Only logged in members can reply and interact with the post.
Join SimilarWorlds for FREE »

Do you think the Republican party should reform?

Republicans could expel any member who has acted in an anti-democratic way or who acts against the law or the constitution.

They could demand that potential new members sit a test on attitudes to democracy, and pass through a one year probationary period while other members get to know them.

They could demand an oath of fealty to the constitution of the US.

Do you think any of these measures would help the party recover from its current crisis?

If so, which ones and how?

If not, which ones and why not?
Abstraction · 61-69, M Best Comment
What's doing my head in is that so many people don't recognise what really happened and what's at stake. And that so many sitting republicans are still maintaining 'voter fraud' - which is itself a massive, fraudulent deception of the American people. And refusing to acknowledge what Trump has done. Then they want to politicise their way out of an insurrection. Such people would take the oath of fealty and break it tomorrow. Fruitless exercise.

I think the republicans need a massive reform. I think they need to draw up a new charter of who they are in 21st century. Groups like the Lincoln Project represent the traditional values of the republican party in a contemporary setting. The party needs to elect leaders of integrity and set some values and standards that people can believe in, hand on heart. They need to shed the hate and twisting of truth and stand for something. Excuse my blasphemy but they need a Kamala Harris/ OAC type leadership who can appeal to and inspire the next generation - but obviously with different views. They need to be an opposition that acts with the new integrity and respect, yet rigorously debate and present their views, so that people can see how democracy is supposed to work.
@MasterLee That makes no sense. How could there be any democracy if there were no alternative party to vote for?
MasterLee · 56-60, M
@hartfire there will be
Handfull1 · 61-69, F
@Abstraction a great rebuttal!!

It's way too late for that now. I would like to say that at some point, the current Republicans will all have died or retired, and maybe the next crop would at least believe in western values enough to fight for them. But there's also the issue of right-wing media driving right-leaning voters further and further to the Right. The problem isn't just the GOP, it's the entire right-wing establishment.
SamInAZ · 41-45, M
@BohemianBoo you are the manifestation of weakness in human form
Handfull1 · 61-69, F
@SamInAZ actually Christian values were rammed down Native Americans throats not to mention the behavior today! Not very Christian like!
@bijouxbroussard well said so let's round up all whom behave this way...

[image deleted] Cathy Griffith holding bloodied severed Trump head.

[image deleted] left wing sit in protest of Kavanaugh in Congress Building.
monte3 · 70-79, M
What am I deflecting pray tell? @MasterLee
monte3 · 70-79, M
@MasterLee still wondering what didn’t happen also?
@PrivateHell Griffith's gesture is not acceptable. If she were more charismatic, such a meme could incite violence. But what's notable is that no one chose to take it seriously.

The second photo shows a peaceful gathering - no violence.
I have heard calls for this for quite awhile now. Not surpringly, it's generally from Liberal Democrats, as if they should have [i]ANY[/i] say in how their opposition operates (especially when their own party's core isn't doing so well either).

Suggesting people should be able to pass testing to enter or participate in politics sounds kind of odd from a side that screams "voter suppression" every time you turn around. What happened to "every vote counts" (though they clearly didn't in this last election)?

The very idea of demanding members pass a test before entering or participating should terrify anyone who truly knows history. If we allow this, how long before we see a repeat of the Stalin Purges happening here?
@PrivateHell You cannot “both sides” when [b]the President of the United States[/b] is involved. That’s the whole ballgame, the highest office in the land, and he has to take responsibility. [b]Trump[/b] even said so—before the job was [b]his[/b], of course.
Heartlander · 80-89, M
@PrivateHell This reminds me of the voter registration test that Democrats passed throughout the South that was designed to prevent Black Americans from voting. 100 years after the civil war, Democrats were still treating Black Americans as non-citizens, preventing them from voting, restricting where they could and couldn't live, restricting them from going to some schools and universities.
@PrivateHell That's not a bad point.
But how does society deal with the reality that Hitler and Mussolini were democratically elected?
How to we prevent people subverting the democratic process from within parties? What's been happening in the Republican party is not the only problem.
In other countries, branch stacking has become a common practice. It's illegal and it is usually caught - but by the time it is, a lot of damage has been done.
Budwick · 70-79, M
Republican party will rot in hell.

Conservatives within the republican [and democrat party] can and should create a new party that actually does what is best for the American people.

That's gonna go against the grain for the establishment - and that's OK.
I think actual people, citizens that love America have had it with our corrupt political system. Trump tried to drain the swamp. But the swamp was far bigger than anyone imagined.
OggggO · 36-40, M
@Budwick If they did what was best for the American people, they wouldn't be conservatives.
JoeyFoxx · 51-55, M
@Budwick he’s part of all of our problems, unless of course you think that storming the Capitol was a good and valuable thing...

Also, since we are both Americans, what you just said is part of the fucking problem.

If you believe that there are two countries here, that’s no really a good thing.
Budwick · 70-79, M
@JoeyFoxx You are still unable to have an honest conversation.
DunningKruger · 61-69, M
The Republican Party is a lost cause. It cannot be reformed. If "real" conservatives (as opposed to fascists) want a party to rally behind, they're going to have to leave the GOP and form a new one, which most of them won't because they're conservatives and they hate change, and they recognize that such a move would effectively cripple their political goals for at least a generation.
@DunningKruger Spot on!
Trump may have overplayed his hand.
He may have caused the Reps to be thrown out of power for at least 8 years.
MarineBob · 56-60, M
Why not do it for all politicians
MasterLee · 56-60, M
@hartfire the democrats are desperate
sunsporter1649 · 70-79, M
@hartfire LOL, got your FISA warrants handy?
Heartlander · 80-89, M
@hartfire The vast majority of members of the press are registered Democrats. Leadership and key personalities for most of the information and entertainment networks routinely serve within Democrat administrations.

Should they all be likewise put on probation for a year and made to pass an attitude test before employment by the various media networks?
MasterLee · 56-60, M
After the democrats expel their own insurrectionists. Lets start with them.

Anyone who supported blm/antifa, who placated them, and participated in these impeachment shams.

They all took an oath to uphold and defend the constitution. The biggest violators are on the democrat side.
@MasterLee I take it you stand on the far right and that you approve of the invasion of the capitol.
Is that correct?

Please take note of the precise wording of my questions.
I include [i]all[/i] members, including the rank and file in the grass roots, irrespective of role or position.

By definition, impeachment is not insurrection. It is a legal process.

BLM and Antifa have different methods and strategies.

3% of the protests against racism erupted into violence and that violence cannot be condoned. Those who were caught on camera committing public damage have been arrested and convicted.
97% of the marches were 100% peaceful.
This comment is hidden. Show Comment
Jake966 · 56-60, M
The democrats need it
Jake966 · 56-60, M
@MasterLee to cheat that bad ? And that’s ok ?
MasterLee · 56-60, M
@Jake966 not ok at all.
Handfull1 · 61-69, F
@Jake966 which fake news??
Carla · 61-69, F
That all sounds good. But the people elect their representatives, knowing the length of their terms. It is on voters to know whom they are seating. Information is too easy to get.
All representatives do now swear an oath to the constitution.
And rogue representatives are held to ethics rules, or are supposed to be.

If 85 million people voted to re elect trump, trump would be president. Those same people would know full well that trump wished to be king. If he became king, democracy would be dead and those that elected him would be at fault. Not trump.
For this country to keep its democracy safe, it is up to the people to protect it.
Picklebobble2 · 56-60, M
Trouble is you'd need the grandees to agree to operate by the same standards.......
@Picklebobble2 Yes, exactly.
My suggestion includes [i]all[/i] members irrespective of their positions and roles.
Picklebobble2 · 56-60, M
@hartfire It'll [i]never[/i] happen !
TinyViolins · 31-35, M
I saw this video today that I think answers the question for me

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRC9EcS-0MY&t=4s]
@TinyViolins Thank you! :)
That was an exceptionally intelligent analysis.
I hope everyone interested in politics watches it.
TinyViolins · 31-35, M
@hartfire I wish I could have provided my own nuanced take on it, but Saagar did such a comprehensive take on the issue that I had nothing really to add. Considering he's a conservative himself, it's a much more enlightened and grounded perspective on the matter. Although he'll still insert his own brand of snarky cynicism into his analysis given how much of a circus it's been trying to sort out the aftermath of the attack
You seem to forget, around half of their voters, and likely even more among their politicians would fail such tests, and an oath to them means nothing.

Thye should probably look to split the party into a classic conservative party and another a fascist party.
@hartfire
These days I'm in doubt who'd have the power to implement anything in that party, it seems rather dysfunctional.
@SapphicHeart Seems! Ha ha! That's the most diplomatic description I've yet heard.
Actually, I agree. The more I think about it, the more I think it's likely to be a very long time before they regain office. It will take new people, a lot of careful analysis and total reorganisation for them to become functional again. As you said earlier, the middle of the road conservatives need to shed the alt-right and their ilk.

In the meantime, if Biden can deal with Covid and repair the economic fallout of the cure, the Democrats might get the chance to legislate some positive changes.
I expect the first bills tabled will include measures to prevent future invasions of the capitol.
@hartfire
That's the thing, I am in no way sure they stay out of power for a long time, and therein is the most dangerous scenario hidden as that party is filled with just too many fascist thinking people.

And yes, Biden and the Democrats have once more to clean up after a Republican.
Frank52 · 70-79, M
Didn't Trump take an Oath of Office? Fat lot of good that did. But I know what you mean.
MasterLee · 56-60, M
@hartfire pretty ridiculous and petty.
@MasterLee Yeah.
Ridiculous tweets and revenge against anyone who disagreed with him - these were hallmarks of Trump's entire reign.
He is like a three-year-old who chucks a tantrum as soon as he sees things are not going his way.
Sometimes he retracts his statements, but only when scripted and under extreme pressure from behind the scenes.
So many of his staff either resigned or were sacked that there was no stability.
He did partially achieve some of the economic goals of the Republicans - but the cost was so high that I think he will go down in history as the USA's worst president.
MasterLee · 56-60, M
@hartfire we are all entitled to an opinion
Quetzalcoatlus · 46-50, M
The next GOP convention...
@Quetzalcoatlus Ha ha ha!
Yes, it will probably look like a heady version of the same.
There is no cricis... conservative voting set records across the US ...2,857 counties out of 3,100 ... dramatic improvement in all demographics

They pick up 7 seats just due to the 2010 census.

But ... we all need to primary out the GOP anti-Trumpers
MasterLee · 56-60, M
Heartlander · 80-89, M
Duhhhhh ... both parties need to reform, or better yet disband.

Politicians should be beholding to their constituents, all of their constituents, and not to their political party. They should be caucausing with their constituents and not with fellow party members that represent someone else. Their campaign contributions should come from within their states and districts and not from elsewhere.

What I like most about Republicans is that they aren't Democrats. What I like most about Democrats is .... is..... is... ok, I can't think of anything at the moment. OK, there is something I like about Democrats; it's that they don't discriminate against old women when selecting their misleader.
whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M
I dont see the Party as the problem. Its the people who are the problem. The "system" relies on patronage, donations and lobbying to steer votes and policy. Those people have to be sidelined and limited to legitimate voting and information roles. And the voters need to change their view and accept their responsibiloity for how far off the rails thier representatives and the party have been allowed to go. You are not supporting a sporting team or praying to a god. You are choosing a Representative to do the job of taking your interests and concens to the government. You need to watch them and make sure they understand what you expect and that you are watching. Just like your boss watches you. Then fire them if they dont perform.😷
"Republicans could expel any member who has acted in an anti-democratic way or who acts against the law or the constitution."

That's like 90% of them.
MasterLee · 56-60, M
@BohemianBoo I want all 535 expelled
@BohemianBoo I agree.
SW-User
They are literally the party of Russia and nobody cares.

Wasn’t it 2018 or 2019 that we learned the GOP and NRA were under the influence of Russian operatives?

Nobody cares....
@SW-User Republicans keeps saying the Mueller Report proved there was no collusion. But no, the report proved that Russian officials offered Trump help in the election and he accepted.
Adaydreambeliever · 56-60, F
I think those all sound sensible. I think though that even more important, test them for sanity and intelligence.. I still say that intelligence IS important.. I'd want someone clever in charge not a village idiot - fact is the Republicans, they chose poorly, they surely could and should have seen Trump for what he was... someone like that really didn't deserve to stand for election..
@Adaydreambeliever I agree, Daydream.
I remember back to his candidacy. First I was astounded that he was picked in the primaries, and then shocked when he actually got in.
I think perhaps better education is necessary throughout the US from primary school up. It's essential that people should understand the differences between evidence, belief and opinion, and the value of law and democracy.
There are too many belief systems circulation which assert ideas like "reality is what you make with your mind"(Course in Miracles) or "indefatigable optimism is the key to success" (Trump's father's guru).
monte3 · 70-79, M
I think the acceptance and certification of Biden should be the litmus test. Absent any credible evidence anything except certifying the election is nearing sedition. IMHO.
Speaking of sedition check out the Randy Rainbow video. 👌
@monte3 Yes.
I'm grateful that all the checks found the election valid and that Biden has been certified by the traditional processes despite the Rep. mob's attempted insurrection.
It does show that the traditional processes are still working despite the madness of that dangerous minority.
Tastyfrzz · 61-69, M
Might want to add a psych exam, background check, go on a vision quest, and tax audit.
All of those are excellent ideas. One wouldn’t have thought they were necessary for someone seeking to serve in any position of U.S. government—but clearly they are, now.
LordShadowfire · 46-50, M
I think all of your suggestions are good ones.
SamInAZ · 41-45, M
It is reforming...dumb ass leftists claim it is "dying"...no, you are watching a reformation.

 
Post Comment