Why do Republicans hate our troops?

Most likely, a grotesque combination of blind partisanship — anything to deny a Dem a win — and chicken-hawkism — only war sells, not taking care of the people who actually have to fight.

The fact that these Senators are from red states shows they’re taking their voters for granted — coasting on cultural posturing and division.

It’s ugly — but it’s a lantern for progressives. With stuff like this, we can illuminate a path out of the wilderness. We’ve seen conservatives before retreating into nationalism and defeatism — just think about the Republican Party in the 1930’s and 1940’s — and turning away from the real Americans who defend our country. We’ve also seen Democrats formulate strong, engaged policies that united our fighters and our foreign policy — just think John F. Kennedy in the early 1960’s.

What am I talking about? Go here to find out.

Ezra Klein is a former Prospect writer and current editor-in-chief at Vox. His work has appeared in the LA Times, The Guardian, The Washington Monthly, The New Republic, Slate, and The Columbia Journalism Review. He’s been a commentator on MSNBC, CNN, NPR, and more.