[SUSSA]

It depends on who you are calling a populist. Hughie Long was a populist and Jim Hightower is a populist. Both support big intrusive government and handouts. They would be as bad as what we have now. IMHO :)

[headsonpikes]

You're right about historical populist's pandering.

OTOH, a charismatic, Perot-type(contra Huey Long-type) young politician might be able to leapfrog the vested interests to the Presidency.

Now that the Constitution is tattered, the Republic is susceptible to all kinds of procedural mischief, engendered by faction.

Perhaps only a populist can reach over the corrupted institutions to the People.