Post

I would argue the GOP has been functionally a populist party since Goldwater, it has just also had an elitist Neo-Constervative leadership that is largely able to control the populist elements in the party by hitting certain talking points. Typically it is the Neo-conservative group/candidate that is best able to unite the disperate, bickering, half-crazy factions into the Big Tent of Republicanism.

I have been recently contemplating what will happen if Trump loses, as in the aftermath. Will he really just "go away" and move on? Very unlikely. He would stay, harping from Twitter and perhaps even actively stoking his supporters. If the election is close enough we should not discount him trying a "Grover Cleveland".