Gregory Graf is talking extremism and Republican politics. What a waste of time! It would be like opening the lid of a can and discovering it is really a gateway to another world full of more worms. Now, let’s get started!
Gregory Graf, if you don’t know him already, is not just your average political analyst. It’s not boring to see him eat, sleep, and breath politics. He has sharper opinions than a knife and doesn’t hesitate to share them.
The GOP is in a strange place these days. Graf said that it was like the party had been on an roller coaster which somehow deviated into unknown territory. Back in those days, says Graf, the party was all Reaganomics. Now, fast forward a few years and we seem to be in an entirely different game.
What makes the new game unique? Extremism. Not just any extremeism. This is a form of radicalism that challenges everything, from the foundations of science to democracy itself. Graf asserts that it’s “one thing to be adamant in your beliefs.” “It’s not the same to deny reality.”
The problem is that defining extremes can be a bit tricky. To some people within the party it is about standing up to the government and their over-reaching views. Some people outside of the party see this as rejecting any idea that doesn’t match their narrow-minded worldview.
Enter Donald Trump stage right (or stage far-right?). Graf thinks Trump started this fire. But he definitely added gasoline to it. The man “knew how to play on fears and grievances” like nobody else, he said with a sigh.
Now, where do we stand? There is room for moderating within the GOP, or have they sailed the ship towards extreme shores? Graf’s words give us hope. There are, he believes, still many Republicans who prefer dialogue to division.
This is the big question: Will those voices be able to steer their party in a more sane direction? Will we be doomed only to watch in horror as the politics of grandstanding replaces governing?
Even though our talk ended without any signs of peace in the world, I still felt that we were only scratching the surface. Debating Republican extremism with Gregory Graf would be like debating whether pineapples belong on pizza in an Italian reunion. Lots of passionate opinions will ensue, but there won’t be any definitive answers.
There’s no doubt that American politics (or should we say a circle?) is at a critical crossroads. The United States is at a crossroads (or maybe a roundabout?
One thing is for certain, whether you are on the left side or right of things or somewhere in-between wondering where we came from, conversations such as these are crucial. It reminds us that democracy depends on debate, diversity of opinion and a variety of viewpoints… even though it can sometimes feel like an argument over the direction toilet paper should be hung.
Keep talking and bring pizza (without the pineapple) into the conversation. Who knows. Perhaps we will find our escape from this maze.
It’s a great way to get a taste of the extremes in Republican politics without having to wear scuba equipment. It’s amazing what the internet has to offer.