Posted on 01/22/2016 12:47:38 PM PST by Kaslin
As many conservatives grapple with the growing prospect of a Donald Trump presidential nomination, I've started to hear them asking one another the once unthinkable: "Would you vote for Trump?" Mostly, the answer is "of course not." He's a fascistic clown. He's a clandestine liberal (not really that cagey about it, to be honest) who'd be a disaster for the country, not to mention destroy the Republican Party for generations, perhaps forever.
Which is exactly the point, right?
The Washington Post's Michael Gerson writes that Trump is "proposing a massive ideological and moral revision of the Republican Party." He might have added: Like the one Democrats have already gone through.
Since there's so much concern-trolling and hand-wringing about the future of the right, it should not escape our attention that Republicans aren't the only ones dealing with the corrosive effects of populist anger and a cult of personality.
Yes, Trump is going to be a spectacular disaster -- maybe even worse than most -- but why would anyone believe the contrived progressivism and incompetence of Hillary Clinton or (the incredibly expensive) radicalism of Bernie Sanders would be any less of a catastrophe? The Democrat front-runners aren't less inclined to embrace authoritarianism or destructive economic theories than Trump -- even if some of those ideas were mainstreamed over the past few years.
Democrats aren't ripping themselves apart as their leadership continually surrenders to the most strident voices in the party. Clinton, once the target of grassroots' derision and frustration, now sounds like a random blogger at Daily Kos -- which once upon a time wanted to burn it all down, as well. The Democrats' debate was a celebration of "free" stuff and gargantuan reforms that would have been unthinkable positions for a mainstream Democrat candidate in 1992, or even 2008.
And, contra the finger-wagging wisdom of moderates, Democrats are just as likely to embrace a hateful tone aimed those they hold liable for the ills of the nation. They just happen to direct that anger at clingy gun-owners, reactionary Christians or those who believe in the superiority of Western ideals. Thought pieces fret over the end of civility only when the "anger" chafes against sensibilities of the media. President Obama and Trump fans have more in common than they'd like to imagine.
If Trump can be accused of fascism (and there's something to this charge), surely Bernie Sanders, now making huge strides in the polls, can easily be accused of being a Marxist. More so. Yet, how apprehensive are Democrats about this turn towards leftism? Could the hundreds of seats lost to Republicans over the past few years have anything to do with this turn? Is anyone worried that Sander's success will exacerbate the cultural rifts already destroying the party's appeal? How many Democrats ask themselves: Hey, would I vote for Bernie Sanders over Marco Rubio?
The corrupted centrist and one-time backer of the Iraq war (once the litmus test for liberals) holds every conceivable fiscal and political advantage over an obscure senator peddling failed ideas from early 20th century. Yet, imagine, if you will, what Clinton's prospects would look like if a more competent and charismatic socialist were running instead of Sanders, who is now ahead of Clinton by 27 percentage points among Democratic primary voters in New Hampshire, according to a new CNN/WMUR poll. Or imagine if there were four or five other competent and well-funded candidates running in the Democrat primaries splitting the votes as they do on the other side? Would Sanders be where Trump is? What happens if the bottom falls out? What happens if Hillary's candidacy becomes untenable because of her legal problems? Democrats will have a socialist candidate, who probably would more appropriately reflect their views.
This should not surprise anyone. After a number of populist revolts against their establishment during the Bush years -- including the tossing aside Clinton in 2008 -- liberals reinvented their party. And still Obama could not realize most of his agenda with the party behind him. The fear (and the promise) of a Trump candidacy comes from vastly overestimating executive power.
I'm not sold on the inevitability of a Trump victory in the primaries, but you don't get to build the ideal candidate, you get what the era gives you. This is an era of anger and populism. It was in 2008 -- when the recession shook free the anger and frustrations of many nervous voters -- and it still is.
It’s an era of Corrupt Crony Marxist Fascism, and no American citizen and their Constitutional rights are immune.
Maybe it’s because all of the other candidates suck.
Screw the American people for 15+ years and they ‘d better be happy that we are only at populism.
Angry populism.
They have a name for “Republican party has failed to do a damn thing they’ve campaigned on for 20 years”
Now we know what to call it: “angry populism”
Trumps campaign is built on anger, smears, and lies. Any conservative who supports Trump will end up hanging their head in shame.
And you think they won’t describe Cruz supporters as “angry populists” if he could get out in front?
Don’t kid yourself. They don’t like Cruz either.
You, too, my FRiend, are an “angry populist” in their world.
Cronyism is a disease of the left and of the right.
No matter which side one is one, one should fight it.
I fail to see how being against cronyism is ‘populism’ or if it is, why ‘populism’ is tossed about as a pejorative.
Trump is leading because people believe he’s more likely to actually try to stop the illegal alien inundation.
Now defending your country from invasion by peaceful means is called angry populism.
We’re simply trying to get our government to do its simplest duty, protect the country and its citizens.
Look at each candidate from both parties and ask: “Do I believe this person would follow the Constitution?”
And do they even know what the Constitution says?
It is time the parent took control
I am sure that some of the establishment types would call me many names though they would probably call me an unreasonable conservative rather than an angry populist.
My allegiance is first to my conservative principles and only secondarily to Sen. Cruz. If Cruz abandoned conservative principles or attempted to rule through executive decrees then he would lose my support. This is because I am much more loyal to conservatism than I am to Sen. Cruz or any other leader.
My impression is that many Trump supporters are very different. Their primary allegiance is to Trump as the great leader that they think can make America great again. This is why no matter what views or statements I show them where Trump has violated conservative principles, they will continue to support him. They are more loyal to their leader than to their values.
This really really scares me. I feel like I am living in Germany in early 1930’s when the population was scared and angry and just wanted a strong leader who would stand up for them. The really scary thing is that it is my conservative friends who are abandoning their principles and playing follow the leader and I don’t know how to make them see what they are doing.
The bottom line, DSChapin, is that we must win this time.
To a large degree, the primary campaigns show who has the juice to pull it off. At this point in time, Cruz doesn’t or he’d still have my support.
The numbers say it’s over.
Well, hopefully the Iowa results will surprise you and reset the campaign. I guess we will just have to wait and see.
I will support you in your defense of our Conservative for of government---Wait, what?
“Stop the existential threat to our country!” = “angry populism”
form
I am not sure I understand your question. Did I word something poorly in my post or something?
You’re a good person, DS.
Thanks for a truly fair discussion.
Thanks. I enjoyed talking with you too.
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