The great populism control effort of 2016

Populist undercurrents are rattling both Republicans and Democrats — but only the GOP has the means to capitalize...

Regaining control.
(Image credit: (Illustration by Lauren Hansen | Images courtesy iStock))

Forget population control. In 2016, the great cultural fad in American politics will be populist control. And it will be so popular, both parties will spend considerable time tamping down the populist momentum that threatens to upend their Congressional and presidential ambitions.

This past weekend, the American Conservative Union staged its Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), which it has hosted for more than 40 years in Washington, DC. CPAC attracts a full spectrum of the right, from individual grassroots activists around the country to the think tanks of the Beltway. Politicians range from Republican presidential contenders to libertarian and independent challengers for local office. The diversity of thought on the right gets put on full display, for better or worse, and CPAC allows the observant to see the trends on that side of the political divide.

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Edward Morrissey

Edward Morrissey has been writing about politics since 2003 in his blog, Captain's Quarters, and now writes for HotAir.com. His columns have appeared in the Washington Post, the New York Post, The New York Sun, the Washington Times, and other newspapers. Morrissey has a daily Internet talk show on politics and culture at Hot Air. Since 2004, Morrissey has had a weekend talk radio show in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and often fills in as a guest on Salem Radio Network's nationally-syndicated shows. He lives in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota with his wife, son and daughter-in-law, and his two granddaughters. Morrissey's new book, GOING RED, will be published by Crown Forum on April 5, 2016.