The Party of Lincoln has reaped what it sowed: All these years of anti-government, anti-immigrant, anti-establishment and often hateful, venomous rhetoric and dog whistling attacks on President Barack Obama have produced that strategy’s uber-candidate, someone who embraces all of it without the niceties — or even intellectual consistencies.
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Jeb, Trump and the New Republican Playbook
Posted February 22nd, 2016 at 1:51 pm (UTC-5)
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On Saturday night in South Carolina, Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump appeared to cement his status as the party’s frontrunner – and, perhaps more importantly, his dream of becoming its nominee. And then, a notable domino came crashing down. After Trump landed a decisive win in the state’s primary, Jeb Bush, the GOP’s presumed establishment candidate, dropped out after finishing in fourth place. In an instant the Bush political dynasty was history, and a long chapter in American politics closed. How? How could a campaign bankrolled by $150 million with such name recognition fail? How could a billionaire businessman who has never held elected office, whose campaign depends on Twitter, personal insults, public anger and charisma have unseated such a powerful family? Pundits and experts alike point to many factors and missteps by Jeb – among them, underestimating Trump’s appeal. Ultimately, what the outcome seems to say is that the rules of the game to the White House have changed.
Inside Out: Which Republican Party Wins in New Hampshire?
Posted February 9th, 2016 at 3:03 pm (UTC-5)
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Trump. Cruz. Marco. Jeb. Carson, Christie, Carly and Kasich.
Eight Republican presidential hopefuls are on the ballot today in New Hampshire, the country’s first primary vote in the race for the White House. The winner may well shape the Republican Party’s collective identity crisis.
This time last year, the party establishment had seemingly chosen its man and message. Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, a centrist Republican, the son of one former president and brother of another, was positioned to be the Republicans’ choice to shape the post-Obama era. But something happened that no one predicted. The party was crashed by two outsiders: businessman Donald Trump and Tea Party leader Ted Cruz. The United States was in very bad shape, they proclaimed, and drastic measures were needed.
That message found traction and Bush’s star faded. Today, establishment Republicans are said to be panicking, particularly over Trump’s unshakeable frontrunner status. By tomorrow, the path ahead for America’s conservative party may be set in stone.
It’s Only Iowa
Posted February 2nd, 2016 at 3:45 pm (UTC-5)
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The results of the Iowa caucuses matter because they are the very first votes cast in this year’s presidential race. Then again, political experts remind us over and over and over again that there is still a LONG way to go: 49 other nominating contests must take place before either party has a nominee that must then fight it out to win the White House. So, yes, Iowa is just a peculiar snapshot, but the way it all unfolded confirms the nature of this campaign: anti-establishment ideas have traction… and, yes, Donald Trump remains unpredictable: his concession speech to opponent Ted Cruz was low-key and dignified.
The Most Pragmatic Way to Fix American Democracy
Posted January 29th, 2016 at 1:01 pm (UTC-5)
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Inequality has reached levels last seen in the era of the “robber barons” in the 1890s. The only truly pragmatic way of reversing this state of affairs is through a “political revolution” that mobilizes millions of Americans.
A Two-way Race by March
Posted January 27th, 2016 at 5:35 pm (UTC-5)
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…[W]hen it comes down to two candidates, many voters who may not have voted for Trump or Cruz as their first choice will have to choose the lesser of these two “evils.” Ironically … the nomination could go to the one who is most broadly acceptable — or least widely unacceptable.
Trump is the Teflon Donald
Posted January 15th, 2016 at 2:08 pm (UTC-5)
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He also is Teflon-coated because he doesn’t have a Washington record to defend, and no one is willing to challenge his business record, which politely put, is complicated.
For Clinton, 2016 Is Looking Too Much Like 2008
Posted January 15th, 2016 at 1:40 pm (UTC-5)
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…[As] the first nominating contest approaches, Clinton seems to be caught in a political time warp, buffeted by the same headwinds that felled her 2008 campaign as she seeks to blunt the rise of Sen. Bernie Sanders.
The Real GOP Divide
Posted November 2nd, 2015 at 8:32 am (UTC-5)
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It’s often cast, accurately enough, as a choice between “outsiders” and “insiders.” But another party division may be more profound — between Republicans who still view the country’s future hopefully and those deeply gloomy about its prospects.
Bush Looks to Curtail Federal Power
Posted September 29th, 2015 at 10:09 am (UTC-5)
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Unlike his father, former President George H. W. Bush, and his brother, Jeb Bush is a small government conservative.
Republicans Must Deal Wisely With Trump
Posted July 23rd, 2015 at 9:23 am (UTC-5)
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Republican elites need to come grips with the real Trump threat and not make things worse. Which is what they have been doing so far.
Once a Republican Favorite, Gov. Chris Christie Joins 2016 Race with Political Baggage
Posted July 1st, 2015 at 3:06 pm (UTC-5)
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New Jersey’s tough-talking Chris Christie is the 14th Republican to seek the nomination to be the party’s presidential candidate. Despite an uphill battle to regain his former status near the top of the heap, Christie opened his campaign in his usual blunt style. The cure for Washington’s dysfunction, he said, is his willingness to tackle the most difficult issues facing Americans.
Pols And Polls Say The Same Thing: Jeb Bush Is a Weak Front-runner
Posted June 15th, 2015 at 2:52 pm (UTC-5)
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Money isn’t everything, and it certainly isn’t the only thing in presidential campaigns… Bush’s problem is that he doesn’t hold a large lead.
Poor Judgment
Posted June 10th, 2015 at 4:29 pm (UTC-5)
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An attack on Rubio’s personal spending is as likely to help the Florida senator as hurt him. Rubio is a former working-class kid, and his money problems are as much a chance to connect—he understands how hard it is to be broke, or navigate boom and bust times—as they are a burden.
In the Republican Primary: Donald Trump for President
What every pundit’s platitudes missed was simple: they failed to recognize that Mr. Trump’s success is the result of one thing—optimism. Mr. Trump was tapping into the pent-up desire of millions of voters to make America great again.