Kevin Drum notes that the actions of Tea Party Republicans are turning out horribly for the GOP, Poll Results Just Keep Getting Worse and Worse for Republicans:
These numbers are way, way higher than just the ordinary partisan divide. Ted Cruz and his fellow tea partiers have done tremendous damage to the Republican Party brand. If I were sociopathic and didn't care about my country, it would almost be enough to make me hope that they do it again a little closer to Election Day.
Kevin Drum, like all right thinking Americans, doesn't want another government shut down and does want a return to a functioning two-party system. But he leaves the "it" above a little vague. If we read "it" to refer broadly to all acts of strategy-challenged grandstanding, then I disagree.
What if you don't assume that our two parties will always be the Democrats and the Republicans? What if you admit the possibility that we are witnessing the demise of the GOP? The question facing patriots is this: how do we get the country back to a functioning two-party system with the minimum amount of human suffering?
The shortest route from A to B may be a country road with a drunk GOP passed out on the center line, blocking traffic. Pundits should spend less time asking, "How do we reform the GOP?" and start debating the question, "How do we make the death of the GOP as quick and painless as possible?"
