The GOP: Party of Nothing

Paul Ryan and co. would like to serve you a steaming bowl of nothing. Take a spoonful:

Were his contempt for the viewer (and the American voter) not so asinine, I’d begrudge the Speaker these 65 seconds of vapid bullshit spewed into the ephemeral content ether.

Alas, let’s do some simple math:

• 11 times in one minute, Paul Ryan utters the word “ideas.” We’re“pounding ideas,” he says (!). “Ideas are what really makes this country great,” he boldly asserts.
• Zero times in this same minute does Paul Ryan mention, even indirectly, an actual idea. There’s not even a vague wave to small government and the purported magic of his voodoo budgets. The only idea he suggests is that ideas are good. Which, okay, Paul, sure — got any for us?

As long as I’ve been politically conscious (author’s note: not that long), the GOP has had a whopping total of: no ideas. Or at least no ideas they can say out loud.

Insofar as the party has any policy suggestions, they involve disenfranchising minority voters, cutting welfare, redistributing wealth to the wealthy, and scapegoating religious minorities, immigrants and LGBTQ individuals.

Insofar as the party has causes, they are the proliferation of conspiracy and fear and the negation of logic and respectability. Benghazi; “Lock her up;” Obamacare is Hitler; Birtherism; 47-percent are freeloaders — let’s imagine for a second that each of these half-baked campaigns of lunacy is valid. Let’s imagine Hillary goes to jail, Obama is revealed as a secret Muslim and his health care plan is deported to Kenya.

Great. What’s next?

What is the GOP’s vision for America? What does the GOP believe America should be? How should America address structural economic and social change brought on by globalization? How can America raise the standard of living for its citizens? If anyone has the answers to any of these questions, please find the email for Mr. Ryan’s office here. He’s waiting.