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Rising populism has GOP on its toes
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by smkovalinsky | November 21, 2009 at 07:00 pm
50 views | 4 Recommendations | 3 comments
It began in August, with the Town Hall meetings , although surely it had begun before this, with books and TV and radio pundits and blogs.
A rising conservative populism, though, became most apparent in the movement known as the Tea Party movement.
Now, the GOP has cause to wonder if this movement has become another of its opponents, and what this will mean in 2012.
A rising conservative populism, though, became most apparent in the movement known as the Tea Party movement.
Now, the GOP has cause to wonder if this movement has become another of its opponents, and what this will mean in 2012.
Via Oprah, Facebook and a bus trip that resembled a campaign swing more than a book tour, Sarah Palinreappeared on the national stage last week, minus her governorship and running-mate status, but with a new role as principled “rogue” to add to her previous credits as plain-spoken patriot and hockey mom.
Whatever else it said about America, her return brought into focus a big question for Republicans as they watched the intense reactions she generated: To what extent should they try to energize their electoral prospects by hitching themselves to the powerful but volatile strain of populism — characterized by anti-elitism and deep skepticism of government — that Ms. Palin has come to embody?
The renewed potency of populist conservatism has been on display since the summer, when health care town hall meetings became a forum for frustrated voters, angry atPresident Obama and Congressional Democrats over the issue of government expansion, and also at Republicans suspected of not fighting aggressively enough.
But even as conservatives exult in Mr. Obama’s declining job approval ratings, the drive for ideological purity inspired by the populists of the right has left many elected Republicans nervous and concerned.
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Recommendations (4)
YankeeJim
Arlington, Virginia, United States
Hugh Askew
Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (3)
at 03:27 on November 22nd, 2009
This is what happens when the republicans start taking policy advice from the left.
at 05:16 on November 22nd, 2009
Hugh, there needs to be a workable and working balance between two-parties in the American government system. That has broken down because the parties have splintered: Far right, middle, far left. Leadership has tended to be at the more vocal poles, leaving the rest to much around in the middle as a disenfranchised lot.
at 05:17 on November 22nd, 2009
Hugh, there needs to be a workable and working balance between two-parties in the American government system. That has broken down because the parties have splintered: Far right, middle, far left. Leadership has tended to be at the more vocal poles, leaving the rest to much around in the middle as a disenfranchised lot.