Obama could have turned the Obama coalition into a movement. I never understood why he did not turn it into the force it could have been.In fact, a movement is much bigger than the presidency. The president is subject to the movement.
Two distinct populist movements are occurring in America today. The Bernie Sanders Revolution and the Donald Trump nativist movement.
The Bernie Sanders Revolution, the real populist movement was hamstrung from its inception, yet continues to grow. The Donald Trump movement was left unabated. It is a fallacy to believe that the Republican establishment was caught flat-footed. The problem is that It lost control of the message.
Make no mistake, Donald Trump's message is resonating with many including Democrats who feel abandoned by the Democratic Establishment. Hate and anger sell. Nativism during distress sells. But it solves nothing.