For a while I’ve claimed that Donald Trump is the natural conclusion to Republican politics; that his win was the fulfillment of the GOP battle cry “Not Conservative Enough!” I stand by that.
Of course, Roy Moore was going to win the primary. He hit every Conservative, (better known as the Republican Base) note.
– Homosexuality should be illegal? Check.
– “God’s laws are always superior to man’s laws.” Check.
– Suggested that the First Amendment applies only to Christians? Check.
– Doesn’t believe in evolution? Check.
– Claimed 9/11 happened because God was angry at Americans who “legitimize sodomy” and “legitimize abortion.” Check.
-Claimed that there are communities in Illinois and Indiana that are “under Sharia law right now” Check.
There’s more, but you get the gist. That’s what “Conservative Enough” looks like. And not one bit of it has to do with the economy or jobs. Exactly like Trump. Go ahead and talk to Trump supporters. Pay attention to what they say. They will wax lyrical and in great detail about Taking the Knee, Muslims, abortion, god, why climate change and evolution are hoaxes, gay marriage, transgender bathrooms, how white people suffer reverse racism, guns, affirmative action, BLM, etc.. What you won’t hear is any specifics on jobs, the economy, or foreign policy. Why? Because 1.) they don’t understand policy, and 2.) Trump has no policy for them to understand – unless you consider “Rocket man” a policy, which Trump and his supporters do.
I keep reading how Roy Moore’s win is bad for the Republican party, to which I say… Roy Moore’s politics are the base of the Republican party. Trump appealed to what already existed in the GOP. Both Trump and Moore tapped into what already existed. They didn’t create the wave, they rode it.
To be fair to the other guy, I think he believes all the same things. Moore simply has much wider name recognition.
The reason the national party didn’t want him is that he won’t take orders from anyone, so they have a second Ted Cruz on their hands.
Gotta be loud and proud in bigotry, racism and misogyny.
Trump, like Cruz and Moore, can’t be controlled by the party. Then again, the GOP can’t control their base. And all of this – Trump, Moore, Charlottesville, taking the knee, Muslim ban, etc. – is driven by the base. The Republican party has two choices, 1.) embrace the base’s ugliness or, 2.) break the GOP into two parties.
I think the R party breaks. In some ways, it already has. The danger with this is Dems trying to woo “moderate” Rs at the expense of Dem issues. In no way should Dems do this. Mainly because these so-called moderates only have so many options. They can hold the party line and vote for the R (these “moderates” complain and then vote R so they weren’t voting D anyway) or, they can vote D with D issues, or they can not vote – the last two should result in D wins.
We are (try not to be shocked) in total agreement here. But I think the GOP chose option 1 last November. The Republicans I know at church looked physically pained most weeks. I think they’re sick of winning.
OMG! We agree!
I agree, Moore will be a second Ted Cruz, only louder and even more extreme. He’ll also be a major pain to McConnell, disrupt Republican master plans at time and be an embarrassment to the party as a whole. Expect the big money boys that own the party to dislike Moore with a vengeance, he’s a threat to their profits and we can’t have that. But don’t expect the R’s to break apart, in the voice of Toni Tennille: “Greed, greed will keep us together”.
The first amendment in their eyes isn’t just for Christians. But for only White Christians
Sounds about right, Andy.