Paul Krugman had an outstanding op-ed in Thursday’s New York Times. His basic point was that Republicans and Democrats live in completely different universes and that bipartisanship is a bit of a pipe dream, at least for a few more years. Case in point was Senator Jim Bunning’s recent block of an extension for unemployment benefits. According to Krugman, who I trust on this one, offering unemployment benefits in a time of deep recession is pretty standard economic theory- so in a sense, the Democrats are following the generally accepted economic norms of the country and the Republicans are, well, off the deep end.

And they are. Lately they’ve been dubbed the Party of No, and from within their ranks is emerging something called the Tea Party. And then there’s Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, and Glenn Beck. All extremists who try to pass themselves off as the voice of common sense. The difference between the far right wing and the far left is that the far right thinks they are normal, while the far left is painfully aware of the fact that they are not mainstream.

Following that logic, I would bet that Bunning could make a sincere argument that blocking unemployment benefits is in the best interest of the senate and of the country at large. He would probably look the unemployed masses in his home state of Kentucky right in the eye and tell them the same thing. Then maybe they would all sit down and pray together- and I’m not kidding. I get the sense that there is a pervasive trust in authority and a sort of blind faith that less taxes and less government is going to make everything ok. At least, that’s the message I get from the media- which may be part of that left-wing agenda afterall. I am now part of the media, and I’m an unapologetic liberal. Maybe a libertarian, but regardless, you’ll find no social conservative beliefs up my sleeve.

Krugman talks a lot about the divide that has formed between the two parties and returns to the basic idea that the Democrats and Republicans have both moved to the right. The health care reform plan currently on the floor apparently closely resembles plans the Republicans themselves have put forward in the past- the recent past. So the shift has been fast and furious.

And if the Democrats are in the middle now, the Republicans are way out there. And they are.

Here are 3 reasons why it’s obvious:

1. Dissention from within: The Tea Party Movement goes to show that people within the classic Republican base are angry. Liberals always fight with each other but that’s because of pet causes- not overall political beliefs.
2. Talk Show Hosts: Right wing radio is about anger, outrage and taking marching orders about how to think. Left wing radio, like NPR or something, is about asking questions and thinking about things.
3. The Senate Republicans: They are trapped in a corner and clawing at the walls trying to hold onto any kind of power they can: right now that means blocking the evil socialist Obama’s every move.

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