"Republicans weigh costs of losing ugly"

The party of anger is getting angrier, uglier

John Boehner’s witless attacks, teabaggers hurling racial and homophobic slurs, Republican lawmakers who cheer them on, shouts of “baby killer!” on the House floor, rightwing hate media hosts -- the GOP’s fury toward President Obama/Democrats has become out of control:

But rather than calm the demonstrators, Republican congressmen whipped the masses into a frenzy. There on the House balcony, the GOP lawmakers' legislative dissent and the tea-party protest merged into one. Some lawmakers waved handwritten signs and led the crowd in chants of "Kill the bill." A few waved the yellow "Don't Tread on Me" flag of the tea-party movement. Still others fired up the demonstrators with campaign-style signs mocking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

All of this -- hatred, churlishness, pique, resentment, snarling, incivility -- has become the face of a political party which once reflected the sunny optimism of Ronald Reagan. Let me ask -- when was the last time a political party gained power in America on anger alone?

More at “Dear Conservative Americans. You've lost me and most of America ,” here and “Frightening GOP behavior,” here.