Once super-popular Florida Governor Charlie Crist has been forced from the Republican primary by Tea Party favorite Marco Rubio. Moderate Crist will run as an Independent for the U. S. Senate. Moderate Arlen Specter has been ousted by Pennsylvania Democrats. In the fall, PA voters will choose between a left wing Democrat and a right wing Republican. Senator Bob Bennett is denied re-nomination in favor of a more radical candidate. Rand Paul sweeps up the nomination in Kentucky over the establishment candidate. Tea Party darling Sharron Angle is poised to take the Republican nomination from party insider Sue Lowden in Nevada. Blanche Lincoln stands embattled from her left in Arkansas. John McCain may survive his primary challenge from the far right, but only after denying his “maverick” past and moving light years to the right.
It is nothing new for party activists to exercise undue influence in primaries and party conventions. Independents, in most states, aren’t allowed to vote in party primaries or attend state party conventions. But this year is pushing even the normal activist dominance to the extremes. Party activism has traditionally been mollified by consideration of which candidate has the best chance of winning the general election. Not this year. In state after state, district after district, party activists both left and right are giving the boot to moderates of their own party in favor of radical purists.
Without influence in the candidate selection process, moderates and Independents will be left this fall with nose holding choices between the far left and far right. Other than Crist in Florida, viable Independent options will be few and far between. Aisle crossing bi-partisan problem solvers will, too often, not be a viable choice on the ballot. Independents, who increasingly outnumber either Republicans or Democrats in voter registration, will be left in the cold. The majority of American voters, tired of partisan bickering and desperate for effective governance, are being ignored as the parties fill ballots with hyper-partisan candidates.
None of this bodes well for unified, problem-solving governance once the new class is sworn in. Republicans, almost certain to make significant gains in the off year elections, will see their success being tied to the ultra-right activist base. They will be less able to move to the center or work across the aisle as those same radical activists will expect nothing less than rank opposition and vilification of anything Obama or Democrat. Those Democrats who survive, and they will likely still hold majorities, will simultaneously be driven further left and less inclined to forge alliances with the new Republican partisans.
Gridlock and escalating partisan food fights are unlikely to solve continuing economic problems and intractable unemployment or the wholesale disintegration of the middle class. As America’s largest generation, the baby boomers, move to retirement, the adults in Washington will be less and less able to address the changing demographics and the needs for stable Social Security and Medicare. Resolution of issues like border security and international trade risk being sacrificed to immature radical posturing. A dangerously bloated deficit will be the subject of partisan talking points, not solution. Name an area of policy and governance that matters, and it will be unlikely to be addressed in a positive manner as the radicalization of the parties prevents meaningful compromise.
Nor should you be lulled into believing that this represents no change from the current environment. It does. What we see today is rancorous, but it is not without progress or compromise. The coming battle lines promise to be far more stark and the rancor far more divisive as the radical activists, and their minions in D. C., plant their feet in cement in anticipation of 2012 and the presidential election.
But there is hope in this. Historically, America profits from radical divides. One need travel back no further than the 1960’s. Radicals have their day, then become disenchanted when their agendas are not enacted. Meanwhile the center surges back and demands governance to replace partisan hackery. God willing, we will experience that beneficial correction again, though only after a period of hellish partisan gridlock at a time when we can little afford it.
[Author’s Note: the image above is an abstract painting titled “Partisanship”]
Cross posted at Elijah’s Sweete Spot.
Contributor, aka tidbits. Retired attorney in complex litigation, death penalty defense and constitutional law. Former Nat’l Board Chair: Alzheimer’s Association. Served on multiple political campaigns, including two for U.S. Senator Mark O. Hatfield (R-OR). Contributing author to three legal books and multiple legal publications.