For John, BLUF:  I wrote this up for my middle Brother, to help explain some of what is going on the the Grand Old Party.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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The Uniparty circa 2023

Here is the sub-headline:

Does it exist?

From Past/Present/Future, by Mr Michael Slipko, 12 January 2023.

Here is the lede plus one:

If you spend enough time listening to House Republicans Chip Roy, Matt Gaetz, and Lauren Boebert you will soon hear about the Uniparty.  In right-wing dogma, the concept of the Uniparty has existed for about a decade, and has become de facto far-right Republican doctrine.

That is, a shadow party composed of both moderate Republicans and Democrats, is the backbone of Washington. And according to them, it is up to patriotic Americans to disable and destroy it in any way possible.  In doing so, the “swamp” will be drained, and Americans will experience true freedom and liberty.

Today in a speech on the House floor, Chip Roy (R-Texas) mentioned the Uniparty:

We used to have a lot of back-and-forth between Democrats and Republicans…we used to accuse them of being tax-and-spend Democrats…Then something changed along the way, and we stopped debating tax policy…and now everybody in this Congress, for the most part, are spend-and-spend members of Congress…spend-and-spend members of a Uniparty.

The concept is not as outlandish as it sounds. One academic theory put forth by historian Michael F. Holt, says the concept of a Uniparty was a primary cause of the 1850s political crisis that led to civil war.  Then, the two major political parties of the time - the Whigs and the Democrats - effectively became a Uniparty.

Lance has come up with the term “Awoke” to describe the mentality of Republicans and Conservatives (and Libertarians and some Liberals).  However, as this article suggests, “The Uni-Party” may be a better catch phrase to describe the mentality.  Not that they want to be the Uni-Party, but that they loath the Uni-Party.  They see it made up of squish Republicans and Democrats.

Those who loathe the Uni-Party are the bane of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s existence.  He wants compromises so as to pass the FY2024 Budget before 1 October 2023.  Those Republicans who hate the Uni-Party see it as just more compromising away the future of our Children and our Republic.  In fact Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz (Panhandle Republican) threatened Speaker McCarty with a motion to vacate his chair, which, if done, would muddle ongoing budget negotiations.

It is only a small rift in the House Republican Majority.  However, the majority is thin.  And President Biden has just vetoed the Defense Appropriation Act.

Regards  —  Cliff