Paul Krugman: Trump Is No Accident

The road to Trumpism began long ago, when movement conservatives took over the GOP. And it really was a complete takeover. How does a party in thrall to a basically unpopular ideology — or at any rate an ideology voters would dislike if they knew more about it — win elections? Obfuscation helps. But demagogy and appeals to tribalism help more. Racial dog whistles and suggestions that Democrats are un-American if not active traitors aren’t things that happen now and then, they’re an integral part of Republican political strategy. the GOP has spent decades encouraging and exploiting the very rage that is now carrying Trump to the nomination. That rage was bound to spin out of the establishment’s control sooner or later. Donald Trump is not an accident. His party had it coming.