John,
It isn't terribly controversial to say that we live in a highly polarized time in America. The tribal nature of politics and political parties means that what used to be considered fringe or extreme can sometimes become more mainstream.
Impeachment, for example, was once considered a consequence of the gravest national concern. A president (or any federal elected official, really) would not have faced impeachment without being credibly accused of very serious transgressions that fit what most reasonable people would consider "high crimes and misdemeanors."
But today's GOP just isn't serious about ethics, standards, or representing the considerations and interests of "reasonable people." That's why buffoons like Lauren Boebert are so prominent right now, and it's why they are able to wag the dog and push the Republican Party into ridiculous extremes:
|