Axios' Jonathan Swan Takes Mediaite Inside the GOP Civil War: 'There's Gonna Be...

[DonViejo]

Axios’ Jonathan Swan Takes Mediaite Inside the GOP Civil War: ‘There’s Gonna Be a Lot of Bloodletting Between Now and 2024’

By Joe DePaolo Feb 8th, 2021, 9:52 am

Until it has a new leader — a process that could take four years or more — the Republican Party is positioned to be a house divided, a leading Washington reporter argues.

Appearing on Mediaite’s The Interview podcast, Axios national political correspondent Jonathan Swan broke down the state of the GOP in a post-Donald Trump America. The first issue, Swan asserts, is that the party isn’t truly post-Trump — as he remains the leading figure among Republicans. The quandary for the party at large is that the former president does not seem interested in building bridges, but rather seeking vengeance on Republicans who have crossed him.

“He has substantial power, but he doesn’t use it in a strategic, or thoughtful, or methodical way,” Swan told Mediaite’s Aidan McLaughlin. “He’s entirely governed by himself, and his ego, and sees everything through his own aggrandizement. So it’s not as if he’s calling the RNC and saying, please put out this messaging plan. Or calling [House Minority Leader Kevin] McCarthy and saying ‘you need to do this legislation.’ He doesn’t give a hoot about that stuff. It’s more about loyalty tests. Where he does feel engaged is wanting to punish people who go after him.”

Trump, according to Swan, applauded the effort to oust Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) from a leadership position. The fact that she retained her top post indicated that Trump’s power within the GOP is not absolute. Still, the Axios reporter believes Republicans who go against the former president do so at their own peril.

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https://www.mediaite.com/podcasts/axios-jonathan-swan-takes-mediaite-inside-the-gop-civil-war-theres-gonna-be-a-lot-of-bloodletting-between-now-and-2024/

[Baked Potato]

1. 2024 is not the year to be thinking of.

While Democrats ponder the sweet division that awaits, but never materializes, the GOP will be working on getting the House back.

[Cosmocat]

2. Some thoughts

I tend to agree to an extent.

The one thing is their LONG and relentless programed mindset that liberals are the spawn of satan is the glue that binds the collation together. They can be fractured until there is a D on the ballot, then the vote against that person.

That said ... if the dems go to work negatively framing the Rs NOW like they should have long ago, they can make a little hay as long as 45 has appeal. You do see them working to tie republicans to Q, and now Joe is going to punish those who vote against Covid relief.

[Baked Potato]

7. I'm always hopeful the next terrible scandal will be "The One" that

turns the tide. I think we are doing what we can with what have right now. I think it’s just a matter of time until Dump gets hit with multiple serious felonies. If that happens, maybe that will at least make Dump and evil not profitable for the GOP. Republicans have that weapon they use whenever they really need to get their people back—fear. I think eventually they will disavow Q and I know Joe Biden will keep on keeping on, and I hope it can get us a bigger margin in the House.

[lagomorph777]

3. Yup. 2022 is crucial. We are on the precipice.

[CrispyQ]

5. New voters are fickle.

We absolutely must GOTV for 2022 as hard as we did in 2020. Their side will be fired up on two years of grievances & the media will amplify their voice like they always do for the right.

[lagomorph777]

6. Exactly.

[Baked Potato]

8. Agreed.

[CrispyQ]

4. It remains to be seen who wins the Republican Party infrastructure.

The moderates are losing, IMO.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100215070800

[januoro]

9. There's no civil war. 5% of GOP is against Trumpism

95% for it.

[roamer65]

10. Most have already left.

But there are enuff more to make the repukes a permanent minority party.