Many political observers have called Donald Trump the Frankenstein of the Republican Party; a monster of their own creation that will now inflict great pain and suffering, not only on the villagers, but also on his master.

This, no doubt, is true. But it does not explain Trump’s continuing dominance over the other Republican presidential candidates. To understand what is taking place in today’s Republican world, you have to look at what can only be described as a “ perfect political storm.”

A unique set of circumstances has converged this election cycle the likes of which has not been seen before. This rare combination of powerful forces, many years in the making, has given the GOP what some might classify as its worst nightmare.

Five disparate events have combined to give the Party of Lincoln the “Trump perfect storm.”

1. Government Bashing – During Ronald Reagan’s first inaugural address, he famously said, “Government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.” Trust in government is at its lowest sustained level since Pew started collecting that data in 1958. Republican voters’ hatred of Washington D.C. is so great these days that it spills over to any career politician. Conservatives are tired of being lied to by their representatives. They are flocking toward any non-politician. Besides heavily favoring Trump, Republicans are strongly supporting two other non-pols, Carson and Fiorina.

2. Money And Politics – Many voters today rightly believe their representatives are bought and paid for. While Citizen’s United has exacerbated the influence of money in politics, that has always been the case. Voters are sick of politicians promising them one thing on the campaign trail then doing something else (the bidding of their financial overlords) once in power. Trump brags about how he can’t be bought; how he turns down millions every day. As he keeps reminding his audiences, “I am very, very rich!”

3. Political Correctness – Most mainstream politicians have to resort to “code” or “dog whistles” to get their hateful messages across to their public. Donald Trump has turned all that correctness on its ear. People like him because he tells it like it is. He gives people the “hate on a plate,” if you will, and the rabble is eating it up.

4. Weak Field – With sixteen chances of fielding a non-extreme, electable candidate, one with passion and personality, this field was the best the adults in the GOP could come up with? Jeb, the anointed one, has not turned out to be the Establishment’s savior. While he looked good on paper, he is about as exciting as that … a sheet of paper. He has turned out to be the most disappointing candidate. Trump, on the other hand, has guts, cojones, energy, style and pizzazz. All his mainstream opponents are weak and mealy-mouthed in comparison. They may have the steak, but today’s conservative voter wants sizzle.

5. Dumbing Down – Years of conservative bashing of intellectualism, science, logic, facts and history have taken a toll on the collective intelligence of the American electorate. Add the conservatives’ war on public education and the teaching profession, you have a toxic combination.

The Trump bid for the Republican presidential nomination continues to have legs because of five “perfect storm” factors: he is not a politician, he is independently wealthy, he doesn’t talk like a politician, he has style and the average American today is less factually-informed (and I’m being kind) than those in years past.

The GOP establishment can try to derail the Trump Express, but in a “perfect political storm,” the worst possible result inevitably becomes the reality.

Safe travels, Donald.

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It was inevitable. First the baker would not create a cake for a gay couple because of “deeply held religious beliefs;” then came the wedding photographer; then the pizzeria owner … and now the college student?

Some freshmen at Duke University have objected to an assigned summer reading list that included Fun Home, an award winning, New York Times best-selling novel. The book has been adapted into a Broadway play, winning five Tony awards, including Best Musical. Yes, the book is graphic and contains very personal, challenging and emotional issues of its author. But really?

“I feel as if I would have to compromise my personal Christian moral beliefs to read it,” Brian Grasso wrote on the Duke University Class of 2019 Facebook page.

Now, mind you, Duke University is not some second rate institution of higher learning. It is one of the more selective schools in the country. Last year it accepted only 14% of its applicants. In the most recent U.S. News and World Report survey of the top 100 American universities, it comes in at #8.

One could understand a baker or a photographer not wanting to participate in the celebration of a gay wedding because it offended their “deeply held religious beliefs” … however un-Christian that may be. But students at a select American university complaining about a book on a list that offends their Christian beliefs? As John McEnroe might say, “You can’t be serious!”

Perhaps those offended students should have researched colleges and universities better. Some top schools really do want to expand a student’s mind by subjecting them to material they might otherwise not be exposed to. Perhaps it’s the guidance counselor’s fault? Liberty University might have been a much better fit.

What next, an EMT refusing to give CPR to a gay person because it “offends their deeply held religious beliefs?” Talk about a slippery slope!

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If you listen to both Democrats and Republicans, America is no longer around. It is a lost country and each political party is doing all it can to get our poor little country back.

Republicans firmly believe our great country has been hijacked by “the liberal agenda.” You know, gay rights, universal healthcare, belief in science, a fair justice system, a woman’s right to choose, clean air and water, energy independence, an equitable tax system, separation of church and state, combating climate change, sensible gun regulation … just to name a few of the evil things Democrats stand for.

Democrats on the other hand believe “conservative orthodoxy” is the reason our country has gone missing. The America they came to know and love has been taken over by a new American aristocracy, the military-industrial complex, a radical Supreme Court, the NRA, religious zealots, the blissfully ignorant, racists, misogynists, trickle down (voodoo) economics, defunders of public education, creationists, and Neanderthals.

You might say that the way I’ve described conservative and progressive values is unfairly slanted towards the Democrat viewpoint.

If you are Republican/conservative/right wing/red-neck/traditional/a stuffed shirt/a fossil … you would be right!

Politics has always been a tug of war between change and stasis, progress and regression, advance and retreat, expansion and stagnation.

For those who still care about the subject, history has shown that the arc of the universe firmly points towards the light, not the abyss; that the march of progress never ends.

When scholars study our society many years from now, they will rightfully wonder how any woman, middle-class American, non-millionaire or person over the age of 50 could have voted Republican in 2016 … the year that saw the death of the Grand Old Party of Lincoln.

Moronmajority.com occasionally receives emails from readers. Below is an email received from Aaron Freiser, a loyal follower of this blog. I’ve decided to reprint it in toto.

The moron majority’s worst nightmare. A gay man getting married, stomping on the confederate flag while avoiding housing discrimination in Texas and getting his marital blood test covered by Obamacare. Holy moly, all the states that seceded way back then are forced to allow all these black men and women, who so desire, to take out same sex marriage licenses.

Just think what is going on in the strategic planning centers of right wing groups. What to do!!!

How do they keep fighting the SCOTUS decision without looking like the reactionary jerks that they are?

Huckabee is on the cusp of calling for armed insurrection in the name of God and don’t forget that, as the hurricane season approaches, she (God) will take out her wrath on the USA.

An abortion is refused to a ten-year-old rape victim and Huckabee says “praise the lord” and “two wrongs do not make a right.”

Carson is screaming about abortion after doing research on fetal tissue and comparing Obamacare to Nazism.

Walker says “rescind the 14^th amendment, cut funding to higher education, and of course, build a new NBA arena using public funds.

Bush blames Obama and Clinton for the rise of ISIS when the current chaos in the area is, in reality, a Bush family production. People actually buy this junk? The idea that Bush uses the same brains that W did explains it all and here we go again.  Let’s plan for a Xmas 2016 invasion and make Netanyahu happy,

I get the impression that Paul just wants to get high and would rather be the Guru than the President.

I get the feeling that Cruz would rather be on Saturday Night Live and is always performing.

The Donald needs a volume to himself although, at times, he is the most logical of them all. He would support the Iran deal although he would go back to the table and renegotiate, eliminate unlimited contributions in politics and would increase money for Women’s health care (except Meghan Kelly).

It is amazing that he can insult everyone, spout platitudes about himself, make everything into a real estate deal and the world into a reality show. He has tapped into the anti- Obama anger although his views on immigration will have a negative impact on the overall voting population.

Now to the Iran deal;   “all these schmucks that think that we can walk away and influence something better … how did you get elected in the first place”? In that regard Donald is correct?

All the rest of the GOP candidates are boring and will not be around very long, including Carly, who would probably lay off all federal workers, (remember HP)

Why is it that a religion that leans so heavily on love and acceptance can be hijacked by buffoon like characters whom all happen to be in leadership positions. In fact, some are current or former state governors who are running for president. This does not say much for the people who voted for them or who allow them their positions.

As an aside, I have begun to think that all these red states that have been hit the hardest by recent destructive storms better rethink there current politics. As my hero, Pat Robertson said, 9/11 and Katrina was caused by gay tolerance. It appears the Great Spirit has changed her mind and is indicating her desire for tolerance.

While I applaud the SCOTUS decisions, it is so easy to criticize the individual justices, “ Roberts uses logic to support Obamacare but is illogical when denouncing the same sex marriage decision”. Mummified justice Thomas states that slavery,   in itself, does not diminish your dignity and Scalia compares the decision to a Nazi takeover (putsch). Sometimes you have to wonder if these should be lifetime positions.

In summary, if Washington doesn’t work with Obama, imagine what it would be like with Donald, Bush, Carson, Cruz, etc. I miss Bachman!! Let’s not forget; there is something strange in the air and we could see some surprises. Hmmmmmm! President Dole, Biden?

I cannot wait for Halloween!!

If you have anything you’d like to share (rant, diatribe, etc.), by all means, do so! Of course all submissions are subject to our strict editorial standards, in other words … none!

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In a way, you have to feel sorry for the Republican Party these days. The party of wedge issues is, well, running out of wedges (see “Are Republican ‘Wedge Issues’ Being Whittled Down?) With gay rights no longer being one of their top two hot button issues this election cycle (thanks to the Supremes) what’s left is the tried and true abortion wedge.

The GOP’s current love affair with defunding Planned Parenthood is just a cynical way to put the abortion wedge front and center. In a TV ad running this week in Iowa, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz not only promises to defund Planned Parenthood, but to also prosecute the health care provider!

Now, it is likely you have heard there exists a law banning the use of federal money for abortions. What you might not know is that federal dollars are not used to pay for abortions at Planned Parenthood! Instead, the organization uses money from other sources — private donors, foundations and fees — to fund its abortion services.

You might also be interested in knowing abortions represent only 3% of the total services provided by Planned Parenthood. That is a fact.  But in today’s crazy conservative world, facts don’t matter (see “What Happened To The Belief In Facts?)

Sadly, the truth will not stop right-wing media from promoting the myth that federal money is being used for abortions at Planned Parenthood. They will trumpet this lie in order to prop up Republicans’ attempt to defund the women’s health organization, despite the fact that it’s been unlawful for federal money to pay for abortions for nearly 40 years.

The only Republican presidential candidate to talk about all the other valuable services Planned Parenthood provides women is Donald Trump. Judging from the way nothing he says or does seems to adversely affect his poll numbers, it is actually a smart strategy on Trump’s part to separate himself from all the other defund wacko birds (thanks Sen. McCain.)

The attempt to make the defunding of Planned Parenthood a wedge issue shows the desperation of the GOP. Just like the conservatives were on the wrong side of the gay marriage issue, they are on the wrong side of this fake “defunding of abortion” controversy.

Over fifty percent of voters are women. Many get “non-abortion” services through Planned Parenthood (cancer screenings, contraceptives, HIV testing, etc.). A good number of those women are swing voters. Except for an ever-shrinking Evangelical, conservative base, many (both men and women) will see this stunt for want it is and rightfully abandon this sinking ship that is today’s GOP (unless the “sane” Trump becomes the Republican nominee!)

In a July 29 Washington Post op-ed, Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, noted that “one in five women has relied on Planned Parenthood for health care in her lifetime.”

Republicans just aren’t that good at numbers.

Update (August, 19, 2015) Republicans may need to give some serious thought to making the defunding of Planned Parenthood a 2016 wedge issue. Most Americans support federal funding for the women’s healthcare provider. Click here.

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