Can progressives learn anything from Republicans?

[Rev. Rye]

I guess my question is, why do republicans keep winning with such bad ideas?  And whatever the method to the madness is, can democrats harness that for their good ideas?

The last time we tried to learn from the Republicans, we ended up with political correctness, the reactionary and censorious mentality of the right applied to the concerns of the left. And as much of a resurgence as it's been getting, I can't see it working long-term.

Really, the Republicans keep winning because they take advantage of the fact that the people are undereducated (due partly to their gutting our educational system), and try to bill totally impossible policies as "common sense". That and appealing to the darker side of the American Id. If there's any other legitimate reason Trump made it so damn far (besides Russian interference and people being disenchanted with Obama), I'd like to hear it.