Trump Republicans won't be convinced to "moderate" their views.

[Tom Rinaldo]

Not the party functionaries and elected officials anyway. They're all in with the madness now, having burnt their bridges back to the mainstream a long time ago, if ever they once existed. The true fanatics have their entire identity wrapped up in Trump worship and support for conspiracy cults, white nationalism, and fascist movements. The cynical pragmatist Republicans, those who live to get reelected, chose to swerve hard right at every fork in the road they came to over the last year. They don't have fuel to explore a different way forward now. For Republican U.S. Senators the last exit off the dirt road they are barreling down is rapidly approaching with Trump's impeachment trial, and few seem inclined to take it.

Positions have hardened, trenches have been dug and battle lines fixed. Total opportunists like Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham have all placed their bets, there is no more backing down or away possible for them. They've signed onto the Pirate Ship and they'll go down with it if they can't reach a safe insurrectionist harbor.

It is theoretically possible that the Republican Party, sometime over the next four years, might offer up a scattering of more moderate leaders, but it won't be through the conversion of any of the current office holders who have thrown in their lot with the rabble. If moderating change ever comes to the Republican Party it will be over the politically dead bodies of those who currently hold power within it.

Democrats, up to and including President Joe Biden, can still reason with reasonable Republicans, but for the most part that entails reaching out to the minority of relatively sane Republican voters left in America in any quest for common ground.The vast majority of Republican elected officials have already jumped off any fences they might have been straddling, and landed with the insurrectionists. And that is how they must be known and dealt with.

[Wounded Bear]

1. Dems need to continue to GOTV...

The 2018 wave was nice, but we barely escaped 2020 with a win, especially in the House. We need to continue to swamp them at the polls. If we can continue to win big, we can kill the gerrymandering and actually make the US a better place to live in.

[Midnight Writer]

3. Exactly. Lots of stories about GOP infighting, but they will be back strong in 2022.

We can't let up. Get out the vote is our best strategy.

[Tom Rinaldo]

6. Steve Schmidt was right when he said our side can't afford to lose a national election

for the foreseeable future, because that could lead to the end of real "small D"elections if we did.

[Thekaspervote]

12. Agree! We Dems are so she'll shocked from orange man and his criminal cabal we will still have

Momentum going into the midterms fearful of a repeat.

The pukes think they are poised to retake the house, that’s really premature. We just have to do what we’ve done the last two Ntl elections..raise lots of money and vote...no matter what

[OnDoutside]

14. Yes, double down on GOTV, and if Biden get Covid under control, with the economy back on the road

to recovery, 2022 will look a lot better,especially with no Trump on the ballot.

[onecaliberal]

2. About 30 thousand republicans changed parties over the past two weeks alone.

It’s early.

[Midnight Writer]

4. That doesn't mean they are going for Dems. Just like viewers fleeing FOX.

Many are Trumpers who don't think the GOP (or FOX) are hardcore enough.

[onecaliberal]

8. No, they think the GOP went off the deep end.

Ali velshi did a story about it last night on the Lawrence O show.

[Thekaspervote]

11. Saw that piece and he's right

Plus donors are throwing the gop under the bus. Margarine green’s biggest donor has pulled out, saying she’s gone too far

[onecaliberal]

13. We can only hope these donors grow a conscience.

Terrible situation to be in but I hope they defund the GOP.

[Tom Rinaldo]

5. Which is why it is still possible that different Republicans could win future elections

An ex-Republican is free to vote for someone running as a Republican if they are so inclined, but it won't be for those now tarred by Trumpism. Robert E. Lee was given a chance to side with the Union, but he threw in his lot with the Confederacy instead. That was an irrevocable choice with no turning back. Republican officials who threw in with Trump will now wear that uniform until the battle is settled.

[Bayard]

7. They have definitely crossed the Rubicon

You would think some of the younger ones--like Hawley--would seen the value in moderation. But apparently they are even more power mad than the seniors.

[Tom Rinaldo]

9. "crossed the Rubicon" Perfect metaphor

You make an excellent point regarding age. Worst case (for them), elected Republicans in their 30's, 40's, and 50's could afford to spend a term out of office in exile were they to lose a Republican primary during the next four years to a Trump loving extremist. But by chaining themselves to Trump now, if his movement goes down so do they. They placed a huge bet on the extremists who have taken over the Republican Party for now. They may not be able to win without them in the short term, but they may never be able to win again period if Trump;s bandwagon crashes and burns, which I still think is the more likely ultimate outcome.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

10. The Radical Republican Reich destroys. Government and our democracy are in their way.