When “The Stupid Party” Had Brains

[Christa]

This weekend I was plowing through a series of speeches and presentations from Robert Taft and Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1950-54 and marveling over how intelligent, even eloquent, they were—especially compared to what passes for thinking in today’s G.O.P. And of course there was also William F. Buckley, Jr., a man who had a limitless capacity to enrage liberals–many of whom would nevertheless concede his wit and erudition. A remembrance of W.F.B. appears today at the Daily Beast by his son, Chris. Reading it, one is reminded–there was a time when the G.O.P., and even National Review, had brains. What happened?

http://www.harpers.org/archive/2009/02/hbc-90004450

ETA:

snip

How do Americans view Barack Obama and his relationship with the Republican minority? Nearly 80 percent say that Obama is outstripping their expectations as a President; nearly 70 percent say he is delivering on his promises; roughly two-thirds of Americans approve his performance. Republicans do not fare so well. Their approval numbers come in at half or less of Obama’s, and the public believes, also by a large margin, that Obama has stretched out a hand of cooperation to the Congressional G.O.P., and they have responded by spurning him. The public, it seems, is forming a very harsh judgment on the performance of the Republican leadership, which in time of crisis has reduced itself to a simple mantra: just say “no.”

The poll also offers us a chance to understand how Republicans view the world. The Washington Post reports: “74 percent of Republicans in the new poll expressed grave worry about the deficit, 29 points higher than in December when George W. Bush held the reins.” Nothing has changed about the deficit—it is still a deficit that George W. Bush created. But the Republican Party’s attitude has been dramatically transformed. Telling indeed.

http://www.harpers.org/archive/2009/02/hbc-90004449