Declaring the “time of death” for the GOP.
February 4, 2022
On February 4, 2022, the party of Lincoln breathed its last. On Friday, the governing body of the GOP declared that the violent assault on the Capitol and the attempt to overthrow the 2020 election constituted “legitimate political discourse.” With those words, the political organization formerly known as the Republican Party ceased to exist. Its rotting husk will serve as the host for parasites and leeches so long as there is political advantage in pretending the GOP still lives. It is a pathetic end to a once-proud party. No one should mourn its passing.
Future historians may point to earlier events as marking the demise of the Republican Party: The unanimous refusal to impeach a president for withholding $400 million in military aid from an ally in exchange for “dirt” on a political opponent. Or the refusal to convict a president for inciting a violent insurrection that desecrated the Capitol and killed four people. Or the collective shrug after Robert Mueller detailed ten occasions when the president obstructed justice.
Arguments can be made that the GOP ceased to exist prior to February 4th. But describing the insurrection as “legitimate political discourse” is incontestable, clinical evidence of death. Mark the time of death and move on. We have work to do, and the GOP is no more. We face new opponents who did not hesitate to execute a political party that endured for a century-and-half so that they could cling to power for a few more years. Whoever they are and whatever they call themselves, we should not make the mistake of believing they are the Republican Party. They are not. Democrats must find a way to govern in the absence of a responsible opposition party while simultaneously preventing those who brought down the GOP from doing the same to our democracy. That is an awesome responsibility and a daunting task. But there is no one else to do it. It is up to us. Let’s get to work.
In solidarity, Robert Hubbell.
We share a lot of what you, HCR, Jessica Craven and others write and recommend. Sometimes it feels like we're 'sharing into a void'. But, we share nonetheless. Then, last night we received the following message from someone in our regional Rainbow Circle group of 300± people in response to our sharing the upcoming Defend Democracy Project training event. It read, "Just want you to know that one of the youth activists I passed this on to (instrumental in getting Pride Month resolution/flag raising in W(town)) is signed up. I passed this to about a dozen youth and adults who work directly with youth. Thank you for posting this!"
Thank you for all you do to frame things positively and in such an informative way. YOU are making a difference, Mr. Hubbell! You are inspiring us.
"On February 4, 2022, the party of Lincoln breathed its last. On Friday, the governing body of the GOP declared that the violent assault on the Capitol and the attempt to overthrow the 2020 election constituted “legitimate political discourse.” With those words, the political organization formerly known as the Republican Party ceased to exist."
Thank You for your historical prescience, Robert. Now it is up to us to support the Democratic platform and Democratic candidates everywhere, so that February 4th doesn't also mark when democracy ceased to exist.