A 'Beat Trump' Fervor Produces Big Crowds

[babylonsister]

https://politicalwire.com/2019/03/09/a-beat-trump-fervor-produces-big-crowds/

A ‘Beat Trump’ Fervor Produces Big Crowds

March 9, 2019 at 7:17 am EST By Taegan Goddard

New York Times: “As the already large presidential field grows by the week, the enthusiasm that propelled Democrats to a decisive takeover of the House in the midterms is still surging, driving crowd sizes and intensity typically seen in the days before the first caucuses and primaries, not a year ahead of them. Powered by an almost desperate yearning to oust President Trump, and galvanized by the most diverse field in presidential primary history, Democrats are packing into gymnasiums, churches and exhibition halls to hear candidates speak — even if they are far from committed to supporting the candidate they are showing up to see.”

“The populist message many of the candidates have on offer is resonating: From Northern California to Council Bluffs to the Brooklyn streets where Mr. Sanders was raised, voters are delighting in the calls to spurn big donors, the policies to fight wealth inequality and the promises of relief from college debt and steep medical bills.”

[Hortensis]

1. Uhoh, don't like "fervor" and "populists" in the same piece.

Happily, this article has it very wrong about something important.

The blue tsunami last November was NOT a negative, destabilizing populist wave bent on taking down an amorphous "the establishment" but a positive one focused on making change by putting better people in office.

It's not that populist groups and candidates didn't try to whomp up antagonism against "the establishment" to toss out Democrats as well as Republicans, only that the requisite antagonism against Democrats was mostly confined to left and right wing populists, and by far most are on the right. The Trump quote below is classic populist rabblerousing. Most of it would work as well on the left, for the few.

Scientific American: The Personality Trait That Is Ripping America (and the World) Apart: People who are antagonistic resonate more with populist messages

“Our movement is about replacing a failed and corrupt political establishment with a new government controlled by you, the American people. ... The political establishment, that is trying to stop us, is the same group responsible for our disastrous trade deals, massive illegal immigration, and economic and foreign policies that have bled our country dry... The only thing that can stop this corrupt machine is you." — Donald Trump's Argument For America

"First there was the "Me Generation" then "Generation Me." Now we have empirical evidence that we live in what will become known as the "Asshole Age" otherwise known as the Twitter Era..." — Personality Psychologist Brent Roberts on twitter

https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/beautiful-minds/the-personality-trait-that-is-ripping-america-and-the-world-apart/

to that last.

[redstatebluegirl]

2. As long as that "fervor" goes all the way to the ballot box in November 2020.

I can see some of these people taking their toys and going home because their candidate did not win like what happened in 2016. GOTV GOTV.

[Uncle Joe]

3. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread babylonsister.