Beginning in 2009 with the rise of the American Tea Party, and continuing throughout European elections that have seen folks like Marine Le Pen’s National Front party, and Nigel Farage’s UK Independence Party make massive gains in elections, the world has been witnessing a rise in anti-establishment politics unlike any seen since at least the 1960s. Today, we are witnessing the continuation of that anti-establishment furor in the soaring poll number of Donald Trump, and the surprisingly high poll numbers for self-described Socialist, Bernie Sanders.
Pat Buchanan writes of the current situation:
If there is one lesson to be taken from this run-up year to the presidential campaign of 2016, it is that a huge and growing segment of the nation does not want what the establishment of either party has on offer.
And as insurgent parties spring up all over Europe, and the two-party system disintegrates there, the Europeanization of American politics may be at hand.
Pat also lays out that after the first GOP primary debate, voters were no-more interested in the establishment favored candidates than they had been beforehand, despite what Pat describes as a desperate effort by Fox News to take down Donald Trump.
According to an NBC poll, taken in the 48 hours after Cleveland, Trump has held first place and has risen a point to 23 percent. Sen. Ted Cruz had vaulted into second place with 13 percent.
Dr. Ben Carson had risen to No. 3 with 11 percent. Carly Fiorina, who was not in the top 10 a week ago, is now fourth with 9 percent.
Together, these four outsiders can claim the support of well over half of all Republicans, while the beltway favorites — Marco Rubio at No. 5, Jeb Bush at No. 6 and Scott Walker at No. 7 — can together claim less Republican support than Donald Trump alone.
Who won the debate? According to the NBC poll, it was Carson, Trump and Cruz in that order.
Why are these insurgent candidates finding such success? Marine Le Pen offers Frenchmen a “France for the French,” theme, looking to end burdensome and dangerous immigration policies that have allowed radical Muslim elements into France and stretched thin the public coffers. Farage offers a similar package of reforms in England. Donald Trump also rails against illegal immigration. All three counter the establishment view of multiculturalism and endless forgiveness of illegal immigration. Voters on both sides of the Atlantic seem to be responding to those themes.
