The Republican Party has no past

It's a given that the Democratic convention will feature a bunch of elder statesmen and luminaries. Expect to see Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Chuck Schumer, Al Gore, and Nancy Pelosi. Jimmy Carter won't be there, but I wouldn't be surprised if his daughter or grandson was given a speaking role.

Contrast this with the Republican convention. Where were George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Mitch McConnell, and Kevin McCarthy? It's as if the GOP has no past, just the present, and the present is nothing but Trump. And a party with no past has no future. One day, Trump will be out of the picture, and there won't be anything left of the once-vibrant party he managed to turn into a personality cult.

It may not happen this year - Trump could still win another term. But it's inevitable. And anyone who thinks JD Vance is capable of carrying the torch of Trumpism into the future isn't paying attention.

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helenS · 36-40, F

I'll never understand how Trump was able to take over the Republican party.
When I was in the US, around 2008, some of my supervisors were dedicated Republicans, and they were rational, honest and decent women and men.
I'm still in contact with some of them, and all I can say is they disdain Trump and Trumpism, and most of them are no longer affiliated with the GOP. 👎🏼

LeopoldBloom · M

@helenS He unleashed a xenophobic, christofascist element that has existed in the GOP since at least the 1980s, when the transition of bigoted white southern Democrats to the GOP was complete. Trump's takeover of the party was successful because any Republican who didn't worship him was immediately drummed out of the party. Liz Cheney is about as conservative as you can get, but because she is anti-Trump, she might as well be Che Guevara. This is the hallmark of a cult - you're either 100% in or 100% out. You sure didn't see that same black and white thinking with Romney or McCain (both of whom are persona non grata in the GOP today).

Historians will be analyzing the Trump era for centuries. It's unprecedented in this country. I don't think it's because Trump is a genius. He's more like Chauncey Gardner - an idiot who happens to say what people want to hear. Trump may be a profoundly stupid man, but he is cunning - he knows how to play to his crowd.

eMortal · M

@helenS like he said, they don't like him but Trump's supporters are very intimidating and vindicative.