Frank Rich is money when it comes to using his encyclopedic knowledge of political literature, theater, and cinema to put Trumpism in its proper place in the American tradition. I also like the concise phrasing he uses here:
Republican potentates can’t fight back against him because the party’s base has his back. He’s ensnared the GOP Establishment in a classic Catch-22: It wants Trump voters — it can’t win elections without them — but doesn’t want Trump calling attention to what those voters actually believe.
I’ve seen a lot of fairly moderate Republicans who are uncomfortable with both Trump and the excesses of the far right pussyfooting around this core conundrum. And what I always wonder is if there is a point, or where that point might be for each individual, where getting what they want politically just isn’t worth having to associate with the Republican base.
There are roughly 520K elected (including dog catchers) offices in the US. If you assume that the officeholding breakdown runs along party lines (43% R, 45% D) there would be somewhat in the neighborhood ~230K elected Republicans. I’ve heard of about 5 protesting the insanity that calls itself Republican today. I’ve heard of the same number protesting that the insanity isn’t insane enough (cucinelli anyone?).
I would not consider anyone who would openly declare themselves to be a member of the American Nazi Party to be decent. I’m getting to the point where I think the same about declared Republicans.
There isn’t a point for most “moderate Republicans,” where they will stop voting Republican.
This is the longer answer. I used to be one of the Republicans who might be turned off by the base. I am essentially a Romney type, who voted Republican because it was in my economic interest to do so. Eventually, the deepening radicalism of the Republican party, its hatred of science and knowledge, warmongering, etc. drove me away. There are a decent number of us. In the blogging world, Andrew Sullivan and John Cole could be classified as such.
We’ve already left. Those who remained did so because they were better at looking the other way or denying to themselves what the reality of the Republican base is. I know many, many of those people, and they are slowing radicalizing themselves, they are not waking up to the reality that they are part of a fascistic movement.
In retrospect, the oughts were a fork in the road for conservatives like us. We could stay in the reality based community, which meant voting Democrat, or we could wander off into la-la land with the base. Those who wandered off ain’t coming back.
That’s just it, Banker. You left. You no longer will identify yourself as a Republican in casual conversation (maybe in an in-depth conversation where you can explain, but …).
The “moderates” who remain are enabling the racists, the homophobes, the hypocrites. And you nailed it, they are becoming what they would found repugnant 25 years ago. They are no longer moderates.
Been saying for awhile – Trump does NOT speak to a ‘ sliver’ of the GOP.
He speaks for the MAINSTREAM of the GOP.
They’ve hidden this behind dogwhistles, but Trump isn’t speaking in dogwhistles.
Just heard on MSMBC Scott Walker out!
I’s curious as to the mechanics of the Super PACs when their guy stumbles in the polling and raising actual campaign funds. A problem both Perry and Walker ran into. However as of 6/30 their Super PACs were flush — Perry had $18 million and Walker had $20 million. Is it the Super PAC donors that are pulling the plug instead of letting them carry on a Zombie campaign?
Now, if only the FEC would bust Fiorina for misuse of Super PAC monies, she too would soon be gone.
That Frank Rich article is tremendous – this guy can really write – and he sums up the Trump phenomenon quite brilliantly.
Some commentary on the Rich piece:
http://nomoremister.blogspot.com/2015/09/frank-rich-takes-few-sips-of-trump-kool.html
Thanks for the link, charon. I also recommend Charlie Pierce, who is not kind to Rich.
Jeremy Pikser sidebar in Rich’s column:
Walker did look fake and puny. Doubt that because he also looks and is dumb was a factor in why he didn’t catch on with GOP primary voters.
What a summary of where the GOP “establishment” finds itself right now. How to turn the base away from their ummm…baser instincts is a puzzlement for sure. Tonight “The Donald” appears on Colbert and I have to admit I’m curious about that interaction.