The future of the Republican Party

Two hot topics for the price of one

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historia
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The future of the Republican Party

Post #1

Post by historia »

From the Wall Street Journal:
Seib wrote:
President Trump’s term, which began with Republicans fully in charge of Washington and the promise of a new kind of populist leadership, effectively came to an end Wednesday [January 6] with his party aflame and out of power, some of its top leaders excoriated by a president they had loyally supported, and a mob of Trump supporters occupying and vandalizing the Capitol.
Questions for debate:

Will / Should Trump continue to shape the future of the Republican party now that he is out of office?

Will / Should the stain of defeat and insurrection compel the GOP to chart a different course?

Will / Should Trump and his supporters found a new political party?

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John Bauer
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Re: The future of the Republican Party

Post #2

Post by John Bauer »

[Replying to historia in post #1]

1(a). Will Trump continue to shape the future of the Republican party now that he is out of office?

The GOP is in shambles and disarray. I cannot fathom a way for them to toe the line between Reagan Democrats and right-wing fascists like the religious right. I think the Trump administration showed that it can't be done. Republicans will probably try to continue holding together but it would be better if American conservatives split into two parties, where only one has a chance at getting elected. Let's go back to the Rockefeller Republicans and the Old Right (now called paleoconservatives). Everything I liked about the Republican party is pre-Goldwater (1933-1964), like William F. Buckley Jr. and H. L. Mencken.

But George H. W. Bush, Newt Gingrich, Rush Limbaugh, Jerry Falwell, and so on? Ugh.

1(b). Should Trump continue to shape the future of the Republican party now that he is out of office?

The realist part of me says no: If the GOP is to survive, Trump needs to disappear. The cynical part of me says yes: The GOP should not survive, so Trump should keep wreaking havoc. Republicans have been a growing disaster since the 1980s and the Moral Majority. I blame evangelicals and their nationalism, imperialism, and theocratic aspirations.

2(a). Will the stain of defeat and insurrection compel the GOP to chart a different course?

Perhaps eventually. But the religious right still wields enormous power in the GOP. Until they are willing to abandon the religious right and its voting bloc, the GOP will feel they cannot afford to chart a different course.

2(b). Should the stain of defeat and insurrection compel the GOP to chart a different course?

If they want to remain viable. I hope they don't.

3(a). Will Trump and his supporters found a new political party?

I doubt it.

3(b). Should Trump and his supporters found a new political party?

Yes. Or, better yet, they shouldn't—and render the Republican party no longer viable.
"Man is a rational animal who always loses his temper when he is called upon to act
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is contempt prior to investigation."
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Re: The future of the Republican Party

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Post by MMeekins88 »

3(a). Will Trump and his supporters found a new political party?

From what is said it's feasible Trump is going to found a new political party. He might form his party under the name 'The Patriot Party'. I would be happy if he was joined by some Republican politicians. I'd love to see Rand Paul there as well since he's one my favorite 'Don't spend where it isn't necessary' people.

Both of these parties are over for me. Politics don't mean anything to me since it's all suspicious and they have got nothing interesting or honest to offer. Live is too short to be angered by these liars.

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Re: The future of the Republican Party

Post #4

Post by The Barbarian »

America needs a pro-Constitution, right-center political party. At the moment, we don't have one. The destruction of the republican party under Trump is serious, not because it led to democrats taking over the government, but because the two parties were a check on each other.

That's gone now. And the divide will continue until we get republican and democrat leaders who can at least respect each other.

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Re: The future of the Republican Party

Post #5

Post by The Kangaroo »

[Replying to historia in post #1]

Will / Should Trump continue to shape the future of the Republican party now that he is out of office?

Answer: At least in the 2022 and 2024 election cycles, they will. Should they? Answer: No because they've gone full-bore fascist.

Will / Should the stain of defeat and insurrection compel the GOP to chart a different course?

Answer: In normal times, of course to both. However, these are not normal times.

Will / Should Trump and his supporters found a new political party?

Answer: Very probably not, because to form a viable political party is nigh to impossible in this day and age. The Democrats and Republicans generally have an unspoken agreement to have a duopoly. The Republicans don't want a party further to the right competing with them, and the Democrats don't want a party further to the left competing with them. That way, those on the far left and far right do not have a viable alternative. This is codified in laws of the states and territories (Puerto Rico has varying parties tied to retaining its commonwealth status, becoming a state, or becoming independent). For a 3rd or 4th party to get on the ballot they must get yea number of votes for President or Governor or whatever in the last election. Libertarians, Socialist Workers, etc., usually make it but these are not really political parties so much as interest groups. Now in New York, they have the Working Families Party, the Conservative Party, The Liberal Party, The Right to Life Party, etc., but, get this, a candidate can be the nominee of two or more parties. In 1970 James Buckley, a conservative, defeated liberal Republican Senator Jacob Javits for the Republican nomination, but Javits won the Liberal Party nomination. So there was a three way race in November that year. Buckley won, but by less than 50%. I forget who the Democrat was, but he had to compete with Javits for liberal votes so Buckley won. Buckley was defeated for re-election in 1976 against a more united opposition. In just about any other state, that's not possible. George Wallace in 1968 and H. Ross Perot in 1992 and 1996, got on all state ballots, but that was a rarity. If you want to start a political party from scratch do it in another country. Israel has a large number of parties as does Germany, France, and Greece, to name a few.

In Great Britain in about 1967 a huckster named Lord Such ran for Prime Minister on the Teenage Party which was sort of libertarian. It was a joke. You can do that in the U.S., but people have to write in your name.

Keep in mind generally the election judge determines who can vote and in what manner. Most are elderly and not in touch with the nuances even if they attend training. Texas generally does not allow write-ins in primary elections. in 1976, Jerry Brown ran for the Democratic nomination for President but he wasn't on the Texas ballot. A couple came to one polling place and wanted to vote for him, so the election judge gave each a blank affidavit form which stated "I hereby promise and swear [fill in the blank]" and they both wrote "Jerry Brown" in the blank, nothing else. I worked in the county clerk's office and found them. I think we just put the affidavits in a file cabinet and that was that, since they didn't count anyway.

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