How an Outsider President Killed a Party

[Timber Rattler]

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/06/history-campaign-politics-zachary-taylor-killed-whigs-political-party-213935

It was summer, and a major U.S. political party had just chosen an inexperienced, unqualified, loutish, wealthy outsider with ambiguous party loyalties to be its presidential nominee. Some party luminaries thought he would help them win the general election. But many of the faithful were furious and mystified: How could their party compromise its ideals to such a degree?

Sound like 2016? This happened a century and a half ago.

Many have called Donald Trump’s unexpected takeover of a major political party unprecedented; but it’s not. A similar scenario unfolded in 1848, when General Zachary Taylor, a roughhewn career soldier who had never even voted in a presidential election, conquered the Whig Party.

A look back at what happened that year is eye-opening—and offers warnings for those on both sides of the aisle. Democrats quick to dismiss Trump should beware: Taylor parlayed his outsider appeal to defeat Lewis Cass, an experienced former Cabinet secretary and senator. But Republicans should beware, too: Taylor is often ranked as one of the worst presidents in U.S. history—and, more seriously, the Whig Party never recovered from his victory. In fact, just a few years after Taylor was elected under the Whig banner, the party dissolved—undermined by the divisions that caused Taylor’s nomination in the first place, and also by the loss of faith that followed it.

(Excerpt)

[Ghost Bear]

Thank you for the post. I've been seeing lots of parallels between our current political situation and that of the lead-up to the Civil War, but I was having trouble deciding how far along the timeline we were. The year 1848 is earlier than I thought, but the parallels between that election and this one are indeed striking.

[truth_seeker]

Over 165 years ago, and he served for two years. To draw profound meanings from that, compared to present?

I would suggest looking internally to the FACTS. Most of what Trump has based his campaign on, were positions asked for by Republicans, but routinely not delivered.

And do not overlook the GOP has lost the popular vote in 5 of the last 6 Presidential elections, and with a beginning field of 18 candidates looked ridiculous and undisciplined etc.

The performance of the GOP once it appeared Trump might prevail, has looked ridiculous, for example the recent Bill Kristol/French proposal fiasco.

[sinkspur]

.

The performance of the GOP once it appeared Trump might prevail, has looked ridiculous, for example the recent Bill Kristol/French proposal fiasco.

And the refusal to denounce the racist Trump is the biggest fiasco of all.

t_s, you're better than this.