This rather hidden and innocuous story of local Houston politics this morning caught my eye. It realizes something I had not thought out properly. Their are not two entities pulling the GOP apart, but three.
In this case the light shines upon a Fcebook argument between Religious Right activist and talk show host Terry Lowry and Republican County Judge Ed Emmett. Emmett became very popular down here for putting politics aside in dealing with Hurricane Ike. He was the face of reason Houston looked to on television during the greatest natural disaster in our history.
Terry Lowery wants Republicans to enact litmus tests regarding how much they hate and despise abortion and homos. If they do not express enough hatred for either, then they should not be allowed to run for office in Texas as Republicans. Judge Emmett disagrees, open tent and all that.
So there we have an example of the old schism in the GOP, the social conservatives versus the moderate Republicans whose only real concern is keeping their money away from the government.
But lo and behold comes a third rail in this ugly stew of dark hearted selfish intolerance and bigotry, the Tea Baggers who don’t much care about abortion, homos, or rich county club bankers. They are an aging version of the Ron Paul/Ayn Rand Looneytarian faction that were so loud on the Internet during the last election.
The Tea Party movement is all about ideology, based primarily upon their confusion over the constitution, their poorly hidden bigotry concerning States Rights Forever, and an overwhelming personal hatred of Barack Obama who happens to be a bit off color. It’s all about an evil big government which has no right to tax them for the common good. The common good is socialism, pure and simple.
This menage a trio gives an even greater chance of a third party emerging before November which there could be no better news for Democrats!
The GOP needs a new slogan to tie these three groups together, and I just happen to know that that is. Something they can all agree on in full, but please… Shhhhh Don’t say anything.
MORE GUNS FOR WHITE PEOPLE!