Lessons Not Learned

If recent history is an accurate forecaster, the Republican party will not be chastened by the debacle of the past several weeks.

After the 2012 election, there were many who said that immigration reform was assured as the Republicans could no longer afford the political fallout from their abhorrent treatment of such a significant portion of our population.  Where is that reform?

After the Newtown massacre, there were many who said that gun control was assured as the Republicans could no longer afford to be seen as unfettered supporters of these weapons of such mass destruction. Nothing has changed.

And even looking at what now appears as ancient history, when the Republicans first took us to the edge of the debt ceiling precipice and our country was damaged so, there were many who said that this folly would never be repeated if the Republican party intended to survive. And yet we have been witness to a second round of this particular brand of lunacy.

So, even if we hear words from some Republicans, like Mitch McConnell, that make us hope that the worst is behind us, we take little solace. There is scant evidence to suggest that his party has any intention of learning its lessons.