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aristarchus [soylentnews.org] writes:

Article in Washington Post [washingtonpost.com]:

President Trump’s fervent base of supporters is concentrated among whites over 50 years old, whites without college degrees and white evangelicals. But Trump also appeals to some (but not all) younger, more educated voters, many still in college — the cohort that is likely to lead conservatism in the future.

As it happens, different strains of right-leaning activism on college campuses are engaged in a bitter contest for domination. So, what’s coming to the main stage of U.S. conservative politics in the coming years? Here’s what you need to know.

Being informed is half the battle won.

Moderate and traditional campus conservatives have lost ground as populists and nationalists [usatoday.com] (as well as more forthright racists) have begun showing up. Yesterday’s fire-breathing conservatives are finding themselves dismayed [thebulwark.com] by those who want to go still further to the right [nationalreview.com].

Turning Point and YAF had until recently been at the furthest-right edge of conservative activism in higher education. Over the past several months, however, Turning Point and YAF have been attacked [thenation.com] for failing to espouse the more extreme “America First” populism advocated by figures like conservative columnist Michelle Malkin and conservative podcaster Nick Fuentes. Fuentes and his followers, called the “Groyper Army,” made waves last year by heckling Donald Trump Jr. at UCLA and Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Tex.) at Arizona State University. “Groyper” refers to a variant of Pepe the Frog, an illustrated meme appropriated by the alt-right.

Ah, Les Enfants Terribles coming home to roost!

Now, the provokers are being out-provoked

Activists across a variety of conservative groups explained how Turning Point normalized a vision of conservatism that resonated with Trump’s approach to campaigning and governing, embracing populism and emphasizing provocation to create viral social media content as the right’s primary strategy on campus.

Two years later, many College Republican chapters are now following in Turning Point’s footsteps and running toward Trumpism — by which we mean not only supporting the current president but also replicating the political stylings of his campaign rhetoric.

But the tide could turn quickly.

As "Papa Bear" O'Really said, "The tide comes in; the tide goes out; nobody knows why." Republicans are just so darn wise.

Original Submission