Republicans have been filibustering good Democratic bills for decades. It used to be a cynical ploy. Now, though, I’m starting to worry for them.  They block everything, and I mean, everything! They stand and holler, even for stuff that’s overwhelmingly popular with their own voters. That should ring alarms, shouldn’t it? Republicans are almost compulsive about monkeywrenching everything they can touch. I think we’re looking at a Republican Death Cult.

Republican Cynicism in the Past

Publicly, Republicans have been open about their black bag work. Mitch McConnel announced that his party would stand in the way of any political success for the Democrats. People like success, but apparently, that’s bad for Republicans. They want to reduce our government to abject and embarrassing failure. I can’t say they don’t get their wish. Fiscally, they can’t even keep the lights on. And, Jesus, look at the Republican COVID 19 response.

Disaster is the point. Republicans calculate that if they combine a collapsing government with enough demagogic shouting, voters will forget who broke things in the first place. They’ll blame the Democrats for the failures and get more Republicans elected.

Sadly, that cynical political calculation works shockingly well. It’s why I hate watching American politics. What the hell! Are we really that stupid? 

Mostly?

Except, that’s not what is happening now. Stop and look at the raw politics around the COVID Relief Bill. The hugely popular bill was always going to pass, even with every Republican voting against it. And every Republican knew that ahead of time.

Republicans and Career Criminals

The political calculations are straightforward. Suppose there’s a super-popular bill. Your party can’t stop it. So you start a scam. Here’s what you do (if you’re a soulless and cynical thief, I mean). First, pretend to be a fiscally conservative, small-government Republican. Theatrically oppose the bill on every chat show your people can schedule. Wallow about deficits, or undeserving poor people, or whatever you like. Then, when the vote comes up, change sides and vote in favor of it. When it passes, take credit for everything in it. It doesn’t matter that you voted against it all. It’s ugly, but that’s retail politics in the age of immorality. If you won’t get caught, there’s no downside.

Cynicism Becomes the New Religion

But that’s not what the GOP did. Instead, they all lined up against the hugely popular bill on a party-line vote. Over and over. The GOP leadership demanded complete loyalty and got it. No Republicans voted for it in the House, none in the Senate, and none in the House the second time. All through it, Republicans publicly declaimed their total opposition. They turned away as Democrats sent tons of money to everyone from desperately poor people to struggling middle-class parents to small businesses everywhere. Everyone will know what party gave them aid.

That’s not just odd; it’s insane. Have Republicans lost their minds? This isn’t politics, and it isn’t policy (we all saw their tax cuts). This is wildly self-destructive. Is it that the new generation of grifters starting to believe the scam?

I think they’ve all joined a new Republican Death Cult. It’s the only answer that makes sense.