If Trump disappeared tomorrow, the GOP wouldn't change one bit

[MatthewG.]

17. Might actually be worse if Trump vanished.

If Trump vanished things might get worse. Despite Trump’s rabid following among Republicans, he’s not hugely popular in the country as a whole. Even Americans who aren’t committed Democrats, like most of us here, generally concede he’s an emotionally immature and sleazy figure. If the GOP is to have a face, best it be someone universally acknowledged as an a——-e.


Trump’s also a fairly incompetent at almost everything except name recognition (I will grant he’s got a talent for getting himself talked about.) An organization led by incompetent figurehead is probably dangerous than a competently managed one, particularly when we’re talking about an incompetent figurehead who’s inner circle constantly finds itself at odds with the law.

I actually fear the next GOP would-be strongman will be a much more dangerous figure, possibly a true autocrat able to win Pentagon support and establish himself as a true despot. One of the lessons of Trumpism is that most Republicans basically crave a despot, and there are a lot of much smarter Republicans than Trump who might be willing to assume that role once his star fades.