R.I.P., G.O.P.

[Zorro]

The Party of Lincoln had a good run. Then came Mr. Trump.

By The Editorial Board

Of all the things President Trump has destroyed, the Republican Party is among the most dismaying.

“Destroyed” is perhaps too simplistic, though. It would be more precise to say that Mr. Trump accelerated his party’s demise, exposing the rot that has been eating at its core for decades and leaving it a hollowed-out shell devoid of ideas, values or integrity, committed solely to preserving its own power even at the expense of democratic norms, institutions and ideals.

Tomato, tomahto. However you characterize it, the Republican Party’s dissolution under Mr. Trump is bad for American democracy.

A healthy political system needs robust, competing parties to give citizens a choice of ideological, governing and policy visions. More specifically, center-right parties have long been crucial to the health of modern liberal democracies, according to the Harvard political scientist Daniel Ziblatt’s study of the emergence of democracy in Western Europe. Among other benefits, a strong center right can co-opt more palatable aspects of the far right, isolating and draining energy from the more radical elements that threaten to destabilize the system.

Today’s G.O.P. does not come close to serving this function. It has instead allowed itself to be co-opted and radicalized by Trumpism. Its ideology has been reduced to a slurry of paranoia, white grievance and authoritarian populism. Its governing vision is reactionary, a cross between obstructionism and owning the libs. Its policy agenda, as defined by the party platform, is whatever President Trump wants — which might not be so pathetic if Mr. Trump’s interests went beyond “Build a wall!”

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/24/opinion/sunday/trump-republican-party.html

[TwilightZone]

1. They haven't been a functioning party since Obama got elected.

They've taken it to a new level under Trump, of course, but they've been completely useless (outside of packing the courts)for a dozen years now.

[PSPS]

6. Reagan began its transformation into an anti-american movement

[TwilightZone]

7. Yes, but they were a functional party until Obama.

It was then that they decided the best course of action was to do nothing. And nothing they have done.

Even Newt Gingrich looked competent and cooperative compared to these clowns. And he was a jackass.

[keithbvadu2]

12. "do nothing" - They don't even have a platform.

"do nothing" -

They don't even have a platform.

'Believe in the cult.'

[Blue Owl]

2. Is there a grave I can relieve myself on?

[pwb]

3. My Opinion I am good with them on the back burner. They can't legislate or

govern. All they know is how to take away, and go R=reverse.

[keithbvadu2]

13. Trump never wanted to lead or govern. He wants to rule.

[bronxiteforever]

4. Kick & recommend. And this

sentence is the best description:

(The GOP) is hollowed-out shell devoid of ideas, values or integrity, committed solely to preserving its own power even at the expense of democratic norms, institutions and ideals.

[captain queeg]

5. RIH rest in hell

[unblock]

8. They are not remotely dead. Anyone marginally more competent than Donnie could be a dictator.

Let's not kid ourselves. The forces that brought Donnie to power and enabled him and kept him there aren't really going anywhere. Even if we win the trifecta, the right wing will still control the courts and the media and the money.

And there will still be a rabid right wing 40% and a sizable group of low information swing voters and A lot of structural advantages for republicans.

Anyone just a tad more reasonable than Donnie could come in in 2024 and pick up right where Donnie left off and turn America into a real authoritarian nightmare.

We've got a *lot* of work to do in the next 4 years to make that as hard for them as possible. We might only have 2 years....

[Earthshine2]

14. This is well said. The GOP will be back in 2022 and 2024.

No matter what Biden does as president, many on the left and right will be unhappy with the results. It is inevitable. It's just politics.

One concern of mine is that Biden will run the country like he ran the Clarence Thomas confirmation proceedings. Namely, that in the interest of being fair, he'll give too much deference to the GOP.

[Catcar]

9. Trump did not destroy the GOP, the GOP created Trump in its own image & destroyed itself from within

[RicROC]

10. yes, the GOP has 40% of the electorate....

but the real problem is that the GOP is owned by the 1%. The blue collar non-college graduate cannot exert the influence upon our political system like these extraordinarily obscenely wealthy donors are doing.

[DinahMoeHum]

11. The GOP is not worth saving. Burn the whole motherfucker down. . .

. . .and Start. All. Over.

[Earthshine2]

15. I agree with you. But I doubt that most Dem politicians will be on board with this agenda. nt