Posted on 06/11/2014 10:16:11 AM PDT by Art in Idaho
WEST CHESTER, Pa—Expecting House Majority Leader Eric Cantor to win his GOP primary in Virginia, I spent Election Day in Pennsylvania—interviewing angry Republicans, Democrats, and independents about the rise of political populism.
I was in the wrong state, but I had the right topic. Cantor's defeat has less to do with immigration reform than it does with an uneven movement that should frighten conservative and liberal political elites to their shallow cores.
Americans see a grim future for themselves, their children and their country. They believe their political leaders are selfish, greedy, and short-sighted—unable and/or unwilling to shield most people from wrenching economic and social change. For many, the Republican Party is becoming too extreme, while the Democratic Party—specifically, President Obama—raised and dashed their hopes for true reform.
Worse of all, the typical American doesn't know how to channel his or her anger. Heaven help Washington if they do.
(Excerpt) Read more at nationaljournal.com ...
"An American Party – what does that mean? For months, I've heard that phrase or similar anti-establishment sentiment from voters in Michigan, Arkansas, South Carolina, and elsewhere—whites and nonwhites; voters who are poor and rich and from the shrinking middle-class; Democrats, Republicans, and independents. "We need American leaders, not Republican and Democratic leaders," a construction workers in Little Rock, Ark., told me last month."
“or many, the Republican Party is becoming too extreme”
again with the talking points.
Positions that Clinton held are now considered extreme right wing.
Populist sounds too close to 'democratic' to my ears.
It’s too late for “Can’t we all just get along?” We need a populist revolt to destroy our effete elite and restore at least some parts of what used to be America.
IMHO, the “revolt” has started, in Virgina with the voting out of Rep. Eric Cantor.
Or better yet.............”conservative/populist”.
The author doesn’t seem to think that Obama is radical. He also starts with the premise that more government is the answer. My less is more, non interventionist stance is a hard sell. Telling Joe Bag O’ Donuts that less government solutions are the answer just doesn’t resonate with most people and is inherently counter intuitive.
Just remember:
Ballot Box —> soap box -—> cartridge box.
They are still missing the mark. But they are getting warmer.
My hope is all people, repubs, dems, indies, all stripes, are starting to ‘get it’ that Washington DC is totally broken and needs a reset. I hope November 4th is a day that will live in infamy.
Can’t come soon enough for me.
I’ve been detecting a populist tsunami on the horizon for several years now.
Problem is they aren’t always a good thing. Sometimes they give you Hitler.
con·ser·va·tism noun \kən-ˈsər-və-ˌti-zəm\
: belief in the value of established and traditional practices in politics and society
: dislike of change or new ideas in a particular area
Full Definition of CONSERVATISM
1 capitalized
a : the principles and policies of a Conservative party
b : the Conservative party
2 a : disposition in politics to preserve what is established
b : a political philosophy based on tradition and social stability, stressing established institutions, and preferring gradual development to abrupt change; specifically : such a philosophy calling for lower taxes, limited government regulation of business and investing, a strong national defense, and individual financial responsibility for personal needs (as retirement income or health-care coverage)
3 : the tendency to prefer an existing or traditional situation to change
Populism
Political program or movement that champions the common person, usually by favourable contrast with an elite. Populism usually combines elements of the left and right, opposing large business and financial interests but also frequently being hostile to established socialist and labour parties. In the U.S. the term was applied to the program of the Populist movement of the 1890s.
Most of Fournier's writings lean left. Sounds like he is seeing the handwriting on the wall.
Well said. If the journalists come to realize they are Americans too, they have families, they have kids and grandchildren that may live in a third world socialist cesspool. . maybe they are starting to think this through. . .
I grew up near Tom Brokaw. I remember him saying, when Obama was elected, and in typical midwesternease, "You know, we really don't know much about this guy (Obama)."
I would like to ask Tom and his cohorts. Do you see what is coming? Do you now understand what Obama meant by "fundamental transformation?" Do you want your grandchildren to deal with socialized medicine, a socialist government, a centralized bloated federal government controlling their everyday lives?
Then, let's see what happens next. Will there be a third party involved? Will a magic "Libertarian" be recruited and funded by the Democrats? Will the RNC back Brat?
Anti-Immigration = Racism, as I am sure the Virgina Media will only be too happy to point out. The district in question is a "safe seat," inhabited by "nice people," Mini-Van Soccer Moms, "reasonable" middle-of-the-road white-breads who are susceptible to phony media peer-pressure ... especially the female variety ... who used the same "reasoning" to vote for a Marxist Mulatto of my acquaintance.
anarchists like that part also.
He stayed just out of conservative statements by this much
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