Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Buoyant Republicans

The Wall Street Journal reports the results of a poll looking at political polarization. As you might guess, it is more extreme than previously, but is far from recent. It dates back to Bill Clinton. My favorite quote from the piece:
Mr. Trump’s election has brought a sharp mood swing among Republicans. In August 2014, 88% of Republicans said they weren’t confident that life for their children’s generation would be better than their own, a gloomy view of a central element of the American dream. Eight months into the Trump presidency, just 46% of Republicans say they lack confidence in their children’s future—a 42-point swing that is more dramatic than improvements in the economy would seem to justify.
No kidding. Making America Great Again was always about more than improving the economy. It was about ending our Europe-lite policy thrust, a refusal to settle for mediocre half-measures, the dewussification of our foreign and domestic policy.

The image raised at COTTonLINE is this: under Obama the U.S. was like Gulliver, a giant tied down by Lilliputian threads. Under Trump, the giant is breaking free of those restraints. The Lilliputian Democrats are aghast while Republicans, who root for the giant, are elated and buoyant.

Go for it, giant! Grow America! Be great again!