CULT-LIKE QUALITIES....

From Steve Benen at The Washington Monthly:

CNN's Bill Schneider is hardly a liberal voice in media. He's a resident fellow at the conservative American Enterprise Institute think tank, and has offered some nasty anti-Democratic rhetoric on the air. So, when the CNN analyst spoke at UCLA yesterday, these weren't the kind of remarks most expected.

"The Republicans aren't a party, they're a cult."

"The moderates aren't a wing of the Republicans, they're a feather."

In each case, Schneider said he was quoting what people in Washington are saying to him. But he didn't seem to disagree.

As for the "cult" comment, Kevin Drum twists the knife: "[T]oday's GOP does seem to check most of the boxes in the International Cultic Studies Association's 'Characteristics Associated with Cultic Groups.' Except for this one: 'The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members.' That doesn't seem to be much of a priority for them these days."

Ouch.

GOP Moderates: Silence is Mandatory

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele appealed to the political middle Friday to join his party but added that the party itself wouldn't moderate.

"All you moderates out there, y'all come. I mean, that's the message," Steele said at a news conference. "The message of this party is this is a big table for everyone to have a seat. I have a place setting with your name on the front.

"Understand that when you come into someone's house, you're not looking to change it. You come in because that's the place you want to be."

Steve Benen says:

That's quite a message. GOP moderates are welcome to stick around in the party, just so long as they realize they won't be seen, won't be heard, and aren't allowed to have any influence.