There was something telling in Senator Judd Gregg’s comments as he bowed out as President Obama’s second try at a Commerce Secretary. Gregg said, “I’m a fiscal conversative. as everyone knows, a fairly strong one and it just became clear to me that it would be very difficult, day in and day out, to serve in this cabinet or any cabinet” [emphasis mine]. Hmm….this part of his comment hasn’t been picked up on by the bloviators on cable news or even in the press (NY Times included).

What Senator Gregg seems to be saying is, “I have this rigid ideology, but I recognize that my rigid ideology is totally at odds with actually running the government. So, even though I know that what I believe in is a total fantasy and never will actually work, I’m going to stick to what I believe in.”

This likewise seems to be the Republican party line:  we’re going to stick to what we believe in, despite all evidence that what we believe in is flat-out wrong. Thus, the constant refrain of “tax cuts, tax cuts, tax cuts” despite all the evidence that tax cuts provide the least economic stimulus. Thus the recent statements to the effect that “FDR’s economic policies caused the Great Depression,” ignoring the fact that the Depression started in 1929, and FDR didn’t assume office until March 1933.

It’s said that stupidity is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results. Republicans are stupid. Either that, or they’re willing to tear the whole country down in service of rigid ideology. Maybe they really are learning from The Taliban.