Why Trumpism Will Continue After the Election

[DonViejo]

New Republic: “There’s been much dispute about whether Trumpism is a passing fad or will have staying power. Trump himself is a senior citizen and has, at best, one more presidential run in him. It’s not clear whether any of his children have the political charisma needed to take over the movement, or whether other politicians (Tom Cotton? Ted Cruz?) would be prepared to remake themselves in Trump’s image.”

“But there is ample reason to think that Trumpism will continue to be a powerful force in the Republican Party simply because Stephen Bannon will be around to promote it. Over the last two years, Bannon has proven himself to be a formidable figure on the right, with both the means and the ambition to alter the political landscape.”

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https://politicalwire.com/2016/11/04/trumpism-will-continue-election/

[Grey Lemercier]

1. Tom Cotton seriously concerns (dare I use that phrase) me as a

potential Rethuggie POTUS candidate in 2020.

He also surprisingly said today he will not support the perpetual blocking of any and all votes on a Clinton SCOTUS nominee.

[guillaumeb]

2. Trumpism, or a related type of politics,

will continue as long as economic inequality is a huge problem in this country. Trump is merely the current face of this problem. It could as easily be Ted Cruz or any other moderately skilled actor.

Democrats complain that the GOP does not represent 21st century America, but people who are falling behind and see little prospects for advancement will look for something or someone to blame.

It is up to the Democrats to recognize this legitimate economic anxiety and to respond with something, perhaps a 21st century version of Roosevelt's economic plans, that will give these people hope.

All well and good to say that older GOP voters are dying off, but if the economic inequality continues, the associated anger will also continue.

[Cosmocat]

3. Sorry, economic inequality has very little to do with Trumpism

proven out by statistics that show his supports have in fact been less impacted by it than the average.

People want to legitimize it by making that the primary issue and it isn't.

We really don't have to say what the primary issue is ...

[guillaumeb]

5. I disagree, at least partly.

Drive through small towns where manufacturing has disappeared. Drive through big cities where jobs have disappeared. Certainly racism has always played a large part in US politics, but economic inequality plays a huge part in current conditions. No matter what one might think about the benefits of "free trade", the TPP is unpopular on the right and the left.

Trump is combining the feelings of economic insecurity with the not-always latent racism to produce his movement.

[Cosmocat]

7. What is Trumps support with minorities?

cause economic insecurity most assuredly impacts minorities more than non-minorities.

You can't say economic insecurity is the driving factor when the overwhelming number of people who are most impacted by are not behind him.

Those things that divides them is BY FAR the primary driver or "trumpism."

[guillaumeb]

8. I actually referenced racism twice in my response.

But no one can simply state that racism is the primary driver.

[Cosmocat]

9. Yes

It isnt just racism, it is a broad coalition of all things hateful of others.

And the point stands that you cant pin economic issues as the prime driver when actual studies indicate on average trump supporters are less effected economically than on average.

It is an overwhelmingly cultural movement, trying to make it about economic issues romantices it into something more affirmative than it is.

Its a hit mess of angry, hateful people.

[Eleanors38]

10. I agree with your outlook. tRump's supporters are indeed economically worse off...

when compared to 20+ years ago, and they have been essentially abandoned by both parties. The question of whether or not these mainly white people are not as bad off as blacks, Hispanics and some other minorities matters little to them. They have indeed lost any champion for their concerns.

Sooner or later, hopefully sooner, the Democratic left Must sit down with the Teapartyer/tRumpers and form a new coalition of common concerns. If they are made into a culture war enemy numbering tens of millions, the Democrats will lose a gread opportunity to build a new base.

[guillaumeb]

11. Nice points.

Yes there are Trump supporters who are not poor, but I agree that many voters have been essentially abandoned by both parties.

And if the Democrats cannot offer something to these frustrated Trumpers and Tea Partiers, the gridlock and obstruction will continue. The GOP has demonstrated that it is only looking out for the interests of the wealthy. The Democrats must prove Nader's assessment wrong.

[Eleanors38]

18. Correct. Next question...

[guillaumeb]

19. I hope it is an easy one.

Just as I hope for a large Democratic win tomorrow. The Presidency, 55 plus Senate seats and a 20 seat gain in the House.

[Caliman73]

4. Trumpism is not new

It is simply a new method of promoting right wing populism. I don't understand why people are thinking that this is a new phenomenon. The Klu Klux Klan was marching in massive parades, held sway of the Southern Part of the United States, and even controlled state governments less than 100 years ago.

I think that people like to think that we have, "come a long way" and in certain aspects, we have. Legally, Black people have to be seen as fully human and allowed to participate in society. Women have the right to vote and Federally, have the right to choose what happens to their bodies. People of different ethnic and racial backgrounds can legally marry in all of the states. Gay and Lesbian people have just been recognized for this right as well. So, in ways we have progressed.

In other ways, we have not. The wealthiest and most politically powerful people have always attempted to influence or straight out purchase the government to favor their interests. Right wing populism has always used scapegoating and social issues to motivate people to support policies that went against their own economic survival.

There are certainly wealthy interests who are supporting the Democratic candidate because they understand that they benefit from stability and can resist incremental progress rather than facing a mob of rage, but they are still wiling to back whatever candidate or platform that will allow them to continue to operate for maximum profit. Trumpism is just the latest face on the same problem.

[kwolf68]

6. This

Trumpism HAS been going on...so it stands to reason it won't stop. I just hope the damage they do is minimal.

[Eleanors38]

13. Correct. The only thing that surprises me about this campaign...

is that it didn't come sooner and with a more competent surrogate than tRump.

[Caliman73]

16. Not sure that it could have

In psychodynamic psychology (Freud) there is the ID, Ego, and Superego with the ID being the primal drives and subconscious desires, the Superego being the learned cultural rules and aspirations, and the Ego serving as the buffer that balances the two. Trump is the ID and the Republican party the Ego that has been dancing close to the edge of allowing the ID to just go wild and drive the body of the Republican electorate.

There may be people who are more polished, but they are more likely more restrained and would not be so easily followed. Trump gave the worst elements in society permission to be out and proud. Republicans within the establishment, and even on the Tea Party fringe, were always too afraid openly court the worst element. They do it in spurts, but never in a sustained way like Trump is. I don't see anyone within the current crop of Republicans who could be such a successful tool as Trump has been.

[Eleanors38]

17. You are quite right, esp. considering the entertainment legitimacy tRump has...

A commentator on a PBS show of Texas origins remarked that tRump surely boned up on the feelings, emotions and values which years of GOP success have proven are there, but where standard GOPers were afraid "to go" there, tRump dared to push the buttons. Trump's deficiencies centered on his lack of class, in the most general sense. Even dictators like Stalin and Hitler gave their followers personal role models and some sense of remove. Trump is a frat rat gang-banger.

The GOP FR has cultivated an image of Democrats as being subservient to minorities, fascinated with aberrent life styles, corrupt, and above all weak. Weak so as not to be trusted, weak so as to be bullied constantly with no fear of pushback. Democrats only need look into the eyes of most of tRump's supporters. They genuinely hate us.

[Hortensis]

12. Trumpism will continue as power continues to

equalize from the white majority and white males along all the American people.

But there are other big anxieties. A continued move to genuine prosperity under another 8 years of Democratic leadership will help those, but the scary disruptions of global warming will keep them frightened and riled up, and of course (!) the alarming transition from the tradition of "I'm important and necessary because I work" to "the end of work."

"It's possible to read the history of this country as one long struggle to extend the liberties established in our Constitution to everyone in America." Molly Ivins, of course. Gone but not gone.

[geek tragedy]

15. Because most Republicans are Trumpers. He shares their real values, not the ones

they pretend to have.