Trump and his dog whistle

[CathyA]

I hope you're right, oldhat. You make some good points.

[LDAHL]

It would seem the Democrats have a significant opportunity in 2020. Especially if we see another recession between now and then. If they can coalesce around a candidate with general appeal instead of surrendering to their baser urges or the urges of their more radical base, they could do well.

All that will be needed is a little political maturity. If they can avoid breaking up into a half dozen warring factions over identity politics, socialist fantasy and cults of personality, they could do very well.

[jp1]

It' does seem that 2020 is the dem's to lose. As long as the republican-lite wing of the party doesn't try to take back over we should do fine. I mean how hard is it to run against opponents who only seem to be against stuff and for almost nothing. But maybe instead of being against clean water, against clean air, against consumer protections, against affordable health care, against law and order, against fiscal responsibility, against people voting, against brown people from other countries, and against working with our allies to keep the world safe the republicans will actually figure out what they are for. Other than irresponsible tax cuts for the rich and making excuses for any and every thing that Individual 1 has done and a silly wall. But signs that that will happen are not in evidence at this time.

[LDAHL]

I mean how hard is it to run against opponents who only seem to be against stuff and for almost nothing.

Ask Mrs. Clinton.

[jp1]

Ask Mrs. Clinton.

True enough. She’s part of that republican-lite wing of the party that needs to get out of the way.

[LDAHL]

True enough. She’s part of that republican-lite wing of the party that needs to get out of the way.

Yes. Purge them. Ideological purity is the key to electoral success.

[jp1]

If saying i disagree with their outdated nixonian policies means i want to ‘purge’ them then yes. Purge them and lets get on with the task of governing.

[jp1]

Yes. Purge them. Ideological purity is the key to electoral success.

For the record a republican complaoning about litmus tests is hysterical.

[LDAHL]

For the record a republican complaoning about litmus tests is hysterical.

For the record, I've always thought litmus tests to be counterproductive. My preference would be for a GOP big tent that can accommodate traditionalists, social conservatives, constitutionalists, libertarians, the healthier sort of nationalists, neocons, paleocons, and whatever. All this RINO business only detracts from the project of preserving traditional liberties from overweening government power.

Speaking as a partisan, if the party hopeful of creating ever more government power to exalt the collective over the individual wants to treat political debate like a theological dispute, I can only applaud.

I could be wrong, I don't see the present electorate yearning for a new dawn of Democratic Socialism.

[Williamsmith]

As long as gasoline stays somewhere around $2/gal.....the stock market doesn’t crash and we don’t enter another I’ll advise foreign “conflict” without Congressional approval.....they’ll still be talking about impeaching Trump well into his second term of office. Any day now....any day now.