Politics
Insurgent Republicans Are Still Hesitant To Start A New Party
They have issued their manifesto criticizing Trump without naming him
While we are on the topic of all the things that are wrong with the Republican Party, let’s talk about the rogue party members that are threatening to leave and start their own party.
The breakaway faction released their eagerly awaited letter as promised on May 13. And it said . . . not much. You can read it here. They are still threatening to start their own party but haven’t set preconditions for their departure or a date.
You will notice throughout the document that they pointedly refer to Trump without actually naming him.
The manifesto is signed by 150 Republicans. The Guardian complained that none of them are current officeholders as if that somehow makes them lesser beings. Apparently no one at The Guardian is aware of how many Republicans have left government because they don’t like the direction the GOP is taking.
Which would make them ideal candidates for this type of insurgency. It’s no surprise to me that none of the people signing this letter are currently serving in the government. Republicans who are currently serving in the government have only to look at what happened to Liz Cheney to see what would happen to them if they spoke up.
They are sensibly allowing those out of government to do the heavy lifting of getting a new party off the ground.
I think that this document is the opening salvo in the war for the soul of the Republican Party. Republicans like Liz Cheney are still hoping to be able to change the party from within, but at least 150 Republicans recognize that you can’t deprogram an entire political party that has become a cult of personality revolving around the delusions of a mentally ill old man.
It is better to start fresh with a new party dedicated to the ideals of the old Republican Party.
I know, I know, third parties have never been successful but is this the third party or are the Trumpists the third party? Trump’s base is made up of elderly Americans and Americans without a college degree. That’s very few people, less than half of all voters. And that number is shrinking as the older voters die off.
I think this insurgency, who call themselves “a common-sense coalition” recognize that there are Republican voters who are equally disgusted with Trump and have either quit voting or have been voting for Democrats.
I know more than a few of them. You probably do too.
My opinion is that there are enough conservative voters out there who would welcome a sane, rational party made up of respected Republican figures to make the new party viable.
Past discussions by this breakaway faction have included not just backing their own candidates in elections but also supporting candidates from other parties. That strikes me as a good strategy to get a new party off the ground.
Trump is planning to start holding rallies in June. Two are planned for that month with a third planned for the Fourth of July.
For the record, these will be his first rallies since that infamous January 6 “Stop the Steal” rally that led to an attempted coup and five deaths.
I would not be surprised if in addition to whipping up his base, these rallies also give the proposed third party a boost. Fear will do that.
Especially if Trump makes his intention to run in 2024 official at these rallies. He has been broadly hinting at it for weeks. Just last week he said:
“I think people are going to be very, very happy when I make a certain announcement.”
In the real world, a lot more people are going to be very, very unhappy if he runs again.
In the meantime, there is a nationwide town hall discussing the insurgency to look forward to. Of course I will be attending. You know how fascinated I am by all this.