Where to for the republicans now

[Jason Harvestdancer]

I know this may seem an odd question considering they won, but there are a few interesting ramifications of this election for them too.

First of all, Trump doesn't have an allied congress, even though they are the same party. Most elected Republicans don't like him. He will have a slightly easier time working with them than, say, Hillary would, but it won't be smooth. He's no party insider. His election is actually ultimately bad news for the party establishment. Hell, the whole primary was bad news for the party establishment. They eventually rallied around Cruz, who they didn't like, because they liked Trump even less. They actually were for Bush the third at first, and weren't ready for the Trump steam-roller.

The entire party structure is going to have to be worked over to deal with the fact that an unwanted outsider is now the face of the party. Sure he is better at dealing with the repeated ad-nauseum Democrat attack of "he's a Republican therefore he's a racist sexist misogynist homophobe xenophobe etc." but the rest of the party isn't yet good at dealing with him.

Also, the pattern is broken. Completely and utterly broken. Ever since 1980, second place was the candidate next primary.
1976, Ford won, Reagan was second.
1980, Reagan won, Bush was second.
1984, negligible primary.
1988, Bush won, Dole was second.
1992, negligible primary.
1996, Dole won, negligible second.
2000, break in the pattern, Bush Jr cut to the front of the line, McCain was second.
2004, negligible primary.
2008, McCain won, Romney was second.
2012, Romney won, allegedly Santorum was second.
2016, Trump won. Santorum dropped out very early. Cruz was the one that hung in the longest, and he was only reluctantly supported by the party leadership as the last chance to stop Trump. Jeb bombed early. The leadership has nobody poised that they actually like to take the lead in 2024.

Between having a public face that the party leadership and elected congressmen do not like, they have nobody set to pick up the banner afterwards.

This really does spell hard times for the Republican Party in spite of their victory.

 

[jonatha]

Congress will have to work with Trump. He controls the votes of the base.

But inasmuch as Trump seems to have little in the way of true policy positions, I expect Republicans in Congress to generally set the agenda.

 

[Harry Bosch]

I know this may seem an odd question considering they won, but there are a few interesting ramifications of this election for them too.

First of all, Trump doesn't have an allied congress, even though they are the same party. Most elected Republicans don't like him. He will have a slightly easier time working with them than, say, Hillary would, but it won't be smooth. He's no party insider. His election is actually ultimately bad news for the party establishment. Hell, the whole primary was bad news for the party establishment. They eventually rallied around Cruz, who they didn't like, because they liked Trump even less. They actually were for Bush the third at first, and weren't ready for the Trump steam-roller.

The entire party structure is going to have to be worked over to deal with the fact that an unwanted outsider is now the face of the party. Sure he is better at dealing with the repeated ad-nauseum Democrat attack of "he's a Republican therefore he's a racist sexist misogynist homophobe xenophobe etc." but the rest of the party isn't yet good at dealing with him.

Also, the pattern is broken. Completely and utterly broken. Ever since 1980, second place was the candidate next primary.
1976, Ford won, Reagan was second.
1980, Reagan won, Bush was second.
1984, negligible primary.
1988, Bush won, Dole was second.
1992, negligible primary.
1996, Dole won, negligible second.
2000, break in the pattern, Bush Jr cut to the front of the line, McCain was second.
2004, negligible primary.
2008, McCain won, Romney was second.
2012, Romney won, allegedly Santorum was second.
2016, Trump won. Santorum dropped out very early. Cruz was the one that hung in the longest, and he was only reluctantly supported by the party leadership as the last chance to stop Trump. Jeb bombed early. The leadership has nobody poised that they actually like to take the lead in 2024.

Between having a public face that the party leadership and elected congressmen do not like, they have nobody set to pick up the banner afterwards.

This really does spell hard times for the Republican Party in spite of their victory.

Their agenda is simple. They no longer have any democratic opposition. It should now be easy for them to do the following:

1. Eliminate the budget deficit.
2. Eliminate Islamic terrorism.
3. Triple GDP
4. Imprison Rosie O'Donnel and Alicia Machado and any other hurdle that keeps Trump up at night.

- - - Updated - - -

I know this may seem an odd question considering they won, but there are a few interesting ramifications of this election for them too.

First of all, Trump doesn't have an allied congress, even though they are the same party. Most elected Republicans don't like him. He will have a slightly easier time working with them than, say, Hillary would, but it won't be smooth. He's no party insider. His election is actually ultimately bad news for the party establishment. Hell, the whole primary was bad news for the party establishment. They eventually rallied around Cruz, who they didn't like, because they liked Trump even less. They actually were for Bush the third at first, and weren't ready for the Trump steam-roller.

The entire party structure is going to have to be worked over to deal with the fact that an unwanted outsider is now the face of the party. Sure he is better at dealing with the repeated ad-nauseum Democrat attack of "he's a Republican therefore he's a racist sexist misogynist homophobe xenophobe etc." but the rest of the party isn't yet good at dealing with him.

Also, the pattern is broken. Completely and utterly broken. Ever since 1980, second place was the candidate next primary.
1976, Ford won, Reagan was second.
1980, Reagan won, Bush was second.
1984, negligible primary.
1988, Bush won, Dole was second.
1992, negligible primary.
1996, Dole won, negligible second.
2000, break in the pattern, Bush Jr cut to the front of the line, McCain was second.
2004, negligible primary.
2008, McCain won, Romney was second.
2012, Romney won, allegedly Santorum was second.
2016, Trump won. Santorum dropped out very early. Cruz was the one that hung in the longest, and he was only reluctantly supported by the party leadership as the last chance to stop Trump. Jeb bombed early. The leadership has nobody poised that they actually like to take the lead in 2024.

Between having a public face that the party leadership and elected congressmen do not like, they have nobody set to pick up the banner afterwards.

This really does spell hard times for the Republican Party in spite of their victory.

You are the third Trump supporter on this forum today that seems to be expressing regret? What gives? Sorry for derail.....

 

[Jason Harvestdancer]

You are the third Trump supporter on this forum today that seems to be expressing regret? What gives? Sorry for derail.....

I resent that you claim I am underseer. I am not now nor have I ever been a Trump supporter.

 

[Harry Bosch]

You are the third Trump supporter on this forum today that seems to be expressing regret? What gives? Sorry for derail.....

I resent that you claim I am underseer. I am not now nor have I ever been a Trump supporter.

Again, it did not appear that you were of this mind prior to the election. I'm just wondering if there is perhaps some national guilt going on with some people? But I will give you the benefit of the doubt. Maybe you should do the same for Underseer, as I'd be surprised if he really voted for Trump.

 

[Sarpedon]

I read today something that I believe, Hillary lost because she couldn't hold Obama's voter coalition together, because she wasn't Obama.

Its consoling to think that perhaps only Trump can hold together the Trump coalition. And we shall see if he has Obama's staying power.

Perhaps we live in an age of fragmented factions, where only someone of great talent can hold a viable coalition together. And that such a person also automatically holds the opposition together. The Republicans might have splintered if they didn't have Obama to oppose. And now the Democrats, leaderless, will stay together, thanks to opposition of Trump.

And it is true that Jason has not supported Trump.

 

[Jason Harvestdancer]

I resent that you claim I am underseer. I am not now nor have I ever been a Trump supporter.

Again, it did not appear that you were of this mind prior to the election. I'm just wondering if there is perhaps some national guilt going on with some people? But I will give you the benefit of the doubt. Maybe you should do the same for Underseer, as I'd be surprised if he really voted for Trump.

Disliking Hillary is not the same as liking Trump. I've been 3rd party ever since Bernie withdrew.

 

[Harry Bosch]

Again, it did not appear that you were of this mind prior to the election. I'm just wondering if there is perhaps some national guilt going on with some people? But I will give you the benefit of the doubt. Maybe you should do the same for Underseer, as I'd be surprised if he really voted for Trump.

Disliking Hillary is not the same as liking Trump. I've been 3rd party ever since Bernie withdrew.

That explains it! I've found that usually those who vote third party are the first ones to complain when guy that they really didn't like gets elected! Sounds to me like you might be some guilt?

 

[Jason Harvestdancer]

Disliking Hillary is not the same as liking Trump. I've been 3rd party ever since Bernie withdrew.

That explains it! I've found that usually those who vote third party are the first ones to complain when guy that they really didn't like gets elected! Sounds to me like you might be some guilt?

Quit projecting.

 

[Sarpedon]

I get upset when I am forced to accept an inferior product because I need it terribly to do something in particular, and then it doesn't do it.

 

[braces_for_impact]

It's worse than that. This is the last election where white people can make such a difference.

 

[dismal]

Its consoling to think that perhaps only Trump can hold together the Trump coalition.

I think this is the big question in American politics today.

Are these former Democrat "rust belt working class voters" gone for Trump or gone for good.

I would not assume this is a Trump only thing because once the party loyalty inertia has been overcome it does not necessarily come back.

 

[skepticalbip]

Disliking Hillary is not the same as liking Trump. I've been 3rd party ever since Bernie withdrew.

That explains it! I've found that usually those who vote third party are the first ones to complain when guy that they really didn't like gets elected! Sounds to me like you might be some guilt?

That is a rather silly analysis. You have been sipping tainted cool-aid.

I voted Johnson because even though, he was not a great candidate for his party's platform he was a better choice than either major party's candidates, Had I only had a binary choice, I would have voted against Clinton - not for Trump.

 

[SLD]

They can go to hell.

 

[Jason Harvestdancer]

wrong thread

 

[Ford]

When Mitt Romney lost 4 years ago, the GOP famously did an analysis of what went wrong and what they could do moving forward to strengthen their party. After the "autopsy" was published, they set about completely ignoring all the conclusions and recommendations.

This time around, they won. They will not look inward as they did in the aftermath of 2012. They won, so they don't feel the need to examine anything let alone change. If anything, their victory will make them even more intractable. They'll tell themselves that obstructionism was successful. That their economic program of "starve the beast" is what people really want. Of course they'll gut Obamacare as promised but won't replace it with anything, and they'll set about trying to roll back any minority outreach they may have tepidly attempted because by gosh white America still loves them.

 

[credoconsolans]

When Mitt Romney lost 4 years ago, the GOP famously did an analysis of what went wrong and what they could do moving forward to strengthen their party. After the "autopsy" was published, they set about completely ignoring all the conclusions and recommendations.

This time around, they won. They will not look inward as they did in the aftermath of 2012. They won, so they don't feel the need to examine anything let alone change. If anything, their victory will make them even more intractable. They'll tell themselves that obstructionism was successful. That their economic program of "starve the beast" is what people really want. Of course they'll gut Obamacare as promised but won't replace it with anything, and they'll set about trying to roll back any minority outreach they may have tepidly attempted because by gosh white America still loves them.

Exactly.

If Clinton won, that would have taught the GOP a lesson. That bogging down our government with their partisan obstructionism was not going to be tolerated by the American people who simply wanted them to do their jobs, not play 'let's keep our power at all costs'. That tail wagging the dog distractions like email non-scandals and dead horse Benghazi events were non-events and not crucial to them doing their jobs and that Americans were tired of their antics.

Instead, the Trump supporters rewarded them for their partisan politics and told them this is the way to hold onto to power. To block any opposition for anything for partisan reasons and no other reason. To not seek a compromise.

Obama offered a moderate Supreme Court justice nominee. Not a radical liberal left-winger. The Republicans ignored him because if they won after the election, they wouldn't have to compromise at all.

Compromise is the foundation of how our bgovernment works.

Trump supporters just destroyed it.

It's sickening.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

They can go to hell.

In Trump's America, hell come to you!

 

[Harry Bosch]

When Mitt Romney lost 4 years ago, the GOP famously did an analysis of what went wrong and what they could do moving forward to strengthen their party. After the "autopsy" was published, they set about completely ignoring all the conclusions and recommendations.

This time around, they won. They will not look inward as they did in the aftermath of 2012. They won, so they don't feel the need to examine anything let alone change. If anything, their victory will make them even more intractable. They'll tell themselves that obstructionism was successful. That their economic program of "starve the beast" is what people really want. Of course they'll gut Obamacare as promised but won't replace it with anything, and they'll set about trying to roll back any minority outreach they may have tepidly attempted because by gosh white America still loves them.

Exactly.

If Clinton won, that would have taught the GOP a lesson. That bogging down our government with their partisan obstructionism was not going to be tolerated by the American people who simply wanted them to do their jobs, not play 'let's keep our power at all costs'. That tail wagging the dog distractions like email non-scandals and dead horse Benghazi events were non-events and not crucial to them doing their jobs and that Americans were tired of their antics.

Instead, the Trump supporters rewarded them for their partisan politics and told them this is the way to hold onto to power. To block any opposition for anything for partisan reasons and no other reason. To not seek a compromise.

Obama offered a moderate Supreme Court justice nominee. Not a radical liberal left-winger. The Republicans ignored him because if they won after the election, they wouldn't have to compromise at all.

Compromise is the foundation of how our bgovernment works.

Trump supporters just destroyed it.

It's sickening.

Yea, it's going to be a tough four years. Prior to Nov 8, I assumed that Trump would lose, and it would split the republican party in two. But now it appears that they are unifying, and we are getting split.

 

[LordKiran]

Exactly.

If Clinton won, that would have taught the GOP a lesson. That bogging down our government with their partisan obstructionism was not going to be tolerated by the American people who simply wanted them to do their jobs, not play 'let's keep our power at all costs'. That tail wagging the dog distractions like email non-scandals and dead horse Benghazi events were non-events and not crucial to them doing their jobs and that Americans were tired of their antics.

Instead, the Trump supporters rewarded them for their partisan politics and told them this is the way to hold onto to power. To block any opposition for anything for partisan reasons and no other reason. To not seek a compromise.

Obama offered a moderate Supreme Court justice nominee. Not a radical liberal left-winger. The Republicans ignored him because if they won after the election, they wouldn't have to compromise at all.

Compromise is the foundation of how our bgovernment works.

Trump supporters just destroyed it.

It's sickening.

Yea, it's going to be a tough four years. Prior to Nov 8, I assumed that Trump would lose, and it would split the republican party in two. But now it appears that they are unifying, and we are getting split.

Such is the price for complacency and arrogance. Really the writing for this was on the wall as far back as the primaries.