You know why people are anti-establishment? Because republicans try to make govt fail.

[Renew Deal]

It's so obvious. People, particularly in the Republican Party see that the govt isn't working for them. There is no reason to trust the Bush's and Cruz's of the world. They sell you a line of BS about wars and abortion, but do nothing but hurt (forget about help) the little guy.

Trump and Bernie are talking to people's real lives. That's why they've been received so well so far.

It can be argued that the republican voters are to the left of the party, but I think there's more to it. The Republican Party is the activist wing of most corporations. They don't care about you, but will try to sucker you in to voting for them with abortions and marriage. Once the suckers vote for them it's all Cleptocracy all the time.

[Wounded Bear]

1. You lost me at "Trump and Bernie"....

To equate them is the height of false equivalencies. Trump may "speak" to people's lives, but he's a carnival barker who will improve no one's life besides his own.

[Renew Deal]

2. They are ideological opposites, but they have the same appeal

Distrust for the current ruling parties. Disatisfaction with the gov't. Cynicism about the promises of politicians. Feeling like they need to be heard.

It's really the same appeal. Now, if you're a xenophobe that craves authoritarianism and don't care much about policy or credentials, Trump is your man. If you believe every person is equal and the role of the gov't is to lift all ships, Bernie is your man.

[Whiskeytide]

3. But the OP is correct ...

... your description of Trump is accurate, but he is still tapping into the other side of the Bernie coin. It's an anti special interests meme. So much so that others are jumping on the bandwagon - I saw Hucksterbee last night, in an interview following the Trump rally, railing against "corporate funded" candidates in Washington. That's straight out of Bernie's playbook. They may be co-opting it insincerely, but they ARE driving at that dissatisfied voter.

Trump's appeal is, more than anything else, that he's an outsider who's not beholding to the DC elite. We know the DC elite to be the lobby industry and their republican and democratic puppets. But it doesn't take much to convince disenfranchised republicans that the liberals are the ones bought and paid for. They already want to believe it.

[Justice]

4. Bingo -

Think of all of the right wingers who are in government and have been their entire careers but they hate the government and all it stands for and only want to make it smaller and weaker. Cruz has worked in government since law school graduation, clerking, in DC and in Texas; Ryan has been in DC almost since college graduation, even Bush was been in government for 9.5 years. And all the time they are complaining about government -- they have great health care, great vacation time, great pension, very little production and get to be home with their families on the weekends!

I heard Steve Schmidt, Republican strategist, on Rachel Maddow last night gave his view of the appeal of Donald Trump to the core Republican voter who is fed up with the party that is anti-Latino, anti-Asian, anti-gay, intolerant of Muslims. They are fed up with the GOP not helping workers with wages or health care or even interested in taking care of roads and bridges. They send out jokers like Rubio and Cruz who have been spoon fed with soft-hands yet claim to be "fighting for you"

I don't get why Trump would be perceived as being able to help those folks but they apparently don't think any other member of the GOP would help them - so maybe that is why.

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/trump-gets-core-gop-voter-with-simple-message-526271555913

[Renew Deal]

6. Thanks

I didn't see that last night

[lame54]

5. Snyder and Brownback are perfect examples of Repug ideology

[GreatGazoo]

7. Republicans like the Waltons and Morgan Stanley are using the government as part of their business

You have to separate words from actions to really understand what is going on.

Political campaigns are simple marketing -- 1) listen to the customer, 2) speak to the customer in phrases they used creating a sense of agreement and concern 3) get elected and do what the oligarchs pay you to do such as subsidize WalMart to the tune of $6.2 bil annually.

Part of thievery is misdirection, bait and switch, and outright lies. "Social Security is bankrupt" "USPS is bankrupt" etc. set up the actual theft.

The GOP is better at tapping into anger and cynicism than Dems are. Appeals to emotion are seldom overcome by facts. Ad hom attacks are easy wins in this environment because American organize around candidates rather than goals.