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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPaul Krugman: “Wingnut welfare” blinded the GOP establishment to the unpopularity of conservatism
Paul Krugman: Wingnut welfare blinded the GOP establishment to the unpopularity of conservatismby Sophia Tesfaye at Salon
http://www.salon.com/2016/02/26/paul_krugman_wingnut_welfare_blinded_the_gop_establishment_to_the_unpopularity_of_conservatism/
"SNIP.............
But Trumps rise reveals that the Republican establishment is delusional about what its own voters are for, Krugman contends. The Republican establishment still seems unable to understand that hardly any of its own voters, let alone the voters it would need to win in the general election, are committed to free-market, small-government ideology.
Trump trumps conservative orthodoxy on the Iraq war, health care coverage, social security and a whole host of other supposedly standard conservative principles, yet still beats even the most well trained conservative cookie-cutter, Ted Cruz. Still, Republicans appear mystified by his popularity in their own party.
Over the past couple of decades becoming a conservative activist has actually been a low-risk, comfortable career choice. Most Republican officeholders hold safe seats, which they can count on keeping if they are sufficiently orthodox. Moreover, if they should stumble, they can fall back on wingnut welfare, the array of positions at right-wing media organizations, think tanks and so on that are always there for loyal spear carriers.
It is this wingnut welfare, the Krungman blames for placing the Republican establishment in a hermetically sealed universe free from real scrutiny and the voice of their own voters.
..............SNIP"
GoneFishin
(5,217 posts)wing media personalities rich and keeps liberal ones under a glass ceiling.
applegrove
(118,743 posts)is no character left in that party.
GoneFishin
(5,217 posts)the prospects for a GOP candidate that had a level head and strong reasoning skills.
Shandris
(3,447 posts)Almost too convenient, ね? It's like he's actually trying to pretend the Bulwark Strategy exists for only a single side.
I wonder why that could be. I'm sure it's nothing. Pure coincidence.
GoneFishin
(5,217 posts)edhopper
(33,604 posts)There are not comparable Think Tanks and institutions on the Left.
What is the Left Heritage Foundation or American Enterprise Inst.?
Shandris
(3,447 posts)...leftist governmental official.
They've all gone on to good jobs like clerk at McDonald's, car wash attendee, and greeter at Longhorn Steakhouse.
edhopper
(33,604 posts)fraudulent work that comes out of those places has no correlation on the left.
As Krugman says,
"There is, by the way, nothing comparable on the Democratic side. Of course theres an establishment, but its much more diffuse, much less lavishly funded, much less insistent on orthodoxy and forgiving of loyal incompetence."
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)trof
(54,256 posts)Gets my vote.
Trajan
(19,089 posts)screw the whole bunch of them ...
Response to Trajan (Reply #6)
CobaltBlue This message was self-deleted by its author.
NutmegYankee
(16,201 posts)underpants
(182,861 posts)They use racism to create support to protect polluters.