By Eugene Robinson
Washington PostAnyone who genuinely cares about the future of the Republican Party — and you should if you care about strengthening democracy — has only one option in November: Vote to destroy the party to save it.
I care about the GOP. No one has ever mistaken me for a conservative, but I believe our democracy functions best when there is healthy, fact-based competition between liberal and conservative viewpoints. Progressive ideas and policy positions are improved by being challenged, and the best decisions are forged from vigorous debate.
Now, however, we have the Democratic Party on one side and the Republican dumpster fire on the other. The GOP is a cult, held in thrall by an unstable bully and would-be authoritarian. Held captive by a man who sent armed insurrectionists to the Capitol in a violent attempt to overturn his defeat in a free and fair election. Held hostage by a man who punishes any perceived disloyalty with political execution.
At the 2020 Republican National Convention, the GOP didn’t even offer a party platform. Instead, it simply affirmed its “strong support for President Donald Trump” and his “America-first agenda,” whatever that might be at any given moment.
The nation would be foolish, at this point, to expect Republicans to rise up and free themselves. Look at how the congressional negotiations over border security and Ukraine aid have changed since Trump’s New Hampshire victory on Tuesday. Just last week, GOP senators, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), were optimistic that the package would swiftly be approved by the Senate. But on Wednesday, McConnell told a closed-door meeting of his caucus that there might no longer be a path forward for the bill — because Trump opposes any remedy for the border crisis that might make President Biden look good.
This is insanity. Democrats are offering something Republicans have wanted for years, and might never be offered again: tougher border security without a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants already in the country, including “dreamers.” But Dear Leader Trump says no and, suddenly, GOP senators are afraid to say yes.
Republicans in Congress, clearly, will not free their party. And it looks doubtful that the GOP base has any intention of breaking the chains that bind it.
Former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley finished a strong second in New Hampshire, becoming the anti-Trump by default. But the next contested primary is a month away, and it is in her home state, which might not feel very welcoming. For four long weeks, she will have to survive withering personal attacks from Trump and calls from powerful Republicans to drop out of the race in the name of party unity. And then, if she makes it to Feb. 24, she will need a miracle.
The RealClearPolitics average of polls in South Carolina shows Trump with a 30-point lead. Those surveys were taken before the other GOP candidates dropped out, so Haley can be expected to close the gap. But virtually all of the state’s Republican elected officials have fallen in line behind Trump including Sen. Tim Scott, whom Haley first appointed to the Senate in 2013 when she was governor, and who obsequiously told Trump “I just love you” during Trump’s New Hampshire victory speech.
It is also wrong to expect the justice system to come to the party’s rescue. It is possible that one or two of the criminal cases against Trump could end — in conviction or acquittal — before November. But that seems to me increasingly unlikely. And even if the former president is a felon, I find it hard to imagine his party throwing him overboard.
What can save the GOP from itself? Defeat. Crushing, unambiguous defeat.
Our political parties reform and reconstitute themselves after being soundly rebuked by the voters. After the disaster of President Richard M. Nixon’s resignation and the aimlessness of the Gerald Ford administration, Republicans regrouped and became the party of Ronald Reagan; his policies were not those I agreed with, but they were coherent and could be negotiated with. After Jimmy Carter, Walter Mondale and Michael Dukakis lost successive presidential elections, their party turned to Bill Clinton and the “new Democrats,” whose ideas were a break with the past — and, again, held together as an ideology.
If you want the GOP to be a serious conservative political party and not a MAGA cult, send Republicans into the wilderness. Vote for Biden. Take away Republicans’ control of the House. Give Democrats a bigger majority in the Senate. Vote Republican officials out of statehouses, city halls and school boards.
Make the metaphorical ashes from which a new GOP can rise.
Former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley finished a strong second in New Hampshire, becoming the anti-Trump by default. But the next contested primary is a month away, and it is in her home state, which might not feel very welcoming. For four long weeks, she will have to survive withering personal attacks from Trump and calls from powerful Republicans to drop out of the race in the name of party unity. And then, if she makes it to Feb. 24, she will need a miracle.
The RealClearPolitics average of polls in South Carolina shows Trump with a 30-point lead. Those surveys were taken before the other GOP candidates dropped out, so Haley can be expected to close the gap. But virtually all of the state’s Republican elected officials have fallen in line behind Trump including Sen. Tim Scott, whom Haley first appointed to the Senate in 2013 when she was governor, and who obsequiously told Trump “I just love you” during Trump’s New Hampshire victory speech.
It is also wrong to expect the justice system to come to the party’s rescue. It is possible that one or two of the criminal cases against Trump could end — in conviction or acquittal — before November. But that seems to me increasingly unlikely. And even if the former president is a felon, I find it hard to imagine his party throwing him overboard.
What can save the GOP from itself? Defeat. Crushing, unambiguous defeat.
Our political parties reform and reconstitute themselves after being soundly rebuked by the voters. After the disaster of President Richard M. Nixon’s resignation and the aimlessness of the Gerald Ford administration, Republicans regrouped and became the party of Ronald Reagan; his policies were not those I agreed with, but they were coherent and could be negotiated with. After Jimmy Carter, Walter Mondale and Michael Dukakis lost successive presidential elections, their party turned to Bill Clinton and the “new Democrats,” whose ideas were a break with the past — and, again, held together as an ideology.
If you want the GOP to be a serious conservative political party and not a MAGA cult, send Republicans into the wilderness. Vote for Biden. Take away Republicans’ control of the House. Give Democrats a bigger majority in the Senate. Vote Republican officials out of statehouses, city halls and school boards.
Make the metaphorical ashes from which a new GOP can rise.
17 comments:
Couldn't write this yourself, Montoya? Had to steal another man's writing. Typical border puto. No tienes cesos, cabron! Puro pinche escrape barato del barrio.
Go Mayra!!!!
Bro, you spin me right wrong like a record baby right wrong. đ
Right out of the box you label the name of the person who is not IN office as president. Not to mention smearing him as if he was the current president. C’mon you must have got the call to protect at all cost, (move the goal post when needed). Insurrections you say while, we all know the situation at the border and how dire the situation is. It drains are public resources.
This is a low blow, a smear and cover for the current administration and presidency.
Dang!
The new racist republican part will not allow no meskin to join. Y mayra? OOOOhh she's a gringa from mesco, she's exempt, but with conditions: STAY OUTTA DA SUN (SOL for you).
Amen brother, pass the cheese!
Explico: el trabajador mexicano sentado con su sombrero durmiendo no es porque sea flojo, es porque a los trabajadores se les hacĂa trabajar jornadas de 16 horas y cada que podĂan encontrar un momento lo usaban para descansar....Es interesante ver como se puede interpretar un cuadro desde una perspectiva equivocada. Saludos desde Matamoros, MĂ©xico.
We are in a fight for our country and our democracy. And its not a fight between the Democratic or the Republican way . It’s between the normal vs crazy rhetoric way. God help us all .
MANGO WANGO
SAVE AMERICA BUT FROM TRUMP!!!!!!!!!!!
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."
when the anglo got here from cockroach europe they did nothing great, if you call stealing and killing great something must be wrong somewhere.
Democratic voters through years of indoctrination have become blind to the truth. The ideas of Open Borders, Defund the Police and Green New Deal are plain ludicrous. Now after years of madness these idiots are backtracking. It’s too late, because the damage has already been done. Time for a change, time to vote Republican.
January 27, 2024 at 8:19 AM
maricon TE GUSTAN LOS HOMBRES COMO TU MAMA. BUT SHE LIKES COLOR NO WONDER YOU LOOK COLOR QUE PASO? UVO CHANGO???
January 27, 2024 at 8:19 AM
Mayra you will not win with your worker insulting voters here. FIRE HIM if not you will lose!
trumputo yellow belly coward
A yellow belly coward that hates meskin, Mexican-American soldiers and war heroes!
Pinche Montoya, instead of your brown a$$ worrying about the Republican party, worry more about el puñetas vegetal we unfortunately have in office, because of all the dead brain cell people that voted for him. He's the one making a fool out of the Democratic party and to all of us a laughing stock to the whole world! Hahahahahaha!
Of course Montoya could write this….
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