I have written repeatedly on the toxicity of this debate in the context of the Republican Party, which leads to all sorts of grandstanding and calls to send armed troops to stop the influx of the dreaded fereners. But Santorum’s message takes this to a new level, targeting not the lawbreaker but all immigrants, even the ones who stood in line legally and were not subject to Barack Obama’s sweeping executive amnesty. It is also a message likely to play well with the initial populations of Republican voters looking to blame someone for stagnant wages. The true story about wage stagnation – that wage increases have been hoovered up by regulatory requirements, mandates, and the rising costs of health care and higher education – is less appealing than the simple opportunity to blame the guy who doesn’t look like you…

Here’s an interesting thought experiment. Combine the fiery Culture War 4.0 experience with the immigration rhetoric, the trade skepticism, and the anti-globalist flavor of current Republican populists. Which candidate from the past two decades really matches up best with their priorities and temperament? If you said Pat Buchanan 1996, you might be right.