while I get and in many ways agree with the sentiment, it is truthful to assert that there was a time when if the Republican Party lost elections, they would actually change their platform and try to win back voters. As American popular culture has shifted more and more to the left, however, now that it’s pretty much unthinkable for the electoral map of 1984 to happen again, and they see it as an existential threat.
Absolutely. Anyone under 30-40 pretty much only knows the GOP as the party of “Obama is a MMUSL1M!1!!!”, but like, it was the Nixon Administration that created the EPA. It’s also difficult because much of the economic issues we’ve experienced from 2008 onwards are because of the Clinton Administration, so the “both parties are the same” argument can be pretty compelling. You could definitely make the argument that in the 90s, they were, but Beau of the Fifth Column on YouTube put it well:
You walk into a bar to find an ATM while on a road trip with your very visibly-queer friend. The bar is full of MAGA hats. Do you feel comfortable leaving your friend out front while you look for the ATM, and maybe take a leak? Now imagine the bar is full of “Vote Blue no Matter Who” shirts.
while I get and in many ways agree with the sentiment, it is truthful to assert that there was a time when if the Republican Party lost elections, they would actually change their platform and try to win back voters. As American popular culture has shifted more and more to the left, however, now that it’s pretty much unthinkable for the electoral map of 1984 to happen again, and they see it as an existential threat.
You make a good point. I just wasn’t alive to see that level of self reflection from the Rebublican party.
Absolutely. Anyone under 30-40 pretty much only knows the GOP as the party of “Obama is a MMUSL1M!1!!!”, but like, it was the Nixon Administration that created the EPA. It’s also difficult because much of the economic issues we’ve experienced from 2008 onwards are because of the Clinton Administration, so the “both parties are the same” argument can be pretty compelling. You could definitely make the argument that in the 90s, they were, but Beau of the Fifth Column on YouTube put it well:
You walk into a bar to find an ATM while on a road trip with your very visibly-queer friend. The bar is full of MAGA hats. Do you feel comfortable leaving your friend out front while you look for the ATM, and maybe take a leak? Now imagine the bar is full of “Vote Blue no Matter Who” shirts.