As far as concise descriptions of the state of the GOP in the US go, this is fairly accurate and sadly amusing all at the same time.
“It is important to bear in mind that the Republicans have long abandoned the pretence of functioning as a normal parliamentary party. Rather, they have become a “radical insurgency” that scarcely seeks to participate in normal parliamentary politics, as observed by the respected conservative political commentator Norman Ornstein of the right-wing American Enterprise Institute.
Since Ronald Reagan, the leadership has plunged so far into the pockets of the very rich and the corporate sector that they can attract votes only by mobilising sectors of the population that have not previously been an organised political force, among them extremist evangelical Christians, now probably the majority of Republican voters; remnants of the former slave-holding States; nativists who are terrified that “they” are taking our white Christian Anglo-Saxon country away from us; and others who turn the Republican primaries into spectacles remote from the mainstream of modern society—though not the mainstream of the most powerful country in world history.”
-Noam Chomsky, in discussion with Vijay Prasad on Counterpunch.
It would seem that the GOP has just said ‘fuck it’ and have laid bare their plutocratic intentions – yet people who are clearly not Plutocrats vote for them. Consider the amount of propaganda required to dupe the poor into voting for the rich.
On a related note, the Canadian election is whirling along. The people who are engaged in politics remain engaged, those who don’t care still don’t care – regardless of how long parties have to campaign. A big thank you to the current conservative government for extending the election period for no other reason than their own political advantage. :/
bleatmop
Mystro
The Arbourist
Dead Wild Roses 
4 comments
October 5, 2015 at 7:39 am
VR Kaine
“Since Ronald Reagan, the leadership has plunged so far into the pockets of the very rich and the corporate sector that they can attract votes only by mobilising sectors of the population that have not previously been an organised political force”
That statement makes no sense. Is Chomsky trying to say that since the GOP has tapped all the corporate-types, their only edge in voting is from a group of religious people who have not typically been voters? He’s sniffing glue.
Look at Obama’s cabinet. Look at Hillary’s donor base. Look at the Dems sweetheart relationships with big business, insurance, and banking.
Then show me the stats that indicate that the religious right do NOT vote? Then take a look at the Dems “grassroots” and “Rock the vote” campaigns to target groups of people who have not typically been voters. Chomsky has his head up his partisan ass on this one.
” remnants of the former slave-holding States” – um, those were Southern Democrats genius.
Only his last 2 statements seem to have any sort of accuracy to them:
“nativists who are terrified that “they” are taking our white Christian Anglo-Saxon country away from us;”. There is that classic fear-base in the Republican right which continues to be nutso, however this time around it’s different. It’s not “commies”, this time it’s actually a group (or groups) which is a legitimate threat to western culture, unless you’re an ignorant white-guilt-laden idiot.
“…others who turn the Republican primaries into spectacles remote from the mainstream of modern society” – fully true. GOP candidates capitalize on ignorance, but so do Dems. Dems just capitalize on ignorance about different things.
Like he’s often criticized for, sometimes Chomsky takes his political leanings a bit too far to where it’s almost Krugerish.
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October 5, 2015 at 11:00 am
The Arbourist
@Vern
No.
This interview excerpt is about the Republicans. I’m not interested in your opinion about the Democrats. If you actually pay attention to what is/has been written here, repeatedly, here is that both parties are business class parties – and both ultimately cater to the same elite groups in American society.
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October 5, 2015 at 5:01 pm
bob
shirley, VR will get bonus points for using the words, ” legitimate threat” in a serious manner.
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October 6, 2015 at 10:20 am
VR Kaine
First off, I didn’t direct you to opinion, Arb, I directed you to certain facts which you seem to always want to avoid in any of your narratives or opinion.
Second, while I’ll acknowledge that you’re at least somewhat critical of both parties in terms of being a ruling class, you seem to offer an opinion only vs. the Dems yet with GOP, bring in support for your opinions by people carrying and supporting a false narrative as Chomsky is doing here in his slant towards the GOP and the claim that they’re somehow the ones tied to corporate. Hardly “fairly accurate” as you suggest right in your opening line,
Tell me then, how do you find Chomsky’s comments to be “accurate”? Abortion has always been a topic on the ballot, which in turn means Republicans at the very least since Roe vs. Wade have catered to both the Christian right and the Evangelicals. He’s suggesting that the race fear-mongering has been a GOP tactic and yet it was Southern Democrats who held fast on segregation, and who in effect still believe in it.
…that they can attract votes only by mobilising sectors of the population that have not previously been an organised political force, among them extremist evangelical Christians, now probably the majority of Republican voters;”
Once again, almost line by line Chomsky’s pushing inaccurate opinion here and yet once again you’re accepting it without (seemingly) any critical thought as “fairly accurate”. That’s the way it appears, anyways.
Lefty-friendly side tangent: check out this article on Chernobyl talking about how certain wildlife is thriving:
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/chernobyl-disaster-exclusion-zone-around-plant-has-become-wildlife-haven-on-par-with-nature-reserves-a6680396.html
From the article: “This doesn’t mean radiation is good for wildlife, just that the effects of human habitation, including hunting, farming and forestry, are a lot worse”
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