If you think the Republicans have it bad nationwide right now, you should take a look at Hawaii. Hawaii has historically been Democratic to the point that out of 55 state house seats, the Republicans have at times held as few as 5.
Right now the Republicans have maybe 20% of the legislature. The Democrats hold both House and both Senate seats. The only bright spot for the Republicans is that the governor is Republican. Needless to say, to get elected and re-elected in Hawaii she is a very moderate Republican. (A good one too in my opinion.)
So what does the Republican base in Hawaii do? Do they build on the governorship to increase the number of Republicans elected? Do they stress the corruption and ineptitude of the state government that comes from 40 years of one party rule? Do they understand that politics is the art of the compromise and figure out how to appeal to 50% + 1 voters?
Take a look at this email blast that was just sent out to all Republicans in Hawaii (and Democrats like me that are on the list). And this went to the Hawaii GOP mail list - maybe not officially but that is the only way I would have gotten this.
No - these bozos form a circular firing squad and decide to show themselves as more obtuse and insular than G.W. Bush. It appears that a significant chunk of the politically active base in Hawaii has decided that they want to take the Libertarian route - to be ideologically pure even if it means they can never get anyone elected.
Before you say good - that anything that hurts the Republicans is a good thing, keep in mind that the Democrats own Hawaii. The state desperately needs a competitive political system to give the voters a choice. And only with a choice will they see the government improve.
I hope with this that the moderate Republicans will invite these self-righteous politically incompetent blowhards to leave the party. It might be the best route to the Hawaii GOP becoming competitive - drop the wingnuts and go after the moderates.
But in the meantime, the Hawaii GOP is busy making themselves a bigger disaster than the national Republicans. I guess they figure if they are going to drive off the cliff - they should do so at top speed.
Update:
Apparently the wingnuts are taking lessons from spammers (what a great role model) and sending an email a day. Here's todays. The first one was clever. This one just makes them look like crybabies. (My mom is 2nd from the bottom on the far left.)
