What Went Down In The New York Primaries

Does trying to classify Trump’s ideology ever get old? Not for me! I was most struck by reading a chapter in John Gerring’s book, “Party Ideologies in America, 1828-1996,” about the Republicans before 1928, which he identifies as a “nationalist” period – trade protection as a move to bolster business and protect American industry. This was the party of William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt – projecting national strength was tied up with a very specific view of masculinity. Aversion to “social disorder” was also a defining characteristic. This bygone form of nationalism was the best description I’ve seen of Trump. And yet, as we just saw in his victory address, this is still a candidacy with strong populist notes. He’s made a talking point of the idea that a legitimate party nominee should be one who wins the most votes – or at least some votes. Trump’s packed arenas contain much of the white-hot language that old-school Republicans worried about. At least until Theodore Roosevelt, also a New Yorker, left the party to appeal directly to voters on his own.