Posted on 08/29/2015 4:04:49 PM PDT by Red Steel
THE Donald Trump phenomenon is a great gift to pundits because it can be analyzed and criticized in so many different ways. But two shorthands seem particularly useful. First, Trump is essentially using the Republican primary to run a third-party campaign, not a right-wing insurgency. Second, Trumps appeal is oddly like that of Franklin Roosevelt, in the sense that hes a rich, well-connected figure a rich New Yorker, at that whos campaigning as a traitor to his class.
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In certain ways this narrowing can be good for the republic. Elites can have wisdom that populists lack, certain ideas deserve suppression, and multiparty systems are more likely to hand power to extremists or buffoons. (Its a good thing for the country that neither Henry Wallaces effectively pro-Soviet leftism nor George Wallaces segregationist populism outlived their respective third-party bids.)
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it seems like he could actually fight his fellow elites and win.
He wont, of course, but it matters a great deal how he loses. In a healthy two-party system, the G.O.P. would treat Trumps strange success as evidence that the partys basic orientation may need to change substantially, so that it looks less like a tool of moneyed interests and more like a vehicle for middle American discontent.
In an unhealthy system, the kind I suspect we inhabit, the Republicans will find a way to crush Trump without adapting to his message. In which case the pressure the Donald has tapped will continue to build and when it bursts, the G.O.P. as we know it may go with it.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Because you are not vetting, in any sense of the word. More like a little dog running around crazily peeing on fire hydrants, fences, legs... everything, just to let people know you are here. There is no call for it.
Vetting vs. pooping on threads, cannot you tell the difference? Do yourself a favor and don't do a drive by poop, explain. Sincerely, you are not the only one with an opinion. Take the time to explain if you care so much.
Do you go around on threads about Obama telling people they are pooping on them? I guess all liberals should be free from any criticism in your world.
I don't read Obama threads, waste of time. You obviously feed off the discord you cause, so you just carry on by yourself.
This is an accurate characterization of most political debates. Every politician likes to pretend to be "the voice of the people" or at least the voice of a certain large public constituency, while characterizing his opponent as "the voice of the elites" or "the voice of the rich." The fact is, all political conflicts are between different factions of the same elite ruling class, each trying to grab as much wealth and power as possible while pretending that their interests are those of "the people."
The libertarian who wants to cut defense spending, the anti-abortion voter who favors a bigger welfare state, the immigration skeptic who wants to keep Social Security exactly as it is all these voters and many others choose the lesser of two evils every November, because neither partys leadership has any interest in representing their entire worldview.
I've often wondered why libertarian views (socially liberal or moderate, economic laissez-faire) or populist views (socially/culturally conservative, more liberal on fiscal issues) don't really have a political voice, in spite of the fact that many middle-class Americans have libertarian views and many working and lower-middle class Americans tend to have populist views.
The answer seems to be that these views fall between the cracks of the self-serving Democrat/Republican political spectrum. Libertarianism offends the Democratic elites with economic laissez-faire and establishment Republicans on social issues, populists threaten the liberal elite socially and the GOP elite fiscally.
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