That was a very sensible and realistic bit of analysis. Nevertheless having over 30% of the Republican base embace a dangerous cult about MAGA is no small deal. A person that can get the loyalty of that many Republican voters is only a small step away from winning Republican endorsement in any primary. That gives those foolish, indeed dangerous extremists a serious amount of power in the running of the country. The only cheering thing about it is that in many ways it is a cult. Cults tend not to survive the death (literal or metaphorical) of their founder.
Great analysis. It certainly seems like the Republican elite have increasingly gone off the "deep end" and that was obvious in 2016 when there were a lot of horrible Republicans (including Trump) running for President and the more reasonable Republicans were dropping out of the race. My husband, an independent, had made that observation. He has voted for both parties over the years while I've been a lifelong Democrat who rarely votes Republican for anything. But from 2016 forward, he has voted Democrat since the Republicans have gone far right. Republican elites have espoused the same type of rhetoric that Marge Schott, the former Cincinnati Reds owner, had espoused. And she was forced to sell the team as a result.
Great article, Michael. And kind of, somewhat reassuring. But I’ll take the low end and agree that ‘only’ 21 or 22 Million American people of voting age are MAGA in their heart and head. If true, I don’t find it reassuring. And if 21 million Americans had suddenly starting sporting a Third Eye popping out of their forehead, that would make me nervous as well. But if the ‘eye thing’ happened, at least scientists would look for an explanation and try to cure the vexing ‘3rd eye’ problem. Ten years in, no one has found a cure or an explanation for the MAGA problem, except of course for the explanation we don’t want to really admit; there is something deeply wrong with one in ten American adults.
Terrific analysis. Republicans do seem more inclined to be single issue voters and less inclined to vote against their peers’ opinions. Democrats seem more inclined to vote for many issues or people or ideas. A conservative perspective is more a Republican perspective and a liberal perspective is more a Democratic one. Personalities play a big part, too. Did the Republicans select a female candidate before the Democrats? The Democrats have not rejected an overtly religious candidate and wouldn’t be comfortable with an overtly secular one. How well do Republicans actually govern, huh? Maybe the two party system hasn’t been so good at weeding out the worst or bringing in the better of us. But elections have a way of clearing the dust enough for us to see the crap we are standing in and make the necessary efforts to clean up the mess so we can make another mess. It’s hard for people to change but we change all the time.
That was a very sensible and realistic bit of analysis. Nevertheless having over 30% of the Republican base embace a dangerous cult about MAGA is no small deal. A person that can get the loyalty of that many Republican voters is only a small step away from winning Republican endorsement in any primary. That gives those foolish, indeed dangerous extremists a serious amount of power in the running of the country. The only cheering thing about it is that in many ways it is a cult. Cults tend not to survive the death (literal or metaphorical) of their founder.
Great analysis. It certainly seems like the Republican elite have increasingly gone off the "deep end" and that was obvious in 2016 when there were a lot of horrible Republicans (including Trump) running for President and the more reasonable Republicans were dropping out of the race. My husband, an independent, had made that observation. He has voted for both parties over the years while I've been a lifelong Democrat who rarely votes Republican for anything. But from 2016 forward, he has voted Democrat since the Republicans have gone far right. Republican elites have espoused the same type of rhetoric that Marge Schott, the former Cincinnati Reds owner, had espoused. And she was forced to sell the team as a result.
Great article, Michael. And kind of, somewhat reassuring. But I’ll take the low end and agree that ‘only’ 21 or 22 Million American people of voting age are MAGA in their heart and head. If true, I don’t find it reassuring. And if 21 million Americans had suddenly starting sporting a Third Eye popping out of their forehead, that would make me nervous as well. But if the ‘eye thing’ happened, at least scientists would look for an explanation and try to cure the vexing ‘3rd eye’ problem. Ten years in, no one has found a cure or an explanation for the MAGA problem, except of course for the explanation we don’t want to really admit; there is something deeply wrong with one in ten American adults.
Terrific analysis. Republicans do seem more inclined to be single issue voters and less inclined to vote against their peers’ opinions. Democrats seem more inclined to vote for many issues or people or ideas. A conservative perspective is more a Republican perspective and a liberal perspective is more a Democratic one. Personalities play a big part, too. Did the Republicans select a female candidate before the Democrats? The Democrats have not rejected an overtly religious candidate and wouldn’t be comfortable with an overtly secular one. How well do Republicans actually govern, huh? Maybe the two party system hasn’t been so good at weeding out the worst or bringing in the better of us. But elections have a way of clearing the dust enough for us to see the crap we are standing in and make the necessary efforts to clean up the mess so we can make another mess. It’s hard for people to change but we change all the time.