The cowardice and phony "conservatism" of the GOP

(Via "Economist's View")

Bruce Bartlett, a conservative economist who has had it with the phony "deficit hawks" of the GOP who believe that cutting taxes in the face of budget shortfalls is "fiscal conservatism" rather than fiscal (and ideological) profligacy,  reports that Republican leaders have predictably caved to the "Tax Cuts Uber Alles" extremists in positioning themselves for the budget fight:

Americans for Tax Reform president Grover Norquist has received assurances from Republican leaders in Congress that under no circumstances will they vote for any tax increase, either as part of deficit reduction or tax reform. Apparently, the only permissable deficit reduction is spending cuts and the only permissable tax reform is tax cuts.

Given that Grover has succeeded in getting all but a small handful of Republicans to sign his no-new-taxes pledge, he essentially controls tax policy by being the sole arbiter of what constitutes a violation of the pledge and what does not. And given the power of the Tea Party to upset incumbent Republicans in primaries when they are viewed as insufficiently loyal to its agenda, it would take a very confident and courageous Republican to risk being accused of violating Grover's pledge whether he or she signed it or not, since it would guarantee primary opposition from a well financed Tea Party candidate -- the Club for Growth will see to that.

So "budget negotiations" with the GOP aren't really negotiations but a confrontation with cowardly right-wing pols held hostage by even more insistent cranks.  Bartlett - who worked in Ronald Reagan’s Treasury Department - is a very strong fiscal conservative who happens to have his head screwed on and realizes that tax cuts aren’t some magic fiscal wand. He views the "no taxes" doctrine as pandering and destructive policy if promoted relentlessly and foolishly, unhinged from economic reality. In his view the Tea Partiers and the ideologues who inspire them “simply don’t know what they are talking about; they seem to think that strong opinions are a substitute for facts, research and analysis. Consequently, many Tea Party members hold views on various topics that are, frankly, nuts, and these views have been embraced by some Republican voters as well.”  

The Republican leaders - through anti-Obama desperation, political opportunism and cowardice - are now hostage to these forces they’ve helped unleash. They must bow to a movement that is some combination of “nuts” - cranks promoting their aggressive ignorance -and ideologues like Norquist and the corporate “Club for Growth” who are shamelessly working hard on behalf of moneyed special interests that simply want to “strangle” government and eliminate taxes, no matter what the cost to the country.  

It’s a dangerous game. And one that Democrats need to counter with courage, common sense and more effective appeals to the broad American public. “Compromise” with forces so destructive - the ideologically unyielding pushing politicians concerned about primary challenges by...uh...crazy people - isn’t a plan.  

Update: Steve Benen at Political Animal has more thoughts on this. Update II: Krugman weighs in.