By
Robert Reich
The other night I phoned a former Republican member of Congress with whom I’d worked in the 1990s on various pieces of legislation. I consider him a friend.
I wanted his take on the Republican candidates because I felt I needed a
reality check. Was I becoming excessively crotchety and partisan, or are these
people really as weird as they seem? We got right into it:
Me:
“So what do really you think of these candidates?”
Him:
“You want my unvarnished opinion?”
Me:
"Please. That’s why I called.”
Him:
“They’re all nuts.”
Me:
“Seriously. What do you really think of them?”
Him:
“I just told you. They’re bonkers. Bizarre. They’re like a Star Wars bar room.”
Him:
“We didn’t. They came up with themselves. There’s no party any more. It’s
chaos. Anybody can just decide they want to be the Republican nominee, and make
a run for it. Carson? Trump? They’re in the lead and they’re both out of their
f*cking minds.”
Me:
“That’s not reassuring.”
Him:
“It’s a disaster. I’m telling you, if either of them is elected, this country
is going to hell. The rest of them aren’t much better. I mean, Carly Fiorina?
Really? Rubio? Please. Ted Cruz? Oh my god. And the people we thought had it
sewn up, who are halfway sane – Bush and Christie – they’re sounding almost as
batty as the rest.”
Me:
“Who’s to blame for this mess?”
Him:
“Roger Ailes, David and Charles Koch, Rupert Murdoch, Rush Limbaugh. I could go
on. They’ve poisoned the American mind and destroyed the Republican Party.
Me:
"Nice talking with you.”
Him:
“Sleep well.”