# Bannon's War: The Fight for the GOP **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 21, 2017, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannons-war-the-fight-for-the-gop/799437 "2017-10-21T13:40:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannons-war-the-fight-for-the-gop/799437/61 "2017-11-10T21:49:50Z")
"Your best fit is… **Opportunity Democrats** along with 12% of the public. Democratic-leaning and financially comfortable, Opportunity Democrats have liberal attitudes on most issues including the environment, immigration and homosexuality. They stand out from other Democratic groups in their strong belief that hard work is enough for most people to get ahead and for being somewhat less likely to see structural barriers facing blacks and women. They are supportive of U.S. engagement abroad and involvement in global markets." Sounds about right for me. The questions that led to the underlined phrases above are the only ones I _really_ struggled with and would have liked more nuanced options. I _do_ think there are structural barriers for blacks and women. They can be overcome, but not by everybody. FWIW, I try to do my part from the “privileged side” to reduce those barriers. It’s a long-term fight, but every little bit helps. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannons-war-the-fight-for-the-gop/799437/62 "2017-11-10T23:20:11Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > This is about as surprising as my finding out that I’m a Solid Liberal. I got Opportunity Democrat. I’ll accept that, but count me among those who have an issue with the binary choices. A good example is around whether we should go into debt for the safety net. I said yes, but my option was only “no.” In fact, I don’t think we should go into debt for the safety net, but should reprioritize spending and/or taxation to pay for it. I happen to believe that we’ve shown over many decades what our spending minimums and priorities are, and given the we are among the lowest taxed advanced economies on the planet, we should suck it up and pay more. And I think the more should fall mostly on the upper middle class and above. Given that my (well, our) AGI has us at the top end of the 28% bracket, I feel it’s a reasonable stance. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2017, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannons-war-the-fight-for-the-gop/799437/63 "2017-11-11T01:58:00Z")
I’m Canadian and so a stinkin’ commie by American standards. I got Solid Liberal. Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2017, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannons-war-the-fight-for-the-gop/799437/64 "2017-11-11T02:05:42Z")
You didn’t apologize. Your assertion of Canadianity is suspect. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2017, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannons-war-the-fight-for-the-gop/799437/65 "2017-11-11T02:20:33Z")
It sure is, eh. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2017, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannons-war-the-fight-for-the-gop/799437/66 "2017-11-11T18:01:26Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > You didn’t apologize. Your assertion of Canadianity is suspect. I’m sorry that I forgot to apologize. Can I buy back your forgiveness with Timmie’s and maple syrup? Or perhaps some genuine Saskatchewan seal skin boots? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannons-war-the-fight-for-the-gop/799437/67 "2017-11-13T16:24:36Z")
I gotta say, I don’t think this is going to be as effective as MR. Bannon hopes:[Bannon appeals to Jews to join war on GOP establishment](https://apnews.com/a595dc0d5a644cb79596ef2b33b1a37a/Bannon-appeals-to-Jews-to-join-war-on-GOP-establishment): > [@](#): > > Steve Bannon appealed to the Zionist Organization of America to “work as partners” in his crusade against GOP leaders he blames for blocking Trump’s agenda. Bannon delivered the fiery address at the organization’s annual awards dinner in New York, with several current and former Trump staffers in attendance. > > “We’re leading an insurgency movement against the Republican establishment,” Bannon charged, blaming his adversaries in the establishment for playing games. > > “That’s how you get the Iran deal,” he continued. “That’s how we still allow the American government to finance people that have blood on their hands of innocent Jewish civilians.” > [@](#): > > The Zionist Organization of America has largely embraced Bannon, while other Jewish leaders have raised concerns about him and the news outlet he runs, Breitbart News, which is popular among some white supremacists, anti-Semites and others who identify with the so-called alt-right movement. > [@](#): > > “President Trump needs our back,” he declared. “We’re a nation at war. This war is only going to be won if we bind together and work as partners.” Aye, that sounds like a great idea: “Hey Jews, come help the neo-Nazis achieve their goals!” :rolleyes: I mean, there’s no chance they’d turn on the Jews after they had power, right? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannons-war-the-fight-for-the-gop/799437/68 "2017-11-13T19:07:12Z")
“The Zionist Organization of America has largely embraced Bannon” Schmucks. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannons-war-the-fight-for-the-gop/799437/69 "2017-11-13T20:45:09Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > There were too few questions and I think it would have been more accurate to have the sliding scales for strength of agreement and importance. But the programming would have been more costly so there’s that. I think there are some Dopers that could crank out the graphic interface in minutes, some Dopers who could do the statistics work on an elaborate dataset, and some that could do both. Pew Research may also have competent statisticians. No, I’m afraid Pew’s test design may just confirm what I’ve suspected — that the American public is now so polarized and insensate that crude kindergarten-level binary questions are simplest and best to classify the current crops of American voter. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannons-war-the-fight-for-the-gop/799437/70 "2017-12-13T17:25:21Z")
So how big a misstep is the Alabama Senate election? > [@](#): > > “Not only did Steve Bannon cost us a critical Senate seat in one of the most Republican states in the country, but he also dragged the president of the United States into his fiasco,” said Steven Law, the head of the McConnell-linked Senate Leadership Fund super PAC. [Cite](https://apnews.com/be092d9d542f4335b5d7ecd3040a6014/Analysis:-Trump-bets-on-Moore-and-suffers-stinging-defeat). Is this a serious setback for Bannon’s War or just a skirmish loss? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannons-war-the-fight-for-the-gop/799437/71 "2017-12-14T16:04:48Z")
[Bannon seems to think it’s just a skirmish loss, but his enemies are cackling](https://apnews.com/7dcc8dd8d00246429214ac83dfeaa19d/Bannon,-undeterred,-under-siege-from-GOP-after-Alabama-loss). > [@](#): > > Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina argued that Bannon should have called off his guns and simply backed Trump’s first choice. > > “When it comes to Alabama politics Steve Bannon should have followed President @realDonaldTrump lead in supporting Luther Strange,” Graham tweeted. “Trump’s instincts on the Alabama race proved to be correct.” > [@](#): > > And Rep. Peter King, R-NY, declared that Bannon looked “like some disheveled drunk who wandered onto the political stage.” > > “This is not the type of person we need in politics,” said King said. “(Bannon) sort of parades himself out there with his weird alt-right views that he has, and to me it’s demeaning the whole government and political process. And last night’s election was a manifestation of the revulsion by the American people.” > [@](#): > > But in the aftermath of this week’s stinging Alabama defeat, Bannon is showing no signs of abandoning his guerrilla war against the GOP establishment. > [@](#): > > Bannon’s team vowed that its revolution would continue, insisting that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell should be the one to take the blame. > > Bannon’s allies dismissed the Alabama loss as little more than a temporary setback that would soon be forgotten. They expect that the Republicans cheering Moore’s loss will simply enrage Trump’s most loyal supporters nationwide, who already suspected some Republican leaders were trying to undermine the president’s agenda. > > “They’re stomping on the very base they need to turn out for their candidates in the general election in 2018,” said Andy Surabian, a senior adviser to the Bannon-backed Great America PAC. He contended that “the average Republican voter across the country is pointing their finger at Mitch McConnell and the Republican establishment.” > [@](#): > > Bannon’s group indicated they would forge forward with plans to challenge the GOP establishment in Senate races in as many as 10 states, including Arizona, Nevada and Tennessee, though one adviser suggested that a greater effort may be made on recruiting and screening candidates. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2017, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannons-war-the-fight-for-the-gop/799437/72 "2017-12-15T15:28:22Z")
As was covered in some other thread about Moore, he lost because of a confluence of attributes. Moore’s racism and anti-constitutional and pro-christian attitudes were winners for much of the AL electorate. The pedophile stuff was just barely enough to activate the counter-base and de-activate his base. A clone of Moore who had no fresh sex crime revelations would have won handily and would be seen as having vindicated Bannon’s vision for the future of at least the stupidest most backwards parts of America. Which, measured by land area might be 70% of it. If I had to hazard a guess which of the following factors is/are deep-seated and long-lived in American politics and which is/are a shallow fad/flash in the pan, it’d be no contest. Take your pick: racism, populist anti-establishmentism, christian fundamentalism, outrage over male sexual misconduct. Bannon may or may not succeed. But anyone claiming Moore’s defeat is some watershed or turning point is waaay over-reading their tea leaves. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2017, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannons-war-the-fight-for-the-gop/799437/73 "2017-12-15T15:39:04Z")
IMO, the significant thing about Bannon’s involvement is that this race showed that his vetting process is nonexistent and his personal judgement is seriously flawed. It gives credence to opponent’s arguments about that and about his ability to draw resources to a close race to clinch it. Thinking this is a setback for Bannon _because_ it involved “male sexual misconduct” is misunderstanding the factors at play and the observations and arguments being made, IMO. I would note, too, that this is not “some other thread about Moore”; this thread is about Steve Bannon and his War for the GOP. The fact that Moore has been mentioned doesn’t alter that focus. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2017, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannons-war-the-fight-for-the-gop/799437/74 "2017-12-15T16:16:06Z")
OK. Bannon has crappy judgment. And is a drunk. But he seems also to have tapped the zeitgeist for a bunch of the public. Which means, IMO he _is_ a standard bearer. He may be an accident-prone one, but there \*is \*a large parade that he’s jumping in front of so he can be anointed as its leader. He doesn’t have to be the ideal parade leader; he just has to be good enough to not get knocked off the lead float. Or to not fall off in a stupor. Right now there’s still a lot of milling around and confusion about how real the parade is and how many directions it’s marching at once. Paradoxically, as soon as it begins marching more coherently somebody else more skilled will see the opportunity to displace Bannon. To the degree instead the crowd mill in circles making loud noises mostly signifying little more than anger, the more skilled ruthless players can afford to watch and bide their time. In general a difference between leftists and rightists is that rightists place more value on the abstract idea of loyalty. See [The Righteous Mind - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Righteous_Mind) Which means IMO, that leftist movements can more easily go through leadership replacement cycles as long as the ideology doesn’t shift much when the leaders change. But rightist movements are more personally loyal and a change in leadership usually triggers a deep schism even if the new leader’s pushing almost the same line the old leader was. Can Bannonism survive a putsch (or self-implosion) at the top? That IMO is the $64M question. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2017, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannons-war-the-fight-for-the-gop/799437/75 "2017-12-15T18:40:27Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > OK. Bannon has crappy judgment. And is a drunk… Mr. Bannon’s wretched state of health is not necessarily due to alcohol addiction and/or abuse. Such a condition can result from possession by an evil spirit. In this case, his own. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2017, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannons-war-the-fight-for-the-gop/799437/76 "2017-12-15T18:48:05Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Mr. Bannon’s wretched state of health is not necessarily due to alcohol addiction and/or abuse. Such a condition can result from possession by an evil spirit. In this case, his own. "In Twin Peaks, the evil spirit that inhabited Leland Palmer was named Bob. In reality, the evil spirit that inhabits Steve Bannon is named Steve." - Babs, tour guide [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannons-war-the-fight-for-the-gop/799437.md?page=3)