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In hisfarewell address, George Washington warned the nation of the great danger posed to our form of government by political partisans. Washington cautioned us that extreme partisanship agitates the Community with ill-founded jealousies and alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, and foments occasionally riot and insurrection. He could not have given a better description of present-day America.

On Jan. 6, we suffered the riot and insurrection that the prescient father of our country predicted. The unprecedented attack on the seat of our government should have served as a shocking wake-up call for congressional Republicans about the dire consequences of their hyper-partisanship. WhenGOP congressional leadership immediately spoke outagainst President TrumpDonald TrumpLegal organization files ethics complaint on Trump lawyer Eastman Overnight Defense & National Security US warns Putin still mulling Ukraine invasion Krysten Sinema is less of a political enigma than she is a strategic policymaker MOREs instigation of the insurrection, it appeared the message had been received. But that did not last long.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellOn The Money Presented by Citi Schumer signals delay for Biden plan Schumer says Build Back Better will be delayed McConnell: 'It would be a great idea' for Manchin to switch parties MORE (R-Ky.), apparently suffering the trauma of losing two Senate seats in Georgia and fretting that he might not realize his dream of taking back control of the Senate, quickly redoubled his partisan posturing. Many Republicans at both the national and state levels were intrigued by the Trump strategy that came close to snatching an undeserved victory from the jaws of electoral defeat. They calculatedhow that strategy might ensure victory next timewith theinstallation of partisan election officialsand some strategic changes to voting laws in Republican-controlled states.

Almost worse than the attempted take-over of our government by Trumpist forces is the present denial by so many Republicans about the horrifying events of that day and the continuing danger the extremists pose to American democracy. How did we get to this ugly state of affairs, where partisan interests trump our national interest?

Although neither of our political parties has clean hands, the Republican Party is primarily responsible for todays slash-and-burn political partisanship.Former Rep. Newt Gingrich(R-Ga.) laid out the path to toxic polarization of American politics during his tenure as speaker of the House in the 1990s. In the ensuing years, GOP politicos have fashioned their form of extreme partisanship to perfection, particularly in the last five years under Donald Trumps noxious influence. McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthyKevin McCarthyPhotos of the Week: Tornado aftermath, Medal of Honor and soaring superheroes Trump allies urge McCarthy to remove Kinzinger, Cheney from House GOP conference GOP election objectors rake in corporate cash MORE (R-Calif.) now lead the take-no-prisoners partisan warfare in their respective houses of Congress.

In recent days we have seen several instances in which GOP legislators have tried to squeeze partisan advantage out of matters that were historically of concern to both parties. A recent instance involved thenational debt, which increased about $7.8 trillion during Trumps presidency. Congress needed to urgently increase the statutory debt limit by mid-December toavert economic disaster. McConnell announced weeks ago that no Republican senators would support an increase, solely as a cheap political trick to shift blame for the increase onto Democrats. The Democrats gave in last week in order to save the economy something the GOP Senators were willing to risk just to score political points.

Then, on Dec. 9, every Republican senator voted to block President BidenJoe BidenSenate confirms Rahm Emanuel to be ambassador to Japan NY governor plans to add booster shot to definition of 'fully vaccinated' Photos of the Week: Tornado aftermath, Medal of Honor and soaring superheroes MOREs vaccine mandate for large employers, knowing that the House would not go along. Again, the lock-step GOP vote appeared to be just a move to gain partisan advantage.

Several Republicans have tried to have it both ways doing whatever they can to assist the spread of the virus by opposing shots and masking and, at the same time,criticizing the president for failing to get the pandemic under control. Playing politics with the pandemic trumps the health and safety of their own voters. Arecent study foundthat counties that voted heavily for Trump in 2020 have a COVID-19 death rate three times that of those that voted heavily for Biden. Political advantage apparently trumps saving lives.

For decades following World War II, the GOP fancied itself as the bulwark against Soviet and Russian aggression. Strangely enough, that all changed with the election of Donald Trump, who could not keep from fawning over Russian President Vladimir PutinVladimir Vladimirovich PutinOvernight Defense & National Security US warns Putin still mulling Ukraine invasion White House says Putin hasn't made up mind on invading Ukraine Iran has good reasons to hang tough in nuke talks MORE.Trump was an absolute gift to Putin. GOP lawmakers must have supportedTrumps Putinophiliabecause we heard nary a peep of disapproval from them during Trumps tenure.

The GOP has done an about face on Putin and Russia since Joe Biden became president. KevinMcCarthy has criticized Bidenfor giving Putin a pass, although that would accurately describe what McCarthy gave Trump for four years.Sen. Tom Cotton(R-Ark.) chimed in on the same day as the Biden-Putin summit, falsely claiming that Biden was appeasing Putin. So much for speaking to the enemy with one voice.

There are many other instances where GOP extremism has damaged the national interest. The most dangerous and shameful instance was the rabid partisanship that, in George Washingtons words, fomented riot and insurrection in Washington. Americas voters must take heed and throw the partisans out in coming elections if we hope to remain a democracy.

JimJonesis a Vietnam combat veteran who served eight years as Idaho attorney general (1983-1991) and 12 years as a justice of the Idaho Supreme Court (2005-2017). He is a regular contributor to The Hill.

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Republican extremism is damaging the national interest | TheHill - The Hill