This Republican Party Is Not Worth Saving

[brooklynite]

The Atlantic

I was a Republican for most of my adult life. I came of political age in 1980, and although I grew up in a working-class Democratic stronghold in Massachusetts, I found a home in Ronald Reagan’s GOP. Back then, the Republicans were a confident “party of ideas” (a compliment bestowed on them by one of their foes, Democratic Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York), optimistic boosters of the American dream at home, and fierce opponents of the Soviet Union overseas. While the Democrats were the party of recrimination and retreat, the Republicans were the party of the future.

I understand the attachment to that GOP, even among those who have sworn to defeat Donald Trump, but the time for sentimentality is over. That party is long gone. Today the Republicans are the party of “American carnage” and Russian collusion, of scams, plots, and weapons-grade contempt for the rule of law. The only decent, sensible, and conservative position is to vote against this Republican Party at every level, and bring the sad final days of a once-great political institution to an end. Then build the party back up again—from scratch.

I’m not advocating for voting against the GOP merely to punish Republicans for Trump’s existence in their party. Rather, conservatives must finally accept that at this point Trump and the Republican Party are indistinguishable. Trump and his circle have gutted the old GOP and stuffed its empty husk with the Trump family’s paranoia and corruption.

Indeed, the transformation of the GOP into a cult of personality is so complete that the Republicans didn’t even bother presenting a platform at their own convention. Like a group of ciphers at a meeting of SPECTRE, they nodded at whatever Number One told them to do, each of them fearing an extended pinkie finger pressing the button that would electrocute them into political oblivion.

[Laelth]

1. Excellent essay. Recommended. k&r n/t

-Laelth

[gopiscrap]

2. fuck ALL republicans from the president

to senators, governors, mayors, representatives and gop voters may they all rot in hell!!!!

[TreasonousBastard]

3. True. I have no love for Reagan's "ideas" but at least they were thought through and one could...

properly argue with them.

These Republicans not only have no concept of running a nation, but they are cowed by the lardass in office. They have no idea how to say "Stop that!".

They are the fearful minions of a mad king.

Fear and greed are a powerful, but revolting, combination.

[Yavin4]

4. The Republican party allowed conservative media to hijack it.

Fox News, AM right wing radio, various columnists, YouTubers, book authors, etc. all have more power and influence over the party than the party's leadership.

The goal of conservative media is to attract (and grift) from one demographic group, disaffected/scared White people. They don't care that this appeal is limited to just this one group and that in a broad general election, it can be certain defeat.

[crickets]

5. More like this, please. K&R

[Sherman A1]

6. I find this quote particularly funny but exceptionally sad...

"I found a home in Ronald Reagan’s GOP. Back then, the Republicans were a confident “party of ideas” (a compliment bestowed on them by one of their foes, Democratic Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York), optimistic boosters of the American dream at home, and fierce opponents of the Soviet Union overseas. While the Democrats were the party of recrimination and retreat, the Republicans were the party of the future."

Their idea before the 1980s, during the 1980s and now is to screw over the working people and laugh all the way to the friggin' bank. They had and have no other idea and will use every divisive tactic to accomplish their goal.

They have always been horse's behinds and will never change. on all of them.