It's funny how we demand immigrants "assimilate" but the majority party courts the least-assimilated

[marylandblue]

14. Both parties are made up of coalitions of voters

The coalitions shift over time, but not at an even rate. Looking at an entire party as just a basket of deplorables is a big mistake. Deplorables exist, they always vote Republican, but they are not the entire party. They are ascendant at the moment because Trump is one of them. The current coalition is mostly economic conservatives, social conservatives and the white working class.

IMHO, this coalition has been fraying for some time and is almost ready to split. Trump has held this group together by promising tax cuts for the economic conservatives and stirring up the fears of social conservatives. Economic conservatives don't seem to be so interested in tax cuts anymore and aren't anti-immigrant.

Obama did understand this, but, among other things, the timing wasn't right. Policies that split up the Republican coalition would help build a new Democratic coalition. Health care was a good choice, but it was a costly change at the time. Now people like Obamacare and the Republicans are split on what to do about it because they have no better solution.

Immigration seems to be the biggest issue right now, so it's another place to create a split.

Trying to attract non-voters is great, but they may not vote Democratic and they will always be the least reliable part of any coalition.

I am not sure what you mean by "coddling." We aren't dealing with children and we aren't in power. Winning the House is just a first step back to power, assuming we do win. But a demagogue is still in power. And he will probably have two more years to stir weak-minded well-armed people. There will be more attacks. If you aren't afraid of this, you haven't been paying attention.