Kindlehighlight Quote by Thomas Frank
““In 1991, though, began an uprising that would propel those reptilian Republicans from a tiny splinter group into the state’s dominant political faction, that would reduce Kansas Democrats to third-party status, and that would wreck what remained of the state’s progressive legacy. We are accustomed to thinking of the backlash as a phenomenon of the seventies (the busing riots, the tax revolt) or the eighties (the Reagan revolution); in Kansas the great move to the right was a story of the nineties, a story of the present.””
About This Quote
Source Book: “The Rise of the Right: How the Kansas Republican Party Took Over” by Thomas Frank, 2015
The 1990s marked a pivotal shift where a fringe group seized power, reshaping Kansas politics and marginalizing progressives.
In simple terms: A small group’s rise transformed state politics, sidelining progressives.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how fringe movements can become dominant.
Themes
politics
power shifts
regional history
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
historical
political
When to use this quote
- political analysis
- campaign planning
Key Concepts
party realignment
grassroots mobilization
electoral strategy
Questions to Reflect On
- What factors enable fringe groups to gain mainstream power?
- How can progressives rebuild influence?
A Different Perspective
Dominant parties can still be challenged by emerging coalitions.
![“Even when the [Ronald] Reagan revolution happened, it was in large way, a "'Let's make America great again' without saying that" kind of a movement, don't you feel? It was kind of a throwback to an earlier generation.” quote by Cynthia Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b5f/cynthia-nixon-3718_america_even-when-the-ronald-reagan-revolution-h_2743795.jpg)
