AHC: Republican Party goes far-right earlier

ThePest179

Banned
Is there any way for the Republican Party to become as partisan and radicalized as it is now any earlier than OTL? How long could they conceivably stay this way? How would it affect American politics?
 
It's hard because the GOP's current shape is because of the GOP establishment leading Wallace/Reagan Democrats by the nose for decades until they realized they failed to deliver on anything they promised, including prosperity in the end.
 
Is there any way for the Republican Party to become as partisan and radicalized as it is now any earlier than OTL? How long could they conceivably stay this way? How would it affect American politics?

I think the GOP pulled a little back on it after defeats in the gay marriage arena. Looking at it, the GOP has experienced electoral success at every level of government except presidential since 2010. Far right agendas don't win elections as the 06 and 08 elections show, so I don't believe the far right is driving the show as much as the media portrays it. Just my opinion
 
In '68, if they get Goldwater elected. It would require the same coalition of Southern conservatives and religious fundamentalists. BG (like Reagan in '80-'88) can keep them under control but by the time he steps aside for another party leader, they will have gained ascendency. The '73 Six Day War and oil embargo may be the catalyst to bringing out the nativist sentiments that 9/11 did OTL.

We may see the Great Society (and any spinoff civil rights legislation/movements) strangled in its crib, Social Security and other New Deal programs eliminated/emasculated by about the time of the second oil crisis at the time of the Iranian Revolution in '78-'79. Without post-Watergate ethics and corruption laws, we'll probably see Wisconsin levels of institutionalized corruption by then, too.
 
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