[Jim Noble]

The Huckaboom demonstrates, as did the Carter victory in 1976, that a lot of the Christian “conservatives” are economic and foreign policy liberals.

[LowCountryJoe]

...the historic appeal to those voters of populist and left-of-center economic arguments may regain their potency. If those blue-collar, rural, culturally and religiously conservative and (in part) lower-middle-class voters switch their electoral loyalty back to the left-of-center economic-argument-based coalition, that will be the end of a majority right-of-center coalition.

This is already happening. This very forum has its elements who disdain trade, limited government, they'll spout class warfare, and bang the drums of constant negativity, insisting that our standard of living is getting worse. I find this development sad beyond belief.

[PGalt]

In order to form a more perfect union, we will unite to defeat any anti-truth, anti-freedom, anti-individual, anti-life candidate.

Run Hillaryous Run!

[donna]

plus gain the support of at least 40 percent of the growing Hispanic vote. As the white percentage of the country moves from 75 percent of the country (in 2000) toward 50 percent by 2050, there won't be enough white people to make the 1980s-era Reagan coalition a majority

Why talk about anything else? Here is our fate.

Illegal aliens, who have no right to vote, will steal America and turn it into Mexico.

By the way Tony, it has nothing to do with WHITE people you racist. It has to due with a culture that used to believe in obeying the law and illegal newcomers who want what they can get from a big American government.

[EternalVigilance]

Whither the Conservative Coalition?

Over a cliff, if the gatekeepers in the Republican Party are followed in this election.

They're fat shepherds, with skinny sheep.

[RightWhale]

Whither the Conservative Coalition

Is there such a thing, or is one on the way, and how would we know?

[djreece]

The Republicans desperately need to figure out how to speak to the public’s anxiety over the economy rather than continue the tactic of recent elections of preaching to people that the “economy is good on paper.” That matters little if people aren’t experiencing it. Reagan was able to identify and empathize with people’s fears (e.g. his line about the difference between a recession and a depression), but then he was able to convince them that conservative economic policies were the key to improving voters’ individual balance sheets. But for conservatives to continue to scream at voters that they are stupid or being manipulated by the media if they are uncertain of their economic future is to face certain defeat.

[Fledermaus]

If those blue-collar, rural, culturally and religiously conservative and (in part) lower-middle-class voters switch their electoral loyalty back to the left-of-center economic-argument-based coalition, that will be the end of a majority right-of-center coalition.

I've never understood why these people still believe the lies of the left when it comes to government "solutions". One, they have always failed. Two, why do they think the government can help and at what cost? Higher taxes they'll soon pay once they are "helped" and then move upward?

I don't get it.

[ex-snook]

Reagan democrats have not found a long-term home in the GOP coalition. They were not a good fit with the WASP, Wall Street and Country Club orientation. Previously their anti-communism and social issues views allied them with the GOP. Currently economic, health care and war are moving them back to the Democrat column.