The direction of the Democratic Party should Obama lose in 2012?

[Del Tachi]

Brian Schweitzer takes over the Democratic Party and it becomes one of libertarian-leanings, arguing for states' rights and reacting to the GOP's populist rhetoric with intellectual poise.

If Obama looses in 2012, there's a good chance the the GOP becomes the party of fiscal conservatism and economic populism, while the Democrats become known for their limited domestic policy ideas and foreign interventionism.

 

[Del Tachi]

the GOP becomes the party of fiscal conservatism and economic populism

Just like how the Democratic party will become pro-choice and pro-life?

Economic populism and fiscal conservatism are not mutually exclusive.  That is what the Tea Party is.

Fiscal conservatism--Let's not spend money we don't have!
Economic populism--In of government spending and economic policy, let's do what the people (not Wall Stree fat-cats) want!

This is what happened in 2010.  Republicans were more populist than the Democrats in that year, the people wanted lower gov't spending.  So that is what the Republicans offered.  They took the idea of fiscal conservatism and gave it populist appeal...

[Del Tachi]

Economic populism--In government spending and economic policy, let's do what the people (not Wall Stree fat-cats) want!

Um. The Tea Parties are funded by Wall Street.

Their populism is phony.

Agreed.

But, as any serious political junkie should know, politics is all about perception.  And to the average conservative-leaning voter, the Tea Party is a populist, anti-Wall Street movement.  And LOOKING like a populist party, in terms of getting votes, is just as good as BEING a populist party.