There's no way around it. Donald Trump has already inflicted a lot of damage

[Jim Lane]

11. I agree. It could be like 1964.

That election, with a Republican nominee who was anathema even to many lifelong Republicans, was an epic GOP wipeout. Goldwater lost by a record or near-record margin, and the Democratic wave pulled in many House and Senate candidates. Some people asked if the Republican Party would ever elect a President again.

Well, the party did elect a President again, in the very next election in fact. Furthermore, it's likely that Goldwater's extreme right-wing candidacy, although unsuccessful in 1964, helped pave the way for Reagan's win in 1980.

This year, it would be nice if Trump not only got clobbered, but took enough other Republicans down with him to give us Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress. Even if that happens, though, it could turn out in the long run that Trump has indeed unleashed an ugly id, which a smoother candidate might then tap for a successful run.