I don't mean this as a cheeky response (this is a great piece well worth your time), but suppose we see all of this--QAnon, culture wars, &c.--*as* *actual* *policy*. I think that's the way to understand it. It's not policy that helps people or helps the country, but it's policy!
https://twitter.com/transscribe/status/1354787489354035200
E.g., the Trump admin. used executive orders to execute a lot of policy stuff on the culture wars front. And I think we should understand obstructionism as a policy choice, following a policy agenda that passed libertarianism long ago and verges into nihilism.
I guess I should say: I don't mean this as merely a semantic distinction. I think it's actually instructive to see GOP actions as steps toward fulfilling earnest desires and ideological outcomes (like any other party). The methods are cynical but the desires sincere.
I.e. it's *too* charitable to look at the worst of it (conspiracy theory, COVID denialism, family separation policy, etc.) and think 'no one could actually believe in that; they just want power.' Too charitable!
So, to treat this version of the GOP according to the political exceptionalism it cultivates is playing their game. salon.com/2016/05/14/you…
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