>>> Of course if he stays as a republican and gets the nomination then that will spell disaster for the whole republican party.
>Don't bet on that.
>People said that about Reagan - he was considered an extreme conservative in those days - and he whipped Carter easily.

Reagan wasn't someone with zero political experience who spewed hate speech either - nor did he tell insane bizarre lies (and then stand by them when caught in the lies). Not really a good comparison in my opinion.

>Both the Tea Party and the Occupy Movement have been co-opted by their parties, but their basic issues remain.

True - but it's the GOP that has the leading fringe-nut-job running for president. I would expect that if he got the nomination that many in the GOP would simply abandon the party all together. If you're a serious politician you really want to be associated with a guy who says some of the crazy crap this guy says? I don't think so...unless of course that's all that's left in the GOP - wackos,,, and right now I do not think that's the case. (although they do seem to have the lead in the nutjob count).


>There are a lot of angry people out there.

Yes - but the anger is not necessarily split along party lines either. However you'll find that the republican's are using hate and fear, whereas the democrats are using hope.