Wake up, Republicans. Your party stands for all the wrong things now.
He bet that Republican voters didn’t really care about free trade or mutual security, or about the environment or Europe, much less deficits. He rebranded kindness and compassion as “PC” and elevated division and bigotry as the admirable goals of just being politically incorrect. Trump didn’t make Americans more racist; he just normalized the resentments that were simmering in many households. Wake up, Republicans. Your party stands for all the wrong things now.
JANUARY 01, 2020
President Trump at his Dec. 18 rally in Michigan. (Brittany Greeson/For The Washington Post)
Stuart Stevens is a writer and GOP political consultant who is working with a political action committee that backs Bill Weld for president.
One way to find out: As you are out and about marking the new year, it is likely you will come across a Republican to whom you can pose the question, preferably after a drink or two, as that tends to work as truth serum: “Look, I was just wondering: What’s the Republican Party all about these days? What does it, well, stand for?”
I’m betting the answer is going to involve a noun, a verb and either “socialism” or “Democrats.” Republicans now partly define their party simply as an alternative to that other party, as in, “I’m a Republican because I’m not a Democrat.”
In a long-forgotten era — say, four years ago — such a question would have elicited a very different answer. Though there was disagreement over specific issues, most Republicans would have said the party stood for some basic principles: fiscal sanity, free trade, strong on Russia, and that character and personal responsibility count. Today it’s not that the Republican Party has forgotten these issues and values; instead, it actively opposes all of them.
Republicans are now officially the character doesn’t count party, the personal responsibility just proves you have failed to blame the other guy party, the deficit doesn’t matter party, the Russia is our ally party, and the I’m-right-and-you-are-human-scum party. Yes, it’s President Trump’s party now, but it stands only for what he has just tweeted.
A party without a governing theory, a higher purpose or a clear moral direction is nothing more than a cartel, a syndicate that exists only to advance itself. There is no organized, coherent purpose other than the acquisition and maintenance of power.
This is a sad fall. In Ronald Reagan’s America, being born an American was to win’s life lottery; in Donald Trump’s America, it makes you a victim, a patsy, a chump.
Trump didn’t hijack the GOP and bend it to his will. He did something far easier: He looked at the party, saw its fault lines and then offered himself as a pure distillation of accumulated white grievance and anger. He bet that Republican voters didn’t really care about free trade or mutual security, or about the environment or Europe, much less deficits. He rebranded kindness and compassion as “PC” and elevated division and bigotry as the admirable goals of just being politically incorrect. Trump didn’t make Americans more racist; he just normalized the resentments that were simmering in many households. In short, he let a lot of long-suppressed demons out of the box.
This paranoid element in the party has existed for decades, since the Joe McCarthy era, when some Republicans who saw dark forces threatening the country argued that only radical action by “true” Americans — white, Christian, conservative — could safeguard the nation. Barry Goldwater revived the theme in 1964, and George Wallace won five states with it as a third-party candidate in 1968. I worked in every Republican presidential campaign from 1996 through 2012 and assumed that those guys had long been vanquished and that optimism and inclusion had prevailed. I was wrong.
This impeachment moment and all that has led to it should signal a day of reckoning. A party that has as its sole purpose the protection and promotion of its leader, whatever he thinks, is not on a sustainable path. Can anyone force a change? I’m not optimistic. Trump won with 46.1 percent of the vote in 2016, while Mitt Romney lost with 47.2 percent in 2012; no wonder Republicans have convinced themselves that the path to victory and power lies with angry division. Having ignored the warning signs for years myself, I know the seductive lure of believing what you prefer while ignoring the obvious truth.
Which is this: We are a long way — more than a half-century — from 1968, much less 1952. The United States is now a diverse, chaotic collection of 330 million people , a country of immigrants and multiculturalism that is growing less white every day. It is not some gauzy Shangri-La of suburban bliss that never existed.
I’d like to say that I believe the party I spent so many years fighting for could rise to the challenge of this moment. But there have been too many lies for too long.
Republicans are now officially the character doesn’t count party
Trump has no character and the "new" Republicans revere him, so obviously they are the "character doesnt count" party. No argument possible.
, the personal responsibility just proves you have failed to blame the other guy party,
Trump never takes responsibility, he looks for flunkies and fall guys. Again, no argument.
the deficit doesn’t matter party,
Republicans used to be concerned with the national debt. Their bad. The concern only applies when someone other than Trump is is office.
the Russia is our ally party,
Trump has made quite a show of saying Putin is right about this or that, and American experts on the given subject are wrong. Republicans now must accept that Russia has the US best interest at heart.
and the I’m-right-and-you-are-human-scum party.
All you need to see that this is the Trumpster mind set is read NT every day.
Character hasn't counted since Bill Clinton beat George Bush. Democrats were quite open about that when Clinton was impeached for perjury and obstructing justice. They were more than happy to nominate Hillary Clinton, who has been walking the fine line of criminality since since she first entered public life, and who was called a congenital liar by the New York Times 25 years ago, just last election. The idea that Democrats care about character is simply absurd...
The rest of your examples apply to the Democratic Party just as well. The idea that the Democrats stand for anything other than obtaiming power and using it to keep themselves rich and powerful is simply absurd. Hunter Biden is what the Democrats do with power. Take from productive people and give it to family and friends. It's the best grift going.
Trump is a walking encyclopedia and factory of character malfunctions, psychological aberrations, moral lapses, and intellectual deficiencies. He has virtually every immoral , devious and uncaring fault of character ever ascribed to mankind.
His supporters tactic to combat those sad facts is to array Trump against every Democrat since the Civil War. Trump lies like this Democrat, cheats like a another one, stumbles on his thoughts like a third, and cheats on his wife like yet another. It takes a whole history of Democratic bad behavior, across decades if not centuries, to equal the shitshow produced by one present day orange Republican.
Sean,
Let's be honest about things.
Character was never an issue during that election.
You seem to forget 4+ years of the BS of Whitewater. They got him on being a cheating husband who lied to cover his ass. Wow how unusual for a cheating husband. We have progressed so far from there. Now it's OK to have been a cheating husband.
Criminality? Come on Sean. I'll give you liar.
I doubt either party has the high ground there.
Both parties are about seizing power. That is why they would never allow a viable third party. They don't want any competition.
Perrie, do you honestly believe that Hillary Clinton is a liar anywhere near on the level of Donald Trump?
A different kind of liar. Trump lies even when he doesn't have to. Hillary was calculated. But then again, I am sure over half the state dept had liars in it, in any administration.
And here's why. They spent $70 million on Whitewater, and you know that the real person they were after was Clinton.
And we are talking about Bill not Hilary. Second this was what was determined:
Not much given how much Ken Starr went after them.
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You believe Sean wasn’t being honest in his post?
That is hilarious, coming from you.
Wait, what? The WWII hero vs the draft dodger who constantly cheated on his wife? Of course it was. It was one of Bush's major talking points. Here's CNN summarizing the four debates in '92:
"All four debates were held during a nine-day period, turning them into a televised "mini-series," that attracted a large viewership, including the largest audience ever to watch a presidential debate.
"T he major themes included trustworthiness and character, the nation's economic problems and the need for change"
You seem to forget 4+ years of the BS of Whitewater
So the fact that the Governor of Arkansas and other Clinton allies went to jail means Democrats care about character? What point you are trying to make is beyond me.
Now it's OK to have been a cheating husband.
yes, Democrats have been very clear about that for 30 years. They won the character doesn't matter debate. Hypocritical of them to pretend it does now.
I missed this earlier.
Yeah, criminality. They drew up indictments of her during Whitewater, but she wasn't charged out of misplaced deference to her position as First Lady. she's walked the line of criminality from Whitewater, to Travelgate, to taking millions in donations she wasn't supposed to (from Russian oligarchs, no less), to violating espionage laws and only being let off because James Comey rewrote the statute to avoid indicting her etc... Pretty much her entire career has been about pushing the envelope of legal behavior.
She's avoided indictment, but really only by luck. Honestly I'm surprised anyone would dispute that she's walked the tightrope of legal/illegal behavior. There's a thirty year track record of it.
I checked this out, although incitements were drawn, there was not enough evidence found by the grand jury and dismissed. It was not done out of kindness since Ken Starr was out for blood. And in 2016 a conservative group tried to have the hearings of the grand jury produced and they were nixed.
Sorry, but no one is that lucky.
What, specifically did I say that isn't true?
there was not enough evidence found by the grand jury and dismissed.
That's not true.
And no one gets by with 30+ years in the public eye being a criminal'
First off, of course some do. Do you think our system is infallible?
Second, I said she walks the fine line of being a criminal. I didn't claim she was a criminal. Are you claiming what I actually wrote is wrong?
he Clintons were never charged with any crime
Where did I say they were? Although Bill Clinton avoided prosecution when he left office by agreeing to pay a large fine and giving up his law licence.
That they let the indictment go because she was the first lady. They let it go on lack of evidence.
She has been looked at by every conservative group for criminal actions in her 30 years.... Even Al Capone couldn't get away with every aspect of his criminal behavior.
Yup. You gave your opinion of what was her fine line. Again, if there was something there, it would have come out.
And really, what did they catch Bill on? Something that Trump has done, been sued for divorce twice. The only difference between the two of them is one did it while he was in office and one did it before office and of course no one is looking into his sexual conduct like Ken Starr. And if you think Trump would have done anything different from Bill, then you are being unrealistic.
No, the prosecutors thought they had enough quite enough evidence for her actions during Whitewater, they just thought the optics were bad. For travel gate, the prosecutor said she lied under oath but wasn't worth prosecuting. There's been so many times she's been documented lying to investigators and engaging in dubious behavior , I know it's hard to keep track off.
. Even Al Capone couldn't get away with every aspect of his criminal behavior.
Al Capone wasn't in government.
Do you think every criminal has been caught? Do you think LBJ, for one, ever committed a crime?
Again, if there was something there, it would have come out.
Fine. You obviously believe it's also wrong to suggest Donald Trump has ever even come close to walking the line of engaging in criminal activity either. Donald and Hillary are pure as the driven snow. All that evidence that Hillary committed crimes can just be waved away because apparently no one should actually pay attention to facts or the statements of numerous prosecutors and law enforcement officials.
This is beyond the pale of ridiculousness. That Hillary Clinton engaged in behavior that was on the border of being criminal, even if you don't think it crossed into actual criminal behavior, is about the least controversial opinion one could have. To claim that's she never come close to breaking the law, with all the evidence from multiple investigations out there, is simply absurd. I honestly can't believe you, or any person not paid by Hillary Clinton, would argue that.
And really, what did they catch Bill on?
He perjured himself numerous times and obstructed justice. He was going to jail until he reached an agreement with Robert Ray.
difference between the two of them is one did it while he was in office and one did it before office
Bullshit. Plain and simple. Please stop gas lighting the forum. CLinton perjured himself under oath. Trump hasn't . Cheating on your wife is not what they "got" Clinton on. He lied and tried to get other people to lie under oath. That's why he reached an agreement to avoid prosecution. When Trump does that, you can make that comparison.
Right back at you.
Trump has been making agreements to avoid prosecution since he started working for his father, took over the family business and "avoided" renting to non white peoples.
What was the most recent out of court settlement, Trump University?
He's currently on a spending spree to wipe out all of Obama's record spending and national debt increases,
and if he somehow gets elected again he will bankrupt us and walk away after 8 years laughing,
having done it once again without losing his personal assets.
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Nothing new to see here, I’ve felt and believed the same as you do now from my day one here. I definitely agree with you.
a non partisan can side with either Dem or Rep depending on the topic. Just because you don't agree with ones point of view on a situation does not mean you can put their entire history in a box and call it one party or the other.
I myself side with a lot of Democratic social issues, taxes, deficit reductions, better execution and development for regulating gun ownership..etc. But I also agree with some republican trade policies, loosening of regulations for certain industries, ensuring gun rights as depicted by the second amendment are protected..etc
I liked Regan, but hated his fiscal policies, Liked 85% of Bush 1, Liked 90% Clinton, Hated everything about Bush 2, Liked about 80% of Obama, Hate Trump as a person, hate his tax cuts because deficit is sky rocketing again and we need to suck it up and get back to some posture where the debt can be reduced, everything else is neutral so far.
What's stopping you from hanging out on idiotic conspiracy sites instead, where facts aren't welcome but pseudoscience and lies are welcome?
For as much as you bitch about this place and about Perrie, you sure spend a lot of time here.
Ditto, ditto, ditto and ditto.
I disagree. The mods are of all different political persuasions and Perrie's personal political views don't seem to affect how people get censored (or not). I personally see a lot more debunked conspiracy theories from those on the right in here, including one of the main moderators.
A certain poster is just pissing in his Wheaties because his preferred sites - which are all Christian dominionist and debunked right-wing conspiracy sites like Infowars - are so blatantly full of shit that they aren't allowed as sources here. And there was a great deal of discussion between any members who were interested when the determination was made of what "list" to use to determine which sites are just too fake to be permitted as sources. It doesn't make intelligent people want to join if they see that crap on the front page. Not that many of our comments do these days
Not sure what your driving at, I said I hate him as a person, that includes his behavior in office. I am neutral on most of his policies and EO's as they really have negligible effect in the grand scheme of things. He has not been able to pass anything of real substance yet. I do not like most of his appointments either now that I think about it, but those also have had no real impact yet.
Most people are not so simple minded as to see being either conservative or liberal as necessary a bad thing. In fact, most people are conservative in some ways and liberal in others. The far right has done its damndest to turn the concept of liberalism into a bad thing. Yet, it was liberalism brought men out of the dark ages into the renaissance and enlightenment. Even you must admit that was a good thing.
Thanks for an example of what I described!
nobody wants to join a site that requires third party permission to talk about something.
as far as "new members go this site's biggest problem is the continued use of the anti american and anti first amendment mbfc
as long as that mbfc policy continues our population on this site will only shrink.
if this site was honest? "speak your mind" would be changed to:
"speak your mind as long as the mbfc agrees."
If there wasnt a standard to be used here, people like you would be seeding ridiculous conspiracy crap 24/7. You've already been trying.
There needs to be a 'guide' to what should be allowed so we dont have QAnon seeds posted here.
Blame yourself.
They look sort of empty headed, dont they?
No, that would be the domestic opposition to Trump.
When Republicans were the party of conservative social values, they were criticized and mocked for it. Now they're allegedly not that party and it's a problem?
So is this character thing something people really care about? Because my cynical nature just sees political tribalism that will attack the other side for whatever is available.
It's because, whether they were or weren't the party of conservative social values, they tried to mandate those values for everyone else. Even now, they are generally the ones who oppose same-sex marriage in the name of "defending the sanctity of marriage", while ignoring their own Trumps and Gingriches. They love to bring up Anthony Weiner, and ignore their own Dennis Hasterts.
That's a problem.
I'd really rather see both parties focus more on concepts of government, foreign policy, and economics. I don't think any particular party has ever had a monopoly on values. Good people in either party have always been electable.
I agree. But the GOP has a history of pandering to values voters by claiming to be the party of family values. If they embrace for their own members different values than they'd impose on others, they risk comment.
I think that is a realistic comment.
I am unclear what you mean, Sandy.
Just that if they ignore the immorality among their own members, especially those who hold office, while simultaneously trying to legislate morality, they'll be called out on it. And they should be called out on it.
There I agree, too!
WHO better to teach morality, than the immoral...
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Republicans should always promote family values, good morals, and support good causes like pro life, pro legitimate Biblical marriage, pro nuclear family, pro that there are only two genders, pro America, that the constitution should be followed as written, and pro religious liberty and the free exercise there of of religious beliefs in every aspect of our lives. We should oppose the secular progressive agenda as it is America’s greatest domestic enemy. When Republican/conservatives in elected or appointed office fall seriously enough short of our beliefs and values in their elected or personal lives they should as usually happens either resign or be primaried out of office in disgrace. Liberals who do such offenses too often get re elected after expore unless there are criminal charges too.
Family values my aunt fanny...you mean like faux christian's cheating on a spouse (you know like the ones that were cheating while demonizing Bill Clinton), making a mistress have an abortion, DUI's, stealing....you sure look at republicans with rose colored glasses.
Pro biblical like wanting to make America into a theocracy...whose is the jerk that wanted a 51st all biblical state.
You mean the marriages where husbands were allowed to rape their wives, little girls were sold to old men, men were instructed by God to rape, enslave and marry little girls of their enemy tribes, widows were forced to marry their husbands' brothers, and men had free rein to have concubines and cheat on their wives?
You have a very odd view of what morality is.
If you cared about the constitution, you wouldn't support Trump and you certainly would stop trying to push your idiotic religious beliefs on everyone else.
Utter bullshit. You worship Trump and he's one of the most immoral people that exist.
yea, but....
he serves the best Kool Aid.
Besides, he appoints scumbag judges, lies to us daily, and always put himself above country. What more would we want in a POS potUS ?
In other words, Republicans should establish a pseudo theocracy. Got it.
To what end? What if your "free exercise" conflicts with the law or Constitution?
*Sigh* Another paranoid sweeping generalization.
Sounds like the bar is set quite low.
That would be due to the voters then. That's democracy for you.
So, the bottom line is that Republicans have become Democrats?
According to the author, the Republican Party has become a party of racial grievance, subjective morality, and political expediency. Doesn't that describe what the Democratic Party has become over the last few decades, too?
The facts are that voters are becoming more politically independent. People don't care as much about Republicans or Democrats today.
Party Affiliation - Gallup
Since this discussion has gone completely off topic to focus on meta, I'll be locking this article. Anyone who wishes to continue discussing moderation should do so in the appropriate setting, with is Metafied.