I think it’s the Republican Party that created Trumpenstein. And it all started with Newt Gingrich’s strategy of delegitimization. They just didn’t realize the student would become the master.
Replies
Totally! It actually all started when Reagan flipped the party to conservatives bought by oil. The GOP had been the progressive party. I remember when in the mid 90s they thought the party would split. The progressive northern GOP vs the southern new GOP mad at Johnson & his civil rights bill.
jul 15, 2025, 1:45 am • 4 1 • view
I would argue that the true obstructionist strategy and delegitimization of our institutions started with Gingrich a the Gang of Seven.
jul 15, 2025, 2:00 am • 1 0 • view
I'm sorry but the GOP was not the progressive party in the 70's No, they weren't And I know it gets complicated about civil rights in the 60's, but the GOP voted against all of LBJ's Great Society programs And where were Republicans during the New Deal? Maybe the GOP was progressive in 1865?
jul 15, 2025, 1:55 am • 1 0 • view
Perhaps you are one of those purity test people. The GOP did a lot. Nixon, did a lot despite his problems. The EPA. Do you know that everyone who needs dialysis, whether they can pay or not, get it. National Parks were very much a GOP thing. In the past parties were more geographical though.
jul 19, 2025, 11:14 pm • 2 0 • view
There has always been a huge difference between southern and northern Democrats. They were virtually 2 different parties until Johnson started changing that. Complexities of them trying to act as one played hugely into the premature ending of reconstruction!
jul 19, 2025, 11:16 pm • 2 0 • view
The GOP in the south and north were also 2 entirely different things and barely existed in the south until mid 20th century except for black people. Anyone from the south was expected to behave a certain way regardless of party. The migration of so many southerners to the rust belt "southerned" it.
jul 19, 2025, 11:19 pm • 1 0 • view
We have always been 2 different countries from the beginning of Plymouth & Jamestown. Completely different goals. 1 was here to get away from the King, one was here for the King. That parallelism never went away. The problem now is the southerners spread out and we don't have clear lines.
jul 19, 2025, 11:27 pm • 1 0 • view
Sure. And more recently perhaps
jul 15, 2025, 1:47 am • 3 0 • view
Oh, how I wish it was one person per vote vs one dollar per. It’s a long route to make that happen but Citizens United would be a great place to start.
jul 15, 2025, 2:14 am • 2 0 • view
Exactly. It was a long long road here. But there are a few big swings that would help, & Citizens United is one. That won't happen until Dems get control of both houses, the senate by way more than 50/51%. The Dems must stop playing nice. You can tell the truth & be for good, and still be tough.
jul 19, 2025, 11:10 pm • 2 0 • view
Instead most of the old time GOP became independents & democrats. The GOP created the EPA, for example. The GOP used to believe in fiscally responsible but good govt.
jul 15, 2025, 1:51 am • 1 0 • view
There was a plan to deal with fossil carbon in the 70s. We fixed the hole in the ozone. Oil got scared, bought GOP. Primaried those who wouldn’t be bought. Learned to lie. Used creationism as a test case. Used abortion as a distraction. Each decade the lies get crazier.
jul 15, 2025, 1:54 am • 2 1 • view
The Big Beautiful Bill took millions from clean energy & gave it to the oil industry who makes billions in profit.
jul 15, 2025, 1:56 am • 2 1 • view