dagblog - Comments for "Can Moderate Republicans Survive 2016?"

1) It's not a "block" - it's

PeraclesPlease — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 06:57:03 +0000

In reply to It sure looks like the trend

1) It's not a "block" - it's an undifferentiated group like "other" or "dark data". Some inside it have similar needs and wants and characteristics that might define them as a cohesive group.Otherwise lumping in the Bundys with Seattle millennials makes little sense.

2) "needs" are different from "wants" - the list of demands this campaign season has been a bit from both. A nurses union demanding an end to fracking was one particularly bizarre request. Additionally, "needs" may better indicate a problem to be fixed, not the ideal solution. For example, a higher minimum wage indicates poor people struggling to survive. The higher minimum wage *may* make poor people less likely to get needed entry-level positions and may drive restaurateurs and other small companies out of business, shrinking the job market. So the answer to "higher minimum wage" may actually be housing supports, guaranteed minimum income, and more lower-wage entry jobs to then build up real-life skill sets. As 1 issue.

Additionally, it seems like there's not so much problem with young people "holding their nose for Hillary" after all. Wants weren't so intractable. Surprisingly, a group that's less convinced is Hispanic millennials - in which case their "wants" might actually be "needs" related to hard-core immigration issues and jobs for survival and fear of deportation - despite Hillary's much better outreach to HIspanics over millennials, it appears the issues themselves and personal experiences dampen any concerted approach. Solution? Try even harder perhaps.

Here are some priorities from different groups. Add in Catholics, Jews, southerners, Christian right, women vs. men, LGBT, retired people, college students, small town vs. city dwellers or suburban, etc. and that "Independent "group" doesn't seem so groupish.

3) who exactly hasn't been listening? Here is the map of state legislatures across the country and theoretically who the people trust and expect to be listening. Notice something funny about it? Are the people demanding to be heard a bit confused as to who they're talking to and who will actually give them what they need?

It sure looks like the trend

trkingmomoe — Wed, 26 Oct 2016 04:03:52 +0000

In reply to Look at the prominent

It sure looks like the trend will be a more conservative Democrat Party with the migration of prominent Republicans voting for Clinton. It is still not settled yet as to what the chess board will look like for labor and the lower half of the economy in the near future. Because both parties have not been listening or meeting the needs of that group, has led to a 40% registered Independent voters. They are the biggest voting block. They have woke up to that fact and the push is just starting to come from that direction.

Republicans are the 'Party of

NCD — Wed, 26 Oct 2016 01:29:30 +0000

In reply to Most of the "moderates" will

Republicans are the 'Party of personal responsibility.'

No Republican or group of Republicans will ever admit responsibility for the candidacy, nomination or defeat of Trump.

Do you think that this has

CVille Dem — Wed, 26 Oct 2016 01:07:43 +0000

In reply to They used to. I think many

Do you think that this has any similarities (in the opposite direction) of Gore running away from Clinton, and in 2012 so many Dems running away from Obama? I felt that Gore, and more recently, several in 2012 (particularly Kansas, but others also) were just cowards and were afraid of their own beliefs. They were all wrong. But the teabaggers screwed the mainstream GOPers in a different way.

Progressive Dems had the right idea for the right reasons, and the country was better under Obama but the messaging absolutely sucked.

The TeaParty had the wrong idea for the most selfish and wrong reasons, but they knew how to message the unhappy, angry, and fearful population.

In both cases there was a lack of courage; a lack of vision; a lack of commitment to what really mattered. I truly believe that if Progressives stand tall and proud we can get our goals met and our policies accepted if we simply improve the messaging. Why? Because it is true that everyone benefits by Progressive policies. Even the wealthy, although they don't realize it. Because all communities are better off with well-educated, employed, housed, well-fed people, who plan their families and who have hope for the future.

Not a majority, actually, but

Michael Wolraich — Wed, 26 Oct 2016 00:31:35 +0000

In reply to Most of the "moderates" will

Not a majority, actually, but close enough I suppose. But we're not talking about those folks. We're talking about the Republicans who don't believe that crap.

They used to. I think many

Michael Wolraich — Wed, 26 Oct 2016 00:27:09 +0000

In reply to That's a very valid point.

They used to. I think many realized that they were losing control when the Tea Parties erupted. Remember Christine "I'm not a witch" O'Donnell?

Those that didn't get it then certainly do this year. But they don't have the guts to fight back. They're afraid that if they alienate the base, they'll get crushed in the elections, which is probably true.

Look at the prominent

Michael Wolraich — Wed, 26 Oct 2016 00:22:08 +0000

In reply to Then where will they go?

Look at the prominent Republicans who are voting for Hillary this year. If GOP continues to go populist, more will certainly make their way into the Democratic Party.

And as a result of this migration, I'm sorry to say that the Democrats will probably become more fiscally conservative in the future.

Then where will they go?

CVille Dem — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 23:27:47 +0000

In reply to Danny, I don't think there is

Then where will they go? Certainly not to the Democratic Party, and certainly not into oblivion. Will they rename themselves...oh, I don't know..."The Pussy Party?" If the Trumpettes don't go down in flames (which would be the best possible outcome), what in the heck will moderates do?

Because I see a rising tide of Progressivism despite all the GOP lies and fear-mongering. The far-right should really be busted after this debacle, but who knows? Hate and fear are powerful. I hope President Clinton et al do the right things to get rid of all this BS. The biggest problem is that the resentment that Trumpetts feel cannot be assuaged by reality. They resent anyone (except themselves) getting "free stuff" no matter what.

Most of the "moderates" will

rmrd0000 — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 23:24:49 +0000

In reply to Danny, I don't think there is

Most of the "moderates" will vote for Trump. They will blame the leadership for not having put up a fight against Trump. The truth is that the majority of the Republicans believe that Obama is a Muslim not born United States. The majority believe in massive voter fraud and that voter suppression is justified. The majority want gerrymandering that benefits the GOP. The majority believe that blacks are lazy. Moderate Republicans are rare.

That's a very valid point.

Danny Cardwell — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 23:17:09 +0000

In reply to Danny, I don't think there is

That's a very valid point. They thought they could control the monsters once they were created.