The rise of the conservative outsider

[mystery-ak]

November 10, 2021
The rise of the conservative outsider
By J. Allen Cartwright

On an Election Day chock-full of surprising GOP victories around the country, the most stunning upset was trucker Edward Durr's all but assured triumph over long-serving Senate president Stephen Sweeney (D-N.J.) despite having little name recognition or campaign resources.  That New Jersey 3rd District's residents supported a virtual unknown candidate, with no prior experience in public office, over a powerful political veteran is representative of the GOP's recent embrace of non-traditional politicians.  This phenomenon is an intriguing offshoot of the populist, Trumpian iteration of the Republican Party.

Consider the Republicans' nominees for president prior to Trump.  George W. Bush and Mitt Romney come from prominent political dynasties. John McCain, who ran in 2000 and won the nomination in 2008, had served in Congress since 1982, first as a representative and then as a senator.  Even in 2016, the initial frontrunner was another member of the Bush Dynasty: former Florida governor Jeb Bush.

The GOP ultimately decided in that cycle to move in an entirely different direction, nominating businessman and entertainer Donald Trump, who prevailed in the general election.  Trump was everything his predecessors were not: brash, controversial, aggressive, and a self-promoter.  He energized his supporters and detractors alike with polarizing comments.  Perhaps Trump's most endearing quality is that he neither talks nor acts like a typical politician; he speaks his mind, and damn the consequences.  Unlike the conservative establishment, Trump was willing to fight back against the hypocrisy of our cultural institutions, from the NFL to Hollywood to Ivy League universities, even if his tweets were often exasperating.  After crushing electoral defeats in both the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections, it was clear that a new approach was needed, and for many, Trump served as the perfect middle finger to the political establishment.  Regardless of what Trump decides to do in 2024, his 2016 victory has created ripple effects that ensure that his legacy will play a prominent role in the future of the conservative movement through his populist surrogates.

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https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2021/11/the_rise_of_the_conservative_outsider.html

[DefiantMassRINO]

The GOP establishment represents the US Chamber of Commerce, not people.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

By 'conservative', they better name is 'constitutional conservative'.

That is returning to the Founders' principles of government.

They surmised the best leaders of America were not career politicians but average citizens from all ranks of life who desired the best for the country.

[roamer_1]

'Populist' and Conservatism are antithetical.

[Right_in_Virginia]

I've said it dozens of times and I'll say it again:  the label "conservative" is toxic. 

You remember the classic movie line:  "leave the gun, take the cannoilis".  Well. conservatives need to "leave the label, take the principles".

Listen to the closing ten minutes of any Trump rally from the 2020 election season.  He's listing every conservative principle known to humanity --- and 30,000 people at a time are standing and cheering and voting for them.  Some conservatives shudder and purse their lips as they call this "populism".  Trump and his supporters call this "common sense".

If a conservative wants to join the fight, drop the off-putting label and come with us to meet the people where they are, and not waste time trying to drag them to where you think they should be.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Trump was everything his predecessors were not: brash, controversial, aggressive, and a self-promoter.  He energized his supporters and detractors alike with polarizing comments.

And, please, conservatives ---- drop this    preamble from your lexicon.  You're starting to sound like a bunch of soy-boy snowflakes and it's turning you into a tireome joke among the voters you're hoping to attract.

[roamer_1]

I've said it dozens of times and I'll say it again:  the label "conservative" is toxic. 

You remember the classic movie line:  "leave the gun, take the cannoilis".  Well. conservatives need to "leave the label, take the principles".

Change the name of things like liberals are so wont to do? Change the meaning? Not likely. Words mean things. Especially Conservatism. It has always been the case that people who don't like it, or want to cherry pick endeavor to change the name.

Listen to the closing ten minutes of any Trump rally from the 2020 election season.  He's listing every conservative principle known to humanity --- and 30,000 people at a time are standing and cheering and voting for them.  Some conservatives shudder and purse their lips as they call this "populism".  Trump and his supporters call this "common sense".

If a conservative wants to join the fight, drop the off-putting label and come with us to meet the people where they are, and not waste time trying to drag them to where you think they should be.

What you peddle is not Conservatism.

[Absalom]

The GOP establishment represents the US Chamber of Commerce, not people.

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Indeed, the R's emerged mid-19th century as the errand boys for the New England Mercantile Class, who opposed Slavery.
When Industrialism replaced Agrarianism, they simply increased the size of their wallets.
Our only Party of Principle was the Agrarian & Rural Democrats of our South, whose catalyst was the 18th century Parliamentary Whigs of England;
as our Founders Jefferson, Madison & Monroe attest!