Something very strange is happening. Liberals have always disagreed with conservative policies and doctrines, and vice-versa, but each side has always been able to concede that sometimes their opponents were honorable, decent and intelligent men. I was never a fan of right-wing principles, but I have recognized that some Republican leaders and thinkers were both worth listening to and had valid points to make (not to mention cogent criticisms of their Liberal opponents!). Barry Goldwater, George Will and William F Buckley come to mind. People like Bob Dole and John McCain also have represented their party honorably, and even Ronald Reagan and the George Bushes are starting to look more reasonable and statesmanlike as time goes by.

But this new GOP, as represented by Trump and people like Cruz, Gingrich, McConnel, DiSantis, Rick Scott and Lindsay Graham, have given up all pretense. No longer is fascism trying to hide and lurk in the shadows. It is proudly strutting down the street, flanked by flags and torches, its arm raised shamelessly in grotesque salute.

The new GOP is not just pro-business, it is now openly anti-poor, anti-worker, anti-environment, fascist, racist, anti-intellectual and religiously fanatic. It no longer makes any effort to hide it, or even make excuses for it. It now proudly and publicly proclaims it.

As many of our Conservative friends here on the zone constantly reminded us, they may themselves not feel this way, and they resent being characterized like this, but the fact remains, they have never called their own party to account for shamelessly pandering to these people.

I still believe a majority of the American people, regardless of political ideology, are decent and reasonable people. But a substantial and vocal minority is not. They are, fearful, ignorant, envious, greedy and hateful people. And they are aided and abetted by a substantial minority of others who may not feel that way themselves, but are willing to pander to them in order to further their own political, economic and cultural ambitions.

The next few decades are going to be difficult.

They are afraid of the orange bully.
They are afraid of his followers. Not only keeping their jobs, but their very lives.
Some are afraid of their collusion with insurrection.

The D’s in congress are bringing a hole puncher to a knife fight. They need to Benghazi the hell out of this. Put some congress members under oath. On television. I’ll pay extra to watch.