It's clear that the Democrats are in serious trouble nationally. We have a cipher VP and a semi-vegetable president. There's no younger generation deep bench of credible candidate material. Yet it doesn't consistently translate into Republican strength at the state and local level, as witness this past Tuesday's results that simply repea…
It's clear that the Democrats are in serious trouble nationally. We have a cipher VP and a semi-vegetable president. There's no younger generation deep bench of credible candidate material. Yet it doesn't consistently translate into Republican strength at the state and local level, as witness this past Tuesday's results that simply repeat what happened in 2022. Abortion in particular, and the fringe crazies in general (as with the gun cult), are impossible stumbling blocks to getting a Republican majority, which requires locking up much of the suburban vote. It's like in Israel: a political culture held hostage by fringe forces most people hate. Haley and DeSantis seem aware of the problem and the gap between their convictions and those of the voters -- Reagan got this as well -- none of the other candidates really gets it.
And MAGA-fication in general is a problem. It repels more people than it attracts. It's a larger number minus a smaller number, a net loser for the Republicans.
Not that I don't wish the Asian-American candidates well. Maybe they can stimulate a return of the moderate or liberal Republican tradition or at least an awareness of the difference between personal convictions and what the voters are ready to give a mandate for.
It's clear that the Democrats are in serious trouble nationally. We have a cipher VP and a semi-vegetable president. There's no younger generation deep bench of credible candidate material. Yet it doesn't consistently translate into Republican strength at the state and local level, as witness this past Tuesday's results that simply repeat what happened in 2022. Abortion in particular, and the fringe crazies in general (as with the gun cult), are impossible stumbling blocks to getting a Republican majority, which requires locking up much of the suburban vote. It's like in Israel: a political culture held hostage by fringe forces most people hate. Haley and DeSantis seem aware of the problem and the gap between their convictions and those of the voters -- Reagan got this as well -- none of the other candidates really gets it.
And MAGA-fication in general is a problem. It repels more people than it attracts. It's a larger number minus a smaller number, a net loser for the Republicans.
Not that I don't wish the Asian-American candidates well. Maybe they can stimulate a return of the moderate or liberal Republican tradition or at least an awareness of the difference between personal convictions and what the voters are ready to give a mandate for.