In a recent quixotic attempt to sound open-minded and reasonable, I allowed that there are some Republicans in our land who appear to be in possession of the higher rational faculties. I mentioned, as one example, David Frum, and rued that he had fallen silent since his father's recent death. But now I see he is speaking out loud and clear and making me pleased for having praised him--see "Seven Habits of Highly Ineffective Political Parties." For those of you who prefer not to click, here are the bullet points:
- Maximalist goals
- Apocalyptic visions
- Irrational animus
- Collapse of leadership
- Self-reinforcing media
- Politics as war; and
- Despair
In short, Republicans are overwrought and narcissistic. So much for what used to be called "the conservative termperament." I wish, however, I could be as confident as Frum that the R's are about to suffer humiliation.
It seems to me that wackos have an inherent advantage in games of chicken. President Nixon is said to have believed in "the madman theory of the presidency," which holds that acting crazy is a shrewd tactic, for it can make your foe cower and cave before your perceived recklessness. But how much better if it's not an act? From the logic behind the strategy it follows that it's best actually to be reckless and irresponsible. And that describes what right-wing commentator Charles Krauthammer has called Boehner's "suicide caucus."
Yes, they're nuts. That's why it might work out for them. I detect signs that some of them are dimly aware of their advantage. "We're not going to be disrespected," Indiana wingnut Marlin Stutzman told a reporter. "We have to get something out of this. And I don't know what that even is."
Poor people who follow their dubious impulses and, landing in a fix, start yammering about being "disrespected" and "having to get something out of this" do not normally get a lot of sympathy from people like Rep Stutzman. Nevertheless, he seems to understand that being crazy has its prerogatives. Just because you're unhinged doesn't mean you can't have a super-sized sense of entitlement.
