Is it me or did something profound happen after this election? Obama won the election by a comfortable margin, even after all those hundreds of millions were wasted and FOX and the right wingers basically went bust in the process. As a result, I'm ok with letting events take their course, knowing that whatever happens will all be ok. I trust Obama, and after seeing him trounce the GOP I feel that much more confident in him.
I used to think Obama wasn't much of a politician. I still don't. I now think he understands how politicians work and he manages to stay one step ahead. Sure Romney was a bad candidate and a real jack-off, but Obama had an army waging total war against him for years and he still won. If that's not leadership and smarts then I don't know what is.
Furthermore, as a result of that leadership the GOP is now in total disarray. If we were to look at their loss in terms of the seven stages of grief, by my observation they are currently at Stage 4: Depression, Reflection and Loneliness.
"Just when your friends may think you should be getting on with your life, a long period of sad reflection will likely overtake you. During this time, you finally realize the true magnitude of your loss, and it depresses you. You may sense feelings of emptiness or despair."
A month after the election, Republicans still cannot believe they lost and the shockwaves are still being felt. New York magazine is reporting that Roger Ailes "has issued a new directive to his staff: He wants the faces associated with the election off the air — for now." Ann Coulter is even facing her own version of reality saying that taxes for the rich should go up. After all, "We [Republicans] lost the election." She said this on FOX and in front of Sean Hannity! Even Tea Bagger Senator Jim Demint is getting out while the getting is good.
Is this the end of the GOP? Hardly. They are stil as crazy as ever on the state level and bloviating about things they clearly do not understand. Nationally, however, the GOP is deflated. The blame is still going around and there is a lot of it.
Next year and the ones that follow may be another story. Maybe Obama will screw up. Maybe Hillary will choose not to run in 2016. Maybe Joe Biden becomes the nominee. Maybe Chris Christie loses 400 pounds. Maybe Marco Rubio will grow a few inches taller (we don't elect short presidents). Regardless, for the moment the GOP has been castrated. It is as if, at least for now, they have become parodies of themselves. They have become synonymous with lies, paranoia and with the circus over at FOX.
I'm not saying the GOP has jumped the shark. That's impossible. To do that you first have to be somewhat palatable. The GOP is simply adrift at sea with a blown motor right now. They'll re-group, but not before completing the last three stages of grief: The Upward Turn, Reconstruction and Working Through, and of course Acceptance and Hope.
They currently seem to be going through the stages rather quickly, but until they paddle to land we can watch in delight as they struggle through it. The good news is they only have their bare hands to use for paddles and they are sure to eat their own on the journey back. Let's just hope the wind picks up and blows them off course for a long, long time.