During the Republican primary, Trump said that he could shoot someone on 5th Avenue and not lose any voters. It was, like most of his statements, arrogant and bombastic. It was also correct. It seems that regardless of the fear Trump spreads, the vitriolic hatred he spews, the petulant anger he perpetuates or the cowardice he personifies, Trump shows a rock solid base of support from approximately 35% of the population. He could do almost anything, maybe even shoot someone on 5th Ave. and not lose any support, just like he said back in January of 2016.
Recently the press has been agog about a handful of Republicans who have confronted and clashed with Trump. The only problem with this upstart rebellion is that it’s preordained to fail. These Senators have either announced that they’re not going to seek re-election or, in the case of John McCain, has brain cancer. This basically means there will be no one left to fight the continued dissolution of the Republican Party.
Going forward, Trump, along with Banon, will continue to pick off what remains of the Republican party. Current members will kowtow to keep their jobs but it will be an act of futility. They’re done. They failed to speak up to the abomination in their midsts when they had the chance. However, they didn’t speak up because it wasn’t them, they thought, who were being hunted. Well, after seeing Luther Strange lose to Roy Moore in Alabama, they now realize they are the ones with targets on their heads. They’re on the run and, as Martin Niemöller pointed out, when you don’t speak up for what’s right, when it’s your turn, there will be no one left to speak up for you.
So now the question is what should Republicans do. Here’s my advice. Tank. Lose and lose big. Throw the game. That’s right. For the Republicans to survive they must lose now. Spike the midterm battle in the hopes of winning the war - or at least living to see another day. Keep the soul of the party intact. Real Republicans must show that their brand of economic conservatism, as well as engagement and leadership on the world stage is still alive. How can they do that? Lose those races where Banon’s minions are running. Don’t simply remain silent and passive but actively fight against those who have hijacked your party. If the GOP ends up losing both the Senate and the House they can rightfully claim that Americans have rejected the malignant pathological narcissistic views of Trump and his ilk. Blame Trump. Blame Banon. Blame the Tea Party for the GOP losses. Exorcise the evil that posses your party.
The country needs you. Our democracy needs you.
Who knows?! Maybe there will be a revival of sanity. Maybe the William F. Buckley type conservative could be the phoenix that rises from the ashes to save what was once a Grand Old Party.
