The schism between 'Conservative' and 'Republican'

Conservative New York Times columnist David Brooks lays out why the Republican Party is no longer a "normal political party":

"If the Republican Party were a normal party, it would take advantage of this amazing moment. It is being offered the deal of the century: trillions of dollars in spending cuts in exchange for a few hundred million dollars of revenue increases.

A normal Republican Party would seize the opportunity to put a long-term limit on the growth of government. It would seize the opportunity to put the country on a sound fiscal footing. It would seize the opportunity to do these things without putting any real crimp in economic growth.

The party is not being asked to raise marginal tax rates in a way that might pervert incentives. On the contrary, Republicans are merely being asked to close loopholes and eliminate tax expenditures that are themselves distortionary.

This, as I say, is the mother of all no-brainers.

But we can have no confidence that the Republicans will seize this opportunity. That’s because the Republican Party may no longer be a normal party. Over the past few years, it has been infected by a faction that is more of a psychological protest than a practical, governing alternative.

The members of this movement do not accept the logic of compromise, no matter how sweet the terms. If you ask them to raise taxes by an inch in order to cut government by a foot, they will say no. If you ask them to raise taxes by an inch to cut government by a yard, they will still say no."

Brooks always referred to himself as a 'Conservative' first and then a 'Republican', which is an interesting distinction because it gives some legitimacy to his ability to distance himself from the party unlike other conservative columnists. As a columnist for what is considered a left-leaning New York Times, he has jokingly called himself "The Rabbi of Mecca".

His column is believed to be a must-read for President Obama so one wonders if his audience for today's column consists of New York Times readers or just one American President?

Richard Cohen of the Washington Post echos similar sentiments, referring to the GOP as "a grand old cult".