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Meghan McCain Rips
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Double Standard

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Mystery Bush
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Analysis

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Care Summit

President thinks Republican ideas will look worse in the spotlight

Feb 8, 10 2:20 PM CST

|NEXT STORY »

FRANK RICH

NY 23rd: GOP's Lose-Lose War

Righties are now a 'wacky, paranoid cult eager to eat' their own

By Polly Davis Doig| Posted Nov 1, 09 11:35 AM CST|

(Newser) – Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck are the undisputed standard-bearers for true conservatives, and they've just led a suicidal attack in upstate New York in what's become "a riotous and bloody national GOP civil war." For Frank Rich, there's only one sure outcome: 'Republicans are the sure losers" in a battle that proves "how swiftly the right has devolved into a wacky, paranoid cult that is as eager to eat its own as it is to destroy Obama.

"The more rightists who win GOP primaries, the greater the Democrats’ prospects next year," writes Rich. "But the electoral math is less interesting than the pathology of this movement. Its antecedent can be found in the early 1960s, when radical-right hysteria carried some of the same traits we’re seeing now: seething rage, fear of minorities, maniacal contempt for government, and a Freudian tendency to mimic the excesses of political foes."

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (2)]

Congressional candidates in New York's 23rd district, from left, Democrat Bill Owens, Conservative Party Doug Hoffman, and Republican Dede Scozzafava. (AP Photo/FILES)

In this March 12, 2003 file photo, conservative radio and television personality Glenn Beck is shown doing his radio show in Bala Cynwyd, Pa. (AP Photo/Mike Mergen, file)

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The battle for upstate New York confirms just how swiftly the right has devolved into a wacky, paranoid cult that is as eager to eat its own as it is to destroy Obama. - Frank Rich

Its antecedent can be found in the 1960s, when radical- right hysteria carried the same traits: seething rage, fear of minorities, maniacal contempt for government, and a Freudian tendency to mimic the excesses of political foes. - Frank Rich

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

2.9.10

It’s the Sex, Stupid

2.8.10

For Me, Palin Scores

23 comments

VIEWING:

No_FRINGE
Nov 1, 09 12:02 PM CST

Very interesting ... but Rich is a committed Liberal. This article would be more "valid" if it was penned by, say, George Will or ??? Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Fondue
Nov 1, 09 12:11 PM CST

The same George Will that is against publishing the anti-same sex marriage petition?

IN RESPONSE:

Rocket448
Nov 1, 09 12:32 PM CST

Yes, Fondue, that same Will who has lost his claim to fairness and is now pandering to the reactionary right. That same, disgusting George Will.

IN RESPONSE:

emptycalm
Nov 1, 09 1:14 PM CST

No conservative would admit they're a part of a wacky fringe group. Who cares if it's by a liberal? Just look at the historical situation. He's kinda right although I don't think the dems are gonna blow anyone out, the gop is eating itself. Good riddance.

IN RESPONSE:

RockyPneumonia
Nov 1, 09 1:19 PM CST

True. When Rich writes it, it's valid. If Will had written it, it would have been "valid" -- with the quotation marks.

IN RESPONSE:

carol
Nov 1, 09 1:22 PM CST

wishful thinking.........but I recall when the Democrats were eating their children alive. It is all a cycle. I bet my first born, if the economy doesn't improve in the next 3 years, the Democrats will be in the same boat.

IN RESPONSE:

Reader64481089
Nov 1, 09 2:00 PM CST

""Republicans are the sure losers" in a battle that proves "how swiftly the right has devolved into a wacky, paranoid cult that is as eager to eat its own as it is to destroy Obama.""..................EXACTLY as predicted 8 months ago when the fringe began to expand and take over driving the majority of Republicans from their ranks.....guess where they all came?? You got it, over 50% are now Democrats. This is what happens when your hatred overcomes your love of country.

IN RESPONSE:

Doctor_Supercilious
Nov 1, 09 6:55 PM CST

This will not be pretty. Carol's assessment would be correct if it weren't for one thing. The pendulum has been swinging Republican since 1980. It is already swinging back and sorry, it will be a long time before people swing back to the Borrow and Spend Republicans who warn us about incompetent government while providing us incompetent government.

IN RESPONSE:

DontLikeYou
Nov 2, 09 10:46 AM CST

Oh, Liberals are wishing this is a loss, but it is clearly a conservative win. Conservatism is resurgent and it will spell a major electoral defeat Tomorrow as well as in 2010 and 2012. Of course libs are afraid.

| 0 minutes ago

Sammy
Nov 1, 09 12:24 PM CST

How about David Brooks? He is a thoughtful and credible conservative. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

LoudProudLib
Nov 1, 09 1:11 PM CST

You know you're a credible conservative that is not a lunatic whacko when people like Limbaugh and Beck attack you. Brooks as been a conservative forever and now the whacko-teabaggers call him liberal. You know these people are nuts when they consider Brooks a liberal.

IN RESPONSE:

drlarrymitchell
Nov 1, 09 1:52 PM CST

No such thing as a "Credible conservative."

IN RESPONSE:

d3wd
Nov 1, 09 2:33 PM CST

No, Brooks has not been a conservative forever. After reading his wiki, I don't see how he is 'conservative' at all. A Republican? sure. A conservative? nay... Calling Brooks a conservative is like calling McCain a conservative. It simply isn't so.

IN RESPONSE:

UrUndertaker
Nov 1, 09 2:39 PM CST

What the Fringe will never see until it is to late is the ones they are forcing out are true representatives of the people within their areas. Not everyone on the right is like Pallin and Limpballzzzz. By the time the fringe figures it out they will have turned many now "RED" states back blue like they were in the early 70's and all things considered that is fantastic news

IN RESPONSE:

Reader64481089
Nov 1, 09 5:51 PM CST

Just read this and thought it would clear things up for Repubs??? ......................"ALBANY, N.Y. — A day after Republican state Assemblywoman Dierdre Scozzafava abruptly suspended her campaign for a New York congressional seat, she announced Sunday she's endorsing the Democrat in the race — not the Conservative Party candidate favored by fellow Republicans.................................... Scozzafava said Democrat Bill Owens would be better at building on the legacy of Republican John McHugh, who previously represented the 23rd Congressional District. McHugh vacated the seat after accepting a position in the Obama administration as secretary of the Army. The special election to replace him is scheduled for Tuesday.............................. "John and I worked together on the expansion of Fort Drum and I know how important that base is to the economy of this region," said Scozzafava's statement. "I am confident that Bill will be able to provide the leadership and continuity of support to Drum Country just as John did during his tenure in Congress."............... Scozzafava added, "It's not in the cards for me to be your representative.""

| 0 minutes ago

DarkFrancis
Nov 1, 09 2:27 PM CST

It's probably a good thing that Beck and Palin are viewed as avatars of 'true conservatism'. If people believe that then they'll abandon the GOP, which, in its current state, is the only right thing to do. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

foodchain11
Nov 1, 09 2:32 PM CST

I think Will can have good points as can Brookes but when those talking points come out, forget it. The no tax and no gov concept just won't work any more. We are not a loose collective of self-sustaining states. And we all know that the state's righties are the biggest tax takers and the biggest war mongers. It's where Will loses credibility. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Reader83540559
Nov 1, 09 3:03 PM CST

Frank Rich doesn't have a clue about "truth"nor does he wish to tell it if he knew it. He is a liberal and he will swear the republicans are stupid ,inept, lunatic, whatever to make his point. Reply

-2

IN RESPONSE:

Guava_Jelly
Nov 1, 09 3:27 PM CST

sshhhh...it helps them sleep at night

-2

IN RESPONSE:

RockyPneumonia
Nov 1, 09 8:35 PM CST

" he will swear the republicans are stupid ,inept, lunatic," He'll probably also swear that the sun rises in the east.

| 0 minutes ago

foodchain11
Nov 1, 09 4:04 PM CST

you're right Guava, they can't hear or see so being in the dark works out. Reply

-1

| 0 minutes ago

NewserScooter
Nov 1, 09 4:56 PM CST

This is Rich trying to blunt Obama upcomming bad week. He will lose in Va, likely a conservative win in NY-23 and a horse race in NJ. I don't know about how liberal think about this, but political operatives understand this is a bas sign for the sign for the President. Moderate Dems are going to be a lot more gun shy voting for the budget busters like healthcare, Reply

| 0 minutes ago

lindamae
Nov 2, 09 1:19 AM CST

No Republican, Conservative - or even Democrat - should support Card Check. It steals the right for a secret ballot away from a voter. How can anyone support this or someone who does? That is my bottom line. Of course, we now know DeeDee's hubby is a big union muckamuck so it all falls into place. I'm sure her ties to the Obama administration were already in place prior to her nomination. She was a Trojan Horse. Glad she quit. I want to know who vetted her? The same team who vetted Obama or his czars? Reply

| 0 minutes ago

View all 23 comments »

Frank Rich • Glenn Beck • right wingers • Sarah Palin • Doug Hoffman • Dede Scozzafava • 23rd District

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NY 23rd: GOP's Lose-Lose War