Someone ought to study the GOP

In The Flight of the Intruder, a forgettable movie about Navy pilots during the Vietnam War, Cmdr. Camparelli (Danny Glover) chews out Lt. Cmdr. Cole (William Dafoe) for breaking the rules of engagement. Standing eyeball to eyeball with Cole, Camparelli says, "And as for you, you can lead the Manson family now that Charlie's in jail. You're a maniac. They ought to study you, Cole."

Richard Cohen may have had the movie in mind when he penned his latest column. "Someone ought to study the Republican Party," he writes, Camparelli-like. "I am not referring to yet another political scientist but to a mental health professional, preferably a specialist in the power of fixations, obsessions and the like. The GOP needs an intervention. It has become a cult."

Midway through his harangue in the movie, Camparelli told the object of his ire, "I'm just getting started, Mister." So was Cohen.

"The hallmark of a cult is to replace reason with feverish belief. This the GOP has done when it comes to the government’s ability to stimulate the economy. History proves this works — it’s how the Great Depression ended — but Republicans will not acknowledge it. ... Not every GOP candidate adheres to all of these cockamamie beliefs. ... But the net effect is to establish an intellectual barrier for admittance to the presidential race: Independent thinkers, stop right here! If you believe in global warming, revenue enhancement, stimulus programs, the occasional need for abortion or even the fabulist theories of the late Charles Darwin, then either stay home — or lie."

The Flight of the Intruder had a happy ending. Cohen is doubtful about a similar outcome for the Grand Old Party.