I Love Republicans

In case you had something much better to do yesterday than follow politics, the results of the Ames (Iowa) Straw Poll of Republican presidential candidates had Representative Michele Bachmann winning and Representative Ron Paul coming in a close second. It's something for both of them to crow about, but it doesn't mean much in terms of the larger race for the nomination. What it shows is that the radical conservatives have a lock on the Republican party and they will drag it over a cliff in 2012.

Remember that Bachmann said in the Republican debate last Thursday that she would not raise the debt ceiling, thus ensuring that the United States would default on its debt, and that she wouldn't support a debt deal that would cut $10 but raise $1 in taxes.

Think about that.

Here's a candidate for our nation's highest office and she wouldn't give the economy a chance. Forget Wall Street and Main Street and just let ideology and God tell you what to do. She would cut, cut, cut and cut some more with no sense that people rely on government programs. But further, business rely on government spending. Remember that federal spending for research and development made the computer revolution possible and that consumer protection laws have forced businesses into producing safer products, resulting in more profits and economic growth. And speaking of growth, rejecting a deal that's even tilted 10 to 1 in favor of cuts is not good enough for any of the Republican candidates. Bachmann and the other Republicans want that kind of governmental oversight and help to end.

Also on Saturday, Texas Governor Rick Perry announced his candidacy for President and said, “I’ll work every day to try to make Washington, D.C. as inconsequential in your life as I can.” Good--let's let the states outlaw abortion, gut equal protection laws and make sure that the gay community gets ostracized at every turn.

He also called Social Security "a Ponzi scheme," which presumably means that it's illegal. Last year Perry offered secession as a choice for any state that didn't want to obey the new health care law.

These candidates are dangerous and they are espousing destructive ideas that would rip the fabric of American life. Yet, they are winning elections.

Ya gotta love them.