The Best Thing About Trump Winning- The GOP is Dead!

[poofyhairguy]

My whole life the Republican establishment required the R candidate to pass a litmus test of religious questions (being anti-abortion/Planned Parenthood for one) mixed with supporting politics that really mostly benefit rich successful people (free trade, low taxes at the top to have "trickle down"). But Trump has won the nomination and then the presidency without using this 30 year old playbook.

More than anything I hope this means the death of Reagan's GOP and the political careers of "real" conservatives like Ted Cruz. The Christian right was exposed as a cheap date that will vote for anyone with an R next to their name as long as he gives them something token like a VP that agrees with their policies. The rich and neocons have watched their party be hijacked by a guy who promises to strike down the kind of global trade deals (the kind where we trade them jobs for products) that have been inflating CEO bonus packages for decades.

No matter what Trump does or doesn't do as president, the thought process about what a Republican candidate HAS TO be has been broken forever. That is a good thing for the party and for American long term.

 

[shortylickens]

they survived just fine after Nixon.

I dont think this will destroy them, just hurt the party for a little while.

 

[soundforbjt]

Pence is a big supporter of the Religious Right. That's what got Trump their votes.

 

[nakedfrog]

No matter what Trump does or doesn't do as president, the thought process about what a Republican candidate HAS TO be has been broken forever. That is a good thing for the party and for American long term.

I don't know. I'd aim for "cautious optimism" if I were you, they could very well blame any failures (perceived or actual) on not picking a proper evangelical and use it as proof that they need to return to "traditional values".

 

[First]

Trump definitely espouses some lefty policies (wary of free trade, protective of SS & entitlements generally, big on infrastructure), but the problem is his entire life has been one big, empty bluff after another. So while Republican/conservative policies have definitely proven to be far less sticky than previously imagined before Trump, bottom line is his poker face is awful and his actual policy chops are non-existent. But there's little doubt he'll let the conservative loons in Congress pass some nonsensical stuff, maybe not everything. Assuming he even lasts a full 1st term, it's just too unpredictable what laws he'll get passed in the next 4 yrs.

We'll see.

 

[Kazukian]

How exactly do you think being in control of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial system is "dead"?

Dude, they're going to claim a mandate, and probably rightfully so.

 

[nakedfrog]

How exactly do you think being in control of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial system is "dead"?

Dude, they're going to claim a mandate, and probably rightfully so.

Don't think squeaking out a surprise win qualifies as a mandate, people who were strictly voting against Clinton were an important part of the numbers.

 

[Kazukian]

Don't think squeaking out a surprise win qualifies as a mandate, people who were strictly voting against Clinton were an important part of the numbers.

I'm talking about how they just gained control of the 3 branches of government. Squeaker or not, that's real.

 

[First]

I'm talking about how they just gained control of the 3 branches of government. Squeaker or not, that's real.

Huh? They already had control of the Senate and House. In fact, they lost Senate and House seats in this election.

 

[Kazukian]

Huh? They already had control of the Senate and House. In fact, they lost Senate and House seats in this election.

And they just added the Executive and Judicial branches... Did you sleep through Civics class?

 

[Bird222]

My whole life the Republican establishment required the R candidate to pass a litmus test of religious questions (being anti-abortion/Planned Parenthood for one) mixed with supporting politics that really mostly benefit rich successful people (free trade, low taxes at the top to have "trickle down"). But Trump has won the nomination and then the presidency without using this 30 year old playbook.

More than anything I hope this means the death of Reagan's GOP and the political careers of "real" conservatives like Ted Cruz. The Christian right was exposed as a cheap date that will vote for anyone with an R next to their name as long as he gives them something token like a VP that agrees with their policies. The rich and neocons have watched their party be hijacked by a guy who promises to strike down the kind of global trade deals (the kind where we trade them jobs for products) that have been inflating CEO bonus packages for decades.

No matter what Trump does or doesn't do as president, the thought process about what a Republican candidate HAS TO be has been broken forever. That is a good thing for the party and for American long term.

This requires critical thinking on their part.

 

[nakedfrog]

And they just added the Executive and Judicial branches... Did you sleep through Civics class?

Yeah, not a mandate when Executive was a squeaker spite win, and the Judicial is because of the obstructionists.

 

[First]

And they just added the Executive and Judicial branches... Did you sleep through Civics class?

Yeah, you're a little slow. For one you're assuming facts not in evidence; he hasn't actually confirmed any judicial nominations yet, we don't know what'll happen with filibusters or the ideological bent of his pick given his word is, to put it nicely, a malleable thing.

Two, based on those civics classes, it's tough to see how he can claim a mandate if he won the election by less than 1% in the rust belt states that decided the election, lost the popular vote and his party lost House and Senate seats. Your "mandate" position defies basic arithmetic.

 

[Kazukian]

Yeah, you're a little slow. For one you're assuming facts not in evidence; he hasn't actually confirmed any judicial nominations yet, we don't know what'll happen with filibusters or the ideological bent of his pick given his word is, to put it nicely, a malleable thing.

Two, based on those civics classes, it's tough to see how he can claim a mandate if he won the election by less than 1% in the rust belt states that decided the election, lost the popular vote and his party lost House and Senate seats. Your "mandate" position defies basic arithmetic.

I'm not saying they have a mandate, I'm saying it's very possible they'll claim one. And having all 3 branches of government is a hell of a lot better position than just 1.

 

[nakedfrog]

I'm not saying they have a mandate, I'm saying it's very possible they'll claim one. And having all 3 branches of government is a hell of a lot better position than just 1.

But you did also say "and probably rightfully so".

 

[Kazukian]

But you did also say "and probably rightfully so".

In my opinion, yes.

 

[First]

In my opinion, yes.

K. Except they can't "rightfully so" claim a mandate when they reduced their majorities in 1 of 3 branches of gov't (Congress) and lost the popular vote in the 2nd (executive). Arithmetic says so.

 

[imported_tajmahal]

Hmm the Republicans own the House, the Senate, the White House, 33 Governors and the Supreme Court................. umm yes they are devastated. Here's a cookie.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I don't know. I'd aim for "cautious optimism" if I were you, they could very well blame any failures (perceived or actual) on not picking a proper evangelical and use it as proof that they need to return to "traditional values".

Trump won when they didn't think he could. If he would have failed you are right, the post mortem would have been "he wasn't conservative and religious enough." But he won, so that 30 year old calculus of what a Republican has to be is now dead at a national level (it will always matter at a local level in red states).

I am super happy about that at a personal level, because a Republican Party that isn't up-its-ass over Christianity and doing whatever the rich wants might finally have room under the tent for people like me who like a strong military and like the idea of being conservative about big changes to society.

How exactly do you think being in control of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial system is "dead"?

Dude, they're going to claim a mandate, and probably rightfully so.

I am not talking purely about "The Republican Party." I am talking about what the Republican Party has been ever since Reagan was in office. I am talking about the death of the "moral majority" as a major force, or the fact that every Republican candidate has to pass their culture war litmus test.

The Republicans might have had a big win this year thanks to Trump, but in doing so they basically sold their soul to do it. I am dancing on the grave of that soul.

 

[raildogg]

We really need to move beyond Republicans and Democrats if we have any chance of a peaceful future. Thinking of yourself as being a liberal or a conservative, or a Republican or a Democrat is a source of a lot of the issues we have today.

But then again, the system is designed so you and I can continue to bicker about us being Republicans and Democrats. This way, we are distracted from the real issues.

Think about it. People are busy fighting each other.

It's funny how we always have two sides to fight over:

White vs Black (or other minority)
Democrat vs Republican
Liberal vs Conservative
Socialist vs Capitalist
Christian vs Muslim
Urban vs Rural
Educated vs Uneducated

People are too dumb to realize that fighting over these stupid things helps no one.

 

[MrSquished]

I don't really think the GOP is dead at all. You had some GOP insiders not fall behind Trump, but I bet MOST, not all, of that changes now that they've won. Keep in mind their institutional politicians maintained control of Congress so what do they care now about a possibly inflammatory guy now that he got them into power. I think they will feed off that power and go right back to their old ways.

 

[LegendKiller]

K. Except they can't "rightfully so" claim a mandate when they reduced their majorities in 1 of 3 branches of gov't (Congress) and lost the popular vote in the 2nd (executive). Arithmetic says so.

Losing the popular vote doesn't matter. Winning the popular vote wasn't the goal, never was, hopefully never will be. The goal was winning EC and by those rules, he gained the mandate.

You can't move the goalposts just because you lost. Deal with it cupcake.

 

[LegendKiller]

I don't really think the GOP is dead at all. You had some GOP insiders not fall behind Trump, but I bet MOST, not all, of that changes now that they've won. Keep in mind their institutional politicians maintained control of Congress so what do they care now about a possibly inflammatory guy now that he got them into power. I think they will feed off that power and go right back to their old ways.

He will flog them into submission. The only reason why they went rogue before is because they didn't think he could win. Now that he has won he can play by his own rules.

And yes, I hope the GOP is dead. Good riddance, time for a new R party that is far more realistic for a modern age and far less accepting of sniveling SJW brats.

 

[sxr7171]

We really need to move beyond Republicans and Democrats if we have any chance of a peaceful future. Thinking of yourself as being a liberal or a conservative, or a Republican or a Democrat is a source of a lot of the issues we have today.

But then again, the system is designed so you and I can continue to bicker about us being Republicans and Democrats. This way, we are distracted from the real issues.

Think about it. People are busy fighting each other.

It's funny how we always have two sides to fight over:

White vs Black (or other minority)
Democrat vs Republican
Liberal vs Conservative
Socialist vs Capitalist
Christian vs Muslim
Urban vs Rural
Educated vs Uneducated

People are too dumb to realize that fighting over these stupid things helps no one.

Amen

 

[First]

Losing the popular vote doesn't matter. Winning the popular vote wasn't the goal, never was, hopefully never will be. The goal was winning EC and by those rules, he gained the mandate.

You can't move the goalposts just because you lost. Deal with it cupcake.

In a discussion about mandates, popular vote matters. He's gonna lose it by 1M votes, and his already fragile coalition of frat boys and white identity kids ain't going to last, as emotions-based movements like these typically end badly.