The GOP offers all kinds of music: both country and western

NOTE FROM JOHN: I want to welcome a new writer on the main AMERICAblog site, a pen pal I've had over the past several years who has always written me interesting and insightful analyses of what was going on at any one particular time in politics. After years of reading his emails, and forwarding them to Joe and Chris for their edification, I decided it was time to invite him to write on the site for real, and he graciously accepted. For now, he'll be writing under the pen name Myrrdin. I think you'll enjoy his writing as much as I have over the years. JOHN
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I did not listen to the GOP presidential debate but from what I read in the transcripts and the commentaries of those who did, the only policy difference that emerged was on the question of war with Iran: Santorum is for it, Ron Paul is opposed.

Most of them are faking of course, and to the extent that policy was mentioned at all it was in the form of attacks on the other candidates for only pretending to hew to the Tea Party line. So the GOP nomination choice boils down to either picking Michelle Bachmann, or picking someone who claims to hold all her views in the hope they revert to some semblance of sanity once the nomination is locked up.

This is not the way Presidential primaries are normally fought. Of course there is pandering to the core supporters most likely to vote in primaries. But in normal elections different candidates attempt to pander to different constituencies within the party. Today's Republican party has only one constituency that hates spending, believes in the tax fairy and is convinced that global warming is a hoax. The only choice is whether the hard right economic policy entrée is served with a side of bigotry or not.

Having a range of options helps the eventual nominee get elected. The minority know that their position is at least being represented in the party. The majority is reassured that their candidate is sincerely on their side. When all the candidates say the exact same thing they all appear to be pandering.

In a normal party this would create an opportunity for an alternative candidate to enter the race and run from the center. This won't happen of course -- Perry will enter the race but he will offer more of the same, not an alternative that's sane. The Republican party considers contrary opinions and inconvenient facts as a disease to be isolated and eliminated. lest the infection spread.

What does this type of behavior resemble most, a political party or a cult?