2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumHillary and the Machine - By Ross Douthat
WITH Jeb Bush committed and Hillary Clinton all but crowned, the easiest story to tell about 2016 is a tale of two dynasties, a Bush-Clinton grudge match, a fated collision between the first families of American politics.
But only one party is actively cooperating with that narrative. Clintons inevitability may inspire as much resignation as enthusiasm, but shes currently so far ahead of her rivals that she looks like she could win the Democratic nomination with a William McKinleyesque front porch campaign if her Georgetown mansion had one, that is.
On the Republican side, though, Bushs alleged front-runner status doesnt show up in any polls. Hes locking up money and talent, but his actual numbers are bobbing along in the teens, and his approval ratings are not the kind you associate with a man of destiny. He may win the nomination, but it will be a near-run thing, and nothing like the looming Democratic coronation.
Given the stereotypes about our parties, this is a notable reversal. The Republicans are supposed to be the party of primogeniture, the Democrats of fratricide. The now-ancient Will Rogers joke I belong to no organized political party; Im a Democrat has been recycled for decades for a reason.
more
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/01/opinion/sunday/hillary-and-the-machine.html?ref=opinion
OKNancy
(41,832 posts)"liberals already have most of the welfare state they want"
DonViejo
(60,536 posts)they call themselves "Reform Conservative." From what I've read about this new ideology/movement, it sounds like W's "compassionate conservatism." The fact Jeb Bush is involved in this movement makes me believe Reform Conservatism is, in fact, W's compassionate conservatism recycled.
frazzled
(18,402 posts)Why all this prognostication when there isn't even a race yet?
If this is what we have to look forward to for the next 17 or 18 months, I am going to stick my fingers in my ears and lock myself in a closet. I can't take all this useless jibber jabber and unnecessary pearl clutching.
It's such a distraction from the real issues of the country.
roseBudd
(8,718 posts)is a waste of resources.