Trumpism has taken over: but what happens to the Republican Party if Trump loses?
Trumpism has taken over: but what happens to the Republican Party if Trump loses?
Never Trump activists are hoping to purge his brand of nativist demagoguery but the end of Trump might not necessarily mean the end of Trumpism
David Smith in Washington
@smithinamerica
Published onSat 8 Aug 2020 05.30 EDT
(Guardian UK) Whither Trumpism? said one. What will a post-Trump GOP look like? asked another. Republicans prep for leadership battle if Trump goes down, said a third. On the trail: the first signs of a post-Trump GOP, offered a fourth.
Anyone who remembers the 2016 presidential election knows it is too soon to write Donald Trumps political obituary, but a recent crop of headlines illuminate a growing angst over the fate of the Republican party if, as polls currently suggest, he goes down to defeat in November.
Republican politicians are jostling for position with an eye on 2024. Never Trump activists are hoping to purge his brand of nativist demagoguery from the party. Authors and commentators are pondering whether a post-Trump Republican party should resemble the pre-Trump one or if it needs to start over.
Peggy Noonan, a columnist for the Wall Street Journal, asked: Where did Donald Trump come from? Where is the GOP going? Should the whole thing be burned down? Bret Stephens, a columnist at the New York Times, noted that if Trump loses, the future of the party will be up for grabs. Its time to start thinking about who can grab it, who should, and who will.
The debate has been fueled by hints Trumps current iron grip on the party might weaken. Republican leaders roundly rejected his idea of postponing the election because of the coronavirus pandemic. In negotiations over the latest economic stimulus package, they brushed aside his proposals for a payroll tax cut and a new FBI building. .............(more)
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/aug/08/trump-republican-party-future-election-trumpism
bluedye33139
(1,474 posts)It also underscores why platforming conservatives leads to a distorted perception of how the United States thinks and functions. People overseas read Noonan and Bret Stevens and they have no idea that these people are weirdos who represent a borderline extremist position.
chriscan64
(1,789 posts)their voters will just look around for the next Trump. I'll take a stab at Peggy Noonan's question, he came from this frothing mob of radio listeners who always wanted someone like Trump, and he filled the role perfectly. Lincoln Project types can dream all they want about rebuilding the party from a more sane, reality based template, but they won't get the votes to do any of it. When Trump loses, there will be no reflection about, "what did we do wrong?" or "do we need a different type of candidate?". Democrats will be blamed for cheating somehow, and the search for Trump II will begin.
SWBTATTReg
(21,859 posts)to run under their political umbrella, doesn't acknowledge or ignores legal rulings to whatever suits them best, ignores bad or distasteful news, and doesn't give a hoot about what American voters want, but instead, they listen to their billionaire and millionaire buddies harping about their endless tax cuts.
Chainfire
(17,305 posts)can not escape their responsibility for installing and maintaining Trump. They deserve to be driven from the political scene for he foreseeable future. The Democrats are going to have to learn, for the first time, how to wield the power of the majority, and put the party of rich white men and haters in their proper place.
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(107,085 posts)They jumped on the Trump train with all eagerness. I can't feel sorry for them.
JustGene
(421 posts)Midnight Writer
(21,547 posts)There will be infighting, power struggles, and repositioning, then the same Party with different players will emerge.
There will NOT be soul searching, changes of heart, or reform.
It is a pathology. They can't help it. They have built their Party by appealing to cranks, and now the cranks have taken over, whether that crank is a Donald Trump or a Ted Cruz or a Tom Cotton.
Edwcraig
(287 posts)Prior to Trump even announcing, a Republican parade had formed, marching to the beat of the white racists. It was looking for a leader. It did not matter if that leader shot someone on 5th Avenue. They wanted a leader that would vanquish minorities. They were in ecstatic when he jumped in front of their parade and proclaimed.
When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best. They're sending people that have lots of problems, and they're bringing those problems with us. They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists.
They were sold.
It was a Republican parade of racists. Racists and those who do not believe in government, because government since LBJ, helped minorities and those that need help. Reading this article, you would think the conservative Grand Ole Party was hijacked by Donald Trump. The beautiful pristine, virtuous and conservative Republican Party was duped by a monster. Here is the thing. Donald Trump is a Republican. Over 85% of Republicans today APPROVE of the job he is doing. Sorry, Trump is a Republican. The Republicans are Trump. And there never was a conservative , virtuous Republican Party.
CaptYossarian
(6,448 posts)The orange festering pustule has permanently damaged its "brand".
I'm more curious about individuals after one of our people becomes AG. Convictions and incarcerations as far as the eye can see.