LOUISVILLE, Ky. — If the durability of Donald Trump’s presidential candidacy has taken the political world by surprise, the sources of his electoral strength are no mystery. And the support he’s winning reflects a crisis not only for the Republican and conservative coalitions, but also for the political system as a whole. Let it be […]
E.J. Dionne Jr.
Posted inOp-Eds
Clinton dynasty still lives while Bush’s fades
WASHINGTON — The Clinton political dynasty is still alive. The Bush dynasty has been routed. Their contrasting fates, to this point at least, tell us much about our two parties, the nature of this year’s presidential election, and the dueling legacies themselves. The Republican and Democratic contests are very different, beginning with the fact that […]
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Posted inOp-Eds, sj-web
Will GOP support smart programs?
WASHINGTON — For the first time since the modern budget process was initiated more than 40 years ago, the Republican chairs of the Senate and House Budget committees announced that they would not invite the president’s budget director to testify. What seems like an act of disrespect for President Obama may also have reflected frustration […]
Posted inOp-Eds
Results point to voters’ displeasure
WASHINGTON — The conservatism that has dominated the Republican Party for decades is in crisis. Capitalism has lost its allure among a large swath of young Americans. And the Clinton and Bush brands are yesterday’s products in desperate need of renovation. These are, admittedly, large conclusions to draw from one contest in one small New […]
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GOP governors gang up on Rubio at debate
GOFFSTOWN, N.H. — There was a time when Republican governors were not all that different from Democratic governors. The politicians from both parties who ran the states tended to be a pragmatic lot. They were pro-business because they wanted their people to have jobs but they championed government spending in the areas that contribute to […]
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Voters muddled about our country’s future
URBANDALE, Iowa — Politics sometimes moves with lightning speed and in a clear direction. The rise of the New Deal coalition in the midst of the Great Depression is an example of how fast things can change. But often, currents of anxiety and rage swirl below the surface. Citizens, stunned by large events and torn […]
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Iowa a test for evangelical Christians
KEOSAUQUA, Iowa — “Awaken the body of Christ that we might pull back from this abyss.” When Sen. Ted Cruz closed his prayerful plea to a crowd of about 150 people here late Tuesday night, the “abyss” he had in mind was something larger than the prospect of a Donald Trump victory in Monday’s caucuses. […]
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Hillary must find a brand of inspiration
WASHINGTON — It has never been easy to be Hillary Clinton. Evidence for that proposition is already in the minds of many who are reading this: What do you mean Hillary hasn’t had it easy? Would she even be in this race if she hadn’t been married to Bill Clinton? Would she have been elected […]
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GOP exploit voters’ turn toward anger
WASHINGTON — The fixed smile on Donald Trump’s face as Sarah Palin unleashed her free-association, who-knows-what-she’ll-say-next harangue endorsing him on Tuesday sent its own message. “How long do I have to stand here?” it seemed to say. But of all the developments in the astonishing Republican presidential contest, this moment told us what we need […]
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Kasich trys connecting with working class
WASHINGTON — Two facts stand out about the constituency that has rallied to Donald Trump. His supporters are angry, and they come overwhelmingly from the less affluent reaches of the Republican Party. Ohio Gov. John Kasich is betting on the aspirations of these voters over their anger. For the angry vote, there is a lot […]