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Where Now, Republicans?
Pickett’s Charge, Battle of Gettysburg, 1863.
It reminds me of the infamous “Pickett’s charge” during the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863. General George Pickett led his Confederate troops in an ill-fated charge across an open field in an effort to break the center of the Union line. It failed, but the Democrat’s own version of Pickett’s charge, with the artillery cover of the Capitol “insurrection,” has indeed breached the GOP middle. And how has the GOP responded? By shooting at each other.
I saw evidence of it on my now former Facebook page yesterday. Otherwise intelligent Washingtonians and anti-Trumper Republicans, the same ones who said little to nothing while over 200 cities were pummeled with violence this past summer, expect everyone to clutch their pearls and demand Trump’s immediate removal. And if you don’t, you support the insurrectionists and need to learn history (or, more accurately, “reeducation”). That all sounds familiar, and not in a good way. There is no nuance, no exceptions, and zero appreciation for history or self-awareness. With “friends” like this, who needs enemies?
Smarter, more dispassionate, and clear-eyed Republicans with some appreciation for history understand this. They know the party has been here before. After 1930. After 1958. After 1964. After 1974. After 1992. After 2008, when Barack Obama and the Democrats had a massive majority in the House and, for a time, a filibuster-proof Senate. It is time for some retrospection about events and to reengineer things for 2022 and beyond.
The path forward is not complicated, but not easy to traverse.
Let’s look at what has happened to the GOP over the past four years, from a 30,000-foot perspective.
The Republican Party has become an increasingly personality-driven party. It is the party not known widely for its successful policies and actions over the past four years, but as “The Party of Trump.” For all of Trump’s undeniable success and record of achievement, that is historically unfamiliar territory for a party that has always been, during its most successful days, an agenda-driven party – lower taxes, less government, a strong economy, safe neighborhoods, good schools, and peace through strength.
But what has America been hearing the past several months? The election is rigged or stolen. But vote Republican anyway! How did that work out in Georgia’s January 5 US Senate runoff elections? They’ve also seen Republicans shoot at each over the failure, in many minds, to give election law violations and irregularities (if not outright fraud) a fair hearing, especially by the courts. When some in Congress tried to provide such a hearing, consistent with the Electoral Count Act, the Capitol insurrection led by a few QAnon nuts and criminals undermined it and turned some House and Senate members into pariahs and targets for marginalization and outright cancelation. Ultimately, the job of exposing election illegalities fell to state legislatures, and they mostly punted.
That’s where we are. What now?
Republicans cannot allow Democrats to succeed in driving a wedge between Republicans. Republicans, for their part, need to focus their sights on two things: rediscovering their agenda (their “brand”) and combatting Democratic excesses that are sure to come. They always do.
A forward-looking, optimistic agenda that resonates with our new, emerging multi-ethnic working-class base should also help bring suburban voters turned off by Trump back into the fold. Restoring our economic strength by smartly ending the badly-implemented lockdowns; reforming and building good schools run by parents and focused on critical thinking, not indoctrination; safe neighborhoods; and military strength to preserve the peace and reign in an emergent communist power in Asia. Add “Big Tech” censorship and election reform (at the state level) to the list as well, but those may not resonate as well with voters we need to attract.
While Trump isn’t going away – Democrats hope he doesn’t, and fully intend for him to serve as an albatross around GOP necks the next four years – there is no doubt that Republicans had successes at the local, state, and US House level in 2020. Republicans need to build on those successes to capture more seats at the local, state, and congressional levels with a focus on capturing a House if not a Senate majority in 2022.
Part of that will be allowing new spokespeople and leaders to step forward. The RNC should consider naming a new lead spokesman for the party. Someone not running for President who has the respect of House and Senate leaders, as well as GOP governors. A leader or leaders with sharp minds, quick wits, and a pleasant demeanor, who don’t clearly and cleanly fall into a “never” or “pro” Trump group trap. Leave the party machinery to the estimable current RNC chair Ronna McDaniel.
Who are some of the new spokespeople the GOP should promote? US Sen. Tim Scott, R-SC. US Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-NY. Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, R-NC. US Rep. Mike Garcia, R-CA. New US Rep. Tony Gonzalez (R-TX). That’s a younger, geographically and racially diverse group of leaders with great personal stories and inclusive messages, most of whom are also serious, articulate legislators. There are others, but those come to mind. And the leaders need not come from the ranks of the elected, but successful community activists, business leaders, educators, and elsewhere.
Lastly, Republicans of all stripes need to show some grace and stop focusing their guns on each other. Never Trumpers should stop disparaging pro-Trump Republicans, and learn to listen. Pro-Trumpers should focus less on tribalism, accept the reality of the moment, reject lawlessness, and work constructively to build on their successes of the past four-plus years. Republicans cannot afford to lose members of either camp. Both sides are guilty of shouting past each other and possessing an “either-or” mentality. How is that working out for you? Both wings of the party are needed for a successful flight.
The hard part is trying to achieve this in the face of media, cultural, and educational headwinds. The questions are, who will lead, and will anyone follow?
Published in General
If someone is praying TO Trump, wouldn’t they put up the banner and pray at that, rather than a cross?
I like Skip, too. He’s a little bit blunt, and I’m a little bit blunt. Moreover, these are harrowing times, and I hope that no arteries are (metaphorically) cut in the arguments.
Now this is wrong-headed on two points. You’re accusing someone, and maybe more, of being cultists. And you don’t have a clue what or why or to whom this guy was praying. But he was more or less facing a cross. Perhaps you pray differently or don’t pray at all, but throwing the C-word around is definitely wrong.
Maybe I’m just not very religious, but I’m not offended at all. The guy is at a Trump rally. Of course he’s festooned in Trump stuff. He can’t kneel in prayer before the Cross while so attired? When the moment is right, you pray … and down on your knees hard … no matter what you are wearing.
Now if the guy was praying TO a Trump flag THAT’d be beyond the pale. But I’m not seeing it that way.
By the way, the comments here by Skip illustrate the problem.
I disagree very strongly with the OP. Democrats have not driven a wedge into the GOP. A number of purported Republicans have done that all by themselves, and I don’t think that they are the Trump supporters.
This is unfortunate. Trump has substantially expanded the Republican base, picking up large numbers in the white working class, and making some, admittedly small, inroads among the black and Hispanic working class. This is a good thing.
Unfortunately, Trump has also alienated some traditional Republican groups. The numbers seem pretty small, but even 5-10% can make a difference.
If you’re in the anti-Trump group — as I used to be — try to see things from the other perspective. I understand, you’re not getting everything that you want. If you’re a traditional Republican, you wanted spending cuts, tax cuts, strong defense, border security, deregulation, and social conservatism. With Reagan, we got 4 of 6. With Trump, we got 4 1/2 of 6. But no, we didn’t get spending cuts with Trump (nor with Reagan).
The new Republican working class voters don’t care much about spending cuts. They generally want to keep existing safety net programs. They don’t seem to care much about social conservatism — but then, neither did the Bush-Romney crowd.
I think that the anti-Trump folks are unrealistic. You can’t purge the Republican Party of everyone who worked with Trump or supported Trump. You’d lose about 90% of the party.
So if you’re in that group, you have to do what the Trumpian working-class folks have had to do for years. You have to decide whether to join, or stay in, a coalition, even if you’re not getting everything that you want. Or you can take your marbles and go home. It’s up to you.
If you take your marbles and go home, we’re going to be stuck with Democrats in charge.
On further reflection, I should have added 1 more thing to the list of things that traditional Republicans want. Conservative judicial appointments. We got these with Trump, while Reagan was closer to 50-50. So, with Trump, we get 5 1/2 out of 7, while with Reagan, we got 4 1/2 out of 7.
I don’t know. It does not hurt me to say so. In fact, I think the value of many conversations could be increased by the occasional use of that phrase.
Oh, but Pope SkipSul DOES know. And not just for himself, but for ALL of us!
Yes, you are fond of NT posts.
And doing a lot of name calling of those who don’t agree. I have had one person in my life who I choose to give thanks to the Lord for placing that person in a setting that, in effect, salvaged my life from traveling the wrong path. I don’t consider my giving thanks for that to be a sacrilege. I think it possible that Donald Trump could be thought an instrument in the hands of the Lord by some for similar purposes and that is not sacrilegious, not for others to judge.
Reagan was solely interested in winning the Cold War and he let the Democrat Congress spend if they let him win it. He was also duped into amnesty.
You find them first and tell us who they are. All “Moderate” Democrats have been run out of that party.
And Bob Dole, tax collector for the welfare state, blocked the Reagan tax cut until after the 1982 election lost the Senate.
There is reason to believe that after the cold war was won, and he did know that it was won, and he got his tax cuts he had no real interest in a second term.
She is a leftist, from what I have read about her policies, but she is not a lunatic, like Harris.
I’m agnostic but I don’t ridicule religious people.
What if he is just giving thanks that we had Trump these 4 years, is that allowed?
I like the term “Vichy Republicans,” like Romney,.
And others use the term “NeverTrumpers.”
Did Reagan “know” that the Cold War was won, before the wall came down in 1989, during HW Bush’s term?
I’m just not assuming that’s what is going on, nor am I assuming that guy has anything unsavory rolling through his head. Also: I wondered why you were so angry. It doesn’t fit my impression of you, but that’s just dots on a screen. Guess I’ll revise.
Apparently not, according to Pope SkipSul The First.
Nothing I said implied that is not allowed.
I’m not only grateful for what Trump achieved, I’m also grateful for what he sincerely attempted but which was blocked by GOPe scum.
According to some of his administration, yes, though he thought it would be unwise to say so publicly. In fact, as far back as the end of the Carter administration, the belief was that the USSR was crumbling, but the question was whether to help it along or just wait it out.
The leader of the USSR said, I believe in England, that Reagan’s military build-up was a calculated attempt to bankrupt the Soviet Union. When asked about that comment, Reagan was reported to have said that the USSR leader was very perceptive.
He must have “known” it quite a bit earlier, though, before the second term if he supposed had no real interest in it… But he ran and won anyway? Whatever.
Breaking News: Liz Cheney supports impeachment.
GOP Rep. Liz Cheney: “I will vote to impeach the President”
Wyoming’s Liz Cheney, the third-ranking GOP leader in the House, announced in a statement today that she will vote to impeach President Trump, saying that he “summoned this mob, assembled the mob, and lit the flame of this attack.”
“There has never been a greater betrayal by a President of the United States of his office and his oath to the Constitution,” she said in the statement.
Read her full statement:
Yes, I should have directed my question to the authority.
What if he was draped in a Biden flag? Or an Obama flag?
Perhaps to protect his legacy? Perhaps because he expected Bush I to undercut his achievements? Maybe because he thought Mondale would be a disaster? I don’t know.
You are the one making these judgements.