E Pluribus Unum

I can't remember who it was, but I heard somebody recently breaking down the GOP into its constituent parts.

Theocrats, the fundamentalist Christian Right Puritans.

Aristocrats, the wealthy class, exemplified by the 18 families who spent millions to protect their billions and billions from the estate and gift tax.

Imperialists, the neo-con militarists questing for world domination, preserving US economic hegemony through military means whenever necessary.

Fascists, not Nazi totalitarianism (dammit), but the merge of government functions with interests of corporations and fostering business over people.

Xenophobes, tapping both anti-immigrant bias of the Southwest as well as exploitation of racists typified by Nixon's "Southern Strategy" that continues today.

And finally, Lincoln Republicans, those few remaining, steadily marginalized over the last six or so generations whose dwindling numbers believe in democracy, a strong union, equality, freedom, honesty, integrity, hard work, checks and balances, and that governments exists to serve all the people.

Ara, you are, or at least would have been, a 19th century Lincoln Republican.

Thanks. And/but hindsight is 20-20.

What amazes me is the number of people who resent/excoriate Lincoln's record of achievments. Often, they are the same people who revere Jefferson.

What does that tell you?

It tells me that Jefferson wasn't slandered as a result of southern bile (or, at least, not in the past century or so).

Mark,

Whoever it was that made up that list left off libertarians. How they could possibly think they fit with the rest of that bunch in a political coalition is one of politics’ enduring mysteries. Of course, according to Republicans, they are all united in a common enemy. Gives the phrase, "blinded by hatred," new pathos.