General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhy is the GOP so successful with the public? Until we recognize that policy takes a backseat
to loud, bold, pushy people running for office. Lying is very low on the list of reasons not to vote for someone, brain farts are second.
The populace want leaders, decision makers, someone who tells them how they should vote not why they should vote.
They do not want a politico who hurts their brain, policy wonks should be behind the scene. Life is tough enough without having to analyze everything.
I'm afraid the average person would give away their vote to a proxy in a NY minute.
stevenleser
(32,886 posts)at least that is how I feel about it.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)assertion that a Party that lost the WH twice running, can not get a majority in the Senate, is seeing registration fall to historic lows and which gets single digit approval ratings for it's House Members is 'so successful with the public'?
CK_John
(10,005 posts)like Ohio and Texas. Also they have completely checkmated the Congress and showed that Office of President may not be all its cracked up to be.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)been popular in Red States, they always have had lots of people in Congress, they have in the past held both Houses and the WH and more State Houses than they do now. Texas is Texas, can you show me a time when it was different? Not really.
Complete Checkmates? They overturned ACA? DADT was not repealed? Congress is usually a hyper efficient machine of brilliant legislation?
Right now there are 30 States with Republican governors, 20 Democratic. You claim 6 additional States have 'total control' by Republicans.
Right now there are 27 Republican controlled State houses, not 36. 27. 17 are Democratic, 5 are split and one is 'non partisan' ostensibly.
So there are not 36 'or so' states 'controlled totally by the GOP'. 27 Legislatures are GOP majority.
So whatever. You want to claim the GOP is doing great because people (present company excepted) are too stupid to think. I do not agree with any of that.
NRaleighLiberal
(59,940 posts)....and of course, most issues are not black/white but the devil is in the details.
So the authoritarian, with or against us, right wing message is a far easier thing to put out there - and sell, sadly.
tularetom
(23,664 posts)and yell louder than their opponents.
Republicans are often successful because they can demonize the opposition and get the voters to hate and/or fear progressive or liberal candidates.
They have correctly made the assumption that the average American voter is a moron and can be appealed to on the basis of his/her biases and fears.
It doesn't always work of course. Sometimes their candidates are so terrible that the voters reject them despite all the hate mongering - Obama's two presidential opponents are perfect example.
But it works a lot of the time. And the liberal media just eat it up. Compare the air time given to loudmouthed ignorant republcans and thoughtful policy oriented Democrats.
pipoman
(16,038 posts)is made up near equal measure of some form of conservatism and some form of liberalism...similar to the right and left brain thing..
OneGrassRoot
(22,917 posts)It was with the advent of the Moral Majority back in the late 70's that my disdain for everything Republican came into being. The hypocrisy was extraordinary, and it's only grown since then. The right-wing voters are hypocrites, as are the political leaders, and those in power (politics and business; shoot, it's one and the same, pretty much) manipulate it all like a finely-tuned orchestra.
It's not sexy, but if there were a way to put a focus on values and morals -- appealing to the religious BUT NOT BEING RELIGIOUS about it -- and to bring to the fore how social and economic justice and equality IS morality and DOES reflect the values so many purport to embrace, maybe perspectives could be changed.
Fear rules. It's ingrained that someone else -- "the other" -- is coming to take your "stuff" (or your rights)...entitlement is ingrained...so it's a very, very hard sell.
I don't know the answer, but I'm always pondering it, looking for an aha moment that I can act on.
Baitball Blogger
(46,576 posts)that we just don't recognize it. But they do, and their followers just think it's the normal way of American life?
Skidmore
(37,364 posts)commonly called "think tanks" which crank out reams of policy and talking points for ignoramic front men like Gohmert to spout. Dems have made little effort to produce a cohesive message and, when one does come to the forefront, fall apart on follow through and implementation.
deutsey
(20,166 posts)"But deep down you want a Republican to cut your taxes, brutalize criminals, and rule you like a king."
Eleanors38
(18,318 posts)The American public will not long tolerate a "pocket full of mumbles, such are promises," or those who woukd mull them over ad nauseum.
Other bold loudmouths:
LBJ, FDR, Hubert Humphrey, Ann Richards, Barbara Jordan, Eugene V. Debs, etc.
CK_John
(10,005 posts)before her shoutout or do many know her policy positions. She has a great future.