It looks like the rest of the country has caught up with us here at Addicting Info. According to a new Pew poll released on Tuesday, most of America has figured out that the Republican party has been taken over by the crazies. Sixty-two percent of adults (I guess they didn’t talk to any Congressional Republicans) say that the GOP is out of touch and 52% said they were too extreme. Compare that to 46% and 39% who think that, respectively, about the Democratic party.

In every category the pollsters asked about – out of touch, extreme, looking out for the country’s future, favorability and disapproval – the Republicans scored dismally. The only place they did better than Democrats was in the strength of their principles. That’s fair, I guess. When an entire political party is willing to let the country go to hell in a handbasket just to stick to their guns (literal and figurative), I guess they have strong convictions. Because they certainly have no honor.

The Pew poll spoke to 1,054 adults – 366 Republicans and 470 Democrats – by phone between Feb 15 and 18. Other polls show similar outcomes: HuffPo‘s pollster has the Republicans at an average 31% favorability. They also show that half of Republicans disapprove of their Congressional representatives and that a majority of all Americans say that the GOP has moved out of the mainstream.

When you look back at the record of the Republican party, even just the recent record, you can clearly see why their numbers are so bleak. Let’s examine why the GOP is viewed by so many Americans as out of touch and extreme. Here are just a handful of examples:

Richard Mourdock: Mr. “rape babies are a gift from god” cost the GOP a Senate seat in the 2012 election with his insensitive remarks. You’d think that would put him out to pasture as far as electability goes. But you’d be wrong.





Marco Rubio: Ah, the supposed savior of the GOP. They put him in the spotlight to deliver their response to the State of the Union address a few weeks ago, hoping he would improve their image in the sight of the country. Not. Though they were delivered by a newer face they were the same old failed ideas.

Rand Paul: Where to start with this guy? When he’s not insulting Cabinet members, he’s fomenting conspiracy theories. He has no idea what’s in bills he votes on. He’s the guy the Tea Party chose to give their response to the SOTU address. His logic does not resemble our earth logic.

The message: The last election should have been an eye-opener for the GOP but apparently they still have blinders on. They think that it’s the *way* they say it. Um, no. From their attitude about women to their policies on immigration to their stubborn clinging to the Defense of Marriage Act, the Republicans hold views that are so far out of step with the nation that it would be laughable if it weren’t so damaging to so many Americans. Frank Luntz can’t save you, guys. Not this time.

The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC): As if to prove how backwards they are, this yearly meeting of people who live in the past has invited all of the losers they know. From Sarah Palin to Karl Rove to Paul Ryan, the CPAC folks have invited the flaming stars bags of poop (in the sense of that tired and outdated doorstep prank) that have done so much to embolden ruin the conservative brand. But no invite for Chris Christie. He was a bad boy and does not salute the GOP flag (the one with a dunce cap on it) so he was snubbed this year.

And then there is their continual use of the term “the American people,” as if they have an actual idea (or even care) what the people really want, say or feel. We can pretty much assume that any time we hear a Republican say that, he is relating what his corporate masters want, say or feel. Because if they really did know what we want – 92% want background checks for gun buyers, for example – they would not be trying to destroy the country in pursuit of their ideological and monetary happiness at the cost of ours. Yes, the GOP is out of touch. They are extreme. They are unpopular and, all the gods willing, they are soon to be extinct.

T. Steelman is a life-long Liberal. She has been writing online about politics since 2007. She lives in Western Washington with her husband, daughter, 2 cats and a small herd of alpacas. How can anybody be enlightened? Truth is, after all, so poorly lit…