Well, it is now clear. The once Grand Old Party is no more. Thoughtful conservatives like Dwight Eisenhower, Nelson Rockefeller, Olympia Snow, George H.W. Bush, Jim Leech (R-IA), and Maggie Tinsman (former Iowa state senator) have left the building. Oh maybe not officially left the party, but they are no longer looked to or listened to.
Now that businessman and reality TV star, Donald Trump has been declared the “presumptive nominee” of the Republican Party for the presidency of these United States, the GOP of old is no more. Whether they will rally round Donald Trump for the sake of party unity or try to mitigate the disastrous consequences for the country should he actually be elected remains to be seen. I’m sure there is much anguish in many Republican hearts this morning.
Not that Ted Cruz would have been any better. In some ways, he was scarier because he was somewhat less outrageous than Trump. But he was an angry man and might have had even less success in unifying his party since the vast majority of Republicans apparently loathe him. But I do not believe Cruz was certifiably insane. Donald Trump may be.
At the very least, he is a racist, misogynist, xenophobic narcissist. Translation: he is biased toward most minorities and couples that with power to do them harm. He has no respect for (and likely even hates) women. He distrusts and fears the “other” – in particular immigrants to this country and any nation in the world which may pose a challenge to American supremacy. And, he considers himself the center of the entire universe and is quite prepared to destroy anyone who seeks to challenge that opinion.
I once said that I would try to keep this web log “political” but not “partisan.” That was before a political party I once respected (even when I disagreed with them) disintegrated. I now believe that it is essential for the future of the country I love that a Democrat be elected President in November.
Whether our nominee is (as appears likely) Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders, I will work hard to encourage all people of good will to defeat Donald Trump and so preserve some semblance of respect for the United States among the nations of the earth. We must not give in to fear or cynicism.
That We All May Be One 
May 4, 2016 at 1:47 pm |
What fascinates me is that the cultural dynamic changes course faster than the terminology can catch up. Democrat and Republican don’t mean what they did when I was a child. If you list Mrs. Clinton’s policies without underlining the “D”, she IS a Nelson Rockefeller Republican, moderate in fiscal choices, left leaning on social issues, and interventionist in foreign affairs.
May 4, 2016 at 3:05 pm |
Yes, I think you’re correct. My wife was once a very happy “Rockefeller Republican” back in the day!