The Republican party and right wing are constantly moving the goalposts when it comes to defining what crosses the line.  They have compared President Obama and Democrats to Hitler and Nazis so often, so frivolously, and so preposterously that the comparison has lost all meaning.  It’s apparently ok for one Republican congressman to “joke” about lynching Democrats and another to praise a self-described “right-wing terrorist” as a great American–I haven’t noticed much of an outcry, and these members of Congress don’t seem to have suffered  for having made these outrageous statements.

The Republicans don’t seem to be paying any political price for their over the top rhetoric, but they may be positioning themselves to gain some political benefit.  With Republicans and rightwingers constantly raising (lowering?) the bar when it comes to reasoned discourse, what used to seem crazy now may appear mainstream in comparison to the latest irresponsible accusation.  For instance, Republican activist Floyd Brown argues President Obama should be impeached because he is  “construct[ing] a totalitarian regime [that is] fascis[t], socialis[t], Obama[ist]…take your pick.“  With people like Brown giving new meaning to the word unhinged, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (who used to hold his own when it came to looniness) has the chance to play the role of wise statesman.  Rohrabacher soberly allowed that, yes, Obama has a “Marxist background” but Brown’s impeachment idea is going a step too far (though it could be warranted in the future).

This is where we’ve arrived.  A United States Congressman can casually refer to the President of the United States as having a “Marxist background”, but he manages to come off as the “sane” one because at least he doesn’t think Obama should be impeached…yet.