Mark Wilson/Getty
If the definition of madness is attempting the identical factor again and again and anticipating a distinct outcome, at this time’s Republican Get together is certifiable.
After a disappointing 2022 midterm—that ought to have been interpreted as a warning towards Trumpism—the Republican Get together has given zero indication that they may hit the panic button in time to salvage 2024.
Let’s begin with the OG election denier, Donald Trump, who continues to be ostensibly the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. On the heels of demoralizing midterm outcomes, Trump promptly introduced he was operating for president after which spent final week eating with antisemites and neo-Nazis.
Senate Majority Chief Mitch McConnell responded by saying, “There's merely no room within the Republican Get together for antisemitism or white supremacy”—a demonstrably unfaithful assertion. McConnell went on to say that “anybody assembly with folks advocating that standpoint, in my judgment, [is] extremely unlikely to ever be elected president of the US.” McConnell’s purpose could also be noble, however within the phrases of the Large Lebowski, “Nicely, that is simply, like, your opinion, man…”
The man with one of the best probability to assist Republicans transfer on from Trump is Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. At the least, he seems the most probably candidate to have the ability to defeat Trump in a presidential major. However this is able to probably be a Pyrrhic victory. Trump would probably sabotage DeSantis in a basic election. So it’s heads: Trump wins, or tails: DeSantis loses. Both approach, Republicans in all probability lose one other presidential race in 2024.
Republicans may console themselves by wanting on the 2024 congressional races. In keeping with Politico, Dems face a “Senate map from hell” as a result of Democrats are defending much more seats than Republicans. What's extra, a number of the locations Democrats are taking part in protection are more and more crimson. How would you prefer to be a Democrat operating for re-election in Montana, Ohio, or West Virginia?
That is excellent news for Republicans, however ask your self this: What have Republicans executed in the previous couple of weeks to counsel they gained’t make the identical errors that induced them to underperform in 2022? Is there any purpose to consider that high-quality candidates (assume Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey or New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu) can be drawn to this Republican Get together? Is there any purpose to consider that Trumpy candidates (assume Blake Masters and Herschel Walker) gained’t proceed to run for the U.S. Senate in 2024?
Perhaps Republicans will exhibit management and competence within the Home of Representatives.
In keeping with former Speaker Newt Gingrich, “The primary purpose [of a Republican Congress] needs to be to present the American folks a way of hope—and a purpose to consider issues might be dramatically higher.” Fats probability. There’s no assure that Kevin McCarthy will even change into Home Speaker. If he does, there may be just about zero probability he can management the “clown caucus.” Reps. Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene will name the photographs, which can make it simple for Group Biden to color them (and Trump) as the face of the GOP.
Not solely is it unlikely that Home Republicans will clear up their act by 2024, it’s additionally attainable that their insistent election denialism may value Republicans one other Home seat this 12 months.
To recap, Republicans can’t rely on salvation from the 2024 presidential race, senior Republican leaders like Mitch McConnell, a pleasant U.S. Senate map, or the slender Home majority. Maybe the Republican Nationwide Committee will save the day.
Once more, don’t maintain your breath. Even assuming MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell doesn’t wrest management of the committee from RNC Chair Ronna Romney McDaniel, what are the chances the brand new “Republican Get together Advisory Council” will present a transparent pathway again to sanity and victory?
One of many council’s members contains dropping Arizona Senate candidate Blake Masters. As Nationwide Evaluate’s Jack Butler put it, Masters “underperformed each different statewide Republican operating in Arizona this 12 months and didn't knock off susceptible incumbent Democrat Mark Kelly regardless of the professed want of Arizonans for a Republican senator.”
To make certain, something can occur. Life strikes quick. The Republican Get together has been prematurely written off extra occasions than I can rely. The distinction, although, has been that after previous losses the GOP wished to draw voters and was keen to make adjustments to win elections.
For instance, within the wake of Watergate, the RNC had yellow buttons printed with the slogan, “Republicans Are Folks, Too!”
Contemplating a number of the weirdos the GOP nominated to run in 2022, “Republicans Are Folks, Too!” is simply the type of humble, desperation message that the GOP ought to embrace.
Republicans will probably must hit all-time low earlier than they admit they've an issue. Till that occurs, we’ll be unable to look away from the slow-motion political automotive crash that's the GOP.