This was a very interesting article, thank you for posting.
Goldberg is an often funny writer, though I can’t always agree with him. This article make the massive point that reunification of the Republican party is at huge risk right now.
The way the Republican party wins national elections (when they do), is by having a unified mix of different ideologies that share enough common ground to unite for a common goal.
There are lots of groups in the GOP and any one segment cannot win nationally. The Trump surge seems to be combining the populist section of the Republican party along with the independent types who liked the Perot / Reform Party from the 1990s. Combine that with Republican voters who are setting aside other priorities but are very concerned about illegal immigration and border protection. That’s enough for 40%-55% of the primary/caucus vote and that’s why Trump is winning.
But if Trump wins the nomination but cannot bring the other R groups into the fold this will be a national blowout. Right now, Trump himself occasionally shows a desire to unify and then other times he (or more often a few of his most enthusiastic supporters) are trying the Obama-style “get in their faces” tactic. I’m not sure that’s going to work.
I know the operating thesis of some Trump supporters is that Trumpism itself creates a new coalition of the aforementioned groups plus populist Democrats: Peel off pieces of the union vote, add inner city voters who are economically hurt by illegal immigration, and turn the rust belt into Trump states. I still don’t see the math working unless a whole lot of traditional R voters who are currently adamantly opposed to Trump return.
I can hardly stomach the idea of an Abuela Hillary! presidency, so I hope the situation changes.
Very perceptive comment. My only edit would be that it’s still primary season. One thing that we like about Trump is that he’s a no-holds-barred fighter. After seeing McCain genuflect to Obama (”he’s a good man”), and Romney cow in fear, we’re liking Trump’s pugnacious attitude. Maybe that’s turning off the supporters of other candidates a bit much, so yes, hopefully, once the nomination is secure, he’ll set about the task of mending fences. I gotta think however that the Republican base will be highly motivated to come out and vote against Hillary no matter what Trump does. Four to eight years of that is just unthinkable.