What Roy Moore tells us about the Republican Party

… For many years, most political scientists followed the lead of the eminent V.O. Key Jr. in conceptualizing each U.S. party as a three-legged stool composed of voters, politicians (and other government officials), and officers of the national, state and local party committees. More recently, however, many scholars have come to accept a different model of American politics in which elected officials, candidates, committee members and voters share control of the two major parties with a dense web of other individuals and groups that do not hold formal office but nevertheless significantly influence party affairs. …

Especially within the Republican Party, power seems to be shifting away from officeholders and toward unelected authorities, most notably the conservative media. Over the past decade, insurgent candidates — such as Moore, and President Trump before him — who lacked strong support from fellow Republican politicians have nevertheless repeatedly beaten “establishment” rivals in nomination battles, fueled by the outspoken backing of radio, TV and Internet personalities on the right.

So who are the new Republican power brokers? CONT.

David A. Hopkins (Boston College), Monkey Cage