To the extend that “conservative principles” have come to equal “free trade and open borders” the voters are rejecting them.
Yep. You get it as do most voters in the rust belt which is key to a GOP win. They still don’t. An absolute floor for the Democrats is 45% = the number of easily duped minority voters and palefaced parasites + the senior element who thinks they are still voting for FDR or JFK. Add the richest 2% who really won’t be affected either way and some of whom actually fear a revitalized middle class and you’ve got a very narrow margin for error . . . and no path to 270 electoral votes for anyone but the Democrats in a three-way race.
To the extent that “conservative principles” have come to equal “free trade and open borders” the voters are rejecting them.
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That’s the crux of it right there.
The citizens want to retain the rule of law and their country and the GOP is determined that we will not.