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Trump and the New Know-Nothings Threaten the Death of the GOP
sgberman.com ^ | 8/8/15 | Steve Berman

Posted on 08/10/2015 3:45:16 AM PDT by lifeofgrace

trump_debate_AP

The final Whig president of the United States was Millard Filmore in 1853.  He marked the death of the Whigs, and the rise of the Know-Nothings.  Today the GOP faces its own death, and the continued success of Donald Trump in the polls reflects the fact that the Republican Party is staring into its own grave.

The Know-Nothing party was formed in reaction to Irish Catholic immigration, and pledged to restore “Native Americans” to political power (and by that I don’t mean Hiawatha, but WASPs).  Forming a party based on reactionary impulse is the death-rattle of a lost cause, and the Whigs became the American Party in 1854 after Fillmore’s term.

Donald Trump’s message resonates with many Republicans because he speaks what most of us know, and doesn’t hold his tongue or make excuses for our elected representatives’ failure to deal with immigration problems over the last three decades our failure to end the rise of Islamic terrorism, and our failure to keep the American economy growing.

But Trump’s promises are nothing but Styrofoam—light-weight and filling lots of volume.  When heat is applied to Styrofoam, it evaporates, leaving a void.  If nothing fills the void, the party will fall of its own weight.  It’s nobody’s fault but our own if Trump destroys the GOP—and he very well could (take this seriously).

Trump’s only reaction to criticism is to play the know-nothing game:  “I didn’t say that, and you’re a jerk.”  Its one thing to be non-politically correct, and it’s quite another to use personal attacks as a primary method of dealing with all criticism.

When Trump told CNN’s Don Lemon that Fox News’ debate moderator Megyn Kelly “had blood coming out of her eyes.  Blood coming out of her…whatever” there’s no way a reasonable person would interpret that to mean anything other than attributing Kelly’s question to her menstrual cycle—after calling Kelly a “bimbo.”

Trump’s remark goes beyond decorum and extends into gratuitous asshatery.  Watch for yourself.

He said this in the midst of the biggest gathering of GOP candidates seen in one city, where each person gets to speak for a half hour instead of 4 to 10 minutes in a scripted “debate.”  And Redstate Gathering host Erick Erickson said he didn’t want to share his stage with Trump unless he explained himself.

I have rescinded my invitation to Mr.Trump. While I have tried to give him great latitude, his remark about Megyn Kelly was a bridge too far — Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) August 8, 2015

Erick made the right call.

Trump’s response:

“This is just another example of weakness through being politically correct. For all of the people who were looking forward to Mr. Trump coming, we will miss you. Blame Erick Erickson, your weak and pathetic leader,” according to a campaign statement.
Trump is a direct result of the GOP’s inability to define itself as a party with a purpose.  If the GOP is defined as “everything that isn’t Democrat” then it’s nothing more than the Whigs of 1854.  Dead.

There are at least five solid conservative candidates who have real policies, who aren’t Stryofoam in the party.  But if voters continue to fuel Trump’s ego-driven jags into personal attacks and obnoxiousness, his Styrofoam candidacy will continue to grow and increase the size of the void when it finally self-annihilates.

GOP, it’s time to grow up and look down into the grave that the Whigs fell into before our party goes the way of the Know-Nothings.

(crossposted from RedState.com)


TOPICS: Campaign News; Issues
KEYWORDS: donaldtrump; erickerickson; knownothings; trump
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To: jsanders2001

LOL...this pasty-faced, bag of doughnuts writes about the death of the GOP like it would be a bad thing.


21 posted on 08/10/2015 4:48:50 AM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Qui me amat, amat et canem meum.)
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To: lifeofgrace

[Trump and the New Know-Nothings Threaten the Death of the GOP]

He says that like it’s a bad thing.


22 posted on 08/10/2015 4:56:06 AM PDT by VTenigma (The Democratic party is the party of the mathematically challenged)
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To: jsanders2001

We voted them in gave them the majority back to do something and they did nothing RIP


23 posted on 08/10/2015 5:00:04 AM PDT by ronnie raygun
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To: jsanders2001

The author

Big man, pig man, ha ha charade you are.


24 posted on 08/10/2015 5:02:30 AM PDT by King Moonracer (Bad lighting and cheap fabric, that's how you sell clothing.....)
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To: lifeofgrace
A political party is nothing more then a collection of people with a similar agenda. The agenda of the GOP is quite similar to the agenda of the Rats. The GOP and the Rats comprise the Uniparty. The purpose of the Uniparty is to preserve the status quo. The agenda of middle and working class Americans is not the agenda of the Uniparty. In fact the Uniparty's agenda is in direct opposition to interests of working Americans. Real unemployment is closer to 20% then 5%. Real wages have not risen in since the 1970's. It's more likely that are 30 million illegals then the 11 million figure used by the Uniparty.

Trump is the only candidate that is not owned by the Uniparty. With all the other candidates we get various flavors of "more of the same".

The Uniparty wants to transform America into a "safe for the ruling rich" Mexican like state. Trump wants to make America great again. To me it's a no brainer, Go Trump!

25 posted on 08/10/2015 5:06:06 AM PDT by jpsb (Believe nothing until it has been officially denied)
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To: Klemper

“The GOP destroyed itself. That is the reason that Trump is so popular.”......

That statement says it all and Trump is the ONLY ONE to have the guts to say it. He clearly stated he is not politically correct and proved it, the problem is the truth hurts when he hit the squarely between the eyes.

The GOP is destroying itself and if this political crisis doesn’t get resolved soon, the rinos will have completed the task.


26 posted on 08/10/2015 5:08:45 AM PDT by DaveA37
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To: lifeofgrace

Someone should sit this guy down and tell him the truth : The Republican Party is already dead and so is America.
Trump is getting support from people who love America and feel that og all the good candidates on that stage he has the best - maybe the only - chance of bringing our country back to life.


27 posted on 08/10/2015 5:12:46 AM PDT by jmaroneps37 (Conservatism is truth. Liberalism is lies.)
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To: lifeofgrace

Steve Berman like most of the Know Everything branch of the Republican Party is very worried about the survival of the Republican Party. We are worried about the survival of the United States of America.
Big difference.


28 posted on 08/10/2015 5:15:29 AM PDT by Tupelo (Corrupt politician McCain trumps war hero McCain.)
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To: CheneyClone

“What is it about Trump that scares the beejeezus out of these people?”

Allergic to testosterone. Really.

Ever noticed how big mesomorphic guys are usually soft stepping and soft spoken? We have to be.

Donald doesn’t have to be. For some people it’s a breath of fresh air and gives them a feeling of confidence. For others every sound bite exacerbates their insecurity, no matter the message.


29 posted on 08/10/2015 5:21:39 AM PDT by GoneSalt
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To: lifeofgrace

The GOPe should die.

What ever comes after has to be better than what we have now.


30 posted on 08/10/2015 5:22:59 AM PDT by CIB-173RDABN (I do not doubt that our climate changes. I only doubt that anything man does has any effect.)
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To: lifeofgrace
Trump and the New Know-Nothings Threaten the Death of the GOP

Excellent.

31 posted on 08/10/2015 5:24:20 AM PDT by Jim Noble (You walk into the room like a camel and then you frown)
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To: lifeofgrace

Another day, another ‘opinion’ by a nobody about a somebody.


32 posted on 08/10/2015 5:26:37 AM PDT by Hostage (ARTICLE V)
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To: Caipirabob
A party where the elitist leadership alienates itself and hates its own base is already dead, they just don’t know it yet.

So true but the democrats hate their own base ( blacks ) also but never alienate them
33 posted on 08/10/2015 5:28:48 AM PDT by uncbob
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To: lifeofgrace
"...Trump and the New Know-Nothings Threaten the Death of the GOP..."

Good.

I am no fan of Trump, but I despise the spineless, pandering, GOP the way it exists now.

34 posted on 08/10/2015 5:37:29 AM PDT by rlmorel ("National success by the Democratic Party equals irretrievable ruin." Ulysses S. Grant)
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To: GoneSalt

Trump has what’s called “F#@k you money.”


35 posted on 08/10/2015 5:40:28 AM PDT by nonliberal (Sent from a payphone in a whorehouse in Mexico.)
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To: uncbob
Unfortunately if a successful new party does arise after a few election cycles its members of congress will be corrupted by the big money people

That is the nature of those who run for office ( Jefferson said it best "When a man cast his eye on public office a rottenness begins to set in ")

The only solution is a REAL term limits amendment
3 terms in the House or one in the Senate but not BOTH
36 posted on 08/10/2015 5:46:51 AM PDT by uncbob
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To: Tupelo
Steve Berman like most of the Know Everything branch of the Republican Party is very worried about the survival of the Republican Party. We are worried about the survival of the United States of America. Big difference.

I never said I was worried about the survival of the GOP. If it's gone it should be replaced by something better however. If this election is not won, I fear the GOP has gone the way of Bruce Willis' character in The Sixth Sense but nobody will have told them "I see dead parties."
37 posted on 08/10/2015 5:47:01 AM PDT by lifeofgrace (Follow me on Twitter @lifeofgrace224)
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To: lifeofgrace

Cruz,Carson!


38 posted on 08/10/2015 5:49:13 AM PDT by ballplayer (hvexx NKK c bmytit II iyijjhihhiyyiyiyi it iyiiy II i hi jiihi ty yhiiyihiijhijjyjiyjiiijyuiiijihyii)
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To: lifeofgrace
This guy refutes his own thesis at the end and blames the voters.

Just like the GOPe.

39 posted on 08/10/2015 5:49:43 AM PDT by skeeter
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To: lifeofgrace

When Trump told CNN’s Don Lemon that Fox News’ debate moderator Megyn Kelly “had blood coming out of her eyes. Blood coming out of her…whatever” there’s no way a reasonable person would interpret that to mean anything other than attributing Kelly’s question to her menstrual cycle—after calling Kelly a “bimbo.”


I guess I’m not “reasonable”.

This article is actually pretty bad on a lot of levels. It’s written by a #uniparty hack.


40 posted on 08/10/2015 5:53:34 AM PDT by cuban leaf (The US will not survive the obama presidency. The world may not either.)
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