Opinion by Paul Waldman: There’s a lot a party can do with control of one house of Congress. But Republicans are repeating their old mistakes.
But on the subjects that Republicans want the public to notice, they seem determined to highlight some of their greatest vulnerabilities. They are reinforcing their image as a bunch of conspiracy-minded far-right culture warriors who spin up ludicrous fake controversies while demonstrating yet again what toadies they are for a deeply unpopular and indicted ex-president.
It could even entail using leverage to forge bipartisan compromises. For instance, Republicans could work with Democrats to create real reform that would provide a long-term solution to the problems of our immigration system. Republicans are doing none of that. They’re passing “messaging bills,” the message of which seems to be, “Have you ever wondered what an episode of ‘Hannity’ would look like in the form of legislation? Well, here you go.”Three times in recent years — in the elections of 1994, 2010 and 2022 — Republicans have managed to.
Today, all the incentives for Republicans point even more strongly toward a repeat of this pattern. The base they have to satisfy is even more radical. The conservative forces inside the House are even more reckless. The right-wing media is even more vigilant about striking down anyone who displays a hint of moderation or common sense. And looming over the whole mess is Donald Trump, who is still likely to be their presidential nominee next year.
Put it together, and it’s a formula for alienating much of the public rather than winning them over. Oddly, few Republicans seem to realize how they’re squandering their opportunity, or that there might have been a better way.
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