Since the election of 2000 and especially that of 2004, three pillars have become central: the oil-national security complex, with its pervasive interests; the religious right, with its doctrinal imperatives and massive electorate; and the debt-driven financial sector, which extends far beyond the old symbolism of Wall Street.Of course, viewed this way, it's not terribly surprising that John McCain--right on (campaign) schedule--has kissed and made up with Jerry Falwell. In the national Republican Party that two generations of Bush have created (only once since 1980 has there not been a Bush on the GOP ticket as presidential or vice-presidential candidate), there's simply no alternative for anyone who wants the nomination.
President Bush has promoted these alignments, interest groups and their underpinning values. His family, over multiple generations, has been linked to a politics that conjoined finance, national security and oil. In recent decades, the Bushes have added close ties to evangelical and fundamentalist power brokers of many persuasions.
Over a quarter-century of Bush presidencies and vice presidencies, the Republican Party has slowly become the vehicle of all three interests -- a fusion of petroleum-defined national security; a crusading, simplistic Christianity; and a reckless credit-feeding financial complex. The three are increasingly allied in commitment to Republican politics.
Well, he could leave the Republican Party, of course--but he's clearly got no intention of doing that (and where would he go, anyway? The Dems can get all dewy-eyed about him, but at the end of the day they'd no more want him than he would want them. One hopes not, anyway.) Or he could start the long struggle to win back his own party from the forces that control it now--but that's obviously going to involve a lot more "straight talk" than McCain is up for. No, I'd say he's comfortable with things as they are.
Philips' article is going on the Readings list in the sidebar.
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