to other venues. I view that as one of the, possibility thee, single most important political story of the past generation. Right wing media just doesn't respond to the political views in its audience, it symbiotically helps to create them. The article is quite correct to look at an uneven balance in activism among the different ideological factions within the Republican party, but it complete misses the boat on how much power and influence rightwing media personalities collectively have on the direction of the party. The reason this is the case is that the public's political opinions tend to be not thoughtfully held and are easily persuadable by those with whom they identify.
So, for example, the fact that rightwing media's "infotainment" model is very much driven by a shock-jock mentality by its nature creates a radicalizing influence. There's a concept in political science called the Overton window. Wiki correctly describes it thusly:
"The Overton window is a political theory that describes as a narrow "window" the range of ideas that the public will find acceptable, and that states that the political viability of an idea is defined primarily by this rather than by politicians' individual preferences.[1] It is named for its originator, Joseph P. Overton,[2] a former vice president of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.[3] At any given moment, the “window” includes a range of policies considered politically acceptable in the current climate of public opinion, which a politician can recommend without being considered too extreme to gain or keep public office."
It turns out that the Overton Window can by pushed to and fro by certain factors. One major factor that can push it is people's tendency to engage in the fallacy of moderation. People are cognitively biased to think that the middle-ground between two extremes is a more reasonable position. So if shock jocks (Limbaugh, Coulter, etc.) are saying absolutely off the wall things to get a reaction out of people, the effect is to not cause people to adopt those views, but rather shift the Overton window closer to them. It helps define the space for what constitutes the extreme ends of the spectrum. It turns out that hearing someone constantly preaching for the execution of Muslims makes people more willing to accept forced deportation. But, as shock jocks and politicians on their shows have to continually go more radical to get attention, the effect is increasing radicalization. This has been happening in rightwing media for quite some time now, and its effects are apparent. It's not simply that rightwing media is powerful because there's a ready-made radical conservative audience engaged enough to want to listen to it; it's helping to create and expand that audience.
I strongly agree. The rise of cable 24-hour news/opinion channels has had an unfortunate impact on politics overall, in my opinion. For one thing, we can't even agree on FACTS anymore, much less interpretation of those facts.
We hate to seem like we don’t trust every nut with a story, but there’s evidence we can point to, and dance while shouting taunting phrases.
Bond James Bond wrote:From the article's last page:
THE MODERATES, either in exile or in a state of permanent denial, believe that their day will eventually come. Ultimately, they are probably right about this. The GOP cannot keep moving rightward indefinitely.
The GOP is going to have to move towards the center to survive. The Republican base is literally dying, and American demographics are shifting away from a white-centric society. The new generation of Americans is less religious, more tolerant of homosexuality and alternative lifestyles of all sorts, and more (shall we say) "colorful" than the Baby Boomers they'll replace. The social wedge issues that have proved so useful for Republicans the past thirty years will have to be abandoned if they wish to remain a viable party.
But there is a color blind economic argument to be made for fiscal conservatism. Frankly if they'd make it I would be right there with them if they'd commit to less defense spending and bellicose foreign policy and a moderate and fair tax system where the rich pay their fair share. I also would like a focus on infrastructure, technology (especially renewable energy), education, and a rational health care system.
Also an actual wall between church and state that respects all people's right to live peacefully with their neighbors and stops the legislation of morality and an actual respect for the freedom of the individual to act how they would, not just lip service to mask the oppression of minorities and less powerful political demographics.
If Republicans could make that argument while allowing women to make their own reproductive path and gay people at least the same secular spousal rights as heterosexuals coupled with an end to the anti-science insanity of the current Republican party I would probably be right there with them.
If the Republican party doesn't pivot towards the center on immigration, gay rights, and women's health care rights at a minimum they will wither. If that happens I imagine the Democratic party will faction into conservative and liberal wings with conservative Democrats continuing to drip into the Republican party.
I also agree with this. I read one interpretation that posited that the republicans know this is their last possible "hoo-rah", and that they hope to make some serious fundamental changes before they're forced to modify their stances by the demographics. I don't know if that's true, but I do believe republicans KNOW change is coming. (see some of the mainstream republican's concern about alienating hispanics)
We hate to seem like we don’t trust every nut with a story, but there’s evidence we can point to, and dance while shouting taunting phrases.
I thought this was an interesting article and would like some feedback from our more moderate republicans, like Bob and Jason, if they have time to peruse it.
I'm not a moderate. I'm a conservative and quite happy to say so. Has the party moved to the right? Unquestionably. Has it been taken over by Obama-hating cryptofascist religious fanatics? No. That image makes for effective campaign ads and Daily Show jokes. But it's not so.
We've always had people like the Eagle Forum and Focus on the Family, and from what I have seen in my personal experience, they aren't much more powerful than they were before. The Democrats have likewise always had their Pete Starks and Cynthia McKinneys, yet no one is saying they are the face of the Democratic party. In my view, both parties have expelled a lot of their moderates, but neither party is as radicalized as people imagine.
Sorry for miscategorizing you. Perhaps I should have addressed my post not to "moderates" but rational conservatives as well.
However, I agree with the responses of others to your position that the republican party hasn't been radicalized in the past four years. I think it's been far more radicalized than you recognize. The fact that republicans are afraid to compromise at all anymore is a symptom of that problem. They're afraid of the radicalized portion of their party and the power they wield.
We hate to seem like we don’t trust every nut with a story, but there’s evidence we can point to, and dance while shouting taunting phrases.
Jason Bourne wrote:By the way I am more moderate. I don't think I can call myself a conservative any more. But I don't feel liberal enough to be solidly in the democrat camp. Both parties have elements that appeal to me. Both have things that disgust me. Really I wonder if we don't need the rise of a strong third party. I know that rarely if ever works in the political system of the US. But it seems long overdue. Maybe this party would replace the republican party like the republican party did the whigs. Who knows. All I want is for both sides to compromise, give and take and work to solve our issues. Don't like Obama care? What are the options because yes the health care problem is a huge problem. Really the list could go on and on.
I have a fantasy that the republican party divides into two. The radical fringe goes off to create their own party, and the repubican party mainstreamers can work to rebuild their party. Probably just a silly fantasy.
We hate to seem like we don’t trust every nut with a story, but there’s evidence we can point to, and dance while shouting taunting phrases.
beastie wrote:I strongly agree. The rise of cable 24-hour news/opinion channels has had an unfortunate impact on politics overall, in my opinion. For one thing, we can't even agree on FACTS anymore, much less interpretation of those facts.
I missed this, but I totally agree. If you were to watch MSNBC and Fox News on any given night, you'd think they were reporting on different planets.
"It doesn't seem fair, does it Norm--that I should have so much knowledge when there are people in the world that have to go to bed stupid every night." -- Clifford C. Clavin, USPS
"¡No contaban con mi astucia!" -- El Chapulin Colorado
beastie wrote:I have a fantasy that the republican party divides into two. The radical fringe goes off to create their own party, and the repubican party mainstreamers can work to rebuild their party. Probably just a silly fantasy.
It will happen this way:
1. Romney loses. 2. The big conservative noisemakers (Fox, Limbaugh, etc.) will loudly proclaim that the GOP lost because they didn't nominate a true conservative. 3. In 2016, the party will nominate a radical right-winger a la Rick Santorum and lose very badly. 4. The radical right will not be chastened, but most Republicans will understand what has happened, and the party will slowly marginalize the Droopys of the world.
"It doesn't seem fair, does it Norm--that I should have so much knowledge when there are people in the world that have to go to bed stupid every night." -- Clifford C. Clavin, USPS
"¡No contaban con mi astucia!" -- El Chapulin Colorado