If you think Trump is as bad as it can get, wait until the next presidential election

[Shankapotomus]

If we have gotten to the point where a leading presidential candidate is putting forth the message that Liberals are fixing elections and people are agreeing with him, what do you think those people will call for next if that candidate loses the election?

The next step is a tyrant who demands a suspension of elections (since by their estimation elections can't be trusted) and the use of force to impose their will on the American people.

This is on track to getting out of hand. This is on track to a dictatorship thanks to the "issues" pushed by conservative's and the GOP.

The "issues" they have exploited to get votes and which they are now trying to renounce are leading their voters down the road to paranoia and extremism.

You think Trump is bad? Wait.

[C_U_L8R]

1. We need real debates during Primaries

and during the general election too.
And candidates have no business picking the moderators.
Too much gaming the system going on - let's get
Back to the basics that matter.

[HereSince1628]

7. Our problem isn't debates, it's the winner-take-all nature of government organization

with that the US will never have more than 2 parties and consequently will never have truly representative government.

Representative government should represent the voters who vote. The proportional results should be better reflected in the incorporated outcomes.

Compromise rather than obstruction needs to be the primary mechanism of governing. That's most likely when rules aren't written with absolutist outcomes in mind.

I understand looking at that today it seems impossible. But I think failure to feel represented is a major component of radicalization with respect to dropping out of participation in voting, and in voting for extremes to 'redress' wrongs done by the "opposition".

[Walk away]

2. The GOP has learned it's lesson. Unless he get's hit by a bus, John Kasich will be the 2020 nominee

[Shankapotomus]

3. We can only hope they've learned

Perhaps the politicians have learned but their crazed voters may just steamroll right over them. And that seems to be what is happening with them choosing Trump.

They don't care, they want Liberalism and Democrats eradicated by whatever it takes.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

6. Maybe if the politicians and media reign themselves in a bit...

Start deprogramming the tea partiers gradually. Gradually feed them facts and the truth again. I think there is hope for these people or at least for their children.

[edhopper]

5. he barely won his home state

no the "GOP" and Republican voters are two different things. The less than 25% of people consosting of mostly white, Christian bigots will keep voting for reactionary idiots.
The GOP can't do squat.

[JHB]

8. I don't agree. They haven't learned, and even if they did...

Last edited Thu Aug 11, 2016, 09:44 AM - Edit history (1)

...it's not a ship they can turn on a dime.

They're far too deep into the "we're all that stands between you and the Liberal Apocalypse" strategy to simply switch gears. Even if they try, their voters and outside support apparatus won't go along with it -- witness how much luck they had implementing the 2012 postmortem. They don't control the conservative echo-chamber, for which the "liberal apocalypse" thing isn't just a strategy, it's their business model. It's how they make their money.

They'll tweak the rules to prevent an outsider like The Howler Monkey walking into their snake-oil show and stealing the audience again, but it won't stop Ted Cruz or their other internal snake-oil salesmen.

They might nominate Kasich in 2020, but as to learning their lesson? It's going to take repeated big losses for them to throw their garbage overboard.

[Shankapotomus]

9. Spot on

Only even if the GOP politicians can learn their lesson, their former voters will not be so quick. They've created a monster and now that monster is turning on them.

[lindysalsagal]

11. Agreed. Please see my new post 10. n/t.

[lindysalsagal]

10. What proof have you seen for this? I think they're getting dumber, or moving dem.

At this point, with most independents moving left, and the 99% idea solidifying in the general public, I see it totally differently:

Anyone with basic literacy and critical thinking has left the GOP. Anyone still clinging to the gullible old party is there for a reason: aggressive stupidness.

The way I see it, the gop only serves one function: Giving a home to the clueless.

fRump is just greasing the slippery slope they already created with their mindless greed and bigotry. He helped them get there a little faster than they would have with Jeb or John.

The rnc primaries are now going to be the political equivalent of "the voice," "The bachelor." "Keeping up with the kardashians." "Big Brother."

This is ALL the rw base can digest, so their candidates will be even worse than trump next time.

Basically, fRump is illiterate, and lacks the attention span to learn anything. These people relate to him. He's their boy. He makes them feel smart. This is just the next level down from where schrub left them.

[Odin2005]

4. We are becoming like many developing countries where the losing side...

...never accepts their loss in elections and threatens a civil war.