Not that it's particularly new…

…but it's certainly true enough, where "right now" means the last 30 years. Chris Hayes...

"Republicans right now are behaving like adolescent nihilists, willing to drive the family's Country Squire station wagon off the cliff in some negotiation with their parents. Not people interested in the well-being of this country."

Steve Benen is similarly accurate if a bit too measured in observing that...

"We're talking about a major political party, which will control much of Congress next year, possibly undermining the strength of the country -- on purpose, in public, without apology or shame -- for no other reason than to give themselves a campaign advantage in 2012."

In this case, while Republican subversion is certainly what we're talking about, it's been underway for decades and its aims extend far beyond the 2012 elections.

Good to have the topic on the table, though, and the discussion that's been sparked around it. There's ultimately no substitute for action, but vigilance is at least a substantial down payment on liberty.