Howls From The Fever Swamps

A day after glancing at the Sunday gabfests and ending up discouraged that we'll ever get past our broken media's insistence on portraying right-wing Rethuglicans as "reasonable," we read this disturbing article by Hendrik Hertzberg in The New Yorker* that explores the demented platform of the Texas Republican Party in all of its raging, bigoted sociopathy.  Ideas that once were considered too nutty are now mainstream policy for one of the parties.  These "ideas" are so reactionary they reflect thinking from the early 19th century in economic, social and political terms.  This is the State and the party that elected Ted "Tailgunner Ted" Cruz to the Senate, and former Presidential candidate Rick "Hair" Perry as its Governor, so it's not just some crazy missive from a cult compound in Nowhereville ( *cough* Cliven Bundy ).  It's from the majority party of the second largest State in the Union (which they seem to want to dissolve).

The article, if not the platform itself, should be mandatory reading in the Beltway media circles.  Not that they have the spine to call this insanity what it is, but perhaps it will wake some of them up.

And, lest you think we exaggerate, here is but a tiny fraction of the complete nuttery on display in the platform (summarized by Hertzberg with commentary):

• That the Texas Legislature should nullify—indeed, “ignore, oppose, refuse, and nullify”—federal laws it doesn’t like. (Unmentioned is the fact that, beginning in 1809, the Supreme Court has steadfastedly rejected state nullification of federal laws.)
• That when it comes to “unelected bureaucrats”—i.e., pretty much the entire federal work force above the janitorial level—Congress should “defund and abolish these positions.”
• That the Seventeenth Amendment, which was adopted in 1913, be repealed, so that “the appointment of United States Senators” can again be made by state legislators, not by voters. (Admittedly, the Texas Legislature could hardly do worse.)
• That all federal “enforcement activities” within the borders of Texas—including, presumably, the activities of F.B.I. agents, Justice Department prosecutors, air marshals, immigration officers, agricultural inspectors, and tax auditors—“must be conducted under the auspices of the county sheriff with jurisdiction in that county.”

Also, directly quoting the platform:

Homosexuality is a chosen behavior that is contrary to the fundamental unchanging truths that have been ordained by God in the Bible, recognized by our nation’s founders, and shared by the majority of Texans. Homosexuality must not be presented as an acceptable alternative lifestyle, in public policy, nor should family be redefined to include homosexual couples. We believe there should be no granting of special legal entitlements or creation of special status for homosexual behavior, regardless of state of origin.

There's lots more on wimmenfolk, guns and God's glory. Yee-haw!

(* h/t to Charles P. Pierce at Esquire.com)