The Republican Party, like Victor Frankenstein, has lost control of the monster it has birthed...
8
The “invisible primary” held by the Koch brothers wasn't so invisible. I imagine watching Rubio kiss their ring didn't sit so well with the non-establishment (aka, the majority of Republicans).
9
This election went off the rails back in the summer, when the pundits announced that 2016 was going to be a Jeb vs. Hillary contest because they both had huge campaign $$ warchests & the support of the party poobahs, and thus had the nominations pretty much sewn-up.
A large portion of the American populace barfed in unison. When you're informed 6 months before the first primary that your thoughts & actions don't matter a whit, you tend to be more open to outside-the-box solutions. Trump & Sanders are the result.
A large portion of the American populace barfed in unison. When you're informed 6 months before the first primary that your thoughts & actions don't matter a whit, you tend to be more open to outside-the-box solutions. Trump & Sanders are the result.
24
Let's see...for the last decade or so the elites within the GOP brand have relied on Duck Dynasty, June and Honey Boo Boo, Glenn Beck, Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh, reality shows, Jesus freaks, science deniers and anti-vaxers. They celebrate their ignorance like it is a badge of honor.
This Frankenstein monster "Trump" is one of your won making. Quite frankly it couldn't happen to a more deserving group.
This Frankenstein monster "Trump" is one of your won making. Quite frankly it couldn't happen to a more deserving group.
36
They can't stop Trump because he's seizing on all the issues that Republicans have been screaming about for 35 years, but which they never really meant to do anything about. The racism, the scapegoating of immigrants, the anti-Muslim fearmongering, the relentless obsession with abortion and gays, the idea that effective foreign policy means shouting at foreign heads of state and acting like a tough guy...the GOP "establishment" knows it's all nonsense, they only use those issues to trick the working class and the rural poor to vote Republican, and then once the election's over the GOP would go back to the only thing they really care about: SERVING THE RICH.
It worked for decades. The uneducated masses would get worked up into a frenzy by GOP rage-mongering, vote Republican, and at the next election the cycle would repeat itself. Well, you can only keep talking about all that stuff for so long before the people you're talking to will notice that you haven't done anything about it.
So now the GOP "establishment" is forced to incredulously ask all those angry people with pitchforks, "you guys thought we were actually SERIOUS about all that stuff???" Yeah, did think you were serious. You created this monster, and while it's fun to see it destroying your party it threatens the rest of our country, too.
It worked for decades. The uneducated masses would get worked up into a frenzy by GOP rage-mongering, vote Republican, and at the next election the cycle would repeat itself. Well, you can only keep talking about all that stuff for so long before the people you're talking to will notice that you haven't done anything about it.
So now the GOP "establishment" is forced to incredulously ask all those angry people with pitchforks, "you guys thought we were actually SERIOUS about all that stuff???" Yeah, did think you were serious. You created this monster, and while it's fun to see it destroying your party it threatens the rest of our country, too.
47
This sounds like academic nonsense of the usual sort. Who are the "party leaders"? When did they last vet candidates and determine who would run? Office holders? Which one has super powers? Past candidates? Romney or the guy from Arizona whose name I cannot remember because he has become a nobody who favored amnesty? Please tell us who the party leaders you refer to are. I submit they do not exist.
6
Why *should* the GOP stop Trump? He's their only hope at a national win. Okay, he appears not to be owned … unlike all other candidates, except Bernie. Such a major failing.
14
A lot of words and the author fails to get to the heart of the matter: the party's elite simply doesn't understand — nor cares to understand — its base.
The base has been playing the fools for election after election and the elites never, ever, listen to them.
The day after an election, the elites move on with their agenda, and shut off almost of the party's members. It's the same as a business not listening to its customers.
Is the issue really that simple?! Yes, amazingly, it really is.
The base has been playing the fools for election after election and the elites never, ever, listen to them.
The day after an election, the elites move on with their agenda, and shut off almost of the party's members. It's the same as a business not listening to its customers.
Is the issue really that simple?! Yes, amazingly, it really is.
41
Two simple reasons why the GOP can't stop him: (1) They created him with their hate-filled rhetoric and empty and antagonistic intellectualism over the years, and (2) they have a relationship with Trump akin to Frankenstein and his creation: they made 'it,' but find it hard to destroy it. For the GOP, that's because they have placed WINNING THE WHITE HOUSE as the ultimate moral good.
The GOP has offered NO specifics as to why the country is suddenly 'off track,' and few candidates have offered any specifics as to solutions for these perceived ailments. Trump has risen because of fear that the world is passing some Americans by, the group that the president said clings to their guns and religion. Obama was right; they cannot control their fear and cannot accept that the world has changed, as they must. This empty-minded and bullying neo-fascist then offers them easy solutions: name-calling, bullying and thuggery.
The most interesting rationale behind Trump's rise is the idea that the government is 'stupid' and he will simply be better. This implies that his supporters elected 'stupid' people to government, or that those they didn't elect are 'stupid.' In either case, we all have enjoyed the fruits of the government we elected, which are bitter. The average Trump supporter, who probably takes longer to order at a drive-through window than to think about issues and ideas and the country's future, will have some very difficult times ahead if this clown show is elected.
The GOP has offered NO specifics as to why the country is suddenly 'off track,' and few candidates have offered any specifics as to solutions for these perceived ailments. Trump has risen because of fear that the world is passing some Americans by, the group that the president said clings to their guns and religion. Obama was right; they cannot control their fear and cannot accept that the world has changed, as they must. This empty-minded and bullying neo-fascist then offers them easy solutions: name-calling, bullying and thuggery.
The most interesting rationale behind Trump's rise is the idea that the government is 'stupid' and he will simply be better. This implies that his supporters elected 'stupid' people to government, or that those they didn't elect are 'stupid.' In either case, we all have enjoyed the fruits of the government we elected, which are bitter. The average Trump supporter, who probably takes longer to order at a drive-through window than to think about issues and ideas and the country's future, will have some very difficult times ahead if this clown show is elected.
50
Why any of the "free" people of this Republic could even harbor the concept that the "Party Leaders" should have the right or the power to oppose the will of the voter is beyond treasonous and flat STUPID. In a Democratic Republic, the people are always right.
This is not some third world sh-thole for the powerful to make those calls in or nation and if you believe so you need to get educated and please, don't vote.
This is not some third world sh-thole for the powerful to make those calls in or nation and if you believe so you need to get educated and please, don't vote.
36
Because he's popular with voters?
41
"Why can't the GOP stop Trump?" Why SHOULD they? He appears to be winning overwhelmingly. Why not just let the primary voters have their say? What is this, Iran - limiting allowable candidates to those that are approved by the "Council of Experts" (George Will, Bill Kristol & John Podhoretz)?
70
Patience! Patience! The GOP will stop Trump. They will not permit a sure loser to be their standard bearer, and that is exactly what Trump is. Just you wait. But Hillary or Sanders will be the next Pres..........
6
Nobody can stop Trump because he gets so much free media which drowns out legitimate policy discussions. Real candidates spend all their money on messaging and still cannot be heard over the din.
Les Moonves recently said Donald Trump is bad for America but great for CBS. People are drawn to him the way they can't avoid looking at a car wreck. Jerry Springer's ratings tell you all you need to know about Americans' appetite for freak shows.
Trump is the media candidate, and heaven help Hillary if she has to face him. The whoopin' he will put on her will get crowds chanting, "Jerry, Jerry," er, "I mean "Donald, Donald!" She won't get a coherent word out and will be always on the defensive.
The media moguls have decided Trump may be bad for America, but he is good for their bottom line.
Les Moonves recently said Donald Trump is bad for America but great for CBS. People are drawn to him the way they can't avoid looking at a car wreck. Jerry Springer's ratings tell you all you need to know about Americans' appetite for freak shows.
Trump is the media candidate, and heaven help Hillary if she has to face him. The whoopin' he will put on her will get crowds chanting, "Jerry, Jerry," er, "I mean "Donald, Donald!" She won't get a coherent word out and will be always on the defensive.
The media moguls have decided Trump may be bad for America, but he is good for their bottom line.
8
I believe John Oliver has an excellent analysis of why Trump seems unstoppable, and a strategy to reverse his fortunes. It could work.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnpO_RTSNmQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnpO_RTSNmQ
8
Rubiio as the Republican savior is a big joke.
24
Today's Republican Party is an isolated bubble-world of half-baked economic ideas, retrograde social attitudes, and rational evidence denial that is stewing in today's toxic social media environment and sealed off from competing ideas by Fox News and wingnut talk radio. Remember the 2012 clown car that barreled through the primaries, with Rick Perry, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Michelle Bachman, and Rick Santorum at one time or another on top. After rejecting these, Mitt Romney managed to emerge as the sanest of the bunch.
It's a repeat performance in 2016, only the cast of characters has changed. Ben Carson, Carly Fiorina, Rick Santorum (again), Scott Walker, Mike Huckabee, Bobby Jindal, Rick Perry (again, oops), George Pataki (who?), Rand Paul. And Christie and Cruz. And Rubio. Did I forget Lindsay Graham? And Jeb!??! Unfortunately for the GOP high priests, Jeb wasn't strong enough to break through the muck and mire like Romney was.
This is a personality thing. I personally can't fathom why GOP primary voters are marching to Trump's whistle. But if you realize that the party has lost its mind, Mitch McConnell's antics being just the latest example, it shouldn't be surprising that Trump is breaking away. It could have been anyone of them, maybe except for Ted Cruz. Nobody can stand him. In any case, it's a bit early in the nominating process; Trump may yet self-destruct, but it won't be because of anything the GOP party leaders have done.
It's a repeat performance in 2016, only the cast of characters has changed. Ben Carson, Carly Fiorina, Rick Santorum (again), Scott Walker, Mike Huckabee, Bobby Jindal, Rick Perry (again, oops), George Pataki (who?), Rand Paul. And Christie and Cruz. And Rubio. Did I forget Lindsay Graham? And Jeb!??! Unfortunately for the GOP high priests, Jeb wasn't strong enough to break through the muck and mire like Romney was.
This is a personality thing. I personally can't fathom why GOP primary voters are marching to Trump's whistle. But if you realize that the party has lost its mind, Mitch McConnell's antics being just the latest example, it shouldn't be surprising that Trump is breaking away. It could have been anyone of them, maybe except for Ted Cruz. Nobody can stand him. In any case, it's a bit early in the nominating process; Trump may yet self-destruct, but it won't be because of anything the GOP party leaders have done.
13
John McCain would vote for Hillary over The Don.
10
Gawd.
Now - even the Republicans pundits are telling us that Trump's rise is due in no small part to ignorant angry white people.
Methinks the pundits doth pundish too much.
The cynical NYCer in methinks they just want to see what size rock they can get out of the affair...
http://viola.bz/worlds-most-expensive-engagement-rings/
Look no further than #3...
PS, Hans - you answer your own question, in your own first paragraph.
Then, it's all downhill from there...
"...we argued that the leaders of party coalitions have great influence over the selection of a presidential nominee...
> Republicans would (proudly) call this a "smoke-filled room"
> Democrats would (proudly) call this a "progressive coalition"
...Unless it's someone from NYC - then...
> Republicans (loudly) call it "Armageddon"
> Democrats (loudly) call it "a special place in Hell"
I'd always thought one could be both loud and proud at the same time.
This more or less proves it.
Now - even the Republicans pundits are telling us that Trump's rise is due in no small part to ignorant angry white people.
Methinks the pundits doth pundish too much.
The cynical NYCer in methinks they just want to see what size rock they can get out of the affair...
http://viola.bz/worlds-most-expensive-engagement-rings/
Look no further than #3...
PS, Hans - you answer your own question, in your own first paragraph.
Then, it's all downhill from there...
"...we argued that the leaders of party coalitions have great influence over the selection of a presidential nominee...
> Republicans would (proudly) call this a "smoke-filled room"
> Democrats would (proudly) call this a "progressive coalition"
...Unless it's someone from NYC - then...
> Republicans (loudly) call it "Armageddon"
> Democrats (loudly) call it "a special place in Hell"
I'd always thought one could be both loud and proud at the same time.
This more or less proves it.
2
Why couldn't Dr. Frankenstein stop his own creation?
11
tRUMP is an establishment Republican- Is it that he wears what looks like a dead squirrel glued to his head and acts like he's a guest on the Maury Povich show? ALL of the GOP nominees have been more likely candidates of the Maury Povich show than candidates for the oval office.
So what if tRUMP claims he's "self"-funded. Establishment Republicans ALWAYS lie. tRUMP's web site has "Donate Now" buttons you can click and give your credit card info to. Do you think he's turning people down?
He is just as much an influence-peddling showboating fool as any other establishment Republican. He is running on what the other Republicans have been running on, i.e. wedge issues, only at a higher decible level.
Everything about him screams establishment Republican, from the hamfisted tRUMP steak misadventure to his failed airline. How much money has he squandered over the years. That sounds like an establishment Republican to me.
He has been just as "establishment" as Dick Cheney as far back as the Vietnam war days when his daddykins ensured he would be able to avoid being drafted at least 5 times.
The only reason establishment Republicans are claiming he isn't one of them is that they can't face up to the fact that he's yet another one of their "Mission Accomplished" signs, only with towering Day-Glo letters in Gold this time.
So what if tRUMP claims he's "self"-funded. Establishment Republicans ALWAYS lie. tRUMP's web site has "Donate Now" buttons you can click and give your credit card info to. Do you think he's turning people down?
He is just as much an influence-peddling showboating fool as any other establishment Republican. He is running on what the other Republicans have been running on, i.e. wedge issues, only at a higher decible level.
Everything about him screams establishment Republican, from the hamfisted tRUMP steak misadventure to his failed airline. How much money has he squandered over the years. That sounds like an establishment Republican to me.
He has been just as "establishment" as Dick Cheney as far back as the Vietnam war days when his daddykins ensured he would be able to avoid being drafted at least 5 times.
The only reason establishment Republicans are claiming he isn't one of them is that they can't face up to the fact that he's yet another one of their "Mission Accomplished" signs, only with towering Day-Glo letters in Gold this time.
16
Why? Because Trump's their "Rosemary's" baby.
The GOP created the climate of nastiness which has coaxed the political Orcs out of the dark woods of politics. If you like numbers, appealing to the baser instincts of mankind has won them a lot of new adherents. If you like quality, you might want to think twice before voting the straight GOP ticket just because you always have.
"For the times, they are a changing'."
The GOP created the climate of nastiness which has coaxed the political Orcs out of the dark woods of politics. If you like numbers, appealing to the baser instincts of mankind has won them a lot of new adherents. If you like quality, you might want to think twice before voting the straight GOP ticket just because you always have.
"For the times, they are a changing'."
16
Cruz and Rubio advocate theocracy and military intervention. not all voters, even those that worship big business, are completely stupid. trump is crude, but so are Cheney, Hagge, Bibi and all the other gop divinities.
17
Those currently supporting Trump don't necessarily believe he can become POTUS. And they likely don't care that much if he does or does not.
Trump's fans are the finally finished folk, washed up and immersed in the hopeless despair of the new American underclass — white, uneducated and unintelligent, in financial jeopardy with no marketable skills, with no prospects and no future. Whatever happens in the elections for POTUS and for Congress to come will make no difference to them, and in their hearts they know it and they despair.
So Trump's fellow travellers just want to enjoy their last ride, man, watch the spectacle from the centre, revel in the discomfit their master's causing everyone they hate, despise and fear.
These simple sailors simply want to rock the boat they are all in as much as they can, while they can, while at the same time their white haired skipper sails his erratic course towards the Land God only knows.
L'Amerique, c'est fini. Après nous le déluge.
Trump's fans are the finally finished folk, washed up and immersed in the hopeless despair of the new American underclass — white, uneducated and unintelligent, in financial jeopardy with no marketable skills, with no prospects and no future. Whatever happens in the elections for POTUS and for Congress to come will make no difference to them, and in their hearts they know it and they despair.
So Trump's fellow travellers just want to enjoy their last ride, man, watch the spectacle from the centre, revel in the discomfit their master's causing everyone they hate, despise and fear.
These simple sailors simply want to rock the boat they are all in as much as they can, while they can, while at the same time their white haired skipper sails his erratic course towards the Land God only knows.
L'Amerique, c'est fini. Après nous le déluge.
24
Trumps a celebrity, add in irreverence for the media and the "experts", and a record of accomplishments and he is more appealing than any other politician in the running. Seems obvious.
Look the choice seems to be between a New York billionaire and a wannbe New York billionaire. You choose.
Look the choice seems to be between a New York billionaire and a wannbe New York billionaire. You choose.
12
They can't stop him for the same reason we couldn't stop a biological weapon.
4
I'm glad to read that the GOP created this mess they can't get out of. They need to accept some accountability some day. But months ago, when I decided I would no longer read anything about the Clown Prince of Reality Politics...I discovered I had nothing left to read anywhere. This candidacy is as much a media creation as it is a GOP fault line.
10
The establishment candidates are so far behind, one wonders why are they in the race at all.
If the GOP was to run either of their puppets, they would loose to Mickey Mouse, or Trump. So the GOP know that they can win with Trump, even if they loose the heart and soul (if they had any) of the GOP establishment.
Just amazing to see a party (the GOP), so eager to see their leading candidate loose. Just amazing.
If the GOP was to run either of their puppets, they would loose to Mickey Mouse, or Trump. So the GOP know that they can win with Trump, even if they loose the heart and soul (if they had any) of the GOP establishment.
Just amazing to see a party (the GOP), so eager to see their leading candidate loose. Just amazing.
9
I think Trump is just kind of in it for the fun, it is a lark, and if he doesn't win, no big deal. All that braggadocio and hoopla is just his style, the latest fete of a bored overachiever. Hopefully he doesn't win by mistake, though he is probably as good or better than the rest of that motley bunch running behind him. Goooo trump! . . . kinda
4
Sir, you waffle.
Things change.
America, politically, is fully splintered.
Americans are now hyper-engaged. Especially the "poorly educated."
We'll all be okay. #drumpf
Things change.
America, politically, is fully splintered.
Americans are now hyper-engaged. Especially the "poorly educated."
We'll all be okay. #drumpf
3
If, during a brokered caucus the establishment republicans (and I use establishment for want of a better word.....Trump is the real establishment) try to put in their own candidate and push Trump out they will be in trouble. Trump will start an independent party or all the Trump voters will stay home or vote for Bernie. If they let Trump be the candidate they will be in trouble. There is more to America than the Racist, myopic, petulant, potty-mouthed, non-Christian Christians tea party that they have allowed to take charge. Either way, they screwed themselves.
5
The open secret of the Republican party is that they trick average people into voting like Wall Streeters. In backing Trump, a developer, they're showing they've wised up a bit.
6
Why do GOP leaders dislike him so much? I can't think of a better mascot for the party representing billionaire interests, bigotry, the birthers, deniers of science, conspiracy theorists, know nothings, white supremacists, etc. He's perfect!
9
It's not that they can't stop Trump, they don't want to. They know that he's the closest thing to electable in their whole stable of losing horses. They have been hoisted on their own petard....and it's glorious. Now Karl Rove and company know how the rest of us feel.
10
The moderates have left the GOP to become nonvoters, independents, and/or Democrats, leaving only right wing anarchists. And the mass media--including the New York Times--have bent over backwards to give this vulgarian more free press than perhaps any other candidate in history.
13
In other words, this time Big Money could not agree on a candidate. In 2008 Big Money determined that Obama would be their man and in return, they all went scot-free after the financial crisis.
7
The reason why the GOP nor the media, donors, insiders, career politicians, talking heads and others can't stop Trump is because his supporters know he doesn't fit in with all of the above. This is an anti-establishment movement. The Clintons and all of the above who control the system should worry.
10
Or it may be that the GOP "party leaders" are simply incompetent.
22
I think Trump is the logical extension of how the GOP has played its presence on the national stage over the last eight years. Their behavior in general towards pragmatic, fact-oriented governance in favor of ideology as well as their institutionalized disparagement of the presidency, when occupied by, well, one of them (regardless of his mandate from two solid elections), has made it legitimate for GOP followers and would-be leaders to take that behavior to the next level, indeed making it necessary for the current policy positions and demagogery of the GOP frontrunners if they are to even be considered. The outrageous GOP refusal to even consider a SOTUS nomination is simply an extension of this political malfunction. I would say the GOP party has indeed chosen its candidate in Trump, but it has created its own monster in the process.
3
I suspect all this talk of mainstream Republicans "stopping Trump" will seem ridiculous in less than two weeks. Assuming Trump wins big today as predicted, the GOP establishment will be changing its tune and lining up behind Trump a la Chris Christie. They will be eagerly toadying up to Trump, and claiming that Trump was one of them all along.
9
You know what I find amusing in this article and in most of the comments here? The complete acceptance that people actually have no voice in our great democracy, and that "party leaders," "elites," "billionaires" select puppet candidates and the clueless population just chooses one of the less "fake" candidate. That is how it has been done for the past 20-30 years and that is "the right way to do it."
By accepting these as ground rules, we have no one to blame but ourselves. In our comfort zone, we are perfectly happy voting for the candidate from "our party." Most of the comments here simple have a sense of perverse satisfaction that it is Republican Party's comeuppance for their lack of cooperation (belligerence) towards Obama. It is somehow that Hillary Clinton is the perfect candidate for Democrats and by extension for the country.
In our smugness, let us not forget that whoever "wins" will be our president for four years. We will be the only ones to blame (and I mean we not only as the country, but all the readers of NY Times) for voting for one of the candidates chosen by the establishment - Rubio or Hillary. And when our elected president sells us to the highest bidder, then all the perverse enjoyment that we are currently enjoying at the expense of Republicans' predicament will come back to haunt us.
By accepting these as ground rules, we have no one to blame but ourselves. In our comfort zone, we are perfectly happy voting for the candidate from "our party." Most of the comments here simple have a sense of perverse satisfaction that it is Republican Party's comeuppance for their lack of cooperation (belligerence) towards Obama. It is somehow that Hillary Clinton is the perfect candidate for Democrats and by extension for the country.
In our smugness, let us not forget that whoever "wins" will be our president for four years. We will be the only ones to blame (and I mean we not only as the country, but all the readers of NY Times) for voting for one of the candidates chosen by the establishment - Rubio or Hillary. And when our elected president sells us to the highest bidder, then all the perverse enjoyment that we are currently enjoying at the expense of Republicans' predicament will come back to haunt us.
1
Trump's success is due to many voters "knowing" that the establishments in both parties have abandoned them, in ways that are hurting the country and impeding their ability to improve their families' lives. If there are enough such voters, Clinton is in real trouble, despite Trump's many negative qualities. If there are not, she wins.
Trump has tapped into legitimate anxieties that the political and media establishments have ignored or papered-over for years. For example, D.C. policy wonks tout the benefits of free-trade and liberal immigration. But tell that to formerly well-paid Disney tech. workers who were forced to train their foreign replacements on H1B visas or lose severance. (Wasn't it supposed to be illegal to do this?) Tell that to Americans first graduating with STEM degrees who can't find jobs, because they are going to foreigners with H1B's or being outsourced to foreign countries. This is just one area where both Democrats and Republicans have sided with big business lobbyists, instead of their constituents, making those affected feel abandoned.
Trump's campaign will likely be simple. He will make himself look like someone who will change this rigged game and portray Hillary as the status quo, making things worse for most Americans, including minorities. In any other year, a Trump presidency would seem unthinkable. In this year it could happen if he can convince voters that he will successfully address their anxieties, as Reagan did in 1980.
Trump has tapped into legitimate anxieties that the political and media establishments have ignored or papered-over for years. For example, D.C. policy wonks tout the benefits of free-trade and liberal immigration. But tell that to formerly well-paid Disney tech. workers who were forced to train their foreign replacements on H1B visas or lose severance. (Wasn't it supposed to be illegal to do this?) Tell that to Americans first graduating with STEM degrees who can't find jobs, because they are going to foreigners with H1B's or being outsourced to foreign countries. This is just one area where both Democrats and Republicans have sided with big business lobbyists, instead of their constituents, making those affected feel abandoned.
Trump's campaign will likely be simple. He will make himself look like someone who will change this rigged game and portray Hillary as the status quo, making things worse for most Americans, including minorities. In any other year, a Trump presidency would seem unthinkable. In this year it could happen if he can convince voters that he will successfully address their anxieties, as Reagan did in 1980.
2
They can't stop Trump because they've lost their voters.
Both conservatives and liberals recognize that the government is not defending their interests, however they define them.
The Democrats seems to have lost fewer of their voters than the Republicans.
Get ready for Hillary.
Both conservatives and liberals recognize that the government is not defending their interests, however they define them.
The Democrats seems to have lost fewer of their voters than the Republicans.
Get ready for Hillary.
The Republican Party needs to implement the equivalent of Super Delegates. That still won't take care of the public outrage if they actually use super delegates to upset the people's choice.
The real solution is to have at least one establishment candidate who will address the needs of the voting Republicans instead of the donors.
The real solution is to have at least one establishment candidate who will address the needs of the voting Republicans instead of the donors.
I can't imagine anyone other than Trump as our next president.
Trump represents many Americans who have been swept away by a really lousy president followed by Obama who's major concern is the bottom 1% of the population and no concept of world affairs.
Get used to saying, President Trump.
Trump represents many Americans who have been swept away by a really lousy president followed by Obama who's major concern is the bottom 1% of the population and no concept of world affairs.
Get used to saying, President Trump.
5
The discussion of Dean here is not quite complete. The party was behind Kerry from the very beginning, but Dean was quite popular, mostly because of his anti-Iraq War stance. The problem was (and still is) that the Democratic establishment supported that war.
In collusion with the mainstream media, the Democratic party managed to push the phony "Dean scream" story and portray him as unpresidential. I was watching on TV in real time and couldn't believe the negative spin that TV pundits were giving to normal campaign cheer leading. There's even a documentary showing that Dean Scream never happened: http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/why-the-dean-scream-sounded-so-diffe...
So the real story here is not how the Democratic party coalesced after Dean lost Iowa; it's how the media was used by the party to derail a popular progressive candidate.
In collusion with the mainstream media, the Democratic party managed to push the phony "Dean scream" story and portray him as unpresidential. I was watching on TV in real time and couldn't believe the negative spin that TV pundits were giving to normal campaign cheer leading. There's even a documentary showing that Dean Scream never happened: http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/why-the-dean-scream-sounded-so-diffe...
So the real story here is not how the Democratic party coalesced after Dean lost Iowa; it's how the media was used by the party to derail a popular progressive candidate.
5
The only people I know that are supporting Trump are Facebook friends - or were. I unfriend any person who identifies themselves as a Trump supporter - whether on social media or in person. I am a left-leaning moderate but I have lots of conservative friends and I enjoy talking politics with them. But I do not want to share space with Trumpites. He is a dangerous racist fascist and his followers are jerks and bullies (authoritarians in nice-speak). When it comes to Trump I've adopted a scorched earth policy.
5
We used to elect "Middle of the Road" Politicians as we expect them
to find a way to Compromise with those on either end of the Political Extremes.
Now that the Political Extremes refuse to Compromise, we turn toward a
self-proclaimed Businessman.
Economists not Government Policy Experts are the "New High Priests"
of America. Since all of our recent "Foreign Adventures" and Social Policies
have been failures - why not turn to a someone like Trump who promises
to get the economy roaring again - rather than politicians like Hillary, Cruz
or Rubio ?
Best find your copy of "All the King's Men" and re-read it or watch one of
the movie versions.
to find a way to Compromise with those on either end of the Political Extremes.
Now that the Political Extremes refuse to Compromise, we turn toward a
self-proclaimed Businessman.
Economists not Government Policy Experts are the "New High Priests"
of America. Since all of our recent "Foreign Adventures" and Social Policies
have been failures - why not turn to a someone like Trump who promises
to get the economy roaring again - rather than politicians like Hillary, Cruz
or Rubio ?
Best find your copy of "All the King's Men" and re-read it or watch one of
the movie versions.
5
You did not account, in your theory, for the fact that there was a limit to the amount of flat out lying any group will tolerate.
Hence, the base of the Republican Party, the conservatives of America, are DONE with them.
Candidly, if Trump's election is a stake in the heart of the no-longer-relevant Republican Party, that's fine with me. Indeed, it is a significant part of my decision making to vote for Trump if I get the chance.
For years, he11, decades I've accepted the lesser of two evils argument. That meant I voted for Bushes four times, for Sarah Palin and that doddering old fool she was running with, and for Mitt Romney and his pet RINO and, of course, for Ronaldus Magnus.
But after the serial capitulation and promise breaking following November 4, 2014, I am DONE with them.
Trump, Fiorina, Cruz or Carson and I'll break my pledge to never vote for a Republican again. Anyone else, specifically and emphatically including Marco "Send In 10,000,000 New Democrat Voters So I Can Prove How Moderate I Can Be" Rubio and I'll be writing in Baxter Schnauzer/Molly Schnauzer come November.
Hence, the base of the Republican Party, the conservatives of America, are DONE with them.
Candidly, if Trump's election is a stake in the heart of the no-longer-relevant Republican Party, that's fine with me. Indeed, it is a significant part of my decision making to vote for Trump if I get the chance.
For years, he11, decades I've accepted the lesser of two evils argument. That meant I voted for Bushes four times, for Sarah Palin and that doddering old fool she was running with, and for Mitt Romney and his pet RINO and, of course, for Ronaldus Magnus.
But after the serial capitulation and promise breaking following November 4, 2014, I am DONE with them.
Trump, Fiorina, Cruz or Carson and I'll break my pledge to never vote for a Republican again. Anyone else, specifically and emphatically including Marco "Send In 10,000,000 New Democrat Voters So I Can Prove How Moderate I Can Be" Rubio and I'll be writing in Baxter Schnauzer/Molly Schnauzer come November.
1
I don't think it is about parties. If Mr. Trump ran as a Democrat I believe he would be creating havoc in that race. I think this more about people being fed up with politicians from both sides who get elected, do nothing, leave office to become lobbyists or pundits, or advisors, or whatever and become very rich in the process. That is why the more the political establishment sends the attack dogs out after Mr. Trump the stronger his candidacy becomes.
6
Trump knows he can't win, but he has another goal. After doing his share to prove that our electoral system is broken, after showing that mass rallies and social media work better than visits to every hamlet, that what matters is not what you say but how you say it, that the debate system is entertainment with no substance, he will approach each Party and buy the broadcast rights to the next election cycle for his next reality TV show "The Candidate 2020" where he will put the candidates through their paces, with tasks designed to bring out their strengths and weaknesses, ranging from a week of community organizing to a week of unearthing billionaire sugar daddies. Position papers will be prepared (no advisors allowed) and graded by experts. Everyone gets to vote online, using a secure system developed by Apple. And at the end, Donald gets to say"Congratulations, You're Elected!"
8
I love how people like my 95 year old dad, once a democrat, says its Obamas' fault that Trump is so popular. I can only think he means because Donald Trump started the birther movement, claiming Barack Obama wasn't born in the US. The right wing media machine never stopped this movement, in fact they stoked the flames. The republican establishment along with fox and friends and Rush Limbaugh have themselves to blame for their unstoppable monster who is sucking all the air and wind out of their party.
It didn't hurt the Trump lead birther movement that Mitch McConnell made it his top senatorial priority to make Barak Obama a one term president.
It didn't hurt the Trump lead birther movement that Mitch McConnell made it his top senatorial priority to make Barak Obama a one term president.
8
The Party lacks the political discipline to control Trump, because the Party is falling apart. The Party is falling apart because it put the kinds judges on the court to permit unlimited donations and accepted policy development by the likes of FOX and Kochs. The value of the Party fell away as the policy centers fell away; like standing on a ladder and shifting your weight to the drain pipe on the roof, the ladder has just got to fall. They let the policy fall away because they adopted a strategy at least by July 2009 ( and probably earlier) to just attack everything and spike any cooperation and force all congressional committee chairs to toe the line, when they could have been centers of diversity and new ideas. So they won a bunch of mid-term elections that way, and poisoned politics so completely that only a hostile and belligerent narcissist would seem authentic to the voters. When you don't care about governance and only care about evisceration, this is what you get. You become what you behold.
11
"If party leaders were merely following the polls, they’d all be for Mr. Trump by now. "
I think the fact that almost the entire GOP establishment is hiding under rocks is extremely telling. Indeed, what are they waiting for? If one understands this group as cowards and political hacks then it becomes pretty simple: On one side they hate Trump because he threatens their happy Conservative Industrial Complex and lifetime employment. Logically they should quickly circle around one of their own to thwart the usurper, but the fear is if he wins they will have been on the wrong side of the revolution, which is worse than the revolution itself. Trapped between hackery and a quisling they obviously decide to do nothing.
I think the fact that almost the entire GOP establishment is hiding under rocks is extremely telling. Indeed, what are they waiting for? If one understands this group as cowards and political hacks then it becomes pretty simple: On one side they hate Trump because he threatens their happy Conservative Industrial Complex and lifetime employment. Logically they should quickly circle around one of their own to thwart the usurper, but the fear is if he wins they will have been on the wrong side of the revolution, which is worse than the revolution itself. Trapped between hackery and a quisling they obviously decide to do nothing.
4
What we are discovering now is that party affiliation is an inch deep and a mile long. Party labels mean little anymore. Interesting enough both Sanders and Trump are new to the party he is disrupting. Either this is chaos or true democracy. We will find out soon.
3
According to Occam's Razor, the explanation with the least assumptions is best. And in this piece is full of assumptions. The reason Trump hasn't been stopped is that the Republican Party is more internally democratic than the Democrats. The Republicans do not have Superdelegates. You may not like their voter's choice but it is far more democratic than the Democrats.
8
Why can't you just admit you were and are completely wrong?
On the off chance that Rubio wins the nomination, it will be because Trump has been so reprehensible that the voters rejected him, not because of party leaders.
Just who are these party leaders? McConnell doesn't have an ounce of charisma. He has no philosophy of his own. He announced seven years ago that his only priority is to stop Obama's reelection and has nothing that he can tell voting Republicans that he has done for them.
Ryan carries around his book that claims the way to the future is to scuttle Social Security and Medicare which are the only programs that would benefit those angry Republicans who are ignoring their leadership.
You are too modest in saying it has earned "some" of its criticism. It has earned all of its scorn.
We all know what has happened to the Republican Party. They got the support of White people by exploiting their racism, while the only thing they really intended to deliver was tax breaks to the wealthy and corporations, both of whom give millions in their own self interest. The 99% of Republicans who never got anything back have finally seen through that scam. They aren't going to be listening to the Establishment leadership anytime soon.
On the off chance that Rubio wins the nomination, it will be because Trump has been so reprehensible that the voters rejected him, not because of party leaders.
Just who are these party leaders? McConnell doesn't have an ounce of charisma. He has no philosophy of his own. He announced seven years ago that his only priority is to stop Obama's reelection and has nothing that he can tell voting Republicans that he has done for them.
Ryan carries around his book that claims the way to the future is to scuttle Social Security and Medicare which are the only programs that would benefit those angry Republicans who are ignoring their leadership.
You are too modest in saying it has earned "some" of its criticism. It has earned all of its scorn.
We all know what has happened to the Republican Party. They got the support of White people by exploiting their racism, while the only thing they really intended to deliver was tax breaks to the wealthy and corporations, both of whom give millions in their own self interest. The 99% of Republicans who never got anything back have finally seen through that scam. They aren't going to be listening to the Establishment leadership anytime soon.
17
Three points
1. Republican Nomination - "Lately, the leaders have let voters help them figure out which candidate, among the acceptable, they should coordinate on." If Trump wins (particularly with just 35% of the vote) and then gets trounced in the general election, expect to see some major changes in the way the GOP select a nominee. For example, they may emulate the Dems Super-Delegates which allow party officials to basically swing an election.
2. Democrats - "The Democratic Party has its own factions, but that conflict has mostly been worked out within party circles." Is it really that Dems are unified or is the Dem machine simply better at pushing a nomination process towards their preferred candidate (e.g Super Delegates) ? When major unions like the Teamsters and the CWA (historically big supporters of Dems) are considering endorsing Trump, it's very tough to say that the Dems are unified. They've basically discarded both the "Bill Clinton" Democrats (as Hillary runs away from his record) as well as the working class white vote.
3. Trump - Trump is the result of a significant but little noticed change in voter self-identification. Historically, there was a high correlation between income and support for the GOP - low taxes, entitlement reform, etc. But now, the top 20% support Dems and the middle quintiles support the GOP. Whether or not he should be the voice of the common man, Trump has picked up on this - no entitlement cuts, anti-trade, anti-immigrant.
1. Republican Nomination - "Lately, the leaders have let voters help them figure out which candidate, among the acceptable, they should coordinate on." If Trump wins (particularly with just 35% of the vote) and then gets trounced in the general election, expect to see some major changes in the way the GOP select a nominee. For example, they may emulate the Dems Super-Delegates which allow party officials to basically swing an election.
2. Democrats - "The Democratic Party has its own factions, but that conflict has mostly been worked out within party circles." Is it really that Dems are unified or is the Dem machine simply better at pushing a nomination process towards their preferred candidate (e.g Super Delegates) ? When major unions like the Teamsters and the CWA (historically big supporters of Dems) are considering endorsing Trump, it's very tough to say that the Dems are unified. They've basically discarded both the "Bill Clinton" Democrats (as Hillary runs away from his record) as well as the working class white vote.
3. Trump - Trump is the result of a significant but little noticed change in voter self-identification. Historically, there was a high correlation between income and support for the GOP - low taxes, entitlement reform, etc. But now, the top 20% support Dems and the middle quintiles support the GOP. Whether or not he should be the voice of the common man, Trump has picked up on this - no entitlement cuts, anti-trade, anti-immigrant.
7
The fact is the GOP mile by mile, inch by inch surrendered it's very limited but existing moral compass to a pack of wild corn dogs. Oh sorry, I meant bomb throwers. Just as in the case of the southern strategy where it compromised any moral and general authority to lead that it may have had. When the Tea party came along the people at the top said, wow another lynch mob, no problem we'l take the votes. Well, your low info, low understanding bibles, guns, and fear people swelled up like Germany mid thirties and now you're wondering what you can do about it. For a start you cannot only stop giving tacit approval to the lunatic fringe you can call it out.
But the problems are much deeper. The GOP has failed in its duty to act as a gatekeeper on garbage rhetoric for decades, maybe forever. It takes pathetically little intellectual horsepower to recognize that the talking heads on the right are largely refugees from their state hospital's day room. The entire spectrum is polluted with individuals uncoupled from demonstrable fact. The best left are the party apologists, excuse makers, and possibly honest but impossibly delusional common-taters we see here in the Times.
And more generally we've come to a place, actually quite long ago where our political class went retrograde to 1900. In other words totally corrupt where once again people like Murdoch and O'Riley posited that the truth is whatever we want it to be. It is completely optional. Well, good luck with that.
But the problems are much deeper. The GOP has failed in its duty to act as a gatekeeper on garbage rhetoric for decades, maybe forever. It takes pathetically little intellectual horsepower to recognize that the talking heads on the right are largely refugees from their state hospital's day room. The entire spectrum is polluted with individuals uncoupled from demonstrable fact. The best left are the party apologists, excuse makers, and possibly honest but impossibly delusional common-taters we see here in the Times.
And more generally we've come to a place, actually quite long ago where our political class went retrograde to 1900. In other words totally corrupt where once again people like Murdoch and O'Riley posited that the truth is whatever we want it to be. It is completely optional. Well, good luck with that.
7
The GOP can't stop Trump because he is so popular with the average low information voter.
To run for President a candidate used to need governing experience, as a state governor.
That all changed with Obama. Minimal governing experience but lots of celebrity and media attention.
Trump is just the next step in the evolution of a viable candidate. No experience and all celebrity and media hype.
Most Americans can't name their own state governor or pick their state out on a map. But everyone has heard of Donald Trump. And the Kardashians.
To run for President a candidate used to need governing experience, as a state governor.
That all changed with Obama. Minimal governing experience but lots of celebrity and media attention.
Trump is just the next step in the evolution of a viable candidate. No experience and all celebrity and media hype.
Most Americans can't name their own state governor or pick their state out on a map. But everyone has heard of Donald Trump. And the Kardashians.
This Republicsn primary season was about two issues: whether the rule of law should prevail at the border, and whether bad trade agreements destroyed manufacturing jobs and, thus, middle class America.
Trump got this early while Republican establishment players like Jeb are still in denial. Hence, the disconnect between the soldiers and the generals in the GOP.
Trump got this early while Republican establishment players like Jeb are still in denial. Hence, the disconnect between the soldiers and the generals in the GOP.
3
Ronald Reagan built the Republican coalition by convincing much of the middle class that it's the poor, not the rich, whose money and power threaten their way of life. Somebody like Trump, whose message states this conviction clearly and in everyday language, is the inevitable result.
22
Hate to have to differ with so many of you but I do. Trump is a bit of a headache for those who want to control the process but not for reasons of policy. On policy he aligns with what many of the movers and shaker want.......major tax cuts, strong immigration controls, a more muscular defense posture, voter suppression. The process side of the Reoublican Party does not like him because he undercuts them, at least in this election cycle, but there is little problem with policy unless it might cut into candidate control. If the alternative is to be Rubio, the only significant difference there is he is more acceptable to the process managers because he has made it clear he is a puppet for rent. But there is not great policy difference between Rubio and Trump. Will one embrace the Iran nuclear deal? Will one embrace reversing Citizens United? Will one take a strong stance on climate change? The answer is no. So what does the voter gain by having Rubio as the Republican candidate? Slightly less abrasive rhetoric. Policy-wise, not a whole lot. The big issue for the party leadership is precisely that it claims to be the leadership but if the voters wander elsewhere the leaders lack followers. Will the Republican Party position on Israel change if it is Rubio instead of Trump? No. The critical point is candidate selection is important to the leadership but as there is no significant policy difference the Republican Party selection process is sound and fury signifying nothing.
15
"On policy he aligns with what many of the movers and shaker want.......major tax cuts, strong immigration controls, a more muscular defense posture, voter suppression."
Today, maybe. Next week? When, God forbid, he gets into office?
Today, maybe. Next week? When, God forbid, he gets into office?
1
"Will one embrace reversing Citizens United? "
How does one reverse a Supreme Court decision. I always heard that the Supreme Court decisions on abortion and Obamacare are final. Are you telling me that Supreme Court decisions can be changed? Who knew?
How does one reverse a Supreme Court decision. I always heard that the Supreme Court decisions on abortion and Obamacare are final. Are you telling me that Supreme Court decisions can be changed? Who knew?
1
I think Trump's rise was a die that had been cast years ago. The Republican Party had spent the last couple of decades priming its electorate to support a Donald Trump-type figure. It should come as no surprise that Trump came along, Republican voters embraced him.
Karl Rove built a grassroots conservative movement around fear and hatred. Fear and hatred of "socialism" and the federal government. Fear and hatred of Muslims and Middle Easterners. Fear and hatred of immigrants coming to steal your jobs. Fear and hatred of minorities taking over the country. Fear and hatred of intellectuals - those scientists claiming climate change those college professors turning your kids gay and/or into communists.
Rove and other Republican strategists sold their voter base this idea that White Middle America was under siege, and unless they run to the polls and vote Republican they will lose their way of life forever.
Now Trump comes along, with rhetoric that validates all the seeds of fear the Republican establishment had planted. But he goes further. He talks even tougher and acts even meaner than mainstream GOP, and crosses lines that even the GOP (until now) wasn't willing to cross.
The GOP had been building this Frankenstein's Monster for a long time. They just didn't know it would have the face of Donald Trump.
Karl Rove built a grassroots conservative movement around fear and hatred. Fear and hatred of "socialism" and the federal government. Fear and hatred of Muslims and Middle Easterners. Fear and hatred of immigrants coming to steal your jobs. Fear and hatred of minorities taking over the country. Fear and hatred of intellectuals - those scientists claiming climate change those college professors turning your kids gay and/or into communists.
Rove and other Republican strategists sold their voter base this idea that White Middle America was under siege, and unless they run to the polls and vote Republican they will lose their way of life forever.
Now Trump comes along, with rhetoric that validates all the seeds of fear the Republican establishment had planted. But he goes further. He talks even tougher and acts even meaner than mainstream GOP, and crosses lines that even the GOP (until now) wasn't willing to cross.
The GOP had been building this Frankenstein's Monster for a long time. They just didn't know it would have the face of Donald Trump.
28
Siiliest of posts yet! The Rinos wanted to embrace immigration amnesty, it is Trump that is speaking for the vast majority of Americans on that issue.
1
The GOP is too messed up to win the Executive branch, so they've determined to undermine it... and lead 'from the rear'. Trump fits well with this plan.
Congress will run the show as the nearly illiterate (politically) Trump blusters and entertains the masses.
Meanwhile, every narrow item on the right wing agenda will be rammed through with no moral opposition from the top. Bad enough except for this.... An American President has a finger on the button, and America is still critical for world stability and leadership, none of which Trump can supply.
We could very well be subjected to serial terrorism, and WW3 could break out, complete with nukes flying.
So laugh on, my fellow Americans.... most of you seem to have no idea how serious this flirtation with insanity and vengeful malice is... I hope to God we don't find out...
Congress will run the show as the nearly illiterate (politically) Trump blusters and entertains the masses.
Meanwhile, every narrow item on the right wing agenda will be rammed through with no moral opposition from the top. Bad enough except for this.... An American President has a finger on the button, and America is still critical for world stability and leadership, none of which Trump can supply.
We could very well be subjected to serial terrorism, and WW3 could break out, complete with nukes flying.
So laugh on, my fellow Americans.... most of you seem to have no idea how serious this flirtation with insanity and vengeful malice is... I hope to God we don't find out...
14
Nowhere in the article is the obvious fact that the "establishment" positions of (a) interventionist foreign policy (b) Socialism for the Banks but Free Market for the Middle Class and (c) the failed Bush Economic policies including Free Trade have been soundly rejected by the Rank and File of the Republican Party. The "Party" is not the 'ivory tower' but the Rank and File.
Trump is just a 'placeholder' who is saying the right things: (a) enforce trade and labor borders; (b) no middle-east misadventures including ridiculing Iraq War; (c) Universal Health Care, (d) support for PP esp. in cancer treatment etc. that appeal to the middle and the lower middle class.
If you had instead (say) a retired neurosurgeon who was therefore non-establishment and spoke the same things instead of original functionality of the pyramids, then even he would have received such support.
.. and yes, he could have even been an African-American!
Trump is just a 'placeholder' who is saying the right things: (a) enforce trade and labor borders; (b) no middle-east misadventures including ridiculing Iraq War; (c) Universal Health Care, (d) support for PP esp. in cancer treatment etc. that appeal to the middle and the lower middle class.
If you had instead (say) a retired neurosurgeon who was therefore non-establishment and spoke the same things instead of original functionality of the pyramids, then even he would have received such support.
.. and yes, he could have even been an African-American!
9
The GOP can't or won't stop Trump because he is the Frankenstein monster they themselves created -- an "outsider" politician designed to appeal to racist low-information Americans, which is the kind of voter that the GOP has courted since the 1960's.
12
Well, I'm no political *scientist*, but it sounds to me as if the author of this essay is engaging in a combination of ad hoc theorizing and ex post facto reasoning. In any case, his theory is sounding more and more non-falsifiable.
8
Bingo. "I would have been completely right if this total unpredictable thing had not happened."
Then he tries to dude it up by all those paragraphs showing how much he knows. Don't take any stock tips from this guy.
Then he tries to dude it up by all those paragraphs showing how much he knows. Don't take any stock tips from this guy.
The GOP thinks that Trump is their problem. They won't be successful until they realize that Trump is the RESULT of their problem.. They have allowed the radical right wing to take control and did nothing to stop it. Now, at the eleventh hour, they want to stop it. Too little...too late.
The Country needs to strong parties who attract good people. Not one party where all the bigots, haters, and naysayers reside. The GOP leaders have only themselves to blame for nominating a man who is everything America fought in WW ll to rid the world of.
The Country needs to strong parties who attract good people. Not one party where all the bigots, haters, and naysayers reside. The GOP leaders have only themselves to blame for nominating a man who is everything America fought in WW ll to rid the world of.
24
Einstein defined insanity as always making the same mistake. Obviously the Republican voters agree with the man and decided to not, repeat not, vote for a Republican as defined by the good old days. They lost too much money and jobs and were given too many fake promises during previous elections. Trump is not seen as such a Republican but rather as a candidate who simply needed a place to hang his hat. Trump really holding his promises for all those millions of lower middle class and poverty stricken unemployed is another issue but many voters tend to trust him. Reality is that this is not going to work out either but that is tomorrows headache.
1
I think it's kind of obvious.
The differences within today's Democratic party are pretty much "how much?" and "how to do it?" Whereas among the Republicans the differences are, sharply, "what?" The former are evidently much, much easier to compromise on. Moreover, as many have noted, the so-called leadership or establishment among the Republicans is way out of step with the voters; the leaders want a "true" conservative while quite a few normally Republican voters want change, an outsider, someone who echoes their discontent with Washington. So the Republican Party, whatever that denotes these days, is at sea, and the tone-deafness of its erstwhile leaders bears a lot of the blame.
I'm reminded of Jesse Ventura, who when asked about the Libertarians, said something like "Oh, those are the guys who don't want to win an election."
There are lots of people, and politicians, who call themselves Republicans, but in some very real sense there is not, today, a Republican Party.
The differences within today's Democratic party are pretty much "how much?" and "how to do it?" Whereas among the Republicans the differences are, sharply, "what?" The former are evidently much, much easier to compromise on. Moreover, as many have noted, the so-called leadership or establishment among the Republicans is way out of step with the voters; the leaders want a "true" conservative while quite a few normally Republican voters want change, an outsider, someone who echoes their discontent with Washington. So the Republican Party, whatever that denotes these days, is at sea, and the tone-deafness of its erstwhile leaders bears a lot of the blame.
I'm reminded of Jesse Ventura, who when asked about the Libertarians, said something like "Oh, those are the guys who don't want to win an election."
There are lots of people, and politicians, who call themselves Republicans, but in some very real sense there is not, today, a Republican Party.
2
Many within the GOP want Rubio to win. Many others wish for any outcome... any at all... that will weaken the federal government. Whether they see Trump as a destructive imp or as an unqualified fool doesn't matter, they both result in the same end. And meanwhile, the conservatives build up their power on the state level.
1
What the "establishment" Republicans are failing to see is that Trump is successfully expanding the party base. Reagan Democrats are coming back - to vote for Trump. Republican party primaries are attracting many more voters than the Democratic primaries - largely because of Trump. In a general election, he is likely to win more Hispanics, blacks, and young people than Romney did. Though he says quite a lot of outlandish things, people also realize that he has created tens of thousands of jobs - a lot of them for Hispanic and black Americans. Rather than fighting "the will of the voters", the establishment needs to take a deep breath, let go of some of their feelings of self importance, and trust the voters.
5
"If Mr. Trump is the nominee, many in the party will come to terms with that. The recent string of Trump endorsements is a sign that this might be underway. But even this movement is limited. If party leaders were merely following the polls, they’d all be for Mr. Trump by now. "
Nowhere in this piece do I see any discussion about "electability." Party leaders are rightly concerned not only with the Presidential nominee but with down-ballot races for the Senate, House, and for state officials. I think many establishment Republicans are worried about the consequences of a Trump candidacy for these races. I don't think Trump will lose by the same margins as Goldwater did, a fear that seems pretty widespread among some Republican commentators. But if he loses by a larger margin than did Romney, say 55-43 Clinton rather than 51-47 Obama, some of those critical Senate races in purple states might well be up for grabs.
Focusing solely on the Presidential nominating process ignores an important aspect of party organizations in our Federal system.
Nowhere in this piece do I see any discussion about "electability." Party leaders are rightly concerned not only with the Presidential nominee but with down-ballot races for the Senate, House, and for state officials. I think many establishment Republicans are worried about the consequences of a Trump candidacy for these races. I don't think Trump will lose by the same margins as Goldwater did, a fear that seems pretty widespread among some Republican commentators. But if he loses by a larger margin than did Romney, say 55-43 Clinton rather than 51-47 Obama, some of those critical Senate races in purple states might well be up for grabs.
Focusing solely on the Presidential nominating process ignores an important aspect of party organizations in our Federal system.
5
The GOP is falling apart by having far greater turnouts in its primaries? The voters have come to despise the party establishment. This is why the influence has waned. It is true in the Democratic party as well, but to a lessor extent.
4
The GOP can not stop Trump because his policies are supported by the GOP base which has rejected the open borders policies of Marco and Jeb. Jeb had bragged that he could win the nomination without Conservatives as he looked forward to appealing to "moderates" and independents in the general election. Now Jeb is out and Trump is poised to win most of the primaries in today's election. Meanwhile open borders Rubio trails Trump in his home state by 16 points. Rubio can not be reelected to the Senate since the voters no longer trust him due to his flip flop on amnesty. Rubio, like open borders Eric Cantor could be finished politically after he loses his home state primary later this month.
5
@Lindy
Rubio is a joke. He makes Obama look like Winston Churchill.
Unfortunately Trump legitimizes everything he's associated with, however legitimate. Get ready for Hillary and more Open Borders.
We're in deep serious trouble as a country.
Rubio is a joke. He makes Obama look like Winston Churchill.
Unfortunately Trump legitimizes everything he's associated with, however legitimate. Get ready for Hillary and more Open Borders.
We're in deep serious trouble as a country.
The GOP cannot stop Trump because he is a true populist; a man of the people who has tapped into the core issue of ALL voters' dissatisfaction, not just republicans: rampant illegal immigration and its ruinous social, educational, political and economic, effects on our nation.
All of the other candidates from both major parties are either fools or corporately owned. Trump is his own, flawed man and he will be our next president. Get used to it.
All of the other candidates from both major parties are either fools or corporately owned. Trump is his own, flawed man and he will be our next president. Get used to it.
5
@BearBoy
Those crucial issues need a champion with a moral authority that Trump lacks.
He won't be elected. We're hosed.
Get ready for Hillary.
Those crucial issues need a champion with a moral authority that Trump lacks.
He won't be elected. We're hosed.
Get ready for Hillary.
2
People are angry because people feel their politicians are bought and serve the interests of Rich Donors. The establishment has done nothing to address people's concerns and what we see is the rise of Trump and Saunders because they seem like the least compromised candidates . If the establishment doesn't fix the money problem, they will self destruct.
11
If Trump wins the nomination or not, either way the GOP explodes. If the party does not nominate him, Trump's followers and a good percentage of the GOP base leaves. If they do nominate him, the party loses its ideological foundation and any sense of legitimacy.
Lose-lose for the GOP.
Lose-lose for the GOP.
17
@Diana
Great comment.
Hillary looks like a shoo in.
Great comment.
Hillary looks like a shoo in.
2
Why can't they can't stop Trump? Look at his rivals. They're selling the same bogus fixes the GOP has been selling since 1980. Trump is winning because he represents the "desire" for a great and powerful country but is offering no real indications of how he will accomplish it. Implicitly, the base knows that Reaganism has failed. They know they've lost the culture war. The GOP has basically dropped its pretense of being a political party. It is now with Trump a party of performance and self-expression. The society of the spectacle is where we're headed with Trump as Master of Ceremonies.
10
Trump is the result of the decades of purposeful divisiveness stirred up by the GOP/RNC since Reagan's southern strategy was launched. Trump is not outside the Republican box -- he is a divisive race baiter just like the rest of them. How is this billionaire any different than the last one the Republicans ran, Romney? Romney played the race card with "takers" and asserted the black guy in the WH was woefully unprepared to be the leader of the free world. He played up the class card with the "47%." Trump is a product of the GOP but this time around the candidate is using the results of the southern strategy to undo the Republican elite/establishment.
7
Wrong all around. The Party Decides only when citizens acquiesce. Most citizens are fairly apathetic politically. Only half even bother to vote for instance.
When a real and original candidate shows up and starts representing their views then voters will come out in droves.
The People Decide to let The Party Decide until they don't, like this year with Trump.
When a real and original candidate shows up and starts representing their views then voters will come out in droves.
The People Decide to let The Party Decide until they don't, like this year with Trump.
2
Unfortunately, there is no way that GOP regulars can get the nomination for anyone who has lost a string of primaries. The time to do so was Summer of 2015. Rubio will by 0-16 by the end of the day. And, he is callow to boot.
8
It may be a simple decline in optimism and the realization that everyone is not going to awaken as rich or famous. The general drudgery of job competition and making ends meets is unfulfilling and uninspiring. An understanding that you and your children might need weaponization because your close friends and neighbors are packing. That no one cares (one way or the other) about you, your dreams or your student loans. The media is saturated with bad news, worse news and genocide incidences. Everybody hates everything and life moves from one idea of distopic troubles to outright Armageddon. As the article said, just look at the Congress and those malcontents.
3
Can GOP stop Trump? If they accept the absolute defeat in November , yes.
Trump is not going to play this game according to rules, If he is ousted, no way he is going to run independent, that is the best choice for GOP. I don't know. Somebody ask them and get answer.
Because Trump is going anywhere, he sails is filled with GOP dissidents.
Trump is not going to play this game according to rules, If he is ousted, no way he is going to run independent, that is the best choice for GOP. I don't know. Somebody ask them and get answer.
Because Trump is going anywhere, he sails is filled with GOP dissidents.
2
Or maybe democracy is working the way it's supposed to, with voters choosing their nominee instead of the apparatchiks. That Drumpf is the Republican choice is a scary, but natural consequence of the party's rhetoric and strategies of the last 30 years.
If Republican "leaders" (I use the term loosely) want a better candidate, maybe they should build a better party that would attract better informed, lucid, policy-oriented voters.
If Republican "leaders" (I use the term loosely) want a better candidate, maybe they should build a better party that would attract better informed, lucid, policy-oriented voters.
19
I would still prefer the likes of Elizabeth Warren to Hillary and Bernie, but Bernie got my primary vote today, though in Texas, whether the Democrats put Hillary or Bernie on the ballot, voting Democrat in the national election amounts to nothing more than a feel-good exercise.
I firmly believe dumping the Electoral College system or, at the very least, making the states divide their electoral votes proportionally to the vote total for each candidate would immediately render this "Party Decides" theory an anachronism, turning the entire campaign process for both parties on its head.
I firmly believe dumping the Electoral College system or, at the very least, making the states divide their electoral votes proportionally to the vote total for each candidate would immediately render this "Party Decides" theory an anachronism, turning the entire campaign process for both parties on its head.
6
In Mr Noel's scenarios of what is going wrong with the GOP, I go with it's falling apart. And it is high time that it actually happened for the good of politics, our government bodies and the nation as a whole.
I believe the Republicans will fracture in to two factions:
1) An establishment party. Reasoned and pro-business with libertarian underlying values, established mostly in suburbs and urban centers.
2) A populist party. Work class with nationalistic and xenophobic overtones, mainly in the outer suburbs, rural and South.
At the same time, the Democratic Party may not disintegrate, but it two will evolve in to two factions, struggling to work across the divide:
1) Socialist. Urban, intellectual, mainly advocating big, interventionist government, t's strength lying in urban and college areas. That is, the supporters of Bernie Sanders.
2) The grand old Democratic party. The core of the working and middle class crossing all ethnic and racial groups, pragmatic and working to get it done. Will be mostly urban and inner suburban in the current Democratic strongholds.
Perhaps we might finally get the multi-party system we need where no one faction can trump the other and the two-party system hold on to the minimal spoils of office will be gone. Our national government may become even less effectual, which it should be anyway, with more power devolving back to states and municipalities.
Embrace the future. Thank you Donald and Bernie!
I believe the Republicans will fracture in to two factions:
1) An establishment party. Reasoned and pro-business with libertarian underlying values, established mostly in suburbs and urban centers.
2) A populist party. Work class with nationalistic and xenophobic overtones, mainly in the outer suburbs, rural and South.
At the same time, the Democratic Party may not disintegrate, but it two will evolve in to two factions, struggling to work across the divide:
1) Socialist. Urban, intellectual, mainly advocating big, interventionist government, t's strength lying in urban and college areas. That is, the supporters of Bernie Sanders.
2) The grand old Democratic party. The core of the working and middle class crossing all ethnic and racial groups, pragmatic and working to get it done. Will be mostly urban and inner suburban in the current Democratic strongholds.
Perhaps we might finally get the multi-party system we need where no one faction can trump the other and the two-party system hold on to the minimal spoils of office will be gone. Our national government may become even less effectual, which it should be anyway, with more power devolving back to states and municipalities.
Embrace the future. Thank you Donald and Bernie!
2
The GOP party, just like the GOP leaders in Congress, have disproven the notion that they are representing the American people and even their own party. They have set up a platform that justifies their own ideas and that of their lobbyists.
All they want is their own power and not truly interested in the general public, most of whom supports greater registration of guns, the right to an abortion and belief in science and facts over religion.
All they want is their own power and not truly interested in the general public, most of whom supports greater registration of guns, the right to an abortion and belief in science and facts over religion.
4
Mostly, the GOP celebrates ignorance and have been doing so for quite a while. Trump fits right in. Unfortunately, he shines a bright light on the GOP strategy and like rats, they are scurrying for their familiar darkness of racial code words, bigotry, and hatred of women, Blacks and Latinos.
The GOP will not come to their senses with Trump. They are Trump. This is their senses.
Perhaps Donald could learn from the GOP God, Ronald Reagan, who was at least sensitive to code words when he changed his 'young buck' comment. (Translation for Donald: young black felons come to rape and rob you.)
Unfortunately for the homo Sapien species, this ignorance is rampant within the GOP. They continue to deny global warming, and instead cling to a strategy of 'drill baby drill', which will, over the next 50 or 100 years, poison the atmosphere and extinct the species.
The GOP will not come to their senses with Trump. They are Trump. This is their senses.
Perhaps Donald could learn from the GOP God, Ronald Reagan, who was at least sensitive to code words when he changed his 'young buck' comment. (Translation for Donald: young black felons come to rape and rob you.)
Unfortunately for the homo Sapien species, this ignorance is rampant within the GOP. They continue to deny global warming, and instead cling to a strategy of 'drill baby drill', which will, over the next 50 or 100 years, poison the atmosphere and extinct the species.
4
(Full disclosure: I am re-posting a comment I posted from a different OpEd piece earlier today because it is apropos).
The GOP has created this modern-day Frankenstein monster.
Forget about the monster getting up off the slab; that's already old news. We're now well into the meat of the movie where the monster is running amok, destroying everything in its wake (friends and foes alike - the friends are just too dumb to realize that the monster could care less about them, too).
We've seen the ending to this movie many times, and the monster is always destroyed. But this is where fiction and reality now begin to separate. This, today, is very real. The more damage the monster does, the more the villagers choose to follow it...taking the entire village, region, and world over the cliff.
The GOP has created this modern-day Frankenstein monster.
Forget about the monster getting up off the slab; that's already old news. We're now well into the meat of the movie where the monster is running amok, destroying everything in its wake (friends and foes alike - the friends are just too dumb to realize that the monster could care less about them, too).
We've seen the ending to this movie many times, and the monster is always destroyed. But this is where fiction and reality now begin to separate. This, today, is very real. The more damage the monster does, the more the villagers choose to follow it...taking the entire village, region, and world over the cliff.
3
Mr. trump's candidacy looks like more and more, Berlusconi's political life.
Consequences for America will be the same.
One was saying, Forza Italia . other is saying make America great again.
First ended with great humiliation, Berlusconi separated by his seat EU intervention and largely Merkel.
Mr. trump taht optionisnot available, if he is elected, we had to go through.
just saying.
Consequences for America will be the same.
One was saying, Forza Italia . other is saying make America great again.
First ended with great humiliation, Berlusconi separated by his seat EU intervention and largely Merkel.
Mr. trump taht optionisnot available, if he is elected, we had to go through.
just saying.
The expression "political correctness" may have originated as a Republican mudball flung at Democrats, but Trump has converted it into a mantra precisely for disavowing the submission of the candidate to the national party's delicate network of competing interests.
It will be interesting to see if both national parties can absorb that new, key distinction before Election Day.
It will be interesting to see if both national parties can absorb that new, key distinction before Election Day.
1
Unfortunately, the entire column reads as an extended case in "special pleading."
5
Yes, Trump is a risk. He has rough edges and is somewhat unpredictable. He is a loud, rough and tough businessman from New York. Only in the hyper-sensitive politically-correct, leftist world does any sign of masculinity, assertiveness, crudity, or roughness immediately equal Mussolini.
Many in the Republican party sense that we are at the final juncture; the final possibility of saving our country from sliding into a corrupt, politically correct, dying European-type, semi-socialist dinosaur. The Republican party establishment has largely become a lobbyist-controlled, power-perpetuating machine - as is the Democrat party. Marco will just be controlled by the establishment handlers and will probably be outmaneuvered by Hillary. We risk Trump because this might be our last shot at change before we are irrevocably off the cliff.
On the other side of the aisle if you guys felt as strongly about your views as we do about ours; if you felt this was truly a unique opportunity to at least have a decent shot at pushing change and idealism into Washington, you would push an independent candidate like Bernie. Unfortunately, you are wimping out. You have only yourselves to blame if many voters are just to disgusted to pull the lever for Hillary and swallow more of the same crookedness come November. You will have been the ones that enabled Trump to be elected.
Many in the Republican party sense that we are at the final juncture; the final possibility of saving our country from sliding into a corrupt, politically correct, dying European-type, semi-socialist dinosaur. The Republican party establishment has largely become a lobbyist-controlled, power-perpetuating machine - as is the Democrat party. Marco will just be controlled by the establishment handlers and will probably be outmaneuvered by Hillary. We risk Trump because this might be our last shot at change before we are irrevocably off the cliff.
On the other side of the aisle if you guys felt as strongly about your views as we do about ours; if you felt this was truly a unique opportunity to at least have a decent shot at pushing change and idealism into Washington, you would push an independent candidate like Bernie. Unfortunately, you are wimping out. You have only yourselves to blame if many voters are just to disgusted to pull the lever for Hillary and swallow more of the same crookedness come November. You will have been the ones that enabled Trump to be elected.
5
Trump is DOA come November. Wanna bet? Come on put your money where yer mouth is.....
All the postulation in this editorial about what the party might or might not do ignores the fact that Marco Rubio, the theoretical choice of the mainstream party, is singularly unqualified to be President. The other fact is that the entire Republican field has only weakness in common, which Trump is exploiting ruthlessly.
If this is the best the Republican party can come up with, they're history.
If this is the best the Republican party can come up with, they're history.
6
Republicans like to portray themselves as rational, however since they do not believe in science, it makes sense that they can't maneuver around The Donald.
The "business" party has been outfoxed and are flailing around like deer in headlights. A lot of Republican jaws will drop Wed morning when they awake to Trump as their new leader!
The "business" party has been outfoxed and are flailing around like deer in headlights. A lot of Republican jaws will drop Wed morning when they awake to Trump as their new leader!
5
So, I guess who the voters support is pretty meaningless, eh? Silly me for believing otherwise.
1
The logic seems circular to me here. The authors argue that when the party elites coalesce early around a candidate, that candidate generally wins. Isn't just as easy to argue that the party elites coalesce early around a candidate when it's clear that he or she is the strongest, i.e., most likely to win, candidate?
3
Whatever you think of Trump if he gets the most votes he should win. Does the party belong to the people or does it belong to the movers and shakers? Talk of taking the prize from the person that the majority of the people want will pull the cover off of a lot beliefs about our democracy.
2
Easy. Because the [Formerly Grand] Old Party, has, for years now, pandered to and deliberately cultivated just such a base as would go gaga over a "Presidential" candidate such as Donald Trump.
In short, their chickens have come home to roost.
In short, their chickens have come home to roost.
6
Point #1: To the chagrin of party insiders, you can't gerrymander a national election. Pity.
#2: Trump is shrewd. His opponents are running around saying that Trump isn't a true conservative. Surprise: when it comes to their meal tickets, conservatives ain't as conservative as one might imagine.
In his speeches, and in the subtext, Trump is telling his supporters exactly what they want to hear. He'll build a wall to keep out the bad guys. He'll keep out Muslims. He'll bomb our enemies into oblivion, get tough with China, go golfing with Putin. He might even go after hedge funds.
But Trump knows the way to conservatives' hearts is through their wallets. Underneath the soaring patriotic rhetoric, Trump intimates that he's not hellbent on enforcing traditional conservative fiscal and financial discipline. He won't push for cuts in social security or Medicare. Heck, he might even make healthcare more affordable.
So he isn't talking conservative dogma. So what. He's saying what people left, right and center want to hear. Americans love their social security and their Medicare. They love their tax breaks.
#3: At this stage in the proceedings, Trump bears a comparison to Nixon, who ran for office as a Commie hunter but also as a fiscal and social moderate. Republican Party insiders weren't keen on supporting Nixon. Ike had little use for him.
#2: Trump is shrewd. His opponents are running around saying that Trump isn't a true conservative. Surprise: when it comes to their meal tickets, conservatives ain't as conservative as one might imagine.
In his speeches, and in the subtext, Trump is telling his supporters exactly what they want to hear. He'll build a wall to keep out the bad guys. He'll keep out Muslims. He'll bomb our enemies into oblivion, get tough with China, go golfing with Putin. He might even go after hedge funds.
But Trump knows the way to conservatives' hearts is through their wallets. Underneath the soaring patriotic rhetoric, Trump intimates that he's not hellbent on enforcing traditional conservative fiscal and financial discipline. He won't push for cuts in social security or Medicare. Heck, he might even make healthcare more affordable.
So he isn't talking conservative dogma. So what. He's saying what people left, right and center want to hear. Americans love their social security and their Medicare. They love their tax breaks.
#3: At this stage in the proceedings, Trump bears a comparison to Nixon, who ran for office as a Commie hunter but also as a fiscal and social moderate. Republican Party insiders weren't keen on supporting Nixon. Ike had little use for him.
2
And ... the party is the party, Trump is the anti-party. He might as well be a rabid wolverine. His adherents care only about his ability to sow mayhem, they certainly don't want policies, regulations, and decorum.
6
If Trump gets to the White House America will become the laughing stock of the World.
Outside America he is seen as a buffoon a cartoon character...but above all the rest of the world are shocked that Americans are gullible.
If this man gets in how on earth can the USA be taken seriously.
Outside America he is seen as a buffoon a cartoon character...but above all the rest of the world are shocked that Americans are gullible.
If this man gets in how on earth can the USA be taken seriously.
5
Pulverizing both GOP and Dem party leaders?
Even a Clinton win has won party leaders scorn.
DNC has been plotting for Hillary for months,
and against Bernie, in every which way.
Even a Clinton win has won party leaders scorn.
DNC has been plotting for Hillary for months,
and against Bernie, in every which way.
1
At this point, the only thing the two parties are preserving is their own power. If Republicans split apart, Democrats would, too, because those at the top of their respective parties have more in common with each other than they do with much of their rank and file (who have more in common with each other in the other party). It’s as if it has become a game for them, and you need an opponent because you can’t play a game without an opponent.
Actually no. The rank and file of the Democratic party has zero in common with neoracists of the GOP's. Nada, not a whiff.
5
There's no delusion like self-delusion. Party leaders either believed that they knew what America wanted, or believed that what they wanted could be purchased. Trump is showing them otherwise.
2
"Maybe the party is falling apart." You think? When a blend of George Wallace/Archie Bunker are at the forefront there are indeed great problems going right back to the Wallace/Bunker times. One man was real and the other from TV. Now the digital age gives us both in one.
4
Mr. Noel,
You state that "we stand by the theoretical contributions of the book [The Party Decides]", but then admit, at least tacitly, that your theoretical model has weak predictive power and is not a reliable guide to predicting future outcomes.
I suggest that, instead of trying to modify it, you scrap your theory, look at the evidence again, and propose a different and more reliable one.
You state that "we stand by the theoretical contributions of the book [The Party Decides]", but then admit, at least tacitly, that your theoretical model has weak predictive power and is not a reliable guide to predicting future outcomes.
I suggest that, instead of trying to modify it, you scrap your theory, look at the evidence again, and propose a different and more reliable one.
3
Why? Because the Republican Party gave their southern constituency who never accepted what happened on April 9, 1865 a voice and a steamroller.
12
The GOP primary is just one more example of the chickens coming home to roost for this party. For over 7.5 years the republican establishment has let the racist base run amuck and let their birther lies flourish, the muslim lies grown uncontested and have taken 60 votes to repeal the ACA, knowing fully well the President would never sign the repeal. The party elites let the crazies grow unabated and unchallenged and now the crazies have taken over the GOP and threatens to destroy them from within. And I say have at it, it could not be happening to a more deserving party.
20
The so called "GOP" hasn't been listening to their constituents for years. I don't know why the mainstream press doesn't write a piece on how Mitch McConnell is probably the number one reason the party is imploding. I was a republican but am now a democrat. Why? Because I am not a right wing conservative. And I don't like the way Mitch Mconnell has made the Republican Party the party of "no." The Republican Party has become a party of freaks. Yet, if I am not a left wing liberal--where do I then go? There are a lot of us out there. I voted for Obama twice but I don't care for the Clintons. Who do I vote for? Cruz? No. Rubio? Definitely not. Trump--maybe. He is definitely more toward the middle. Do I wish he wouldn't say some of the things he does? Of course. However, I feel it's time to try a businessman who can perhaps figure out a way to balance the budget. The Rubio ohemomenon is yet another example of the republican donor class trying to control the party. More republicans disagree with them than agree. And now they are finding that out.
8
The 21st century GOP is essentially a Trump Clone, as it embodies all of his principal qualities: arrogance, bigotry, willful exclusion, money worship,... For the GOP to stop Trump, it would have to cease operation. (Not a bad idea!)
The GOP can't stop Trump. But we Voters will....
The GOP can't stop Trump. But we Voters will....
21
Why can't the GOP stop Trump? The GOP champions an outdated and bigoted party platform that rewards behaviors like those of Trumps. The GOP can't stop Trump because Trump IS the GOP.
15
The party thought they had in a box when they had him sign the pledge not to run as an independent. They did not think he had a chance of beating their favorites. Ha! Now they have an unstoppable steamroller whacking through the primaries and the leaders wringing their hands helplessly. After super Tuesday I think the game will be over.
11
What your analysis misses, perhaps due to the desperate search for false equivalences between the parties that so often colors these types of "sensible" analyses, is the fact that only one party continues to operate purely by convincing the vast majority of its voters to vote against their own interests.
Only one party, the GOP, is purely focused in its policies on enriching an already extremely wealthy minority, and relies on messages of racially tinged fear and hatred to drive its voters to the polls. Anyone can see that this is an unstable situation. Not because its voters might stop believing the lies that they are fed (remember we are talking about the lowest common denominator and a propaganda machine that for which "Orwellian" is an understatement), but because any element outside of its paid employ can come along with even more extreme messages of hatred and fear to capture this voter base.
Only one party, the GOP, is purely focused in its policies on enriching an already extremely wealthy minority, and relies on messages of racially tinged fear and hatred to drive its voters to the polls. Anyone can see that this is an unstable situation. Not because its voters might stop believing the lies that they are fed (remember we are talking about the lowest common denominator and a propaganda machine that for which "Orwellian" is an understatement), but because any element outside of its paid employ can come along with even more extreme messages of hatred and fear to capture this voter base.
29
Citizens United castrated the party elite by taking away their influence on the distribution of limited campaign donations. With unlimited funding, the nomination became a horse race between candidates each backed by billionaires whose big egos kept them vying against each other instead of cooperating. The only thing that Trump did was to enter himself in the race rather than purchasing a candidate for himself. He recognized that his own outsized image, personality and media presence would force the other ponies into the outer muddier lanes, giving him the inside track to the finish line.
105
Trump's success at the primaries is in large part due to all the media attention, provided free to him.
Trump has the media under his thumb. He is a master media manipulator. His every utterance, speech, insult is covered live, non-stop. By doing this he sucks all the oxygen in the room, and leaves the other candidates at a disadvantage. And the media financially prospered by increased media consumption.
Trumps pays the media back by calling them disgusting and restricting them to a roped bullpen at his rallies.
Trump has the media under his thumb. He is a master media manipulator. His every utterance, speech, insult is covered live, non-stop. By doing this he sucks all the oxygen in the room, and leaves the other candidates at a disadvantage. And the media financially prospered by increased media consumption.
Trumps pays the media back by calling them disgusting and restricting them to a roped bullpen at his rallies.
2
We live in fascinating times and scary times. Here is a question for you- suppose The Donald can't clinch today and the fight drags on until California votes or until the convention. Then at the convention the brokering throws the Donald out on his kister. What will happen to the party and to the many millions of disillusioned Donald supporters? It might make Chicago 1968 look like a walk in the park.
1
And, thanks to the NRA, it will be safer...
I'd love to see how gun ownership maps to candidates.
I'd love to see how gun ownership maps to candidates.
The Republicans have pandered to racists for decades. There was even a formal name for it when it started: The Southern Strategy.
It's hypocritical of the party establishment to act outraged at Trump's slowness in distancing himself from David Duke. Duke once came close to being nominated as a GOP candidate for the U.S. Senate. Endorsements from white supremacists will increase, not decrease, support for Trump among the Republican base.
Establishment figures including Saint Reagan have made the GOP the party of racists. That's what their image has become because that's what they are.
It's hypocritical of the party establishment to act outraged at Trump's slowness in distancing himself from David Duke. Duke once came close to being nominated as a GOP candidate for the U.S. Senate. Endorsements from white supremacists will increase, not decrease, support for Trump among the Republican base.
Establishment figures including Saint Reagan have made the GOP the party of racists. That's what their image has become because that's what they are.
1
Charles Murray somewhat predicted the predicament in the Republican Party several years back. Republicans have done a very poor job of taking care of one of its main constituencies, white blue collar voters. It did not resist movement of jobs overseas or outsourcing by its business partners. Most of these white blue collar voters are never going to become Democrats - that is why we got Trump. They had no other outlet in our 2 party system. Republicans lost sight of a major political axiom - take care of your own! Rubio and/or Cruz still have a chance ( even if Trump does well tonite ) but to do it they are going to have to ignore traditional Republican economic ideology.
2
Here's another simpler explanation -- It's the result of hubris and sheer cluelessness on the part of G.O.P. leaders, who smugly assumed that Donald Trump would never get this far.
Compare it to the hubris and cluelessness of Democratic party leaders before the Massachusetts special election of January 2010. Why couldn't they stop Republican candidate Scott Brown from taking the Senate seat of the late Ted Kennedy from Democratic candidate Martha Coakley?
Because they smugly assumed it was a "safe" Democratic seat and Brown would never get that far.
Compare it to the hubris and cluelessness of Democratic party leaders before the Massachusetts special election of January 2010. Why couldn't they stop Republican candidate Scott Brown from taking the Senate seat of the late Ted Kennedy from Democratic candidate Martha Coakley?
Because they smugly assumed it was a "safe" Democratic seat and Brown would never get that far.
6
So you stop Donald Trump and let in Ted Cruz. How is that a better situation? At least with Trump I can tell myself he believes very little of what he says suggesting the possibility that if he were to win he might be willing to work with whichever group brings up what he believes is the best idea. We know what Cruz will do and it is terrifying. Rubio is simply in way over his head. I would like to have enough faith in American voters to believe they will do the right thing in November, but I don't.
3
To learn why voters support Trump, go to the "Atlantic's "website and read what voters told them. Here's the link: http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/08/donald-trump-voters/...
The reasons are varied which I think is why he has such broad support. My thoughts are that it was Citizen's United that did the trick. Power and money no longer work in our diverse society. Obama won with smaller donations from many people in the last 2 elections. Sander's support also comes in small amounts from voters. And Trump can fund himself. So candidates no longer need the support of their party's leaders and super pacs.
I am not a Trump supporter, and I don't understand those who are. But the US needs to re-imagine how it selects it's leaders.
The reasons are varied which I think is why he has such broad support. My thoughts are that it was Citizen's United that did the trick. Power and money no longer work in our diverse society. Obama won with smaller donations from many people in the last 2 elections. Sander's support also comes in small amounts from voters. And Trump can fund himself. So candidates no longer need the support of their party's leaders and super pacs.
I am not a Trump supporter, and I don't understand those who are. But the US needs to re-imagine how it selects it's leaders.
6
So tired of the Republican powers-that-be dictating their choice to me, the voter. It's obvious they are panicked, since Rubio has been given their blessing. I find him quite juvenile and an empty suit. John Kasich is the glaringly obvious choice they should have made and he does well in polls against Hillary in the General Election.
1
How about this explanation; over the last 12 years or so the the republican party has managed to alienate just about every demographic except billionaires and old white Southern Baptist men. The bank collapse of 2007-2008 laid bare trickle-down economics as a fraud. The republican base at large no longer holds the same values as the establishment.
True, the establishment might still be able to pull their beans out of the campfire, but if Trump wins big today, the establishment should start running for the doors for they will have been routed.
True, the establishment might still be able to pull their beans out of the campfire, but if Trump wins big today, the establishment should start running for the doors for they will have been routed.
4
There are many theoretical explanations, but there is one unique explanation for the Republican 2016 primary meltdown: bad candidates. Trump probably would never have made it this far if there were a single minimally competent, much less moral and articulate, alternative. NONE of these clowns is in the same league as Mitt Romney or John McCain intellectually, morally, or in terms of successful governing experience (and neither of those two were exactly statesmanlike, just minimally competent). If Paul Ryan were running, Trump would be out of it by now. Why the establishment failed to notice the awful quality of their potential tools is the big mystery to me.
2
Are't we sick of all the media going bersek against Trump! Never seen such a dishonesty from the media before. Pathetic. Let people decide. I see very often media people making their own statements rather than asking genuine questions on policies and issues.
1
The Republican party up and down the line has encouraged and welcomed ignorance, hate, divisiveness for decades. Meanness and ugliness have served them well for 40 years. Try listening to limbaugh for more than 5 minutes. Any effort to stop limbaugh or any of the rest of those wicked hate radio and fox hucksters? Not a chance. The party of stupid and no richly deserves trump as its nominee. He fits exactly what the GOP is all about. Enjoy.
2
Trump stepped into the republican void as there was no good candidate, even as the "void" was a stage filled with clowns. Amid all the chatter he decided to roll the dice on extreme bravado, knowing all to well it was red meat for a base of voters that rarely bother to look too deeply as long as someone is stroking their political ego, angry at anyone that does not look or "think" like them. Once they dug in their heels no amount of persuasion would be effective. Criticize Trump? They love him all the more for it. Mob mentality, hopefully, tho, it is still a small mob.
2
Other GOP candidates should be alarmed that Donald Trump told listeners at the recent Texas debate that if they're not for him, stay home, don't vote.
A Trump nomination is bad news for moderate republicans (do they exist anymore?) running in November.
A Trump nomination is bad news for moderate republicans (do they exist anymore?) running in November.
3
Why do people like you Mr Noel fail to understand what is causing the rise of Donald Trump during this Republican nomination for President? Trump is a protest vote against the Republican Party, pure and simple. It's not like his supporters care about what he says; they care about what he represents for them. Who cares what Rubio or Cruz or Bush or Romney say about him? Who cares what Fox News or Joe Scarborough says? Trump is a rebuttal to the con game that Republican Senators and Congressmen and their wealthy handlers over the past 20 years have waged on their own people. The notion that by giving the rich more money and more power will help the average hard working American succeed is a pure scam! It is rather sad that Trump is their new standard bearer, but the Republican Party deserves all of him. Trump will lose badly in the general election. He will help Republican Senators and Congressman lose along with him. Hopefully, this will help in getting rid of all of the rotten apples and allow more credible leaders emerge with the right vision to work with an ever changing America. God bless us all!
6
Both parties have now shown that they really do not represent most people and are not concerned about anything but maintaining power. The voters see it for all its horror.
4
The republicans created this mess themselves, as many have noted. It seems likely that Trump will be the nominee. One reason he was not opposed earlier was the fear of a Third Party Candidacy. If Trump is the nominee, the republican party's only hope for survival is a third party candidacy of their own: Rubio or Kasich, perhaps running on a New America Party platform? That would certainly throw the election to the democratic nominee, but it might save the republican party as a credible force in American politics. How many republicans would have the ethical standards to abandon their nominee if it turns out to be Trump?
The greater worry is people like Chris Christie, trying to salvage a political future for themselves. In this I see an image of all those astute German politicians back in the Weimar Republic who thought they could control that little guy with the funny mustache for their own purposes. "He's a lightweight; we'll control him." Didn't work out too well, did it?
The greater worry is people like Chris Christie, trying to salvage a political future for themselves. In this I see an image of all those astute German politicians back in the Weimar Republic who thought they could control that little guy with the funny mustache for their own purposes. "He's a lightweight; we'll control him." Didn't work out too well, did it?
3
Could it simply be that the amoral Mr. Trump is far less odious than today's G.O.P. Party leaders? Trump fulminates our deepest nightmares, yet for many voters he is angelic in comparison to the Republican establishment.
If Mr. Trump did not exist, the history and actions of the G.O.P. since the days of Goldwater would nonetheless result in the ascension of some other "Supreme Leader", an Il Duce for 2016.
The Republicans did not create a Frankenstein. They created an era where the populace demands that a Frankenstein must exist.
3-1-16 1:40pm EST
If Mr. Trump did not exist, the history and actions of the G.O.P. since the days of Goldwater would nonetheless result in the ascension of some other "Supreme Leader", an Il Duce for 2016.
The Republicans did not create a Frankenstein. They created an era where the populace demands that a Frankenstein must exist.
3-1-16 1:40pm EST
10
Maybe the GOP leaders can't stop Trump because he raises issues that bother voters such as our Free Trade pacts and illegal immigration. Neither the GOP nor the Democrat's leaders seem bothered that Free Trade has allowed much of our manufacturing base to move abroad, leaving Americans who have only a high school diploma with few job opportunities.
Neither do the party's elites recognize how illegal immigrants have vacuumed up many of the remaining jobs.
In addition, the flood of illegals competing with less-educated Americans have meant that employers have not had to raise wages to fill these jobs.
Most Americans do not have a college degree. They want a president who recognizes that Free Trade and illegal immigration are destroying their livelihoods.
Neither do the party's elites recognize how illegal immigrants have vacuumed up many of the remaining jobs.
In addition, the flood of illegals competing with less-educated Americans have meant that employers have not had to raise wages to fill these jobs.
Most Americans do not have a college degree. They want a president who recognizes that Free Trade and illegal immigration are destroying their livelihoods.
4
At the level undocumented workers are taking them, are plenty of jobs. If you're willing to work, you too can get a kitchen job or hang drywall.
They're taking work no on wants, and doing it well.
Is there a crisis of them, no. There has for quite awhile now been a net outflow.
Trump needs to fire up voters who dislike people with different skin colors and religions. That imaginary crisis is the only thing going on right now with immigrants. It's not only not a problem, even if it were 10 times as bad as he suggests, it would pale next to climate change.
ISIS and immigration can't end our nation. Climate change can do so easily.
They're taking work no on wants, and doing it well.
Is there a crisis of them, no. There has for quite awhile now been a net outflow.
Trump needs to fire up voters who dislike people with different skin colors and religions. That imaginary crisis is the only thing going on right now with immigrants. It's not only not a problem, even if it were 10 times as bad as he suggests, it would pale next to climate change.
ISIS and immigration can't end our nation. Climate change can do so easily.
1
Social science research is inherently messy. And subject to interesting unforeseen effects, in that once a theory or dataset is released into society, it then goes on to influence future behavior - in unexpected ways.
For example, simply telling people "the party decides" can provoke resentment in those who suddenly learn their votes aren't really causal, just a type of ratification. It can also lead to complacency on the part of the so-called "deciders" who may dither, assuming they have plenty of time to decide.
Additionally, unforeseen variables may powerfully enter in, variables like Twitter, for example, which didn't exist or exert a lot of power previously, thus played no part in past results or theory generation. But are a powerful part of Trump's ability to drive media attention or amplify an attack.
As I see it, social science research is always playing catch-up, always inherently limited in scope as well. For example, this theory (the party decides) is a theory about elections. But our current election, at least when it comes to the GOP is not just about picking a candidate but also about the identity, ownership, or value system of the GOP itself.
Finally, life is always playing jokes on us. Someone once said: "Life is what happens when we're planning other things." Karma is hard to quantify!
For example, simply telling people "the party decides" can provoke resentment in those who suddenly learn their votes aren't really causal, just a type of ratification. It can also lead to complacency on the part of the so-called "deciders" who may dither, assuming they have plenty of time to decide.
Additionally, unforeseen variables may powerfully enter in, variables like Twitter, for example, which didn't exist or exert a lot of power previously, thus played no part in past results or theory generation. But are a powerful part of Trump's ability to drive media attention or amplify an attack.
As I see it, social science research is always playing catch-up, always inherently limited in scope as well. For example, this theory (the party decides) is a theory about elections. But our current election, at least when it comes to the GOP is not just about picking a candidate but also about the identity, ownership, or value system of the GOP itself.
Finally, life is always playing jokes on us. Someone once said: "Life is what happens when we're planning other things." Karma is hard to quantify!
2
When McConnell attempts to circumvent the Constitution and deny Obama a Supreme Court nominee, it's clear the party has gone off the rails. This is not business as usual. Trump is a byproduct of GOP obstructionism. A rash that has spread from too much dysfunction. To tame the rash and stop it's growth, the GOP needs to grow up. Start with senate Republicans--people already in power with a track record. Their behavior has been deplorable. Trump is just shooting from the hip because their is no viable leadership. All others come from the obstructionist vein. If the senate acts normal and stops this stubborn anti-Obama game, perhaps a normal leader could emerge. Rubio and Cruz may be "establishment", but they are leaders of this new stubborn GOP.
7
The Republicans Party has been mean, snotty, malicious, and immature for two decades or more. Even Republicans are sick of Republicans.
Remember the scene in Crocodile Dundee where a would-be mugger pulls a knife and Dundee says, "You call that a knife? This is a knife," and he pulls out a huge machete type thing? I think the voters are saying, "You call that mean, snotty, malicious, and immature? We'll show you mean, snotty, malicious and immature," and they pulled out Donald Trump. The man outhates the haters! There is something appealing about the way he grinds down the people who started the meanness.
Remember the scene in Crocodile Dundee where a would-be mugger pulls a knife and Dundee says, "You call that a knife? This is a knife," and he pulls out a huge machete type thing? I think the voters are saying, "You call that mean, snotty, malicious, and immature? We'll show you mean, snotty, malicious and immature," and they pulled out Donald Trump. The man outhates the haters! There is something appealing about the way he grinds down the people who started the meanness.
36
Simple. DT is a bully and the rest of them are cowards. Ms. Hillary Rodham Clinton is not and if he is her opponent in the election, which I doubt, she will take him down. Bullies are really the biggest fraidy cats.
13
No, the truth is none of them have a plan.
Maybe that's just the way it looks "up there"...
1
Where to start?
The GOP has been the force behind term limits, which in many cases has prevented many good people from learning the profession of politics. They have convinced people that they do not want professional politicians. Politics is a profession that takes knowledge, experience, and the ability to work with other politicians despite the policy differences.
GOP now has a core of ideologists who would not have been elected if they had to run of against experienced politician knew how to make deals. The American system was based on such, the minority is supposed to have some say in how the country is run. The current factions in the GOP will not make a deal, that is considered treason to the party, with the far right holding court. I had a GOP legislator who was willing to work with the Dems, he termed out ran for the state Senate, and was defeated by a hard core conservative, who has done nothing to help his voters, but is popular with them for opposing any democratic agenda, even though he does not have a chance against them. So who gets the blame? Well the Dems of course for not bending to his and the other TP types will. They think the rest of the electorate want what they are proposing, even though the voters are overwhelmingly Dems.
Such is true for the GOP nationally, they have attracted a low educated, misinformed, resentful constituency, that would not get rich anyway, but who believe the GOP propaganda, now it is paying the price.
The GOP has been the force behind term limits, which in many cases has prevented many good people from learning the profession of politics. They have convinced people that they do not want professional politicians. Politics is a profession that takes knowledge, experience, and the ability to work with other politicians despite the policy differences.
GOP now has a core of ideologists who would not have been elected if they had to run of against experienced politician knew how to make deals. The American system was based on such, the minority is supposed to have some say in how the country is run. The current factions in the GOP will not make a deal, that is considered treason to the party, with the far right holding court. I had a GOP legislator who was willing to work with the Dems, he termed out ran for the state Senate, and was defeated by a hard core conservative, who has done nothing to help his voters, but is popular with them for opposing any democratic agenda, even though he does not have a chance against them. So who gets the blame? Well the Dems of course for not bending to his and the other TP types will. They think the rest of the electorate want what they are proposing, even though the voters are overwhelmingly Dems.
Such is true for the GOP nationally, they have attracted a low educated, misinformed, resentful constituency, that would not get rich anyway, but who believe the GOP propaganda, now it is paying the price.
47
"Politics is a profession...."
Yes, isn't that the problem that Trump is addressing in his way?
Yes, isn't that the problem that Trump is addressing in his way?
The GOP realizing what they have wrought is like Claude Rains being shocked that there was gambling in Humphrey Bogart's nightclub. The Republicans have used intolerance and bigotry for decades going back to the Southern Strategy in Nixon's time, through both Bushes with campaigns run by Lee Atwater, Karl Rove and their ilk. They have appealed to racism, xenophobia, hyper religiosity and patriotism, denying science and anything that smacks of intellectual thought, blatantly or in coded language, labeling it conservative populism. They pretended that this reflected American values, glossing over the reality of what they did as they appealed to the worst in the electorate.This reached its apotheosis with the overt racism directed at President Obama - from the birthers to the Tea Party to GOP senators and congressmen asserting that their sole goal was to ensure that his was a failed presidency. Donald Trump is the logical conclusion to this cynical paradigm, no longer hiding these abhorrent ideas. He feels comfortable enough with the GOP mantle to obfuscate about the KKK and David Duke. Trump is an egoist who knows nothing about governance or foreign affairs but masterfully gathers more and more strength among voters who have taken in the GOP lesson that racism, sexism, xenophobia et al are acceptable. If he gets the nomination, he will take many Senators and Congressmen down with him. Just deserts, I say.
134
No problem. The Kochs and Adelson will save the party from Trump.
@ RioConcho
It might be in their interests to have the party implode and use the next four years to rebuild in the interest of the establishment again.
It might be in their interests to have the party implode and use the next four years to rebuild in the interest of the establishment again.
1
I don't give a fig about the republicans. But I sure am happy to see that the whole GOP mess of weirdo candidates, campaigns, primaries, nominations, and elections are going exactly as the democrats hoped. Trump for president? Bring it on!
14
I think candidates learn from previous candidates. Trump learned from Romney that you can flip your position back and forth at any time and still nearly win a majority of votes. In fact he has taken it one step further and instead just blows off and past his own blatant inconsistencies, unashamed and with bold face lies. If the people are going to vote for you or "that" anyway, indeed why bother!
9
Every time an established, elitist republican, like McConnell, Sasse, and others, denigrate Trump, they are only successful in infuriating voters and their constituents. They were elected to represent their districts/..not special interests...lobbyists...and their own destructive agendas. Their heads remain buried in the sand, and we wouldn't be in this predicament if they had listened to the people who gave them control of the House and Senate in 2014. It's time to go with the people, or get out of office.
20
Who didn't see this coming? Sarah Palin, Joe the Plumber, Tea Party candidates..it's been obvious for several years that the Republican constituency wanted someone disruptive, someone out of the establishment, someone like their next door neighbor. Uncompromising conviction over experience and governance. They finally have that in Trump, and there's shock now that he's successful? The GOP and conservative media have been sowing this field for a long while now. It's reaping time.
61
No, the Republican frontrunner is nothing like the next door neighbor unless the digs in your neighborhood run into several millions of dollars! This is a case of working people voting for a fantasy, voting against their best interests which is social equity, and not voting for an example of the perversely skewed distribution of wealth in our country. Strongman leaders don't want democracy, just the opposite. This totalitarian leaning is so contrary to the small government that Republicans always crow about loudly wanting. They ironically or corruptly seem to prefer someone who will bring yuuuuge government power and less rights and freedoms for the unwashed majority, including less free speech rights for the press and less freedom of movement rights for others. Which isn't saying much, as our press is often anything but adversarial to those in power, isn't much of a watch dog but more of a greased palm. This is why Sanders run is so different this year. I can see Sanders giving the old boys power network the hairy eyeball as he was arrested and harassed by them and their elders back in the early 1960s for exercising his constitutional rights.
Since 9/11 Americans have been frightened. The fear doesn't go away and is kept alive daily with the reports of attacks in Paris and San Bernadino and the latest suicide bombings. Syria, Libya, Yemen, Nigeria, it goes on and on. There has been no relief and no victory which brings the boys home.
Americans want to use their guns to end it and bring back security, but we can't. The guns we have and can't use are nuclear weapons. We do have the power but can't excercise it, so we are frustrated and the fear lingers on.
Trump gives the feeling, only the feeling, that he would finally use the big weapon and bring us back home, kill all our enemies and make us feel safe, make America great again. But even he knows that he can never use nuclear weapons. He's just playing this song to get attention and maybe elected. He's just playing America's old hits for an oldie's crowd which is anxious to forget the troubles.
America has become like the mumbling drunk at the end of the bar, barking at the television.
Americans want to use their guns to end it and bring back security, but we can't. The guns we have and can't use are nuclear weapons. We do have the power but can't excercise it, so we are frustrated and the fear lingers on.
Trump gives the feeling, only the feeling, that he would finally use the big weapon and bring us back home, kill all our enemies and make us feel safe, make America great again. But even he knows that he can never use nuclear weapons. He's just playing this song to get attention and maybe elected. He's just playing America's old hits for an oldie's crowd which is anxious to forget the troubles.
America has become like the mumbling drunk at the end of the bar, barking at the television.
13
I don't think Americans are nearly as frightened as conservative media pundits would havevyou believe. A walk around NYC any day proves that. But In this country, fear, bigotry and ignorance have always been the bread and butter of the right.
Meanwhile Bernie is raising millions and Trump is running away from the pack because folks are just plain fed up.
Meanwhile Bernie is raising millions and Trump is running away from the pack because folks are just plain fed up.
3
@parm
You do realize that Trump doesn't speak for ALL Americans, don't you?
There are actually a lot of us here who don't drunkenly mumble in a bar at the television, or cheer on the use of nuclear warfare.
Maybe you should try to Google that.
You do realize that Trump doesn't speak for ALL Americans, don't you?
There are actually a lot of us here who don't drunkenly mumble in a bar at the television, or cheer on the use of nuclear warfare.
Maybe you should try to Google that.
1
so they guy who wrote the book about how party leaders pick the candidate admits they had it all wrong, but apparently that's do barrier to offering more "analysis". Reading tea leaves seems to hold more promise than the musings of academics that never seem to predict anything in advance but devote careers to "explaining" the past.
9
" Lately, the leaders have let voters help them figure out which candidate, among the acceptable, they should coordinate on. "
Jeez, that is so, so nice of the political elites (party leaders) to 'let' the voters help them out. Bowing to the great unwashed is hardly their style, but there you have it. The choices left in both parties are: meh... Yes, even Sanders. If this is the best that the political establishment can provide, (I include Trump in this menagerie of ennui) the end of a functioning democracy may be near.
Jeez, that is so, so nice of the political elites (party leaders) to 'let' the voters help them out. Bowing to the great unwashed is hardly their style, but there you have it. The choices left in both parties are: meh... Yes, even Sanders. If this is the best that the political establishment can provide, (I include Trump in this menagerie of ennui) the end of a functioning democracy may be near.
6
Establishment Republicans, having no guiding principles, were caught in a bind. If they attacked Trump from the beginning he would run as a third party candidate, thus killing the Republicans' chances of a victory in the general election. If they did not attack Trump they would leave to chance whether he would fade away. In retrospect it is clear that they chose unwisely. Now he's the front runner and establishment favorites like Rubio look like playground kids saying nasty things to the sand box bully.
More the shame, establishment Republicans should have known better from the start. Trump is a wild card. There is no predicting what he'll do. If the GOP had guiding principles, they would have folowed those principles and rejected Trump from the outset, letting the chips fall as they may.
More the shame, establishment Republicans should have known better from the start. Trump is a wild card. There is no predicting what he'll do. If the GOP had guiding principles, they would have folowed those principles and rejected Trump from the outset, letting the chips fall as they may.
94
What's that contract with the party Trump has? Something to the effect if they undermine him he will run as an independent. They are going to lose either way, it is just a matter of collateral damage control.
7
If a Party such as the GOP has no solid ideas, the candidates fight for the win only for the sake of power and winning. The voters fall back on personality and the campaign becomes a beauty contest and free for all.
The GOP has been the party of No for many years so the voters say no to the party eventually. How can a Party survive if all they can do is act like a two year oldf refusing to move and wailing No, No, No.
The GOP has been the party of No for many years so the voters say no to the party eventually. How can a Party survive if all they can do is act like a two year oldf refusing to move and wailing No, No, No.
14
Unfortunately, Democrats are too much educated and failing(ignoring) to see the correct candidate same way as GOP! Or may be in our country educated and uneducated are same! Before blaming Trump's voters we should also have self realization that why NY times and establishment is supporting Hilary over Bernie!
What's the difference between GOP and Democrat. Both are same trying to fetch the votes based on Race and Color and emotions. There is only one class and one issue in the world- "Economy ", and I guess only one candidate is addressing that correctly-Bernie!
What's the difference between GOP and Democrat. Both are same trying to fetch the votes based on Race and Color and emotions. There is only one class and one issue in the world- "Economy ", and I guess only one candidate is addressing that correctly-Bernie!
9
The American electoral system has always been susceptible to a self-financed, newsworthy, billionaire celebrity/businessman candidate. Ross Perot showed the way, but unfortunately we're going to end up with someone far less sober, reasonable and dignified. The Republican establishment overestimated the appeal of regional candidates like Chris Christie and Scott Walker, and underestimated the anti-Bush sentiment in their own party. Donald Trump called out George W. Bush on his mistakes in a public debate in the most conservative state in the Union and won that state's Republican primary going away.
6
"In most of these cases, party leaders seemed to use Iowa as a winnowing tool, recalling the way they used primaries before the 1970s reforms."
Iowa, one of the least demographically representative states in in the US.
Wrong tool.
Iowa, one of the least demographically representative states in in the US.
Wrong tool.
10
A political party? Not hardly. Considering the damage that GOP-led partisan obstructionism, and special-interest motivated wars of aggression have caused... I think that we're way past the point where parties can be considered as anything other than treasonous, destructive cabals.
So the GOP (by which we mean those who operate it), is worried that they've lost control with this guy who in effect is running his own party. They are really scared that the old two-party model we all took as gospel might disintegrate.
Guess what, the great unwashed public has had an unexpected side-effect from their decades of swallowing partisan lies. They actually want something else! Not to say that Trump is a good bargain, or that awful things might ensue, but all the evidence says that the GOP leash is broken and the dog's running off.
So the GOP (by which we mean those who operate it), is worried that they've lost control with this guy who in effect is running his own party. They are really scared that the old two-party model we all took as gospel might disintegrate.
Guess what, the great unwashed public has had an unexpected side-effect from their decades of swallowing partisan lies. They actually want something else! Not to say that Trump is a good bargain, or that awful things might ensue, but all the evidence says that the GOP leash is broken and the dog's running off.
2
It's quite amazing that no one has mentioned the GOP conundrum of 40 25 20. Or so.
All three are loser presidential candidates based simply on character, credentials, and competence. The GOP caucus or primary activist is choosing between lesser of three evils. It's so clear. Shout it out.
John Kasich will win out.
All three are loser presidential candidates based simply on character, credentials, and competence. The GOP caucus or primary activist is choosing between lesser of three evils. It's so clear. Shout it out.
John Kasich will win out.
5
Kasich won't even carry Ohio.
His own state hates his guts.
His own state hates his guts.
1
Sometimes things are not as complicated as they look. The main factor in the 2016 GOP debacle is the simple fact that the GOP moderates, especially in the Northeastern and Midwestern suburbs, have all quietly left the party over the past 10 years, leaving only far-right conservatives in the GOP primary electorate.
The former GOP moderates are now all independents and their votes in November, especially in Florida and Ohio, will go a long way in determining the winner in the November election.
The former GOP moderates are now all independents and their votes in November, especially in Florida and Ohio, will go a long way in determining the winner in the November election.
150
Agreed. Us moderates didn't leave the party, the party left us. We we're pushed out and so became independents. The party of my Father, Grandfather and my own youth is long gone.
2
This makes it kind of hard to explain Trump's forthcoming victory in Massachusetts, and why many Democrats in that state have switched their registration so they can vote for him.
2
I disagree with the part about how previous cycles worked. In most years, the DC Pundits forced out candidates before most of us has a chance to vote. Had Howard Dean been on the ballot in 2004 I and millions more would have gladly supported him. Instead the media- self appointed guardians of democracy- pounded on his candidacy until he was out well before most Americans had ever stepped into a polling place.
It is not just Trump and the Republicans. The DNC is trying to coronate Hillary- the rabble be damned. We have been told over and over that she is the inevitable candidate. She gets pounded in New Hampshire and we are told it does not count. She wins in South Carolina and they are ready to coronate her. They tie in Iowa, she declares victory and the servile media says it must be so.
A funny thing is happening. Every week, polling shows Bernie gaining strength among voters nationally as many are just now seeing him and hearing his message. Despite the Clinton biased reporting in almost all media, his numbers continue to rise.
Hillary is going to have a good night tonight, racking up delegates in Republican states that will not help the Democrats come November. Most of the states that trend Democratic and are in play have yet to vote, yet the media pundits & political class want to bury Bernie Sanders. His supporters in small amounts gave him over $42 Million in February alone.
The fact is Bernie does better against the GOP, yet the DNC wants Hillary. Why?
It is not just Trump and the Republicans. The DNC is trying to coronate Hillary- the rabble be damned. We have been told over and over that she is the inevitable candidate. She gets pounded in New Hampshire and we are told it does not count. She wins in South Carolina and they are ready to coronate her. They tie in Iowa, she declares victory and the servile media says it must be so.
A funny thing is happening. Every week, polling shows Bernie gaining strength among voters nationally as many are just now seeing him and hearing his message. Despite the Clinton biased reporting in almost all media, his numbers continue to rise.
Hillary is going to have a good night tonight, racking up delegates in Republican states that will not help the Democrats come November. Most of the states that trend Democratic and are in play have yet to vote, yet the media pundits & political class want to bury Bernie Sanders. His supporters in small amounts gave him over $42 Million in February alone.
The fact is Bernie does better against the GOP, yet the DNC wants Hillary. Why?
20
The Republican Party is right to loathe Donald Trump--he is an inveterate liar, a boor, and has no interest in the function of government, never mind his pronounced psychopathology.
The problem is that the Republican Party paved the way for Trump. For years, the party peddled an agenda that was smoke and mirrors: Get rid of abortion! (they knew that this would not get past Congress, never mind a presidential veto); Obama wants to take your guns away! (again, there is that Congressional element to deal with). Beyond the party bombast, there is the basic nature of the Republican world view: if we can just get government out of the way, we'll all be rich. It simply doesn't work, and it never has. Life before the New Deal is a historical testament to that fact. Republicans can't deliver on their promises to the electorate, so a "Republican" who wants to destroy the party id going to get a lot of attention from misguided believers who feel burned.
The problem is that the Republican Party paved the way for Trump. For years, the party peddled an agenda that was smoke and mirrors: Get rid of abortion! (they knew that this would not get past Congress, never mind a presidential veto); Obama wants to take your guns away! (again, there is that Congressional element to deal with). Beyond the party bombast, there is the basic nature of the Republican world view: if we can just get government out of the way, we'll all be rich. It simply doesn't work, and it never has. Life before the New Deal is a historical testament to that fact. Republicans can't deliver on their promises to the electorate, so a "Republican" who wants to destroy the party id going to get a lot of attention from misguided believers who feel burned.
15
The GOP establishment has a long tradition of ignoring election results that don't please them.
* Bush vs. Gore.
* The attempted de-legitimization of Obama
* Trying to get rid of Trump via back-room deals
All animals are equal. But some are more equal than others. The GOP establishment is the most equal of all.
* Bush vs. Gore.
* The attempted de-legitimization of Obama
* Trying to get rid of Trump via back-room deals
All animals are equal. But some are more equal than others. The GOP establishment is the most equal of all.
3
The problem GOP Ownership have is that, in terms of positions, there isn't a lot of daylight between Drumpf and the other GOP candidates. If they attack him on the sheer insanity of his statements, they attack most of their own platform. Where the Ownership and Da Donald part company is on taxing the wealthy and regulation of business and finance.: Drumpf has said several times that he would tax the rich and corporations and that he would try to change the laws on corporate protections and commercial banking. President Drumpf might even seriously try to reduce the supply of immigrant labor that is essential to union busting and low wages. Which three things alone would explain why the GOP Ownership regards Drumpf as the leader of the Zombie Apocalypse. Whatever else he may be, he is neither one of them (like the Bushes and Romney) nor is Drumpf their sock puppet (Rubio, Kasich). He isn't even a religious fanatic of questionable mental stability, whom Ownership can buy off with "Social Conservative" bones. (Cruz, Carson). The GOP Ownership are, in short, blown up by their own bomb.
Of course, there is absolutely no telling what President Drumpf will actually do do once in office. Because the man doesn't plan, he reacts. Whatever else happens, it's going to be clinically interesting being led by Americas' purest expression of the National Id.
Of course, there is absolutely no telling what President Drumpf will actually do do once in office. Because the man doesn't plan, he reacts. Whatever else happens, it's going to be clinically interesting being led by Americas' purest expression of the National Id.
3
Given the ethics of our elite corporate masters, it would be interesting to see an election campaign between Bernie and Trump - but that assumes that neither one of them would be heart-attacked or have their plane/car/train/bus blown up before they got that far.
1
The Republican party cannot destroy Trump's candidacy because
too many Republican voters form the core of Trump voters. Isn't that obvious now? Neither can the farce of corporate media "journalism" help
destroy his candidacy because his modus operandi is needed and used to maintain ratings and ad profitability. They cannot destroy what their infotainment filled practices have helped create.
Once assured of nomination, the Republican "leaders" will never place themselves in a position of explicitly rejecting a nominee since they also need to maintain an appearance of unity
for winning something in November. So some type of ambiguous empty mumbo jumbo will be formulated and repeated ad nauseum to give an appearance of falling in line behind il duce. In addition, enough elected representatives, senators, governors, will surely begin the slow inevitable descent into endorsing their nominee. After all, his supporters are their constituents too.
The main question is how independents will vote, how disaffected millenial Sanders supporters will vote, how anti Clinton but not yet pro Trump voters will vote...
or how many will choose not to vote.
When le Pen made it into the second round in 2002, a republicain coalition
formed around Chirac, who won overwhelmingly with high
turn out. It is far
from evident that comparable behavior is possible in this deeply
fractured and partisan society.
And if Trump "moderates" and softens tones? What then?
too many Republican voters form the core of Trump voters. Isn't that obvious now? Neither can the farce of corporate media "journalism" help
destroy his candidacy because his modus operandi is needed and used to maintain ratings and ad profitability. They cannot destroy what their infotainment filled practices have helped create.
Once assured of nomination, the Republican "leaders" will never place themselves in a position of explicitly rejecting a nominee since they also need to maintain an appearance of unity
for winning something in November. So some type of ambiguous empty mumbo jumbo will be formulated and repeated ad nauseum to give an appearance of falling in line behind il duce. In addition, enough elected representatives, senators, governors, will surely begin the slow inevitable descent into endorsing their nominee. After all, his supporters are their constituents too.
The main question is how independents will vote, how disaffected millenial Sanders supporters will vote, how anti Clinton but not yet pro Trump voters will vote...
or how many will choose not to vote.
When le Pen made it into the second round in 2002, a republicain coalition
formed around Chirac, who won overwhelmingly with high
turn out. It is far
from evident that comparable behavior is possible in this deeply
fractured and partisan society.
And if Trump "moderates" and softens tones? What then?
A bit later we are told today by Paul Ryan that there must be an unambiguous
rejection of KKK support to gain the party of Lincoln's approval...wow! not one very difficult to satisfy were he so inclined...though a certain waffling in
the past will need some hand waving dismissal with the appropriate tone
of voice.
So here we already see in real time an example of how the establishment will slither/grovel its way
towards an accommodation by setting a trivially simple
criterion that Trump can easily satisfy for its endorsement, were
he so inclined.
rejection of KKK support to gain the party of Lincoln's approval...wow! not one very difficult to satisfy were he so inclined...though a certain waffling in
the past will need some hand waving dismissal with the appropriate tone
of voice.
So here we already see in real time an example of how the establishment will slither/grovel its way
towards an accommodation by setting a trivially simple
criterion that Trump can easily satisfy for its endorsement, were
he so inclined.
Actually, many people now voting for Trump are former Democrats and independents, many of whom have not voted at all in the recent past.
2
The GOP leaders have played the game of identity/wedge politics wrapped in the antithesis of economic populism for decades. Many of their followers have seen through this and see Trump (falsely) as the anti-establishment "common man" leader. They have been conditioned to accept lies, seen through some of these lies and inculcated some of the messaging of hate, privilege, American exceptionalism, racism (explicit or not). They can't stop him because he has "made" them and is one of them. Their only motivation to stop him is expediency and fear- not the good of the nation. The populace sees through this- and the most cynical of the Republican lot simply cave in submission.
24
This is why: The GOP died in 2008. The people of the United States have elected an African-American president two times in a row. Therefore, the GOP is done. The demographics have changed. Guys like Trump are the wild personalities that take hold in a party that's becoming a ghost party. Now, I'm not a fan of "The Democrats" because the party puts people in power like Obama and Hillary - who are basically moderate Republicans: destroyers of civil and constitutional rights, and war mongers. No one is investing in the human capital of this country. No one is changing how we get our energy. All we're doing is constant military expansion. Basically, there is no left either.
72
The left ended with the election of Clinton. The Democratic party elites will end with the selection of Hillary. Bernie unmasked the corruption in the DNC, amply assisted by Schumer and Wasserman Schulz. They are a truly undemocratic bunch interested only in their own power, and it is fully on display in this primary.
4
From your post, it sounds like you've been asleep or living in a cave since 2008. If you can't see the difference between Obama and Clinton and republicans then you've been asleep at the wheel.
3
Trump supporters have been taken for a decades long ride by the GOP, while the wealthy supporters of the GOP have prospered at their expense. They have still not made the connection between the destruction of the unions and their stagnating salaries so they have turned to a circus performer giving the finger to those who failed to deliver as their savior. What is truly disturbing is where they will turn next when their savior falls flat. The rage will only get uglier.
9
The Republican Party “deciders” can’t stop Trump because their base has gone rogue while refusing to leave the cult complex.
This base has instead latched on to a (mis)leader and bankruptcy queen willing to allow them to retain their ‘conservative’ identity while he pretends to implement a collection of ‘nationalistic’ economic and social policies. I say pretend inasmuch as Trump will have neither the legislative support to implement much, if any, of his agenda, nor the requisite policy insight to succeed even if he could.
The real question that everyone should be asking is what precisely is Trump’s end game here? Being President is hard work – and by promising everything to everyone during his election campaign, Trump is assuredly setting his supporters up for monumental disappointment. And having utterly bypassed the traditional Republican machine on his way to the White House, there will be countless Republican operatives eager to see him fail, if only to teach the next such interloper the price of bypassing the machine. Does Trump really want to see what remains of his reputation go up in smoke?
Moreover, while Trump clearly displays dangerous narcissist tendencies, I find it hard to imagine that even he envisions himself serving as the vanguard of an American fascist movement.
But perhaps his real agenda is to make the history books: as the first American president physically removed via a bipartisan impeachment process?
This base has instead latched on to a (mis)leader and bankruptcy queen willing to allow them to retain their ‘conservative’ identity while he pretends to implement a collection of ‘nationalistic’ economic and social policies. I say pretend inasmuch as Trump will have neither the legislative support to implement much, if any, of his agenda, nor the requisite policy insight to succeed even if he could.
The real question that everyone should be asking is what precisely is Trump’s end game here? Being President is hard work – and by promising everything to everyone during his election campaign, Trump is assuredly setting his supporters up for monumental disappointment. And having utterly bypassed the traditional Republican machine on his way to the White House, there will be countless Republican operatives eager to see him fail, if only to teach the next such interloper the price of bypassing the machine. Does Trump really want to see what remains of his reputation go up in smoke?
Moreover, while Trump clearly displays dangerous narcissist tendencies, I find it hard to imagine that even he envisions himself serving as the vanguard of an American fascist movement.
But perhaps his real agenda is to make the history books: as the first American president physically removed via a bipartisan impeachment process?
3
Start with one part extremist House Freedom Caucus, stir in one part hubris from redistricting, one part reworking the nomination process, add two parts voters who keep reelecting conservative incumbents who caused the problem in the first place and add an equal amount of voters who grasp at any bloviating demagogue regardless of whether the demagogue has any actual solutions and you have the recipe for Trump success (and Republican party failure).
9
What I don't see mentioned here is that voters are fed up with an establishment that has done nothing as America's workers have seen their fortunes decline.
Wall Street went unpunished. The political process grew increasingly corrupt. Jobs and factories were exported to China and Mexico. Meanwhile, millions of illegal aliens drove down wages and school systems were going broke because the children of illegal aliens had to be given free bilingual education. And then voters were told that they were bad people for supposing that the obligations of citizenship, including fighting and dying for one's country, mean something.
The American public is just plain fed up with the establishment. It's as simple as that.
Wall Street went unpunished. The political process grew increasingly corrupt. Jobs and factories were exported to China and Mexico. Meanwhile, millions of illegal aliens drove down wages and school systems were going broke because the children of illegal aliens had to be given free bilingual education. And then voters were told that they were bad people for supposing that the obligations of citizenship, including fighting and dying for one's country, mean something.
The American public is just plain fed up with the establishment. It's as simple as that.
64
They can't stop Trump because they are not offering anything to anyone. The "leaders" of the Graceless Odious Popinjays allowed this to happen by the way they've not done their jobs for the past 8 years. They opposed President Obama at every turn. They've allowed the country to fall apart because they didn't want Obama to get any credit for anything. They sent a letter to Iran or Iraq undermining Obama's authority. They shut down the government for no reason. They have characterized out of work Americans as lazy moochers who are taking a vacation. They have refused to improve the ACA. They are now refusing to meet or hold hearings on a nominee for the Supreme Court.
There is no reason to vote for anyone they put up. Cruz is smart but not supportable. Rubio is too young. Trump is the only one saying what many are feeling and that is dangerous. But the GOP created this situation with its complete and utter refusal to do business with Obama, the president that we, the people elected twice. If they cannot be bothered to govern because they do not like our choices they should not be in office. They have not served us well and anyone who votes in a GOP member had better hope that said person will do his/her job for all instead of favoring the rich donors and huge corporations that are currently running this country into the ground with the willing assistance of the GOP.
There is no reason to vote for anyone they put up. Cruz is smart but not supportable. Rubio is too young. Trump is the only one saying what many are feeling and that is dangerous. But the GOP created this situation with its complete and utter refusal to do business with Obama, the president that we, the people elected twice. If they cannot be bothered to govern because they do not like our choices they should not be in office. They have not served us well and anyone who votes in a GOP member had better hope that said person will do his/her job for all instead of favoring the rich donors and huge corporations that are currently running this country into the ground with the willing assistance of the GOP.
221
The RNC set-up the primaries this year to favor an early victory by an establishment candidate and to avoid a long, drawn-out fight resulting in a wounded nominee ill-prepared to face the Democratic challenger.
The unexpected success of Trump has left the Republican establishment flummoxed.
Tonight will see Trump winning every state except Texas. If Cruz only wins his home state then the viability of Cruz's campaign is nil.
If Kasich and Rubio cannot win their home states then they are toast.
Trump will be unstoppable after the Ides of March have passed.
How fitting.
The unexpected success of Trump has left the Republican establishment flummoxed.
Tonight will see Trump winning every state except Texas. If Cruz only wins his home state then the viability of Cruz's campaign is nil.
If Kasich and Rubio cannot win their home states then they are toast.
Trump will be unstoppable after the Ides of March have passed.
How fitting.
8
Perhaps party "leaders" and "establishment" media with an interest in maintaining the status quo can't 'stop" Trump because he better represents the majority of voters. If that's the case, it can be attributed to democracy.
18
They may think he represents them but he doesn't. He's just a demagogue who offers no real solutions to their problems.
2
Bingo.
Trump is tapping the same kind of resentment felt by mainland Europeans in the 1930's when the same kind of white people back then felt dehumanized and powerless in their militarized and industrialized societies. Much industry in our militarized society has been outsourced overseas though and replaced by menial service industry jobs where the impecunious working classes still service those more wealthy than they are. So, leaders rise up exploiting the homegrown resentment and point their fingers outward to other countries (Mexico) or inward to other ethnicities or religions (African Americans, Latinos, Muslims) as being the enemy, as a diversionary tactic or smokescreen, when the real enemy is their corrupt system and the officials who run it. Wasn't that the case in Italy and Germany in the 1930s and what we are seeing in our country today?
20
Sometimes, like now, we really do have enemies though and being too PC and pretending we don't fuels this type of dissatisfaction.
2
Yep. As the writer himself says, "Party leaders might have pushed aside Mr. Trump if they’d had an easy choice among the acceptable candidates. Since they didn’t, ..." In the last 7 years, the GOP has experimented with the idea that you can obtain political power without a viable platform, simply by fanning the flames of hate, funding their efforts with 1% cash. It speaks well for the American Republic that these efforts have failed; badly that the angry white men appear ready to throw women, children, schools and minorities first on the fires with which they burn those who sold them out. I wonder what will be left when their rage has passed?
8
If they don't get on board and support Trump. There will be no more republican party left.
It is imperative for the GOP to dump Trump as soon as possible. Trump's ideas do not reflect the party ideas and so he is unfit to run under the auspices of the Republican party. Not only has this become a moral choice, but it is also an existential choice for Republicans. I can not envision a GOP that survives this nightmare. Better to lose an election than to destroy the party.
Dudley,
You sound like a reasonable person. The problem with what you write is that being a reasonable person is no longer in the description of what it means to be a Republican. Your last sentence is the departure point - in today's Republican party, it is anathema to lose an election for any reason. "Win at all - or any - cost!" is what I hear coming from the right. American Crossroads articulated that in so many words when an interviewer on NPR asked what they would do if Trump becomes the nominee. They didn't go so far as to say they would endorse him, just that they would continue to pour money into the race so that 'the party' would win.
You sound like a reasonable person. The problem with what you write is that being a reasonable person is no longer in the description of what it means to be a Republican. Your last sentence is the departure point - in today's Republican party, it is anathema to lose an election for any reason. "Win at all - or any - cost!" is what I hear coming from the right. American Crossroads articulated that in so many words when an interviewer on NPR asked what they would do if Trump becomes the nominee. They didn't go so far as to say they would endorse him, just that they would continue to pour money into the race so that 'the party' would win.
4
If Trump is not elected the republican is finished and I mean finished.
If Trump wins all the primaries, how exactly with the Republican Party dump him?
2
Aren't the voters supposed to decide?
Then again, deciding what the country wants without consulting the voters want is a GOP tradition. For example, the majority of voters want gun control, health care and same sex marriage.
The GOP establishment is paying for having lived in bubble for so long. And they're still clueless what's going on. Bern, baby, Bern.
Then again, deciding what the country wants without consulting the voters want is a GOP tradition. For example, the majority of voters want gun control, health care and same sex marriage.
The GOP establishment is paying for having lived in bubble for so long. And they're still clueless what's going on. Bern, baby, Bern.
29
Well, for starters, the GOP could disassociate itself from Trump's wall, and his plan to deport millions of illegal aliens en masse. Then they could point out that despite his bluster, Trump's business acumen is much less than advertised. Finally, the GOP might marshal SUPER Pac dollars to demonstrate that Trump is a political chameleon, whose positions change with the time of day.
The GOP could do this, and more, but it won't, because it likes Trump's exclusionary politics, and hopes to ride his extremist ideas, only on a different horse, such as Little Marco.
The GOP could do this, and more, but it won't, because it likes Trump's exclusionary politics, and hopes to ride his extremist ideas, only on a different horse, such as Little Marco.
17
What is the difference of using $$$ and super pacs or gun to get into a power?
We look down to those countries where they come to power by virtue of aggression but we think it is OK to say out loud the party leaders should do this or that to determine who should become president or should spend this amount or that amount to select a person…
Why not let the people decide? Is not that what we are trying to export to Iraq, Afghanistan and Middle East? Or should we just tell them let the guy with the most money run the country?
Do you people see why Trump is winning? Because he saying this directly to people so there is no cognitive dissonance…of we are democratic but yet the one with the most money must win?
We look down to those countries where they come to power by virtue of aggression but we think it is OK to say out loud the party leaders should do this or that to determine who should become president or should spend this amount or that amount to select a person…
Why not let the people decide? Is not that what we are trying to export to Iraq, Afghanistan and Middle East? Or should we just tell them let the guy with the most money run the country?
Do you people see why Trump is winning? Because he saying this directly to people so there is no cognitive dissonance…of we are democratic but yet the one with the most money must win?
2
Little Marco has turned into a mini Trump .
So many seeds were planted that led to this fiasco. Since so many Republican candidates are particularly fond of quoting scripture, how about this one: Galatians 6:7 A man (or political party) reaps what he sows.
14
"Trump is unique" would be a very weak way of defending your theory. He is not unique. A nationalist/populist candidate like Pat Buchanan might do quite well in the current political environment. And candidates of this stripe are hardly unusual entrants. They would lack Trump's brand familiarity but might have some other known brand characteristics based on sports, movie stardom, or even being standard politician,e.g., Chris Christie.
3
Just heard the speaker of the house, Paul Ryan announcing that they (the Republican Party) denounce white supremacy. Good to know they don't want to go back to slavery. Whew! For a while there, I thought they were a bit reactionary.
42
Actually the GOP would love it if all blacks became successful and highly educated. Spending would be way down, tax collections way up, and there would be a new pool of potential GOP voters. What's not to like?
2
The big change:
Visible primaries!
You simply cannot put the genie back in the kettle!
In the 70s or 80s or even 90s, the party leaders could maneuver...not anymore....even superpacs are not working.
Also it is not the democratic leaders are making a decisions here it is that there is really no difference of much of their ideas and she can bring more money.
I would not be surprised even if someone records any backroom coup at the conventions.
Everything is visible now!
Visible primaries!
You simply cannot put the genie back in the kettle!
In the 70s or 80s or even 90s, the party leaders could maneuver...not anymore....even superpacs are not working.
Also it is not the democratic leaders are making a decisions here it is that there is really no difference of much of their ideas and she can bring more money.
I would not be surprised even if someone records any backroom coup at the conventions.
Everything is visible now!
4
What about Kasich? Why is he getting so few votes and so little respect?
1
Kasich is a democrat pretending to be a republican. He will never ever be elected to office again.
2
Donald Trump - American exceptionalism incarnate now providing a mirror to the American people. Many are looking, but who will actually see what their country's future looks like? So many of us outside the US are watching and wondering.
7
And here I thought political parties were supposed to represent the will of their members; silly me.
39
Never over estimate the intelligence of the electorate. Never over estimate how informed the electorate is on the issues. Never underestimate the selfishness of the electorate in regards to what's best for them as to what's best for their country.
This is not just an American dilemna.....this is world wide. This is the ugly side of democracy.
This is not just an American dilemna.....this is world wide. This is the ugly side of democracy.
51
You say:
"Never underestimate the selfishness of the electorate in regards to what's best for them.." The problem in the USA is that people do not vote enough based on their personal situation. Many low income Republican voters would be much better off had they voted Democratic Party. Instead, they choose the fear and myth-making of the other side and accept aspirational political messaging – which of course for them – never eventuates.
"Never underestimate the selfishness of the electorate in regards to what's best for them.." The problem in the USA is that people do not vote enough based on their personal situation. Many low income Republican voters would be much better off had they voted Democratic Party. Instead, they choose the fear and myth-making of the other side and accept aspirational political messaging – which of course for them – never eventuates.
11
Point well taken and well thought out. But....perhaps those voters are the end result of better times before globalization and other events turned on them. There have been good administrations and bad on both sides. Obviously, they feel abandonded today, and have probably felt that for some time. What do people do quite often....they sometimes turn to false prophets who manipulate them with promises unlikely to be kept. Then they hunker down afraid to change because they've been disappointed so many times.
1
The irony is that the POTUS has very little to do with the quality of the average American's life. Trump supporters have been conned into believing that somehow Trump will make their lives better. He wont.
Noel passes over the most direct challenge to his thesis: that institutions now inspire more contempt than confidence among the publics they are supposed to support. If this is indeed the case, then the messy Republican primary may just be an early symptom of a much bigger problem that could lead to radical changes not just in party politics but throughout American society.
172
Having capitulated earlier to the Teapartiers the Republican Party leadership had already paved the way for Donald Trump to dictate what he aspired for and the way he wished to reach there.
6
Yeah, really! The GOP has no problem stopping the proper functioning of the entire US government!
They can stop bipartisan-supported, popular legislation from getting an up-down vote!
They can stop funding social programs while eating breakfast, and they can stop protecting our public spaces in their sleep!
Come on guys, you're experts at stopping things! This is your time to shine!
They can stop bipartisan-supported, popular legislation from getting an up-down vote!
They can stop funding social programs while eating breakfast, and they can stop protecting our public spaces in their sleep!
Come on guys, you're experts at stopping things! This is your time to shine!
48
Trump is the manifestation of all of the GOP's policies and practices. When they fanned the flames of racism and bigotry, they created Trump voters. When they pandered to their wealthy patrons instead of voting in the best interests of their constituents, they created Trump voters. When they try to shut down Planned Parenthood clinics, or clinics that primarily serve women even when the clinic performs few abortions, they create Trump voters. And most recently, when they once again make it plain that they think Obama is not our legitimate, duly elected president by refusing to consider an Obama nominee for SCOTUS, they create Trump voters.
Of course there is nothing they can do to stop Trump now. They created him, they own him.
Of course there is nothing they can do to stop Trump now. They created him, they own him.
104
The GOP can't stop Trump because they ARE Trump.
(Excuse capitals.)
(Excuse capitals.)
34
Yes, just without his wealth.
Actually, all caps used sparingly for emphasis is perfectly acceptable. What is NOT so acceptable is going on at length, as in a certain Hillary supporter from Seattle in these pages...
1
Inaction by the Republican leadership can be easily explained. Do not disturb a foe while he is self-destroying. By all accounts Trump was self destructive by virtue of what he said and did. Yes it did not destroy him. Therein is the mystery.
31
There is no mystery, these people are republicans after all.
Or he's on a mission to destroy the Republican brand. My favorite scenario is that he gets the nomination, picks a really questionable VP running mate, and bails out around Halloween, explaining that the wanted to see how far out into right-wing crazyland he could lead the party so it might be able to pick up the pieces and become a rational player again.
He's showing us that now, with the previously polite Mr. Rubio reduced to juvenile taunts. All the Democrats have to do is bundle up the clips from the latest debates to persuade the general electorate (not the small, unrepresentative slice we're seeing in the primaries) that the GOP is nuts and unworthy of power.
If I'm wrong, that general electorate is not going to fall in behind the make-believe blowhard the way the Republican base's lemming have. Same outcome.
He's showing us that now, with the previously polite Mr. Rubio reduced to juvenile taunts. All the Democrats have to do is bundle up the clips from the latest debates to persuade the general electorate (not the small, unrepresentative slice we're seeing in the primaries) that the GOP is nuts and unworthy of power.
If I'm wrong, that general electorate is not going to fall in behind the make-believe blowhard the way the Republican base's lemming have. Same outcome.
1
You keep blaming the supernatural Mr Trump, while ignoring the huge numbers of disaffected voters who are voting for him. Rather than condescendingly dismissing them as victims of mass-hypnosis, or branding them as petty, immature people, why not take some time to see things from their perspective? You never do.
129
Well said. The blindness of our establishment continues to astound me. Just look at the Times -- I've seen more articles about bathrooms for the transgendered than I have about the plight of American workers!
14
That would require some empathy and we know that that is something that the GOP has only for the ultra rich or the corporations that fund them in their zeal to drown government in a bathtub, stop the ACA, and preventing Americans from having any sort of safety net no matter how productive they've been. Besides, look at all the rich will have to give up if we have a more equitable society: the right to sneer at us on the streets we inhabit because we can't afford a place to live, to tell us how worthless we are when we can't find jobs because those jobs have been eliminated, the right to tell us how to live because we can't save money, afford medical care, etc. The lords of America don't care about the peons. We're the dirt under their shoes that gets wiped off at the end of the day.
11
Does disaffection inevitably sway one towards the likes of Trump? Can one be disaffected and still be alert and intelligent enough to know that a vulgar, bigoted, no-nothing con-man isn't the answer to their disaffection?
Apparently they can't be and that's why we characterize them as petty and immature.
Apparently they can't be and that's why we characterize them as petty and immature.
4
The G.O.P. can't stop Trump because THE G.O.P. wants him.
The G.O.P. is a small group of ideologically pure, conforming, cooperative wealthy and powerful people who run the Church that is the modern Reublican party. They've been running it in the same manner since Ronald Reagan. Kill government, overthrow social safety net programs, expand the military, ignore infrastructure, reduce spending, eliminate taxes, and if you need money, borrow it from those who have it, at higher rates.
Those who do not abide have been excommunicated.
Until now.
Now THE G.O.P., the tens of millions of voters who used to support the hierarchy, have tired of the slight of hand. They've been told they're electing these candidates for one reason, but when the candidates were in office they conformed to the strict Speakers, Whips and Majority and Minority Leaders and voted as told.
Trump isn't promising the same old, same old; Trump, lying as he is, has convinced THE G.O.P. that he's a Conservative Messiah, he's come to turn over the tables of the business as usual Party Pharisees and Sadducees.
But he's no Christ. What THE G.O.P. wants isn't a Christ like change that is a gentler, more embracing, G.O.P. They want a revolution, a purging, a cleaning out of the G.O.P temple, and a return of their ideology to the control of the voters, and not the clergy who have been running it.
That's why the G.O.P. can't stop Trump. THE G.O.P. worships him.
The G.O.P. is a small group of ideologically pure, conforming, cooperative wealthy and powerful people who run the Church that is the modern Reublican party. They've been running it in the same manner since Ronald Reagan. Kill government, overthrow social safety net programs, expand the military, ignore infrastructure, reduce spending, eliminate taxes, and if you need money, borrow it from those who have it, at higher rates.
Those who do not abide have been excommunicated.
Until now.
Now THE G.O.P., the tens of millions of voters who used to support the hierarchy, have tired of the slight of hand. They've been told they're electing these candidates for one reason, but when the candidates were in office they conformed to the strict Speakers, Whips and Majority and Minority Leaders and voted as told.
Trump isn't promising the same old, same old; Trump, lying as he is, has convinced THE G.O.P. that he's a Conservative Messiah, he's come to turn over the tables of the business as usual Party Pharisees and Sadducees.
But he's no Christ. What THE G.O.P. wants isn't a Christ like change that is a gentler, more embracing, G.O.P. They want a revolution, a purging, a cleaning out of the G.O.P temple, and a return of their ideology to the control of the voters, and not the clergy who have been running it.
That's why the G.O.P. can't stop Trump. THE G.O.P. worships him.
59
You keep blaming the supernatural Mr Trump, while ignoring the huge numbers of disaffected voters who are voting for him. Rather than condescendingly dismissing them as victims of mass-hypnosis, or branding them as petty, immature people, why not take some time to see things from their perspective?
26
Trump says he "loves the educated and the poorly educated."
It's a shame the "educated" aren't any smarter to know better, than the "uneducated."
"The Donald" can, and continues to play his followers like Itzhak Perlman plays the violin, which couldn't make for a sadder commentary on the state of the GOP, and American politics overall, especially now that the hate groups have joined the fold, and Trump hasn't got what it takes to repudiate them (unless it's in front of his leigions)
It's a shame the "educated" aren't any smarter to know better, than the "uneducated."
"The Donald" can, and continues to play his followers like Itzhak Perlman plays the violin, which couldn't make for a sadder commentary on the state of the GOP, and American politics overall, especially now that the hate groups have joined the fold, and Trump hasn't got what it takes to repudiate them (unless it's in front of his leigions)
74
"Establishment" Republicans should stop blaming everyone but the self-proclaimed "party of personal responsibility" -- some they "established" has been a deliberate misinformation campaign along with a platform of nothing but wedge issues and petulance ever since Obama took the war toys away from the Project for a New American Century Bush Administration. Then the Tea Party was stupid enough to make April 15, 2009 their big protest day even though it was the day when the middle class paid less in federal taxes than they'd paid in decades. No one called them out on their banal stupidity and those disgusting signs they were carrying. Instead they were referred to as a breath of "fresh" air by establishment Republicans. They are too myopic in scope to NOT implode. Think of it this way: Roger Ailes and the "establishment" Republicans are not as brilliant as they think they are. They broke it, they bought it.
195
And while we're at it, what happened to the so-called "moderate" Republicans? Where are they? Why hasn't the GOP tried to attract them, rather than turning them away? I suspect many "moderate" Republicans are so sick of the spectacle the GOP is making of their party, they just don't vote at all in primaries. Or they become independents, or in this election cycle, they say they'll vote for Clinton.
I also suspect this process of alienation has been going on for years, ever since the Clinton administration, when the Republicans (unfortunately helped by Bill Clinton himself), initiated the "politics of the personal." I suspect that as soon as the GOP announced itself as the party of "family values," and then proceeded to have its hypocritical politicians paraded in a series of personal scandals before the American public, the process picked up steam. When the GOP forsake fiscal responsibility for fiscal irresponsiblity and decided wealthy donors were their constituents while telling voters that their deteriorating financial prospects were the Democrats' fault, the GOP sealed its doom.
I also suspect this process of alienation has been going on for years, ever since the Clinton administration, when the Republicans (unfortunately helped by Bill Clinton himself), initiated the "politics of the personal." I suspect that as soon as the GOP announced itself as the party of "family values," and then proceeded to have its hypocritical politicians paraded in a series of personal scandals before the American public, the process picked up steam. When the GOP forsake fiscal responsibility for fiscal irresponsiblity and decided wealthy donors were their constituents while telling voters that their deteriorating financial prospects were the Democrats' fault, the GOP sealed its doom.
11
....and now they own it, lock, stock and barrel. Always be careful what you wish for. The Genie, aka, Donald Trump is out of the bottle.
4
Outstanding