As a seasoned observer of American politics, I have watched with bemusement as the Republican Party has steadily transformed itself into the Party of Trump (POT). This transformation has been remarkable to witness, as the GOP has seemingly abandoned any semblance of principles or moral fortitude in its quest to cling to power.
Now, as the 2024 presidential election cycle gears up, we find ourselves in an unprecedented situation: the presumptive Republican nominee is likely to be a convicted felon by the time the party’s nominating convention rolls around in July. And yet, rather than distance themselves from this tainted candidate, many Republican leaders have fallen in line, endorsing Trump and effectively giving him their stamp of approval.
It’s a move that, frankly, boggles the mind. Trump is a man who has already been held civilly liable for sexual assault and defamation, whose company has been found guilty of business fraud, and who has been indicted not once, not twice, but four times — in Georgia, Washington, D.C., Florida, and New York — for a litany of offenses ranging from trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election to illegally retaining classified national security information. And let’s not forget that he was twice impeached during his four years in the Oval Office, once for abuse of power and obstructing Congress and again for inciting the insurrection that threatened the very foundations of our democracy.
And yet, despite this lengthy and sordid rap sheet, Republican leaders have chosen to embrace Trump as their standard-bearer. Governors Kim Reynolds of Iowa and Glenn Youngkin of Virginia have endorsed the former president, as have other high-profile GOP figures. It’s as if they’ve collectively decided to throw caution to the wind and hitch their wagons to a candidate who likely could be behind bars when the general election rolls around.
This begs the question: is this the best the Republican Party can do? Is this the caliber candidate they believe will resonate with the American electorate? Because if so, then they have truly lost their way and are in for a good old-fashioned butt-whipping in November.
Now, I understand the temptation to rally around a candidate who, for all his flaws, has a proven ability to energize the base and generate buzz. Trump, after all, was the first Republican to win the White House in a decade when he defeated Hillary Clinton in 2016. He also managed to maintain a firm grip on the party even after his disastrous presidency and his role in the January 6th insurrection.
But at what cost? The old GOP has become a cult of personality, with Trump as its undisputed leader, seeing himself as someone akin to a Mafia don. Gone are the days when Republicans could claim coherent policies and principles. Instead, we have a party that is beholden to the whims of a man who has repeatedly demonstrated a complete disregard for the rule of law and a willingness to trample on the very institutions that underpin our democracy.
And let’s not forget the consequences of Trump’s time in office. Under his leadership, the Republican Party suffered historic losses, losing control of the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the White House. The GOP’s embrace of Trump has come at a tremendous cost, both in terms of electoral defeat and the party’s reputation and standing in the eyes of the American people.
Yet, here we are, on the precipice of another Trump-led disaster. As the former president’s legal troubles continue to mount, with the distinct possibility of a criminal conviction looming, the Republican Party has chosen to transform itself into the Party of Trump and double down on its support for him. They’ve collectively decided that winning at all costs is more important than upholding the basic tenets of democracy and the rule of law.
And what of the Republicans who have dared to speak out against Trump, to question the wisdom of his candidacy, or to suggest that perhaps the party should consider other options? Well, they’ve been summarily dismissed and marginalized, their voices drowned out by the chorus of Trump loyalists who have taken over the party. Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, once reluctant to address Trump’s legal troubles directly, has joined the cohort of “pick me” acolytes that have come to define the Republican Party under his leadership. Meanwhile, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, touted as a potential successor to Trump, has chosen to tread carefully, warning of the dangers of a “stacked left-wing DC jury” but stopping short of outright denouncing the former president.
It’s a sad situation and one that speaks volumes about the sorry state of the Party of Trump. Rather than standing up to Trump’s bullying tactics and his blatant disregard for the rule of law, the Republican leaders of all stripes have chosen to capitulate, to cower in the face of his buffoonish personality and his seemingly selfish thirst for power.
So, as we look ahead to the 2024 election cycle, we find ourselves in the unenviable position of watching as the POT embraces someone soon likely to be a convicted felon as its standard-bearer. It’s a decision that, in my view, speaks to the party’s utter lack of principles and its willingness to sacrifice its integrity in the pursuit of political gain.
But I can’t say that I’m all that surprised. After all, this party has been steadily transforming into the POT for over a decade. And now, with the former president poised to lead the charge again, it seems that the old GOP has fully embraced its new identity — one that is defined not by a coherent set of policies or principles but by the whims and the machinations of a single, deeply flawed individual.
It’s a sorry situation, to be sure. But it’s also an opportunity for the American people to take a long, hard look at the old GOP/new POT and to ask themselves whether this is the kind of leadership they want for their country. If the party’s embrace of Trump as its 2024 nominee is any indication, then the party has truly lost its way, and it is time for a change.
~Dunneagin~