posted by Dr Winston O'Boogie
In some ways, the Tea Party movement absorbed the Republican party. The traditional Rockefeller GHW Bush Republican is no longer a factor in the party. The vocal far right wing/Evangelical be let c is firmly in control and tolerates no deviation. Trump was not a new angle. He really exemplified this movement in the extreme.
This is actually probably a more apt way of describing it at a certain phase. I was thinking of the foundation of the Tea Party more, which started out as a "fiscal responsibility no matter what your social views are" movement. I was actually encouraged by it and went to a rally. I'd seen some people jump on that were extremist, but I didn't really think that had become the overwhelming sentiment. First speaker at the rally got up and spent at least 20 minutes ranting on abortion, so I left before he was over.
I actually wonder if the more fiscally extreme variety of Democrats don't eventually follow suit. The kind of ground that some of the self-professed socialist-leaning Democrats are gaining makes me think we're well past the days of GHWB and Clinton.
Kinda wish we could throw someone like Barry Goldwater into the mix these days.
posted by Heretic
So will I. Especially with how it looks that, to some degree, the DNC forces are very not in favor of Bernie winning, especially with how two secondary contenders who'd be siphoning votes from Biden (or Bloomberg) abruptly ceasing operations shortly before the biggest day of the primary season. I get the idea that the hierarchy is REALLY trying to push one of the less progressive candidates in front of everyone else under the assumption that the progs will get in line with the person who isn't Trump when the general election comes around.
Which is all well and good...except for how I've noticed from things like social media that the average progressive voice comes off as having the same attitude as Quaker, where you're either in lockstep with them or you're part of the problem/enemy. They feel the establishment shut down Bernie (again) and I can see a lot of them taking the "you want it your way, then show how viable your candidate is with us sitting out" attitude.
I mean, it's hard to tell how big a portion it is, but in practice, it's not unlike what happened to Mittens when the Constitution-driven Republicans withheld their vote in 2012.
Grab the popcorn. It's going to be a glorious, hilarious shit show.