Converging of the Bases

The Republicans have been able to keep their two critical bases together and win elections, trouncing the Democrats time after time in recent years. Measures critical to each of their bases, the Federal Marriage Amendment for the Christian right and the repeal of the federal estate tax for the pro-business (rich) right, will both be coming into play in Congress next week.

From accounts, the Federal Marriage Amendment, also know as the anti-gay marriage amendment, is not given much of a chance to pass through the Senate. Instead, it is seen as another attempt of George Bush and the Republican machine to feed to the Christian right the raw meat they crave. As was witnessed by the outcome of the 2004 election, it seems to work. So, why shouldn't the Republicans go back to the well again. Fortunately, though, this time the well may be dry, dry from the heat of all of the Bush/Republicans' problems.

The repeal of the estate tax (or what the proponets of repeal deceitfully call the death tax) is the real prize the Republicans are after. Satisfying the rich is and has been a number one goal. Once you have the money the votes will follow. Keeping money in the hands of the rich gives the rich good reason to donate it to the politicians who brought it to them and more of it to give. There will be no holds barred or arms left untwisted. As Harold Meyerson emphatically states in his Washington Post column today, the results of approval will most likely be devastating to the country. We have to hope that they will not succeed, as they don't seem to have much left in the polical capital department. Hopefully, they will realize that as well.

The best bet for the Republicans to succeed may be to put the legislation together. The proverbial killing of two birds with one stone. They could introduce Gay Death Amendment that would satisfy both bases. The concept behind the amendment would be that gay people are to be treated as if they are dead and as such do not have to pay any taxes. We can only hope.

- Steve