re: #274 Shiplord Kirel

I seriously think the Democratic Party’s opposition research organization needs to broaden its focus to include things like the conspiracy industry, Sovereign citizens (especially “sovereign sheriffs”) and the Texas Independence Movement. The latter, you might recall, was a running joke until Russian wingnuts started to take an interest in it. Now it is officially enshrined in GOP county platforms all over Texas.

It is understandable that op-research has tended to ignore these phenomena. Op-research specialists are political professionals and these things have always been on the safely ignored fringe. The fringe dwellers have moved into the mainstream, however; perhaps more quickly than professional political operatives have been able to adjust. It seems possible that Republican operatives were able to adjust more quickly than Democrats because their 40 year romance with the religious right has accustomed them to hinterland hucksters and their methods and audience.

Perhaps Trump and the Bundys have awakened enough people to take all these things seriously. The baskets need lids.