What the #NeverTrump crowd doesn’t understand
Let’s just be honest: These Republicans — whether they are voting for Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Clinton or Mr. McMullin — are no longer Republicans.
Instead of trying to shape and lead the GOP’s future, they’ve decided to abandon it. Some in self-interest, others because they simply don’t like the direction the base has moved, because it has moved.
I think we can all agree on that.
The ideology of what it means to be a Republican and Democrat is changing. For the Democrats, the party is becoming more progressive, more socialist. For the Republicans, it’s a move to middle-class policies rather than a focus on the Chamber of Commerce.
The GOP establishment elite — who wanted to push immigration reform, support globalization and want a more interventionist role in foreign policy — was rejected by Republican voters. Their crony capitalism was rejected. Their status quo was rejected.
Again, no argument from me.
Still, there seems to be some level of denial among the party elites that they don’t need to change, that the base does. They don’t seem to realize they’re a bunch of generals without an army.
This article had me with the “bunch of generals” bit. Too too true,
It’s a distraction because Mr. Trump is a person, not a movement. He may go away after November, but his supporters won’t. They won’t just say, “We’re sorry, we were wrong, we love globalization, please Washington, tell us what’s best.”
They may retreat — but they will still be there, silently waiting for a candidate who represents them. The establishment will think they have won, and Republicans probably will in mid-term elections, where Democratic turn-out is abysmal.
Right again.