What a difference 6 years makes

[makattak]

As I'm reading political blogs and comments, I've noticed a serious change that was created by our "betters" in Washington.

I remember six years ago. Here let me reference some of the threads:

http://www.armedpolitesociety.com/index.php?topic=26313.0 "Reid and Pelosi's no-tax-cut-now gamble"
http://www.armedpolitesociety.com/index.php?topic=26561.0 "Maybe the Tea Party should choose some better candidates..."
http://www.armedpolitesociety.com/index.php?topic=26607.0 "even the believers not feeling the change"
http://www.armedpolitesociety.com/index.php?topic=26584.0 "Republicans Kind of Suck … Which Is Why They Will Win Huge in November"

...as a flavor of the types of discussion. People were angry, but not without hope. (Amusingly, that last thread I referenced included fears that the Republicans would do exactly what they did in the past 6 years. One prophet was AZRedhawk- but he was actually TOO OPTIMISTIC about what the Republicans would do, while being completely disheartened.)

And today:

http://www.armedpolitesociety.com/index.php?topic=52881.0 "Second presidential debate live blog and discussion"
http://www.armedpolitesociety.com/index.php?topic=52853.0 "Is this the end for Trump?"
http://www.armedpolitesociety.com/index.php?topic=52863.0 "Never let a crisis go to waste"
http://www.armedpolitesociety.com/index.php?topic=52809.0 "Republican Majority Caves Again"

SOME people were discouraged and hopeless 6 years ago, but others (wrongly, it turned out) were still optimistic. Today, more people are actually angry, actually hopeless, discouraged, and defeated in the threads here and elsewhere.

I'm sure that our "betters" in Washington think this is a good thing, but it frightens me. If people think their vote actually doesn't matter, some, probably most, will just give up. A very few will not, but will no longer use voting to enact change. How that occurs is what concerns me.

Our "elites" are too stupid to realize what this means, though. (And too arrogant to consider how it may affect them.)

[Pb]

You are right.

I am a conservative Republican, and I loathe the people that run the Republican party.  I also loathe the supposed "anti-establishment" candidate, Trump, that morons have picked to deliver the country to Hillary.  It is unpleasant to realize 1/2 of Republican primary voters are just as much subject to cult of personality and ignorance as the typical democrat.

[Fly320s]

It is unpleasant to realize 1/2 of Republican primary voters are just as much subject to cult of personality and ignorance as the typical democrat.

Maybe. Or maybe those Republican primary voters are sick of the milquetoast candidates that the Republican party pushes on them every time.

[MechAg94]

Maybe. Or maybe those Republican primary voters are sick of the milquetoast candidates that the Republican party pushes on them every time.

I think you are correct there.  Trump has been anti-PC and it is common knowledge that the establishment types hate him.  That attracts the anti-establishment leaning voters.  I think Cruz could have pulled in those voters, but not with Trump standing there already.  Cruz would have had to be a lot more aggressive I think. 

It reminds me of that Governor Recall vote in California that Arnold Schwarzenegger won.  There was a fairly good conservative candidate already in the race, but Arnold stepped in sucked up all the Repub votes.  I had to look up Tom McClintock's name. 

[Ben]

It reminds me of that Governor Recall vote in California that Arnold Schwarzenegger won.  There was a fairly good conservative candidate already in the race, but Arnold stepped in sucked up all the Repub votes.  I had to look up Tom McClintock's name. 

Excellent example. I would vote Tom McClintock president for life, he's that good. But celebrity notoriety and witty quips sucked up the votes. I highly recommend people Google some of McClintock's speeches, especially regarding the 2nd Amendment and economics.