I remember when the Republican Party was a serious party, when things like the economy, strong defense and family values mattered.
Not anymore!
Now what matters to Republicans is repeating The Big Lie and pwng the libs.
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And why Trump is winning easily.
www.cbsnews.com
On this
What’s striking is that none of them can be addressed through government action.
How do you challenge woke ideas, say Trump won, and make liberals angry? You talk. That’s all you have to do. Just say stuff.
Opposing gun restrictions is almost policy, except that it simply requires a politician to vote against some hypothetical legislation in the indeterminate future. It’s not a thing a politician can do proactively. It’s not an agenda. ...
it’s also pretty clear that the Republican electorate has changed radically in what it wants—which has caused a change in what Republican politicians now offer. Which, in turn, has changed the functional definition of “conservatism” as it exists in practice, in the real, live world around us.
That issue map above—challenge woke, oppose gun restrictions, say Trump won, make liberals angry—is now the definition of modern conservatism. Are there other things you could add to the definition? Sure. It’s not an exhaustive list. But those are the non-negotiables. Those are the priorities. ...
And this issue map is—not coincidentally—untethered to governing policy.
Which is to say: A losing Republican presidential candidate can now satisfy the deepest desires of Republican voters even better than a successful Republican governor or senator, who has to make compromises to get things done.
This should not surprise anyone. It was clear that conservatism had transformed from a political ideology to a lifestyle brand some time ago. The
one-page 2020 Republican party platform made this transformation explicit.
For the people still clinging to conservatism / the Republican party, either because they’re pretending it hasn’t changed or hoping it’ll change back, good luck.
GOP voters are telling you what they want. Plus: Self-examination in the aftermath of COVID.
thetriad.thebulwark.com