But now we have Democrats on one side and Republicans on the other side lighting a dumpster fire. The Republican Party is a cult, enslaved by unstable bullies and would-be authoritarians. He was captured by the man who sent armed insurrectionists into the Capitol in a violent attempt to overturn his defeat in a free and fair election. He is taken hostage by a man who punishes those deemed disloyal with political executions.
At the 2020 Republican National Convention, the Republican Party did not even present a party platform. Instead, it simply affirmed its “strong support for President Donald Trump” and his “America First policies” no matter what the moment.
It would be foolish for the people to expect the Republican Party to rise up and take over their freedom at this point. Here's a look at how Congressional negotiations over border security and aid to Ukraine have changed since President Trump's victory in New Hampshire on Tuesday. Just last week, Republican senators, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, expressed optimism that the bill would be quickly approved by the Senate. But on Wednesday, McConnell said in a closed session of his caucus that there may no longer be a path forward for the bill because President Trump opposes any relief for the border crisis that would make President Biden look good. He said no.
This is madness. Democrats are giving Republicans something they have wanted for years and may never be offered again. It would tighten border security without offering a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants already in the country, including “Dreamers.” But dear President Trump said no, and suddenly Republican senators were afraid to say yes.
It's clear that Republicans in Congress have no intention of freeing up the party. And it seems doubtful that the Republican base intends to break the chains that bind it.
Nikki Haley, a former ambassador to the United Nations, performed well in New Hampshire and became a staunch anti-Trump opponent. But her next primary is in a month, and it's in her home state, where she may feel less welcome. For four long weeks, she must endure devastating personal attacks from President Trump and calls from prominent Republicans to withdraw from the race in the name of party unity. And if she were to arrive on February 24th, it would take a miracle.
The average South Carolina poll by RealClearPolitics shows Trump with a 30-point lead. These polls were conducted before other Republican candidates dropped out, so Haley can be expected to close the gap. But virtually all of the state's elected Republicans have backed Trump, including Sen. Tim Scott, whom Haley first appointed to the Senate in 2013 when she was governor. Hampshire Victory Speech.
It is also a mistake to expect the judicial system to help the party. One or two of the criminal cases against Trump could be concluded by November with a conviction or acquittal. But that seems increasingly unlikely to me. Even if the former president were a felon, it's hard to imagine the party throwing him overboard.
What can save the Republican Party itself? Defeat. An overwhelming, clear defeat.
Our political parties will reform and rebuild after a harsh rebuke from voters. After the resignation of President Richard M. Nixon and the disastrous aimlessness of the Gerald Ford administration, the Republican Party reunited to become the party of Ronald Reagan. His policies were not ones I agreed with, but they were consistent and negotiable. After Jimmy Carter, Walter Mondale, and Michael Dukakis lost consecutive presidential elections, their parties turned to Bill Clinton and the “New Democratic Party.” Their ideas were a break with the past and were once again united as an ideology.
If you want the Republican Party to be a serious conservative party and not a MAGA cult, send the Republican Party into the wilderness. Please vote for Biden. Take control of the House of Representatives from Republicans. Give Democrats a majority in the Senate. Vote for Republican officials from your state capitol, city hall, and school board.
Let's create metaphorical ashes for a new Republican Party to rise from.