Jesse Ventura and Arnold Schwarzenegger were anti-establishment candidate similar to Donald Trump

[Multicolored Lemur]

Jesse Ventura - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Jesse Ventura, a former Vietnam Veteran and Pro Wrestler, was elected the Governor of Minnesota in 1998. And he chose to serve only 1 term [In states that limit Governors to two terms, often you’re pretty much a lame duck during your second term anyway— though I don’t know about Minnesota]

Arnold Schwarzenegger - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

In a special recall election, Arnold was elected in the off-year of 2003. And he served most of 2 terms until 2011.

 

[AgnosticBoy]

I agree they were anti-establishment candidates, but with different styles and views (in some cases) than Trump. Trump did some good things, and some bad things, but unlike many other candidates, he was also blatantly insulting (with the name calling and insults, esp. of Democrat opposition) and divisive, at times.

I would love to see a candidate that is willing to buck the political establishment. Doesn't even have to happen all the time, but at least do it when its obviously needed.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

he was also blatantly insulting (with the name calling and insults, esp. of Democrat opposition) and divisive, at times.

I think a lot of Donald Trump supporters perceive him as being “strong”

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

Ross Perot - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

In 1992, Perot got almost 19% of the popular vote even after dropping out and re-entering the race. His big issue was opposition to NAFTA and his prediction that ratifying this treaty would lead to a “giant sucking sound” of American jobs going to Mexico.

Mainstream economists say, Trade treaties get political opposition because the job loss is concentrated in either certain industries or regions, but the diffuse job gain will more than make up for it.

But—

Rural areas have had a rough go at it for decades now. These voters supported Trump by maybe 70%, maybe more?

And then we get to mainstream economist Alan Blinder who asked, Maybe people care about their jobs more than a bunch of cheap stuff from Walmart? [my paraphrase]

He didn’t give answers, but at least he asked the question.

 

[AgnosticBoy]

@Multicolored Lemur

I also think President Obama was anti-establishment during his 2008 campaign and that brought a lot of energy. He was against lobbyists and the "Washington experience". Of course, then candidate CLinton touted her Washington experience as making her more prepared for the job. In the end, Obama became the Democrat nominee and went up against another Washington establishment candidate, i.e. John McCain. We all know who won that one.

So maybe there is something to be said about anti-establishment candidates.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

I also think President Obama was anti-establishment during his 2008 campaign

Sure, in some sense, Senator Obama was an anti-establishment candidate. But he made just a dreadful mistake at an April 2008 fundraiser.


Senator Obama: “So it's not surprising, then, that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment.”

I mean, for a seasoned person not to get that some people just are religious [it works for them] even if their external circumstances are going very well.

This statement dogged President Obama during his entire 8 years, as if he was some kind of secret socialist or secret radical. When in fact, he’s about the most middle of the road guy imaginable. In some areas, too middle of the road.

Plus, our country was just not ready to have a black guy as president.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

Bernie Sanders came reasonably close to winning the Democratic nomination in both 2016 and 2020, and he has strong anti-establishment views.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

And of course, Donald J. Trump was and is again an anti-establishment candidate. To me, he comes with a lot of baggage.

And he wasn’t able to deliver the goods.

And in fact, no one can bring back manufacturing jobs. What a person can do is bend the future curve as it pertains to middle-income jobs.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

How the American middle class has changed in the past five decades

The share of adults who live in middle-class households fell from 61% in 1971 to 50% in 2021, according to a new analysis.

www.pewresearch.org

This is just one data point, but just look at it! Only 4 percentage points of American adults have moved downward from Middle to Lower. And 7 have moved upward.

It’s still a thinning of the middle class and income polarization, but much less than a lot of people would have guessed has happened. But perhaps,

things just feel different . . .

I ask, Let’s not dismiss either one. Let’s not dismiss either gut feelings of how things are, or specific facts. At least not this one [above and beyond that Pew Research is often pretty good], but just that this is a hugely important issue. A large, vibrant, and indeed messy middle class probably determines the future direction of our nation.

 

[AgnosticBoy]

I think anti-establishment is probably a big draw for independents like myself, and that's probably the case for a good number of Democrats and Republicans. That's one reason why Vivek Ramaswamy (republican presidential candidate) stands out to me. It's not that I agree with all of his views, but it's that he's probably the only anti-establishment candidate out there.