Party Ideology Flashcards
(124 cards)
1
Q
How can you argue that party labels are meaningless?
A
all Democrats are Republicans as they don’t want a monarchy
all Republicans are Democrats as they all believe in democracy.
2
Q
What stat shows how much voters have polarised since 1972?
A
When voters were asked in what the Democrats and GOP stood for in 1972 only 46% thought there was an important difference
In 2008 78% thought there was an important difference.
the parties ARE VERY POLARISED NOW
3
Q
How did Clinton change the Democrat party?
A
He bought the party closer to the centre
4
Q
What is Barak Obama’s ideology?
A
He is a liberal democrat, much more liberal than the Clintons. In 2007 the national journal called him the most liberal member of the senate
5
Q
What were the traditional divisions in the Republican party?
A
moderate ‘Rockerfeller Republicans’
conservative Reagan Republicanism
6
Q
What was GWB’s ideological legacy?
A
GWB tried to be a ‘compassionate conservative’ but ended up being more conservative and ‘Reagan’ like. His ideology was rejected by the party when he left.
No child left behind example of compassionate conservatism.
Compassionate - Rockerfeller, Coservative - Reagan
tried to blur ideological divides in the party
7
Q
What is a yellow dog democrat?
A
When the solid south was intact Southern voters called themselves yellow dog democrats as even if the democrats put a yellow dog up for election they would vote for it,
8
Q
What evidence is there that the Democrats lost the solid south?
A
from 1964-2000 the democrats only won a majority in the south once. Jimmy Carter ( a southerner in 1976)
In 1992 and 1996 the Democrats couldn’t win the south even with two southerners (Clinton and Gore)
by 2010 no Southern Governors were democrat, from 2014 no white democrats in the south in the house
9
Q
How did the break up of the solid south affect party ideology?
A
Voters from the solid south shifted to the Republicans , this made Republicans more conservative and the Democrats more a left of centre party.
Politicians that were right wing such as Strom Thurmond switched to the GOP as it was more of an ideological home for them.
10
Q
How did the electoral map change from 2000-2004?
A
New Mexico, was blue but changed red in the red sea of the south, now solidly blue but was a swing state
New Hampshire, was red changed to blue in the blue sea of the North East.
the map looked even more tribal in 2004 than in 2000
11
Q
What did Clinton say in 1996?
A
The era of big government is over.
12
Q
How broad are parties?
A
Very - Broad Churches
13
Q
What are the characteristics of red America?
A
south and rural Midwest
suburbs
christians
14
Q
What are the characteristics of blue America?
A
Urban and rims
Rainbow coalition
LGBT minorities, poor
15
Q
What do Indiana, West Virginia and Massachusetts show about the red/blue divide?
A
Indiana, swing state
- voted dems in 2008 buthad Mike Pence as their Governor at the time
West Virginia- Red State but they have one senator of each party
Massachusetts - 1st state to legalise gay marriage but vote Republican for governors 1991-2006. However, Massachusetts is a consistently blue state overall.
16
Q
How did Reagan lead to increased partisanship?
A
Reagan wooed conservatives away from the democrats whilst making it uncomfortable to be a moderate in the GOP. This increased partisanship
17
Q
How did the Cold war lead to increased partisanship?
A
The end of the foreign policy consensus that came with the fall of the soviet union has allowed the parties to diverge as they can take different stances on foreign policy viewpoints
18
Q
How has the concept of a partisan presidency increased partisanship?
A
Eisenhower, Carter, GHWB - benevolent
Now presidents are seen as the head of party and are more divisive e.g. Obama, GWB, Trump
19
Q
How has the new media make the Presidency more partisan?
A
Whilst once Americans would have watched a bipartisan and unbiased news channel, new channels such as CNN and Fox as well as the internet means Americans go to a source that simple reinforces their own views. - echo chamber increases partisanship
20
Q
How has gerrymandering increased partisanship?
A
The competition lies in the primary. This means that people are pushed to the extremes.
21
Q
What does parties being broad churches mean about individual memebrs?
A
Not all members of a party may hold one view but it may be the ideological pattern of their party for them to hold that view.
A democrat in one area may be more right wing than a conservative in another area.
22
Q
How did professor Brogan describe the parties in old conservative wisdom?
A
‘like two bottles with different labels, both empty.’
23
Q
What does Liberal mean?
A
A view that seeks to change the political, economic and social status quo in favour of the week-being, rights and liberties of the individual and especially those who are disadvantaged by society.
24
Q
What does Conservative mean?
A
A view that seeks to defend the political , economic, and social status quo and therefore tends to oppose changes in the institutions and structures of society.
25
Which old style liberals were defeated in elections before the 2000s
Humphrey 1968
McGovern 1972
Mondale 1984
Dukakis 1988
these derates led to criticism of the old style liberalism
Only Carter 1976 won in this period
26
Who are the DLC?
Democratic Leadership Council
tried to reposition the Democrats into the centre
Bill Clinton was a DLC candidate and broke success of defeats, first Democrat president to serve two terms since Roosevelt
27
How did Al Gore distance himself from Clinton in 2000?
he did not go for a 'let us continue campaign' and LBJ did in 1964
distanced himself due to personal ethics perhaps
28
What was John Kerry like?
more clearly identified with old style Democrats like Dukakis than with New Democrats
29
What was the succession of Reagan's vp GHWB seen as in terms of party ideology?
putting the moderates back in charge
30
What was Dick Cheney?
VP to GWB and foreign policy hawk, the moderates such as John Ashcroft (attorney general) lost out to these types in the GWB presidency
31
What were GWB's supreme court picks like?
Roberts and Alito both v conservative
32
What is the evidence of GWB's ideology being rejected in 2008 by the GOP?
John McCain was a Bush critic and won the nomination
33
What is the solid south?
A term used to refer to the the democrat party's solid political and electoral control during the century between the civil war and the 1960's
34
in 2008 how many states that had voted GWB in 2004 voted Obama?
9
this suggests the electoral map is not as simple as red and blue America
35
What was politics all about in the 50's 60's and 70's?
bipartisanship
now its very partisan
36
What did Olympia Snow Republican senator say was her reason for leaving office?
'dysfunctional and political polarisation.'
partisanship is suited for a parliamentary system but it's not really what the Founding fathers wanted, the Senates requirement for supermajorities to pass big legislation is supposed to encourage bipartisanship
37
Is the President the leader of their party?
NOPE
this is not a prime minister, this was not a party election
38
What was the Nevada Republican platform in 2012? 2014?
Nevada is considered a Red state but...
In 2012 the Republicans in Nevada were anti equal marriage and anti abortion
But in 2014 they were pro choice and pro equal marriage
the state platform can vary greatly from the national platform, ideologies differ
39
What do both parties agree on?
the role of the constitution in political and governmental life. The workings of a capitalist, free market economic system, acceptance of the 'American way' and the 'American dream'
40
What issues and principles are parties aligned on?
Clinton's 'the era of big government is over' 1996
Bush's compassionate conservatism especially 'No child left behind' showed overlaps between traditional party divides
41
How did the impeachment of Clinton show ideological difference in the parties?
It was split on party lines
42
How has healthcare shown ideological differences in the parties?
no Republicans voted for Obamacare
no Democrats voted for Trumpcare
43
How have parties been united ideologically through organisation?
Contract with America - house Rs 1994
Boehner's Pledge to America 2010 - house Rs
Dems '6 for '06'
a national platform
44
How many Republicans voted against Trump's tax cuts?
only one
45
Where do the parties differ on their approach to issues?
Dems support abortion, dovish foreign policy, govt intervention and gun control
Republicans oppose these things
46
Why was John Boehner ousted as speaker of the House?
ousted by social conservatives within his own party
Boehner had a 100% pro life voting record but was punished for not being strong enough on planned parenthood funding
47
What is the definition of the political theory of liberalism? which politicians fit this theory
Liberalism in the US is a broad political and philosophical mindset favouring individual liberty, and opposing restrictions on liberty, whether they come from religion, from government or from the class structure.
FDR, Howard Dean, Barak Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Keith Ellinson (DNC deputy chair)
48
What is the definition of the political theory of conservatism? which politicians fit this theory
Core conservative principles include a belief in God and country, and many US conservatives support a fiscal policy rooted in small government. In foreign policy, the US is unique among nations and that its standing and actions should guide the course of world history.
Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell, the TEA party, The Freedom Caucus, Ronna Romney McDaniel (RNC chair)
49
What is the definition of the political theory of Neo-Liberalism? which politicians fit this theory
The central principle of neoliberal policy is free markets and free trade. Market collations to problems.
Reagan deregulates the stock market, Obama's Dodd-Frank Act puts some regulation back in place
Education 'markets', let bad schools fail, restrict funding
Healthcare markets, this is stopped by Obamacare
Reagan is heavily associated but also Clinton to an extent
50
What is the definition of Neo-Conservatism? which politicians fit this theory
A modern form of conservatism that supports a more assertive foreign policy, aimed at promoting democracy abroad.
Dick Cheney, John Bolton NSA, foreign policy 'hawks'
Opposed the Cuba and Iran deals
want military intervention in N.Korea
But Trump is an isolationist, he is meeting Kim Jong Un
51
What is the political theory of the New right? which politicians fit this?
The New Right seeks to promote strongly conservative policies. Shift from the moderate.
they move away from protectionist economic policy in the 70's and 80's
neo liberal, socially conservative, religious right
Milton Friedman, Reagan 'Govt is the problem not the solution
52
What was Eisenhower's brand of Republicanism?
Advocate interventionism, economically liberal and socially conservative
53
What is the political theory of the Religious Right? which politicians fit this
A spectrum of right-wing Christian political and social movements and organisations characterised by their strong support of conservative social and political values.
Mike Pence, Sarah Palin
54
What is the political theory of 'Compassionate conservatism.'?
stresses uses traditionally conservative techniques and concepts in order to improve the general welfare of society
associated with GWB 'no child left behind.'
55
What is the political theory of the old democrats? which politicians advocate this?
left wing advocates of government intervention on fiscal matters.
Ted Kennedy, Jesse Jackson
56
What is the political theory of New Democrats? which politicians advocate this?
centrists, sometimes known as the third way. They are identified with more moderate social/cultural positions and neoliberal fiscal values.
```
Hillary and Bill Clinton
Barak Obama told the New Democrat caucus he was one in 2009
Tom Perez (DNC chair.)
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57
What did the Republicans advocate in the 1930's?
'rugged individualism'
this made the Democrats electorally successful (FDR winning un unprecedented 4 terms on the premise of state intervention in terms of the New Deal
58
What was Fannie Mae?
a government body to underwrite mortgages and so help US citizens own homes, a New Deal policy
this was made into a private company later by Republicans
59
How does Eisenhower's presidency show a less 'conservative' Republicanism?
sent in the National Guard to ensure schools in the south were desegregated
60
What are the three ideological groupings within the Democrats?
Left- Progressive Democrats
Centre- New Democrats
Right- Blue Dogs
61
What are progressive Democrats like?
socially liberal, economically liberal
Nancy Pelosi, San Fran representative and minority house leader, Barak Obama, Keith Ellerson (DNC deputy chair who is a Sanders fan)
77 in congressional caucus
62
What are New Democrats like?
socially liberal, fiscally conservative
Bill Clinton 'the era of big government is over'
61 in the congressional caucus
63
What are Blue Dogs like?
vote with Republicans
opposed Obamacare
socially conservative (centrist) , more fiscally conservative
DINOs
18 in congressional caucus, Jim Costa
64
What are the three main ideological groups in the GOP?
Left- Main Street Republicans
Centre- Republican Study Committee
Right- Freedom Caucus
65
What are Main Street Republican's like?
not very socially liberal, fiscally conservative
didn't vote for Trumpcare, did vote for Tax cuts
75 in the congressional caucus
overlap the blue dogs
e.g. Susan Collins
66
What are the Republican study committee like?
socially conservative, fiscally conservative
154 in congressional caucus
Paul Ryan is one (speaker of the House)
approved Trumpcare and tax cuts
67
What are the Freedom Caucus like?
very socially conservative
very very fiscally conservative
Libertarian
they approved tax cuts but not Trumpcare
31 in congressional caucus
John Connin, Marsha Blackburn
68
How have the Religious Right influenced ideology?
the religious right came to prominence under Reagan in the 70's and 80's
they temper their message so it becomes more acceptable to people in general
they are anti LGBT, anti abortion and pro guns
they have moved the GOP further to the right, now very right wing and dependant upon the votes of the religious right
69
Are the religious right very influential?
The Stupak amendment meant there was no abortion included in Obamacare - very influential
VPs are often chosen to appease the religious right, e.g. Palin, Pence, Ryan
25% of voters are Evangelical and 81% of Evangelicals voted Trump,
they are usually white, wealthy, southern- reinforcing characteristics mean they vote GOP and the Democrats pay little attention to them.
However, Obergefell v Hodges happened and was upheld, they are not that influential
70
Is Trump an ideologue?
No he's a populist
this is why the Koch brothers don't like him
71
How were JFK and LBJ liberal?
Medicaid and the civil rights act
72
Which department did Reagan try to close down?
education but he wasn't allowed by power of the purse
73
Which was did the Democrat Leaserhsip Council embrace after being set up in 1985?
a third way, fiscal issues
rejected by traditional Ted Kennedy
adopted by Al Gore and Clinton
inspired New Labour
74
Why did the two parties used to be liken to Tweedledee and Tweedledum?
They look identical and are extremely similar but like to argue about their apparent differences
75
How has the numbers if self-identified Democrats voting Republican changed?
33% of self identified Democrats voted Nixon in 1972
| only 7% of self identified Democrats voted Romney 2012
76
How has the number of self identified Republicans voting Democrat changed?
Republicans never tended to vote Democrat but in 1964 20% voted LBJ
In 2012 only 6% voted Obama
77
Why are there fewer genuine swing states now than there used to be?
People are much more partisan in the way they vote now
When the white house went from LBJ to Nixon, 36 states switched party
When the USA went from GWB to Obama only 9 states changed their party allegiance
78
What has resorting done to the parties?
Made them more ideologically distinct
79
How can increased partisanship be seen in the decline in split ticket voting?
decline in split districts,
1996 110 split districts
2012 onlt 25 split districts
in 2016 there was no split between the Senate and the Presidency
80
What was the ideological overlap like in the Senate in 1993? 2011?
In 1993 there were 6 Republicans more liberal than the most conservative Democrat and 26 Democrats more Conservative than the most liberal Republican
In 2011 there was no ideological overlap at all in the Senate, Susan Collins of Maine is the most liberal GOP member but she is more conservative than the most conservative Democrat Ben Nelson of Nebraska
Profound changes have taken place in the US political parties
81
What has increased ideological difference between the two parties meant for US government?
major legislation tends to pass through congress on party lines, coalition building used to be vital to successful Government but not any more
No Republicans voted for Obamacare and no Democrats voted for Trump's tax cuts or Trumpcare.
This means a president who doesn't control both houses can't really do anything as Obama couldn't at the end of his Presidency
82
How has the Presidents power to persuade been affected by increased partisanship?
in the 70's Carter could get a significant amount of liberal Republicans to support him
Now Presidents have to reach into their own ideological party base as opposed to reaching out to traditionally independent and centrist voters.
This is how Bush and Obama got re-elected
83
How have the Senators from 1993 that were the most liberal in the Republicans and most conservative in the Democrats re sorted themselves?
Democrat Shelby joined the GOP in 1994
Republican Jeffords decided to sit as an independent and caucus with Senate Democrats.
These Senators are Emblematic of the changes that have occurred in the main two parties
84
How do the parties views differ on Abortion?
Dems -support Roe v Wade and the choice of women in their pregnancy
Obama repealed the Mexico City rule that banned money going to foreign groups that promote abortion, Trump reinstated it
Obama was described as the 'most radical pro abortion President ever' on Fox News
Trump arguably most radical anti abortion president ever
GOP against all abortion
85
How do the main parties differ on views towards civil rights?
Dems support civil rights and expanding opportunity for all Americans
2010, 'Don't ask, don't tell' was repealed
2011 Obama instructed the Justice Department not to enforce DOMA as he viewed it as unconstitutional
2012 Obama came out in favour of gay marriage
2015 Obama appointed the first openly gay man to lead the army
Trump wanted to ban transgender people being in the military
86
How do the main parties differ on views towards the environment?
Dems committed to environment policy
2015 Clean Power plan promised a 32% reduction in power plant emissions
2015 Obama vetoed Keystone pipeline, Trump likes Keystone
Trump has pulled out of Paris Climate Change Agreement
Trump appointed a climate change denier as head of the EPA Pruitt
87
How do the parties differ on the views towards Healthcare?
ACA gave healthcare to an additional 16 million Americans
Trump tried to pass Trumpcare but failed
Trump repealed the individual mandate in the ACA through his tax cutes, this means insurance premiums will skyrocket
88
How do the parties differ on views towards immigration?
Dems support immigration, GOP do not
2012 executive order halted the deportation of illegal immigrants under 30 DACA, now in dispute and has caused the shutdowns
89
How do views differ on education between the parties?
2015 Obama announced $60 billion to provide 2 years of free tuition in community colleges
Betsy Devos is a bit crap, GOP don't care about education she was just a rich donor
90
What are views towards the economy in the parties?
Dems, 2009 Recovery and Reinvestment Act had a $831 billion stimulus package for the economy
2014 Obama raised minimum wage for many federal employees
2015 TTIP, this died under Trump
Trump tax cuts
91
How do the parties differ on gun control?
Dems want background checks and some GOP do too but influence of NRA meaner the bipartisan Manchin Toomey bill failed despite 90% of Americans supporting it
92
How do the parties differ on foreign policy`?
Dems , Cuba and Iran deals 2015
Trump has pulled out of the nuclear deal with Iran, John Bolton and other hawks encouraged this
Guantanmo bay remains open against Obama's wished and the ruling of the Supreme Court in Hamdan v Rumsfeld, Trump wants more prisoners.
Trump proposed adding 54 million to the military budget, has also had high tension North Korean relations
dovish/hawkish foreign policy
93
How do the parties differ on drug policy?
Obama used his power of pardon to grant clemency to many low level drug offenders
Trump wants drug dealers executed
94
What are the negative effects of great ideological difference between the two parties?
Government is gridlocked
major issues go unresolved like climate change and immigration reform (DACA)
politics is profoundly uncivil, 'lock her up'
95
Has being more ideologically different strengthened the parties?
yes! they are more internally strong but much more divided against each other
96
What is asymmetric polarisation?
The Republicans are moving further to the right a lot faster than the Democrats are moving to the left
97
Have states polarised?
yes they have similar tribalism to Washington, many states have really polarised like California and Arizona
98
What fraction of Democrats and republicans see the other party as a 'threat to the nation's wellbeing?'
1/4 of Democrats
| 1/3 of Republicans
99
Are voters being polarised?
could be suggested that more and more voters hold consistently liberal or conservative views
Pew Research centre says that party is the best predictor of issue positions- better than age, gender, race e.c.t.
100
What classic statement can you make about parties?
Parties are more ideologically homogenous, distinct and well organised than ever before
101
Explain the view that voters are actually quite centrist but it is only the parties that are polarised?
most Americans may be central, the majority think abortion should be 'safe, legal and rare'
however, politically active Americans tend to have more polarised and extreme views
In a gerrymandered system people need to appeal to the activist groups in order to get through their primaries as normal voters often don't turn out. This leads to more and more extreme views in the parties.
102
How does the extreme ideology of activist voters have a knock on effect on general elections?
in the system they do not try to win over independent voters but instead energise the party base of more extreme voters. This means they are not centrist
GWB ground war 2004, put wedge issues on the ballot
Obama 2008, 2012 small individual donations
103
What is party voting like? What other things show increased politisation
at a all time high
| split ticket voting in decline
104
Are all the people who claim to be independents really independent?
No the vast majority lean to one side or the other
105
How did the Tea Party Caucus (not not in existence) drive the GOP to the right?
the TEA party (Taxed Enough Already) was extremely right wing, taking views on liking limited government and wanting to reduce federal spending.
The Tea Party had some influential members and supporters, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubi, Pete Sessions, Rand Paul, Rick Santorum
The TEA party pushed the GOP to the right, it was largely due to the TEA party that House Speaker John Boehner pushed for deep cuts in the 2011 Budget crisis, nearly leading to shutdown
106
How did the TEA party affect the 2010 elections?
tried to get rid of RINOs
Meant Lisa Murkowski of Alaska lost her primary, although she won as a write in candidate
Marco Rubio and Rand Paul held onto seats
107
How did the TEA party affect the 2012 elections?
Romney a moderate won the Presidential nomination
the tea party candidate Michele Bauchman pulls out early on, cain, Santorum and Gringrich all inherited the mantle but lost
Ted Cruz joins senate
some TEA party candidates made ill judged comments about rape and lost because of these (getting pregnant by your rapist fits into the phrase when life gives you lemons make lemonade)
108
How was Bill Clinton shown to be fiscally conservative but socially liberal?
1st president to reduce size of the federal bureaucracy
he tried to get healthcare reform but failed
'Don't ask don't tell'
Democrats not clearly liberal in the 90's
109
How was GWB socially conservative?
Despite 'no child left behind' GWB had some conservative ideas on social policy
he vetoes stem cell research and tried to prohibit same sex marriage constitutionally
110
Which politician did Trump fail to convince to repeal Obamacare?
John McCain
111
What does Ideological overlap look like in the 115th congress?
The most liberal Republican is more conservative than the most conservative Democrat
112
Which act passed unanimously in 2014?
'No Social Security for Nazis'
shows bipartisanship
113
How many Democrats voted to end the shutdown in 2018?
33 Democrats with 48 Republicans
114
What did Reagan say about Government?
'Government is the problem not the solution'
115
What circumstances allowed Trump's tax cuts for the super rich?
ideological divide
116
What is the theory of Party decline?
The theory, popular in the last three decades of the 20th century that political parties were in decline in terms of membership, function and importance- both in elections and congress.
117
What percentage of voters said they were independent in 2016?
31%
118
What percentage of US voters identify with one party or the other?
70%
119
To candidates use party labels at elections?
Not really no
120
What percentage of votes in congress were party unity votes?
75%
121
What issues have democrats been split on?
Obama's TPP
obamacare- blue dogs
Patriot act renewal
122
Why is there little incentive for bipartisanship ?
Reduction in earmarking
Gerrymandering
123
Why do democrats not want to meet with Trump?
May not play well to their voters
Although Pelsoi met with Trump over DACA
124
Who founded the freedom caucus?
Mark Meadows
