MRD/Camille - Since the Jacksonian era of the 1830's, the two major political parties have become two very different 'minority constituant coalitions' - each with sometimes widely divergent views of political solutions to common problems. The final positions they take usually reflect their respective, divergent self-interests. For much of the 20th century, the Democrats were the party of the white South, the immigrant North, and labor unions. The Republicans were the party of Wall Street bankers, Main Street merchants, professionals and Sun Belt cowboys. What 'minority' constituents Republicans can claim with certainty today have been reduced to 20 Republican Senators from the white South, and 10 Republican Senators from the almost totally white, non urban parts of the Mountain West. The Republican appeal [ as reflected by the large majority of Democrat governors and mayors] has weakened significantly in the reamaining parts of the nation - especialy the largest urban areas. Both parties reflect their respective subcultures, each with their own distinctly different beliefs. Republicans are increasingly alienated from a much more prevalent multiracial presence than was the case in the past. Increasingly, the Republicans have descended into 'white identity' politics! Their ideology has shrunk, alongside its geography AND demographics. In short, the Republican Party, with which Democrats used to be able to negotiate differences, no longer exists. Our politics are NOT those of the mid 20th century, when 'bipartisanship' was fairly common. ipso facto: Will the parties severe divisions determine the fate of the 'health care reforms' being so fiercely MRD/Camille - Since the Jacksonian era of the 1830's, the two major political parties have become two very different 'minority constituant coalitions' - each with sometimes widely divergent views of political solutions to common problems. The final positions they take usually reflect their respective, divergent self-interests. For much of the 20th century, the Democrats were the party of the white South, the immigrant North, and labor unions. The Republicans were the party of Wall Street bankers, Main Street merchants, professionals and Sun Belt cowboys. What 'minority' constituents Republicans can claim with certainty today have been reduced to 20 Republican Senators from the white South, and 10 Republican Senators from the almost totally white, non urban parts of the Mountain West. The Republican appeal [ as reflected by the large majority of Democrat governors and mayors] has weakened significantly in the reamaining parts of the nation - especialy the largest urban areas. Both parties reflect their respective subcultures, each with their own distinctly different beliefs. Republicans are increasingly alienated from a much more prevalent multiracial presence than was the case in the past. Increasingly, the Republicans have descended into 'white identity' politics! Their ideology has shrunk, alongside its geography AND demographics. In short, the Republican Party, with which Democrats used to be able to negotiate differences, no longer exists. Our politics are NOT those of the mid 20th century, when 'bipartisanship' was fairly common. ipso facto: Will the parties severe divisions determine the fate of the 'health care reforms' being so fiercely MRD/Camille - Since the Jacksonian era of the 1830's, the two major political parties have become two very different 'minority constituant coalitions' - each with sometimes widely divergent views of political solutions to common problems. The final positions they take usually reflect their respective, divergent self-interests. For much of the 20th century, the Democrats were the party of the white South, the immigrant North, and labor unions. The Republicans were the party of Wall Street bankers, Main Street merchants, professionals and Sun Belt cowboys. What 'minority' constituents Republicans can claim with certainty today have been reduced to 20 Republican Senators from the white South, and 10 Republican Senators from the almost totally white, non urban parts of the Mountain West. The Republican appeal [ as reflected by the large majority of Democrat governors and mayors] has weakened significantly in the reamaining parts of the nation - especialy the largest urban areas. Both parties reflect their respective subcultures, each with their own distinctly different beliefs. Republicans are increasingly alienated from a much more prevalent multiracial presence than was the case in the past. Increasingly, the Republicans have descended into 'white identity' politics! Their ideology has shrunk, alongside its geography AND demographics. In short, the Republican Party, with which Democrats used to be able to negotiate differences, no longer exists. Our politics are NOT those of the mid 20th century, when 'bipartisanship' was fairly common. ipso facto: Will the parties severe divisions determine the fate of the 'health care reforms' being so fiercely MRD/Camille - Since the Jacksonian era of the 1830's, the two major political parties have become two very different 'minority constituant coalitions' - each with sometimes widely divergent views of political solutions to common problems. The final positions they take usually reflect their respective, divergent self-interests. For much of the 20th century, the Democrats were the party of the white South, the immigrant North, and labor unions. The Republicans were the party of Wall Street bankers, Main Street merchants, professionals and Sun Belt cowboys. What 'minority' constituents Republicans can claim with certainty today have been reduced to 20 Republican Senators from the white South, and 10 Republican Senators from the almost totally white, non urban parts of the Mountain West. The Republican appeal [ as reflected by the large majority of Democrat governors and mayors] has weakened significantly in the reamaining parts of the nation - especialy the largest urban areas. Both parties reflect their respective subcultures, each with their own distinctly different beliefs. Republicans are increasingly alienated from a much more prevalent multiracial presence than was the case in the past. Increasingly, the Republicans have descended into 'white identity' politics! Their ideology has shrunk, alongside its geography AND demographics. In short, the Republican Party, with which Democrats used to be able to negotiate differences, no longer exists. Our politics are NOT those of the mid 20th century, when 'bipartisanship' was fairly common. ipso facto: Will the parties severe divisions determine the fate of the 'health care reforms' being so fiercely dabated - between a strong majority and a weakened minority party??? Rar [Some demographic wording borrowed from Harold Meyerson]
