Devo

An aging rock band from Kent and Akron Ohio is Devo. The name refers to the devolution of mankind, which has stopped progressing and has begun regressing. One example par excellence is the Republican Party.

I have repeatedly brought the facts of history in this regard, and no one has ever agreed with me in conversation or writing. In 1964 Barry Goldwater acknowledged and was proud that he was an extremist, only the Klan and the Birchers were beyond him. Goldwater won his party's nomination, and had a spectacular loss to Lyndon Johnson. If Johnson had not so obviously supported negro civil rights, Goldwater would have had zero electoral votes. The congressional votes, also, went heavily Democratic. Ronald Reagan was a supporter of Goldwater, and he became that portion of his party's leader. He was president from 1981-89, and his popular success has made him a demigod for his party.

The Republican Party has only hard conservatives, and ultraconservatives. Anyone suggesting the existence of 'moderates' in that party is deluded, or lying. Even beyond, it is a question of competence and sanity.

If Goldwater was a senator to-day, he would be the most liberal Republican in the Senate and probably all of Congress. In 1964 he was considered 'nuts' by a large majority of the country. Even Ronnie Reagan, if he held the views he held then, would have a difficult time being elected Republican anything.

Here is the devolution: look at the collection of idiots the Republicans have in Congress, statehouses, and elsewhere. The newly elected senator from North Carolina, Thom Tillis:

“I don’t have any problem with Starbucks if they choose to opt out of this policy as long as they post a sign that says, ‘We don’t require our employees to wash their hands after they use the restroom’... The market will take care of that.”

From to-day's Eric Sevareid, Jon Stewart:

“You do realize that’s a regulation, too, right? That’s not getting rid of regulation. That just makes you an inconsistent ideologue with a light fecal dusting in your latte.”

Republicans are not often right. Bobby Jindal, who does say stupid things, did recognise that his party is "the stupid party".