Grumpy Old Party - a "Same Old-Same Old" GOP

Republicans seem to have a strategy of simply holding their political breath, like a pack of spoiled two year old children, until they get their way. 

GOP zealots want their way, without compromise, on immigration, on taxes, on cutting social safety nets like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid and on their opinion of what happened during the September 11, 2012, terror attack on the consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

A relentless policy of GOP obstructionism against anything President Obama proposes, without a plan of their own to fix anything they complain about, might be causing the party to ideologically implode.  This might be encouraging political news for Democrats who see a light of progress in the demise of Republican obstructionism.  Nevertheless, regardless of how wrong minded the GOP has become, there are, unfortunately, just enough zealots around who share their extreme right wing political ideologies to fuel the obstructionist behaviors.  They seem to thrive on negative energy.

In summary, these are some of the issues the GOP holds on to like Velcro bonded with crazy glue.  They won't let go of their "same old- same old" obstructive positions on:

1.  Immigration - they believe immigrants who become American citizens will eventually vote Democratic; so the Grumpy Old Party doesn't want new voters flooding the political opposition.

2.  Taxes - they don't want anybody to pay taxes unless the money is used to fund defense contracts and national security.  These expensive tax expenditures are often awarded to corporations that are typically owned by Republican owners, who share the wealth by growing the Military Industrial Complex. (A concept commonly used to refer to policy and monetary relationships between legislators, national armed forces, and the military industrial base that supports them. These relationships include political contributions, political approval for military spending...)

3.  Social Safety Nets- they want to cut all entitlements Americans have earned through shared contributions and taxes. These entitlements are paid by tax payers who can rely on the programs when they are needed.  These safety nets include Social Security, paid through dedicated FICA taxes. Also, the Medicare benefit, that protects the elderly from poverty by providing excellent health care insurance, paid for by contributions during the beneficiaries working years as well as by deductions from the Social Security benefit.  Other safety net programs the Grumpy Old Party takes joy in wanting to cut include Medicaid, the safety net program for people who live in poverty and educational programs like the Head Start school program for young children. Cutting these safety net programs would free up tax revenues so the rich could demand more tax loopholes and, thereby, keep the money they earn rather than share their wealth.

4.  Terror attack in Benghazi, Libya where Ambassador Stevens died from smoke inhalation brought on by a ferocious gunfight.  Instead of admitting the root cause of the loss of life in Libya was the fiscal cuts to embassy security monies, the Grumpy Old Party is, instead, deflecting the blame to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.  There would be no Benghazi Congressional hearings if the former First Lady, former New York Senator and former Secretary of State was intending to retire.  Instead, Mrs. Clinton is the leading contender for the 2016 Presidential race.  Benghazi and the death of Ambassador Stevens happened on her "watch", so it's going to haunt her future political career.

By wasting time, energy and money creating destructive arguments about regressive issues, the Grumpy Old Party has a strategy of grabbing headlines to motivate their ambitious followers.  It apparently doesn't matter that many of the Grumpy Old Party ideologies are rooted in myths and conspiracy theories. These zealots cling to the "same old - same old" right wing ideologies until they simply wear out those who become exhausted trying to defend intelligent public policies. 

Americans cannot let this childish Grumpy Old Party acting out behavior to continue.  We must expose the ridiculous GOP political temper tantrums, while consistently telling truth to their power grabbing tactics.  Most important, Americans must vote these Grumpy Old Party zealot obstructionists out of office, and the sooner the better.  

On the other hand, if the Grumpy Old Party is in a political tail spin due to the lack of a cohesive public policy strategy, then Democrats must be ready to respond by grabbing the headlines and controlling the national agenda.  We must enthusiastically defend our positions and protect our safety net programs.

Otherwise, the Republican strategy of "political breath holding" and obstructionism could be dangerously close to succeeding.