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Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction
If the Republicans stand up to the "deplorables", would they ever stand a chance to win again though? As much as some Republicans like to view themselves on a higher ground, they still cater to them for their votes. Worse yet, if the "deplorables" are pushed aside, would the Democrats be greedy enough to lower themselves and absorb them?
It's interesting from a historical perspective. About 150 years ago, the parties were pretty much reversed. The Republicans were the party of snooty northerners and the Democrats were the party or southern plantation owners. Wealthy businessmen in the north were concerned that they couldn't compete with slave states and demanded the Republican party do something about it. Then after the civil war, in order to try and win the heart of the south, the Republicans over-compensated by going full-on "states rights" and the Democrats filled the vacuum in the north.
If the "deplorables" are up for grabs after this, I could totally see another reversal again and our great grandchildren will read about it in the history books. In fact, I can see my great granddaughter's high school essay now... "How 9/11 and and the Invasion of Iraq Eventually Reversed the Poles of the US Political Landscape".
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I think there are some odd collisions on both sides.
The republicans have
Evangelicals whose core issues are Abortion and gay rights
White nationalists - anti trade anti immigration
The Establishment - pro trade, small government, win at all costs
The Establishment republicans don't really fit with the other two groups.
Then on the democratic side you have an even more fractured group
Blue dog democrats - essentially establishment republicans who can stomach the bigoted policies.
Socilaists - Bernie/Warren wing of the party
Blacks - a more socially conservative block but vote based on racial / poverty issues
Latinos - Again socially conservative but vote on immigration / poverty issues
Union workers - Trump as taken hold of this group but generally more socially conservative
Feminist Women - gender issues being their voting priority
So if you look at the Parties fiscally the Blue dog democrats and the establishment republicans are probably pretty close. And the other groups of not for strong disagreements on social policy would fit together economically.
I think there is a world where a third party is created out of this where the Estishment Republicans and Blus dog Dems end up together with the socialists and white nationalists on either side. But for that to be viable the electoral college would need to be eliminated as the rule that the house decides the president if no one reaches 270 forces a two party system.