Monday, May 4, 2009
The late Jack Kemp and the G.O.P.
While he helped to bring the disastrous supply side economic ideas to the Republican party, the late Jack Kemp also sought a "big tent" G.O.P. that would look more like America.
Specter's switch and what it tells us
Senator Arlen Specter’s switch to the Democratic Party (actually his RETURN to the party of his younger days) reveals much about the U.S. political party system. First, As Aldrich reminds us, politicians tend to align with political parties that afford the best chance of getting and staying elected; in that respect Specter’s jettisoning of the Republican Party makes perfect self-interested sense. He was sure to lose the Republican primary in 2010, and changing parties afforded his best chance of political survival.
The Senator’s switch also indicates that the process of sorting, described by Fiorina, continues. The Republicans once had a large stock of liberals, such as Nelson Rockefeller and John Lindsay of New York; Senators William Scranton and Hugh Scott of Pennsylvania; Congressman Bill Steiger of Wisconsin. The Democrats once had numerous conservatives, mainly Southern, but also such northerners as Henry “Scoop” Jackson of Washington. As sorting proceeds, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the G.O.P. to abide liberals and the Democrats conservatives.
The extent to which such sorting or elite polarization continues depends in large part on the success of the Obama administration. Should the President’s policies prove effective, and if he maintains his commanding popularity in the polls, it would not be surprising to see the remaining Republican moderate/liberals Snowe and Collins make the party switch as well. If the Obama administration turns out to be a one-term disaster, either because of failed economic or national security policy, it is not difficult to imagine an emboldened G.O.P. that convinces “Blue Dog Democrats” to “jump ship.”
The Senator’s switch also indicates that the process of sorting, described by Fiorina, continues. The Republicans once had a large stock of liberals, such as Nelson Rockefeller and John Lindsay of New York; Senators William Scranton and Hugh Scott of Pennsylvania; Congressman Bill Steiger of Wisconsin. The Democrats once had numerous conservatives, mainly Southern, but also such northerners as Henry “Scoop” Jackson of Washington. As sorting proceeds, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the G.O.P. to abide liberals and the Democrats conservatives.
The extent to which such sorting or elite polarization continues depends in large part on the success of the Obama administration. Should the President’s policies prove effective, and if he maintains his commanding popularity in the polls, it would not be surprising to see the remaining Republican moderate/liberals Snowe and Collins make the party switch as well. If the Obama administration turns out to be a one-term disaster, either because of failed economic or national security policy, it is not difficult to imagine an emboldened G.O.P. that convinces “Blue Dog Democrats” to “jump ship.”
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