Crackup
The Republican Implosion and the Future of Presidential Politics
Published on 11. November 2021
Book
Hardback
368 pages
978-0-19-091382-3 (ISBN)
Description
In Crackup, the eminent American politics scholar Samuel Popkin tells the story of how the Republican Party fractured into uncompromising groups with irreconcilable demands. Changes in campaign finance laws and the proliferation of mass media opened the way for newly energized groups to split the party. The 2002 "McCain-Feingold" campaign finance reform bill aimed to weaken the power of big corporations and strengthen political parties by ending corporate donations to the parties. Instead, it weakened legislative leaders and made bipartisanship a curse word.
Popkin argues that moving money outside the political parties fueled the rise of single-issue advocacy groups and Super PACs funded by billionaires with pet issues. This allowed self-promoting politicians to undermine colleagues with an unprecedented use of tactics once only used to disrupt the other party. One such politician was Ted Cruz, the first Republican senator with the oratorical skills and intelligence to exploit the new possibilities. He effectively promoted himself at the expense of the party, mobilized other obstructionists in congress, and blocked compromises on immigration and healthcare. Into this abyss came Donald J. Trump, who took advantage of the party's inability to do anything for Republican voters struggling with economic decline. No other candidate, when forced to try to satisfy the irreconcilable demands of major donors and party leaders, could offer a credible alternative to his moon-promising bravado.
A novel structural explanation of why the GOP ended up with Trump as their standard bearer, Crackup forces us to look at the deeper forces set in motion over a decade ago. It also reveals how lone-wolf figures like Cruz are inevitable given the new rules of the game. Unless the system for financing elections changes, we will continue to see opportunists emerge--in both parties--to block intra-party compromise.
Popkin argues that moving money outside the political parties fueled the rise of single-issue advocacy groups and Super PACs funded by billionaires with pet issues. This allowed self-promoting politicians to undermine colleagues with an unprecedented use of tactics once only used to disrupt the other party. One such politician was Ted Cruz, the first Republican senator with the oratorical skills and intelligence to exploit the new possibilities. He effectively promoted himself at the expense of the party, mobilized other obstructionists in congress, and blocked compromises on immigration and healthcare. Into this abyss came Donald J. Trump, who took advantage of the party's inability to do anything for Republican voters struggling with economic decline. No other candidate, when forced to try to satisfy the irreconcilable demands of major donors and party leaders, could offer a credible alternative to his moon-promising bravado.
A novel structural explanation of why the GOP ended up with Trump as their standard bearer, Crackup forces us to look at the deeper forces set in motion over a decade ago. It also reveals how lone-wolf figures like Cruz are inevitable given the new rules of the game. Unless the system for financing elections changes, we will continue to see opportunists emerge--in both parties--to block intra-party compromise.
Reviews / Votes
What the hell happened to the GOP? Is something just as destructive in store for the Democratic Party? The answers Popkin offers-part post-mortem, part prescription - are as shrewd as they are urgent. * Jill Lepore, author of These Truths * Crackup brilliantly confirms why Popkin is one of the most respected political observers of our time. Not only a keen, precise explanation of how Washington unraveled, this is a thrilling examination of overlooked decisions and hidden dramas. I started highlighting the text and gave up because every page is overflowing with insights, analysis, and detail. This book is permanently installed on my desk. * Evan Osnos, Staff Writer, The New Yorker * Popkin performs two distinct and important services in his book. First, in a thoughtful narrative with which I agree completely, he provides a much-needed corrective to the failure to understand the critical omnipresence of well-functioning political parties to the success of democratic government. Second, he provides a logical, well-argued explanation of why the system is malfunctioning with which I differ, and which I welcome. * Barney Frank, former member of the US House of Representatives * Popkin writes with verve and good humor, knows a whole lot about politics, and is gifted at mobilizing a good story to make a point. If you are like me, you will disagree with him in fundamental ways but still appreciate the ride Popkin takes you on - and know you'd enjoy arguing with him late into the night. * E.J. Dionne Jr, author of Code Red * Popkin, one of the nation's foremost scholars of elections, has written an indispensable book explaining the conflicts within the Republican Party that led to the election of Trump. No one is better equipped to describe this history of collapse, and he does so with rigor and grace. * Thomas B. Edsall, Contributing Opinion Writer, The New York Times * Popkin's brilliant book could not be more timely. Crackup masterfully diagnoses the descent of the Republican Party from 'comity to carnage,' while reminding us that no political party is immune to the dynamics of breakdown. * Sarah Binder, Professor, George Washington University * Popkin artfully traces the financial consequences of McCain-Feingold and Citizens United. He has written an important book on an important topic and it should be read by anyone interested in contemporary American politics. * Mathew D. McCubbins, Professor, Duke University *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Dimensions
Height: 237 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 37 mm
Weight
666 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-091382-3 (9780190913823)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
04/2021
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€9.99
Available for download
E-Book
04/2021
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€9.99
Available for download
Person
Samuel L. Popkin is Research Professor of Political Science at the University of California San Diego and has been a consulting analyst in five Democratic presidential campaigns, as well as consulting for polling with CBS News and YouGov. He is the author of The Reasoning Voter and The Candidate (Oxford).
Content
Introduction
Chapter One: The Last Republican President
Chapter Two: Young Guns and Billionaires
Chapter Three: Ted Cruz Crashes the Party
Chapter Four: The Great Wall of Mexico
Chapter Five: Strongmen Don't Pivot
Chapter Six: The Republicans Pivot
Chapter Seven: Conclusion--What Can Be Done?
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Chapter One: The Last Republican President
Chapter Two: Young Guns and Billionaires
Chapter Three: Ted Cruz Crashes the Party
Chapter Four: The Great Wall of Mexico
Chapter Five: Strongmen Don't Pivot
Chapter Six: The Republicans Pivot
Chapter Seven: Conclusion--What Can Be Done?
Notes
Bibliography
Index