Two newcomers, Senators Rand Paul of Kentucky and Ted Cruz of Texas, are the hottest figures in the dominant conservative wing of the Republican Party. In markedly different ways, they both claim to be the heirs to the party’s contemporary patron saint, Ronald Reagan. … In the next presidential race, […] Read more »
Social Issues Splitting Young Republicans From Their Elders
… Younger conservatives are more firmly staking out a libertarian orientation on social issues in a way that will shape the 2016 presidential primary as candidates seek to appeal to activists who are in the party because of social issues and also to younger voters who see some aspects of […] Read more »
Why Do Smart People Disagree About Facts? Some Perspectives on Climate Denialism
… Lack of belief in climate change correlates highly with political party and with faith in government. People who lean left and look to government to solve problems believe in climate change because they can see a solution—policy—that is within the realm of their experience and tolerance. People who lean […] Read more »
The Libertarian Challenge within the GOP
… Libertarianism has become a major part of the political conversation in the United States, thanks in large part to the high profile presidential candidacy of Ron Paul, the visibility of his son Rand in the United States Senate, and Vice-Presidential candidate Paul Ryan’s well-known admiration of Ayn Rand’s “Atlas […] Read more »
Reason-Rupe Poll: Americans Want to Go Back to Previous Health Care System
At a recent event, President Barack Obama said the health care law is here to stay and vowed, “We aren’t going back.” But 55 percent of Americans say they’d prefer to go back to the health care system that was in place before the Affordable Care Act, while 34 percent […] Read more »
To Attract Millennials, GOP Must Dial Back the Social Conservatism
… My impression from various polls, focus groups, dozens of visits to college campuses, and conversations with young people over the last few years is that, unlike conservatives, this generation does not hate government. And unlike liberals, they don’t love government, either. Rather, this generation is highly skeptical of the […] Read more »