Trump’s GOP

Forget for now what Democrats will do in the Age of Trump. What will Republicans do?

They won their biggest election victories in many a year, thanks to a man who ran against their party establishment, ridiculed and routed their favored candidates, and has at best a tenuous commitment to their conservative orthodoxy.

He promises a big tax cut and huge cuts in regulations, which Republicans love. He also promises a trillion-dollar infrastructure spending program, which they love not so much. He hates trade deals; they love trade deals. And it’s not clear where Trump stands on the GOP establishment’s burning desire to attack Medicare, Social Security and Obamacare.

He embraces Taiwan and pokes China. He’s chummy with Putin. And he boasts that he’s far smarter than the nation’s intelligence establishment. Russian hacking of our election? “A problem,” GOP Senators McCain and Graham say. “Nothing to it,” Trump swears. Maybe he takes Putin’s word for it.

Maybe Democrats should just relax. Sit in front of the fire and enjoy some eggnog. Let all this play out and see where the pieces fall out.

Trump was great for Republicans this year. Now their fate is roped to his. Let’s see how great he is for them in 2018 and 2020.

In the spirit of the season, I pass on this quote sent by a TAPster, from H.L. Mencken in 1920:

“As democracy is perfected, the office of the President represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day, the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be occupied by a downright moron.”

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Gary Pearce

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Trump’s GOP

Forget for now what Democrats will do in the Age of Trump. What will Republicans do?

They won their biggest election victories in many a year, thanks to a man who ran against their party establishment, ridiculed and routed their favored candidates, and has at best a tenuous commitment to their conservative orthodoxy.

He promises a big tax cut and huge cuts in regulations, which Republicans love. He also promises a trillion-dollar infrastructure spending program, which they love not so much. He hates trade deals; they love trade deals. And it’s not clear where Trump stands on the GOP establishment’s burning desire to attack Medicare, Social Security and Obamacare.

He embraces Taiwan and pokes China. He’s chummy with Putin. And he boasts that he’s far smarter than the nation’s intelligence establishment. Russian hacking of our election? “A problem,” GOP Senators McCain and Graham say. “Nothing to it,” Trump swears. Maybe he takes Putin’s word for it.

Maybe Democrats should just relax. Sit in front of the fire and enjoy some eggnog. Let all this play out and see where the pieces fall out.

Trump was great for Republicans this year. Now their fate is roped to his. Let’s see how great he is for them in 2018 and 2020.

In the spirit of the season, I pass on this quote sent by a TAPster, from H.L. Mencken in 1920:

“As democracy is perfected, the office of the President represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day, the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be occupied by a downright moron.”

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Gary Pearce

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