The other thing the press has failed on is illuminating and clarifying the single core component of the Republican Party agenda. And no, it’s not racism. The racism is real enough, and horrible enough, but the fanning of racial animosity, for all its evil consequences, is just a cold-blooded GOP tactic. The core issue for Republicans, the sun in their solar system, the organizing principle around which all else revolves, is tax cuts for the rich. For all the bluster, name-calling and posturing during the Republican debates, look at the candidates’ platforms. Nearly seamless unanimity across the board. Tax cuts for the rich, huge ones. Yes, wackadoodle Donald Trump, too. This is what is causing the party to stay in line behind its maniac president.

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Why this particular agenda item? Duh. I’ll let you puzzle that one out.

What about health care? What about Steve Bannon going on and on yesterday about regulations and the administrative state? What about the sporadic GOP concern about deficits? Fundamentally, they all relate to the opportunity to preserve tax cuts for the rich or pass new ones.

And now we will be hearing about “tax reform.” There will be many words said and written about simplification, and streamlining, and loophole-closing, trade-offs and magical growth numbers. What you won’t hear quite so much about is the main thing, tax cuts for the rich. As the shell game slides around before your eyes, try to keep your eye on that. You won’t be able to because Republicans have gotten very good at shell-sliding, and the press is unable or unwilling to help you keep track. But it doesn’t matter. You know where the pea will end up. Under the tax-cuts-for-the-rich shell. Just watch.

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Republicans say they truly believe that this is what creates prosperity and spreads it fairly. Do they really believe it? Doesn’t matter. What matters is whether voters believe it. There’s plenty of evidence now of how this has worked out since the current efforts began 3½ decades ago. The GOP base should take a little rest from its heated thoughts about minorities to take a look: There’s a nearly unprecedented split in wealth and income disparity in the United States between the very top and everybody else. And, oh yeah, a financial collapse that you got to fund the bailout for. Now ask yourself: How’s that tax-cutty, you-can-keep-the-spare-changey thing workin’ out for ya?