Did you ever see the episode of QI where Fry cracks and says to Lee Mack something like, 'You CANNOT be that stupid, you just can't.'?

That's what American Republicans (in the main, not exclusively) remind me of these days.

The sad thing is, they aren't that stupid. They don't actually believe what they are saying, but they are in balls deep with the NRA/gun manufacturers and are willing to whore themselves publicly because interest group money will keep them in office.

The land of the free really does corrupt democracy to the nth degree, not that we're that far behind (if at all).

They do have a fair number of stupid people in the party, though the fact that that they have been bought by their big donors means that they really should wear suits with their sponsors on them. Our parties are just as in hock to big donors. Though a £500 cap on personal donations and a permanent ban on companies making donations would be a start. Though bequests through wills should be allowed. We need to clean up UK party funding but not to the extent that they do in the US. There it is a mess and they have probably the most corrupt government going.