I am asking this question for all levels of government. Because it seems the best folks don't always win. And the popular guy can't always govern. I'm confused.
So who ever talks the best about the parties ideals win? Is this with the citizens or the political professionals?
Whomever shows allegiance to the most outrageous implications of their ideology wins. The Republicans have even institutionalized this. And they have ideology "auditors" like Grover Norquist and the NRA.
Yep, but don't leave the dems hanging dry. You have to be retardedly "progressive" to get anywhere in Portland. At the state level you better have your ideas align with former New York mayor and non-Oregon resident Michael Bloomberg or you're going to be fighting an uphill battle against whoever he funds.
Politicians are not free to do or say what they want. Hillary Clinton is the best example of this I've found: a straight ahead shill. She has no principle, she will blow whatever way the wind blows her. Power is the goal and whatever achieves that is the position to take. Now consider a principled candidate running against her. They would get ruined. Politics is a game of power. There is no right or wrong, only winners and losers. Do you want to be a loser? People want easy answers. This is why neither side in any way represents their base.