Commenter Alex at Ann Althouse has this to say. He’s not wrong, you know:
Reformatted.
“The GOP establishment, which has long claimed to want inroads with minority voters, simultaneously refuses to consider actually fighting for any of the issues which would make inroads with those voters. I believe that this is because the GOP establishment is largely Northeastern WASP mixed with a larger white-collar managerial class.
Breitbart’s dictum that “politics is downstream from culture” was correct. The GOPs politics is downstream from its culture, which, at least in terms of the party leadership: very restrained, very “dignified,” very managerial and technocratic. They seem to believe that if they’re just slightly better than the Dems, blacks and hispanics will flock to pull the lever for more corporate tax cuts and endless military interventions.
“Trump was a rejection of this in favor of a more blue-collar, scots-irish hillbilly, evangelical, latin machismo mixed-up culture. Pro-US, pro-working man, pro-American Industries. Trump also understood that political theater isn’t bad, it’s necessary. People want to feel like they are part of something bigger than themselves, and political theater helps do that.
MAGA isn’t merely a political slogan, it has become a cultural identifier. There’s no policy position associated with boat parades and American flag bikinis and guerilla-style political pranks, but they do work to help cement your coalition with a group identity, “we’re the fun ones, and we’re not going to apologize for it.” Once that’s done, you can figure out policies that help the group.”
I shared a long-form post from MartyMade earlier today about how those that voted for Trump no longer Trust most institutions that they see have “taken sides” in the Political War (I’m moving past “hyper-partisanship” because we’re well past that point now…Nitzkahon now keeps getting that future prediction on tap that none of us want but…).
The GOP, both at the national level and at the NH level, should be considering the ramifications of both the second paragraph here and 4/x, 7/x, and 11/x through 14/x. If the GOP can see its way past its mission to simply “put THEIR butts into seats” and, instead, change its mission, reach out, and “put those that will FIGHT for “the people above and the Principals that drive them into those seats,” they may well find themselves in a better position long term.
The question is, can they rid themselves of the “cultural” inertia mentioned in paragraph one above?
I see that some do so – but no full-throated roars do I hear calling for it. It’s still just Taxes, Taxes, and Taxes. Forget the “smaller” or “limited Government” schtick – not once, in my lifetime, has the National GOP reduced the size of the Federal Government. ONLY once have I seen it here in NH (thank you, Bill O’Brien and crew).
Action. They want Action. And they aren’t seeing it.
Your move – you may only get one.
(H/T: Ann Althouse via Instapundit)
