Trollminator wrote:
Runningart2004 wrote:
It doesn't make sense politically for the Rs to vote to convict.
2024 will be an issue if they can't find an energizing candidate not named or connected to Trump. They will lose 2024 with anyone connected to Trump but if Trump and Co stay relevant then I'm not sure they have anyone else to challenge.
Who are the up and coming Rs? Who can take advantage of the changing American demographics?
The Rs seem to be clinging to the last gasps of the aging while male. Trump was their mid-life crisis.
Alan
We have to look at it through the lens of two types of Rs, the trumpers and RINOs. Progressive Rs don't exist, at least not yet. The closest to that is Romney. Perhaps the Lincoln project Rs have a chance to start a progressive wing, but they would need to siphon some Dems because the brainwashing on the right is extremely potent. Anyway, the GOP is not even close to the light bulb going off and go with the demographic shift instead of swimming against the current. This is mostly because gerrymandering and voter suppression have allowed them to stay in power without having to cater any group other than white males.
So back to two types of Rs:
Trumpers - if they win the GOP civil war then Trump remains relevant if he is still allowed to hold office. Next after him would be someone like Tucker Carlson, another outsider. Even the likes of Ted and Hawley won't cut it I don't think, they are not extreme enough and can't be trusted by the foaming at the mouth base. Even if they could pull it off, they have no shot at beating a Dem.
RINOs - if they flush out trump's grip on the GOP, top candidates will be Cotton, Haley and Rubio. Notice I don't include Cheney and Romney because they rejected trump and are tainted forever with the base. Cotton and Haley are trump sympathizers. The base is too brainwashed to go with a normal RINO who wants to put country over party/demagogue.
I can see Cotton being able to pull off a win against a Dem and someone like Carlson, as crazy as it sounds, may have a shot if it's against an establishment Dem.
One thing is for sure, the GOP has definitely not hit rock bottom yet. They will have to get totally gutted for there to be any major change of strategy and mission. They will take the path of least resistance, which collectively means acquitting trump and then obstructing Biden, playing victim, and being careful not to offend trump.
If Mitch decides conviction is the way and gets enough Rs onboard, it will be a quicker end to the GOP. He would be ousted and would likely retire with a battle ensuing for the leadership role.
As far as Trump, he will form the Patriot Party and will fleece the base some more. If he's allowed back on one of the major social media platforms again he will mess with the GOP enough to prevent them from moving on.