Off Base

Peggy Noonan believes that neither political party in Washington likes their base. The Republicans think their base is "a bore" and the Democrats believe their base is "barking mad." Noonan doesn't say so, but seems to imply that the Republicans should respect their base more and the Democrats demonstrate balance by ignoring/running away from their base.

I'm wondering, how will either party be elected by such a disaffected electorate? Will all the protests of the base end up like this: Conservatives and Moderates end up voting for a Republican because any Democrat who is electable must say and do absolutely insane things to get the nomination? Those inevitable crazy rantings scare off anyone considering going Democrat even being disaffected and sick of contemptuous treatment by Republican leadership.

Rational voters are stuck between Dumb and Dumber.