DON’T LOOK NOW BUT THE TWO-PARTY SYSTEM IS IN MELTDOWN MODE
Earlier today we ran an item entitled “First In The South Polling: Looking Beyond Donald Trump’s Big Lead.” Our report was based on some new South Carolina polling conducted for the Market Research Foundation – a group which has published some extremely insightful assessments of the Palmetto State’s electorate.
Anyway, it looks as though we aren’t the only news outlet running a “survey says” story seeking to explain the ongoing Donald Trump phenomenon.
Politico has a big story up seeking to make sense of the Trump coalition, concluding that current polling “shows a coalition that certainly begins with conservative, blue-collar men” but also “now extends to pro-choice Republicans, independents and even registered Democrats unnerved, primarily, by illegal immigration.”
Whoa …
“The uncomfortable truth, for the pundits and fellow Republicans who turned their noses up at Trump, is that his appeal has spread over seven months so far beyond a rabble-rousing, anti-establishment rump to encompass the very elements of the American electorate the GOP has been eager to reach,” reporter Scott Bland wrote. “And while it’s no majority, it’s a bigger group than anything the rest of the fragmented Republican field has galvanized.”
Bland’s report quoted a number of individuals, including an anonymous operative who works for the campaign of one of Trump’s rivals.
Here was his assessment of the situation …
Essentially, the old base of the Democratic Party, non-college whites in the Midwest and Appalachia, have been cut loose and are floating like an iceberg in the middle of the electorate. And they’ve glommed onto the Republicans because it’s a two-party system. But they have no affection for the Republican Party as an institution.
No affection? Try unmitigated contempt – especially as the GOP veers further to the fiscal (and social) left.
“This defines 100 percent where the balance of power in the country is,” one veteran conservative activist told us, referring to the operative’s quote.
Indeed it does …
Basically the “Republican” party is no longer earning votes, it is receiving them from people with nowhere else to go.
In fact, the party actively told a certain subset of its “big tent” to go and take a hike in 2012 … and we did. As a result the GOP has reached the point of diminishing returns. Either it will be remade in the image of the electorate it has forsaken, or it will be torn asunder.
We think that’s a beautiful thing …
“Republicans” lost power in 2006 (and again in 2008) because they were exposed as being nothing other than the “other party of big government.”
When the Tea Party movement restored the GOP to power in 2010, things were supposed to be different … but they weren’t. The scam continued. As a result, Mitt Romney – an establishment “Republican” who should have mopped the floor with Barack Obama – got beat decisively by him. Then, another round of Obama overreaching in his second term led to “Republicans” winning the U.S. Senate, but once more … nothing has changed.
Increasingly, people know it … because they can see it in their daily lives.
Good jobs haven’t come back. Wages are flat. And life is more expensive than ever.
Again, we don’t care what the GOP says it’s going to do to “fix” these problems. We gave up on the party years ago.
And increasingly, we’re not alone …
106 comments
You nailed it.
Trump has moved past the obvious constituency and is now grabbing white collar professionals. I am astounded, daily, at my friends that are supporting Trump. I thought I would be alone!
The pundits keep trying to marginalize Trump but I think he is gaining momentum, not only in the the Republicans party, but also with disaffected Democrats.
The voters are tired of the same-o same-o from both parties.
For sure it is good. I seem to be having more faith in our system. Still a long time yet. I bought a lot of popcorn. Oh, the “Grand American” coon hunting dog show/competition is today and tomorrow. Best time to buy a true blood dog.
Did you name the coon dog “Hillary?”
“Yuuuuuuuge” lol.
“Bottom line? The “Republican” party is no longer earning votes, it is receiving votes from people with nowhere else to go.”
-FITS News
You said a mouthful there. I think the plan now is to make the choices so distasteful that only the full on bots come out to vote. That is how you have a small number of voters choosing against the will of the people.
So what do you think is the will of the people?
Recent polling suggests the MAJORITY of Americans are unhappy with the direction of the country. I can’t speak for all Americans, but if they are unhappy then things aren’t how they want.
That’s been the basic sentiment for 40 years. There have been a few times that Americans felt otherwise, after coming out of a recession during Reagan, the latter part of Clinton’s term and immediately after 9-11 when everyone was united in going after Bin Laden.
I can give you a platform that would be supported by 65% of the people if it were not presented by a partisan. Would you agree that is the will of the people?
How many factions of republicans exist?
It does not matter. I can come up with a platform that would be supported by 60+% of Republicans if presented by a Republican and 60+% of Democrats if presented by a Democrat.
Ok, good for you. Is this a guessing game?
No, there are lots of combinations. But here are a few .
Protect Social Security
Protect Medicare
Decrease taxes on the middle class
Increase taxes on the very wealthy
Return Defense spending to where it was in Clinton last year (or Bush’s first year depending on your audience) plus the rate of inflation.
Rebuild our infrastructure and make it the best in the world.
Make our schools and universities the best in the world.
People should have to have a background check before buying a gun.
There are more but polls show that these basic concepts are supported by a majority of people in each party when they are not told whether it is a Republican or Democratic idea. Essentially its the leadership and those who they work for who oppose these ideas.
You left out the most important one:
******total overhaul of the IRS and institute a combination national sales and flat tax******
As much as I REALLY dislike Cruz (only slightly less than I absolutely abhor Trump) that hooked nosed “birther” is the only one with no BS tax reform in his platform —-which is my personal soapbox!!!!!
I just might vote for that asshole just for that reason and that reason only. I can only stand the looks of him slightly better than that total fake-assed draft dodging yankee SOB Trump……..
No I did not leave that out. That is not supported by a majority of Americans, including me. I have never seen a fair sales or flat tax proposal. Every single proposal would either result in massive deficits or higher taxes for the middle class and lower taxes for the wealthy.
The only fair consumption tax would have to include all goods, services and investments. Otherwise the mega wealthy could easily avoid them. None of the current proposals do.
Cruz’s proposals are a classic example of a tax plan that would cut billions of dollars in taxes on the wealthy. That has to come from somewhere, and since it can’t come from the poor it will come from the middle class.
Flat tax is liked so much because it is a simplistic way of taxing but it is not a good solution, not at all. Forget the poor, it will absolutely guarantee 100% that the middle class will pay way more in taxes. That will break this country if nothing else will. The middle class keep the wheels turning in the economy, the last thing you want is to throw a monkey wrench there.
Republicans advocating tax increases is looked at as witchcraft.
You’re right, your proposal would be supported by a majority of people, but it would never be uttered out of a Republican’s mouth.
I think what you left out is term limits from the local court house to the White House (including Congress and the corresponding State delegations). Also, I am for background checks as long as the government does not keep records of the corresponding gun sales and who owns the guns. The way it is going now, the government is actually trying to control guns being provided as gifts between members of the same family.
As long as “responsible” gun owners are lax in their own control of their own guns, there’s a good reason for the govt to know who bought ’em and where they are. There are NO good reasons to think that the govt wants to keep track of weapons in order to confiscate them.
It should be illegal for a person to give a gun to any member of your family who is not eligible to buy a gun or who has mental health issues. Why should a person who cannot pass a background check, be allowed to have his brother buy the gun and give it to him? Each owner should be responsible for not selling or giving their gun to a person who cannot legally buy a gun.
Too fucking many……….
And for the “purists”; “their” version of Republicanism (whatever that is imagined to be…) is the only one that counts!!!!!
Oh, FitsNews gave up on the GOP?
It’s the other way around.
27% of people identify as GOP voters, down from 35% the end of 2008. By 2020 it will be down to 24% and by 2024 down to under 20%. If it doesn’t completely fall apart by then.
That’s a good one! HaHaHa……By 2024 it won’t matter. The US will have long since swirled down the toilet drain of “hope and change”.
When is THE DON gonna start bashing the unions?
Leagues of union construction wanna know!
He doesn’t have to, Unions are imploding as workers are discovering that they are political hostages paying to support views against their own interests. I’m speaking of the trade unions, not government ones. Anecdotally, I have two friends currently being denied or having benifits reduced. I will bet that was never in the brochures.
Thank Congress and corporations for benefits and pensions being reduced or denied – and not just for unions. They changed the law last year and now multi state pensions plans can be slashed. This has been a snowball rolling downhill since the 80s. The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation can no longer afford to pay all the current and upcoming retirees who have (or could be) forced into their plans due to companies that have gone bankrupt, out of business or thru loopholes have wriggled out of keeping their promises to employees. Congress decided they weren’t bailing out the working man so they changed the 1974 law that protected pensioners.
But the construction unions are booming nationwide.
All they offer is WAR. Good riddence.
The GOP has broken down into two factions. A coalition of religious conservatives who would readily impose religious law on the nation, and people who hate minorities and gays; and a coalition of billionaires and the people who work for them. You would be hard pressed to find a person who self identifies as a Republican who does not fall into one of those categories.
Bingo!
FitsNews might be the only website that doesn’t pound you with Adverts. Not sure if it’s by design, but it’s nice.
No, some of us just want the laws enforced, trade policies to be in the national interest and maybe don’t use our tax dollars to pay for soldiers getting sex change operations.
So, Joe is squarely in group number two. Thanks for sharing.
And you’re a fruitcake, degenerate liberal. This may surprise you but you’re in the small minority.
Obama was elected soundly in 2008 and 2012.
Your bigoted ass is wrong again.
Besides, the GOP in Congress gives Obama whatever he wants anyways.
So, tell me about that small minority again?
Minorties are whipping your ass left and right these days, no wonder they scare you….
Joe’s lucky I can’t run again. Do you know what Barack is cooking? It smells a lot like 2012, watch out Republicans!
I voted for Obama. His second term his true colors came out. Anti white, anti christian, anti American.
This is a real continuing problem? What do you care anyway if someone has a sex change?
don’t use our tax dollars to pay for soldiers getting sex change operations.
Why do I care that the government is endorsing degeneracy? Gee, I don’t know. I guess I’m old fashioned.
I don’t fret about everyone else’s sexuality as long as it is legal. Some people never learn to mind their own business.
Remember that when a dude in a dress is in the girls room with your daughter.
I think the old white pedo is more of a threat than someone who is transgendered.
There is no difference.
Why, tax dollars pay for 500 million a year CEO ‘s to get poles or holes.
Yeah, focus on like 3 people, not like corporate control is the real enemy or anything…its those sex changing soldiers.
Women and gays in combat not only destroys moral, it’s terrible for readiness. Who has less corporate control over them than Trump? Bernie? He’s cucked by government employee unions.
Funny how the democrat Party has become decimated since 2008.
Don’t worry buddy, I got another year left. :D :D :D :D
Spot on.
The democrat Party has been broken into 3 factions-abortion lovers,homo’s and American haters.
That and the engineers, scientists — nearly all liberals … who serve the conservative billionaires … who dupe the poor white conservatives into supporting their corporatist agenda that keeps the poor whites poor.
Bernie.
It’s funny how the engineers/scientists that I know who work in the private sector are mainly conservative while the engineers/scientists that I know who work in the public sector mainly support the democrat party… maybe the only passion for the Democrat party is for job preservation.
Maybe its because if you work in the private sector you will be fired if you don’t say what your employer wants you to say. Those guys fall into the coalition of Billionaires and those who work for them.
Forced attendance at Republican events? Technically it is smaller government since government is merely letting the employers crack the slavemaster’s whip.
yep, sounds like Trey Gowdy and Ted Cruz are top notch Democrats fer sure!!!!!
Gowdy & Cruz’ career of working in the public sector since they became lawyers are great examples of what you are posting!!!!
Thanks for bringing that up!!!!!
I can name 2 right off the bat:
The truly honorable Prez. Bush#1 & Senator Robert Dole…………
That guy John Huntsman comes to mind as well……
Don’t forget the militiamen who just want to mooch off government land because being self sufficient is too hard.
The main problem with that iceberg is that it is solid WHITE. Trump and those iceberg voters could care less whether they offend minorities or, more importantly, whites who have minority freinds and family.
That iceberg approaching the Republican party is causing traditional Republicans to flee. They can’t make nice with traditional Republicans, therefore they can’t get to a majority and win.
Trump will get more black votes than any recent GOP candidate because he promises jobs, not handouts.
Oh yes, I see his rallies are filled to the rafters with those black supporters. Trump will lead with the older, male, angry white vote. Showing up to see the Trump reality show don’t necessarily turn into a votes at the poll. But he probably is a shoo-in to win SC.
More than ((Bernie)) gets.
Oh.So insulting minorities is stating as policy criminal illegal immigration must stop and that we need to put a pause on muslim refugees?
You really have become an Obama lover like Haley.
On the Charlotte news last night they interviewed a white lady who looked to be in her 60s at Trump’s rally. Her hope is that Trump can bring America back to what it was like when she was a little girl. GMAB. The 50s? Yay, life was so great for women and minorities.
Is the iceberg melting? I thought ‘The Don’ didn’t believe in melting icebergs?
I want to see Trump fire people in DC. Lots of people.
Maybe after the GOP loses in 2016, he can do a season of The Apprentice with his fellow failed Republican candidates?
20% of registered dems support Trump.
Source?
http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2016-01-08/new-poll-shows-donald-trump-is-a-real-threat-to-hillary-clinton
Apparently the survey is not particularly credible. More reliable surveys have some cross over, but nowhere near that percent.
Also, it says nothing about “registered’ Democrats. The article refers to “likely Democratic voters”. A difference with distinction.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/01/10/that-survey-showing-20-percent-of-democrats-backing-trump-come-on/
Trump can run against every failure of the last three presidents of both parties because he’s an outsider. Bernie may have a chance against that.
He can’t fire the ones that need to be fired. That’s the job of the US voters.
There might indications this year that voters from BOTH parties migrate to the middle.
For the Democrats, you have a full-blown socialist and Bernie Sanders in the running.
For the Republicans, you have the same ole crew and Donald Trump.
Trump seems to have become the “wild card” that could appeal the the disinterested electorate in the middle in both parties.
If Trump does get the Republican nomination, can he run strong with the established Republicans and pull enough moderate Democrats to be competitive? I think Hillary is in the process of losing some of the middle-of-the-road Democrats. She is just too extreme, and as of today the “email sever” debacle is getting really interesting.
Burning never was nor is a socialist. He is a democratic socialist which means plenty of free markets and very little government ownership of the economy. Basically, the economy we had in the booming late fifties and early 60s.
“Basically, the economy we had in the booming late fifties and early 60s.”
You mean before the birth control pill.
No, before we landed on the moon? *rolls eyes*
Actually, “the pill” was approved by the FDA for general use in 1960..by 1965, over 6 million women were on “the pill”
R&D on “the pill” ramped up big time in the 1950’s which resulted wide use by the early 1960’s………
Dates for the Baby Boom – 1946 – 1964
A lot of economic figures such as GDP or Labor participation rates can be shown to correlate with population growth or number of baby boomers in the 24 – 55 age group. Other factors are European and Asian recovery from WWII and population over 65.
I’m sure you will be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in Economics for discovering that the US economy grew like hell after WWII and shitloads of kids were born (I’m a “boomer” myself…..)
The fact I was pointing out is that you posted that this period was before the birth control pill and you are incorrect.
What you are wrong about is posting that the pill was not around during that time period but in actuality it was as early as 1960 and by 1965 over 6 million women were on the pill.
By the early 60’s (well within the ‘boomer” birthing period) the pill was already a factor.
Huh…???
The economy “boomed” during that period because most of the industrial economies other than ours were recovering from WW2 while ours was simply re-tooled(not bombed out).
Also, that time while more economically “free”, was never filled with free markets as that is an impossibility as long as government controls the medium of exchange(money) and manipulates it to pay the bills and keep the bankers wealthy via fractional reserve and socialization of losses- all hallmarks of socialism.
Ran across this after I posted my comment.
http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2016-01-08/new-poll-shows-donald-trump-is-a-real-threat-to-hillary-clinton
That survey is not credible.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/01/10/that-survey-showing-20-percent-of-democrats-backing-trump-come-on/
Think of it what you like, but there is some difficulty in store for Hillary that could drive some Democrat voters to the other party.
Hillary’s email problems are beginning to mount and they have yet to explore the influence from the State Department for the Clinton Foundation. She could definitely face some legal problems.
If Trump plays the women’s card correctly, there could be a loss of support among women supporting Hillary because of Bill’s past antics with assorted women.
The rift in the democrat party between Sanders and Hillary supporters could help drive some to Trump or a Republican.
Will she get 100% of the Bernie supporters?
Some think not.
I always thought Trump to be more of a Democrat than a Republican. He is a social and cultural liberal, not entirely difficult for some Democrats to accept.
Trump’s stance against illegal immigration from Mexico will play well in the black community. The Democrat Party is not big enough for two favorite minority groups.
It is a tough road for Hillary, she is currently tanking in New Hampshire and Iowa to Bernie, and more bad news ahead from the polls and the Justice Department.
The next nine to ten months will be interesting, get strapped in, we may not be past this point again.
I ain’t voting for that loud-mouthed obnoxious draft-avoiding yankee SOB Trump no matter what!!!!!
You’ve probably seen the video of the bald eagle (you know – the symbol of this great country…) strike out at Trump in rejection and what did Trump do? He coiled away like the fucking coward he really is.
Looks to me like the symbol of the United States of America is trying to tell us something!!!!!!
post-literate america
The Republican party is a total train wreck these days, and Hillary will slaughter whatever fool they nominate.
From prison?She will be indicted in the next 60 days.
—– sounds good to me!
“Joseph diGenova” He’s real fricking credible.
I’d like to see the Republican party take back its party. Cut him loose, the Trump guy. Then turn their attention to helping the remaining constituents with real issues that are affecting them in the real world. I’d like to see the Republican party reaching out to those in need on their side as they used to do. Not out of charity or welfare. But because it’s the right thing to do.
Unemployment is only the lack of the government to properly use its human capital, which includes everyone. Everyone has a place in society. It’s not really socialism. It’s smart business. They teach it in Economics. Specialization. Not for profit but for the sake of just basic survival in common pursuit for domestic tranquility. As prescribed by the Constitution of the United States of America.
But until they wake up and get over themselves, I’ll continue to support those who represent a diverse humanity and promote a more peaceful society. I have children to think about and I won’t be around much longer.
You’d like to see Republicans reaching out to those in need “on their side.” This points to one of the fundamental problems facing America right now. So many people are concerned with what side they’re on. Aren’t we all in this together? When there are people in need, shouldn’t we try to figure out the cause and then see what’s to be done about it? Determining what “side” someone is on before deciding whether or not to help them doesn’t seem like the right thing to do.
Dear Commenters:
You guys are an increasingly sad lot. Get hobbies, or even a job.
You are wasting your time here, talking at each other, and accomplishing nothing.
That is all.
Mom
Oh Mom, it’s raining and I have nothing to do.
Trump seems to pretty much represent the modern GOP base. Not its owners, but its base. Go for it. See if you can get these howlers to vote.
Gov. Haley & Sen. Graham live on C-Span now. 11:30a.m. 1/9/16
I missed them. I see Ryan, Scott, Rubio, Kasich and some protestors.
Wages are stagnant because Reagan won! This is what winner-take-all capitalism looks like: a fee billionaires, a technical ellite that earns $250K-$2M (go Silicon Valley) and the rest “losers”. That IS the “free” market. It turns into a low demand economy because 1 billionaire buys 10 cars whereas 1000 millionaires (do the math) buy 2000 cars.
You want wages back, you want Bernie, not Trump!
Going the way of the Whigs!
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Lindsey Graham told me how to vote last week. He was quoted as saying he could support anyone but Trump and Cruz. That means I vote for Trump and hope he picks Cruz as VP. Thanks Grahamnasty. LOL
Therapists Confirm Trump’s Narcissistic Personality Disorder
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/stop-walking-eggshells/201511/therapists-confirm-trumps-narcissistic-personality-disorder
‘non-college whites in appalachia’ – why not just say ‘whiny cracker losers’?
Not sure that anyone, including Trump himself, has thought past “winning.” Who would be his running mate? Who would serve in his cabinet? Who would he nominate to the SCOTUS? And once he realizes that the limits on his ability to hire and fire will take some of the magic out of his wand, will he last a full four years?