I just had an mini-epiphanic experience here...
Hinduism promotes five castes: the top two are the Brahmin, the priestly caste, and the Kshatriya, the warrior caste.
All Democrat leaders see themselves as Brahmin, those who should rule because they are supposed to rule, and whose rulings should never be questioned. They have their Kshatriyas in the MSM and activist groups.
The GOPe likes the Brahmin role as well, but because the GOPe is not conservative in the Reagan sense, it is uncomfortable with its own Kshatriyas, who are conservative; this is why it feels more at home with the Dems than with the base.
The base, therefore, is turning from the Brahmins to the Kshatriyas, those who were willing to be warriors for conservative issues. The first generation Kshatriyas have been either martyred by the opposition (Sarah Palin, Susan O'Donnell, Michele Bachmann, Scott Walker) or co-opted by the Brahmin (Marco Rubio, Kelly Ayotte, Trey Gowdy).
The second generation GOP Kshatriya are learning from the mistakes made by the first, which is what warriors do; this is why the usual battle tactics aren't working against Trump and Cruz. If we're lucky, the MSM and activist groups will not be able to change their tactics in time.
My one concern is that at some point in the middle of primary season there will be three remaining candidates, one Brahmin (probably Rubio) and two Kshatriyas (Trump and Cruz), with the latter splitting the base vote and the former getting the nomination: that is how McCain split Romney and Huckabee in 2008, and Romney split Gingrich and Santorum in 2012.
Walker belongs in the co-opted group, imho
I learned in Homer’s WW2 threads of both your theologically correct views and also your profound knowledge of the Japanese, but now I see you also know Hinduism and politics. Frankly, I’m getting a kick out of it—you’re enlightening to read. But don’t become self-conscious....