Macron developed a center-right program outside of the existing party system and succeeded in blowing the system up. Could that happen here?
It’s easy to imagine how it could work. GOP members appalled by Trump and Democrats concerned about the potential costs of a Sanders presidency could come together with a program based on relatively open borders (no protectionism), acceptance of current law on abortion and gay rights, no significant tax increases or decreases, support for climate change regulation, increased infrastructure spending to boost growth, and moderate cuts to entitlement programs.
Is it realistic? Probably not, for two reasons. First, the party system is far more entrenched here than it is in France, where the conservatives change their name about every five minutes. To my knowledge, there is no French equivalent of Fox News or our beloved right-wing talk show hosts. Second, in order to win, the new grouping would have to coax almost all of the PBP voters away from the GOP without promising them big tax cuts. I can’t see that happening in the absence of a complete Trump Administration meltdown.