It was no coincidence that the Republican Party - the Grand Old Party(GOP) - emerged as the embryonic nation moved its focus away from domestic expansion to industrial and commercial development(1854). Since then this broad political institution has promoted the ideas of a strong military, free market enterprise, and social conservatism (against abortion, same sex marriage, tighter gun laws). In other words, this movement sees individual liberty through the lens of commerce but understands collective responsibility - society- via a belief in traditional values that have emanated from their interpretation of Christian doctrine. This heady socio-political mixture of God and Gold has attracted a complex mixture of people from big and small business, high finance, senior military as well as millions of blue collar workers that have all 'recognised' what the United States stands for: A clear common belief/commitment that a strong united New World benefits the Rest of the World.
This understanding has helped etch the personalities and policies of Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan onto the minds and into the history books of this proud nation. This particular sense of patriotic republicanism many argue is/was the key ingredient in the nation-state's rapid advancements, achievements and subsequent pre-eminence. Moreover, entwined into this 'story of success' was and is a often unspoken understanding tacitly held that the nation's focus on material advancement whilst preserving and protecting society from the 'evils of others' was achieved thanks to an overriding White Anglo-Saxon Protestant presence and influence. This racial and religious dimension had largely sat quietly within this party for many years as segregation dictated societal norms, however, concerns began to grow within the party over the changing nature of what it was to be American as liberal reforms throughout the 1960's seemed to gain traction. The subsequent backlash to this liberal impulse seemed to stall social progress during the 80's as an icon of American Conservatism Reagan sat in the Oval Office. However, ironically the President's myopic strategy of ignoring Black America brought about his failure to recognise that the changing impressions of US society was now being led by another ethnic group - Hispanics. (Currently Black America is roughly 13% while Hispanics are around 17% of a population of 321 million).
The sudden appearance and growing development of the Tea Party - an offshoot of the Republican Party - throughout the 1990's with its more extreme right wing views over issues such as immigration and identity illustrated to those watching that not all was well within mainstream Republicanism, however, the arrival of the Neo Cons and G W Bush's presidency as we swung into the new century once again turned the spotlight away from one of citizenship towards more pressing matters of national security. But the pendulum of priorities soon swung back again as a visual reminder of societal change duly arrived at the White House - Obama. Since then the Republican party hierarchy who used to be dominated by an eastern establishment of corporate, pro business pragmatists have been increasingly squeezed by the growing influence of anti establishment candidates. The subsequent poor performance of Tea Party favourites Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachman was more than offset by the failure of conservative moderates such as McCain and Romney to gain the Presidency. Hence, this 'collective' ineffectiveness has just further exacerbated the growing frustrations and divisions within the GOP.
As we waltzed into the present campaign open warfare broke-out as Eric Cantor the House Republican leader and House Speaker John Boehner were both forced from office by Tea Party pressure and accusations of being too moderate. All that this new conservative schism now needed was a leader they could rally behind and then along came two - Trump and Cruz. Consequently, the moderate conservative candidates Marco Rubio, John Kasich, Jeb Bush and Chris Christie were all mowed down by the verbal outrage and anger that has been crudely but effectively articulated by Trump and Cruz as an extended representation of this continuing swing to the right by 'traditional Americans' that feel increasingly threatened and scared by societal change. Can the Republican Party in essence contain this civil war ? Surely not, no more than Cruz or Trump can be given the keys to the White House. The days of conservative moderation now seem a distant memory and with it a party nomination that is electable. Hence, the once proud GOP that gave the nation-state Lincoln, T Roosevelt, and Eisenhower has now been effectively buried by the bile that Rush Limbaugh and Glen Beck finds entertaining and Trump and Cruz finds informative.
Next week - The one party state that is now America !
KK
This understanding has helped etch the personalities and policies of Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan onto the minds and into the history books of this proud nation. This particular sense of patriotic republicanism many argue is/was the key ingredient in the nation-state's rapid advancements, achievements and subsequent pre-eminence. Moreover, entwined into this 'story of success' was and is a often unspoken understanding tacitly held that the nation's focus on material advancement whilst preserving and protecting society from the 'evils of others' was achieved thanks to an overriding White Anglo-Saxon Protestant presence and influence. This racial and religious dimension had largely sat quietly within this party for many years as segregation dictated societal norms, however, concerns began to grow within the party over the changing nature of what it was to be American as liberal reforms throughout the 1960's seemed to gain traction. The subsequent backlash to this liberal impulse seemed to stall social progress during the 80's as an icon of American Conservatism Reagan sat in the Oval Office. However, ironically the President's myopic strategy of ignoring Black America brought about his failure to recognise that the changing impressions of US society was now being led by another ethnic group - Hispanics. (Currently Black America is roughly 13% while Hispanics are around 17% of a population of 321 million).
The sudden appearance and growing development of the Tea Party - an offshoot of the Republican Party - throughout the 1990's with its more extreme right wing views over issues such as immigration and identity illustrated to those watching that not all was well within mainstream Republicanism, however, the arrival of the Neo Cons and G W Bush's presidency as we swung into the new century once again turned the spotlight away from one of citizenship towards more pressing matters of national security. But the pendulum of priorities soon swung back again as a visual reminder of societal change duly arrived at the White House - Obama. Since then the Republican party hierarchy who used to be dominated by an eastern establishment of corporate, pro business pragmatists have been increasingly squeezed by the growing influence of anti establishment candidates. The subsequent poor performance of Tea Party favourites Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachman was more than offset by the failure of conservative moderates such as McCain and Romney to gain the Presidency. Hence, this 'collective' ineffectiveness has just further exacerbated the growing frustrations and divisions within the GOP.
As we waltzed into the present campaign open warfare broke-out as Eric Cantor the House Republican leader and House Speaker John Boehner were both forced from office by Tea Party pressure and accusations of being too moderate. All that this new conservative schism now needed was a leader they could rally behind and then along came two - Trump and Cruz. Consequently, the moderate conservative candidates Marco Rubio, John Kasich, Jeb Bush and Chris Christie were all mowed down by the verbal outrage and anger that has been crudely but effectively articulated by Trump and Cruz as an extended representation of this continuing swing to the right by 'traditional Americans' that feel increasingly threatened and scared by societal change. Can the Republican Party in essence contain this civil war ? Surely not, no more than Cruz or Trump can be given the keys to the White House. The days of conservative moderation now seem a distant memory and with it a party nomination that is electable. Hence, the once proud GOP that gave the nation-state Lincoln, T Roosevelt, and Eisenhower has now been effectively buried by the bile that Rush Limbaugh and Glen Beck finds entertaining and Trump and Cruz finds informative.
Next week - The one party state that is now America !
KK
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