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Adam Kinzinger declares death of Republican Party (www.newsweek.com)

submitted 3 months ago by homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world to c/politics@lemmy.world

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In his Substack titled, "The Convention Spoke and Told Us: The GOP is Dead," Kinzinger explained various examples of how the RNC demonstrated that Trump has succeeded in turning the GOP into a "cult of personality."

From that Substack article:

It was called the Republican National Convention, but in fact, it had nothing to do with the GOP most of us once knew. Gone were the party’s serious policy debates and platform planks. In their place was a celebration of Donald Trump, who has succeeded in converting one of the country’s two major parties into a cult of personality. When it ended, the delegates sent a ticket into the presidential election with no true Republicans on it.

. . . Because it is now the Trump Party, the crowd in Milwaukee lapped up Navarro’s message of fear which, after all, is the gateway to rage. Few noticed that, contrary to tradition, past Republican leaders – former President Bush, past nominee Mitt Romney, and former Vice President Dan Quayle – were all absent.

. . . I won’t hide the fact that I grieve the old GOP and fear the cult of Trump. I am equally concerned, though, by Democrats who are shrinking from the fight, concluding that Trump’s election is inevitable. I would say that given a remnant of traditional Republicans remains, and independents must be turned off by a Trump who wants to be emperor. It's time to gather our courage and energy. The fight against him is not lost.

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[-] Buffalox@lemmy.world 119 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

I wonder what happens to the GOP when Trump dies. It truly is the Trump party now, and the Trump MAGA crowd is absolutely out of touch with reality.
They don't have any consistent or constructive policies, they just hate liberals LGBT and colored people. I seriously hope it's not possible to continue an influential political party just based on that.

I won’t hide the fact that I grieve the old GOP

Maybe, but that was what inevitably led to Trump. The old GOP created FOX news, and FOX news was created for GOP. It has been based on bigger and bigger lies for at least 50 years now. So there's really no reason to grieve for GOP, the problem is that USA is losing democracy, because they have an idiotic first past the post system, that creates an artificial binary political environment, with no room for nuance.

[-] Godort@lemm.ee 50 points 3 months ago

I wonder what happens to the GOP when Trump dies.

A lot of the people that vote for them currently have no problems with cognitive dissonance. They'll just continue to vote for whomever Fox says because they're the best shot they have at stopping those evil liberal elites.

[-] TachyonTele@lemm.ee 29 points 3 months ago

I fully expect a short time where the crazies will try their hardest to be Trump, then they'll all eventually fade away.

[-] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 24 points 3 months ago

The old GOP created FOX news, and FOX news was created for GOP. It has been based on bigger and bigger lies for at least 50 years now.

Yeah. I’m not a big Kinzinger fan, just like I’m not a big fan of Cheney - not the war criminal who needs to be imprisoned but the relatively reasonable one recently ousted by Qultists. But I appreciate they’re able to call it a disgrace and all the rest of it. Like- proof that there are at least some whose life’s work is being stolen by an orange rapist who are reacting within understandable parameters.

It’s a small thing, but I’ll take it.

[-] Lemmeenym@lemm.ee 14 points 3 months ago

Honestly I super disappointed in Cheney. Don't get me wrong, I never had much of a positive opinion about him, he was Darth Sidious hiding in the shadows and wielding all the power in the service of evil during the Bush presidency, but I did believe he had some version of family values. When, as a former VP and respected elder of the party, he didn't step up to support and defend his daughter after she became a MAGA target I lost what little positive regard I had for him.

[-] lastunusedusername2@sh.itjust.works 15 points 3 months ago

If we're lucky, they all die with him.

[-] Coelacanth@feddit.nu 13 points 3 months ago

I wonder if Don Jr. will be the future after the old man passes. The cult of personality is basically a religion at this point so I wouldn't rule out them voting for anyone of the flesh and blood of their lord and saviour. Maybe Ivanka, but then they'd have to vote for a woman.

It seems like they want to rebuild the monarchy so why not keep it in the family? Makes sense to me.

[-] RedAggroBest@lemmy.world 30 points 3 months ago

As much as blood could be an argument, I think Donald himself hates his sons too much for that. To paraphrase Jon Stewart, JD Vance looks like the actor they'd pick to play Don Jr in a biopic

[-] CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world 10 points 3 months ago

They'll go with someone like Josh "Hauling Ass" Hawley. Or that Cotton guy. Now that they had the crack of donnie, there is no going back to some methadone. Someone else will have to be just as bad, or worse, than donnie.

[-] GiddyGap@lemm.ee 5 points 3 months ago

Looks like Trump is trying to get Vance installed as the heir of the MAGA movement. There seems to be plenty of crazies to take over from Trump.

[-] corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 months ago

I wonder what happens to the GOP when Trump dies

Ivanka.

[-] Riccosuave@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

No chance. Jared & Ivanka are the two people in that family who are truly wealthy and well connected. They have zero need to fuck up their extremely lucrative grift selling information to the Suadis and influence peddling with Russian proxies by getting involved directly in running for office.

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[-] Rhaedas@fedia.io 63 points 3 months ago

Trump didn't do this, he's just one in a long line. If you're mourning the GOP of Trump but longing for the GOP before him...it's the same picture. Just a lot more open about their true beliefs. Feel sorry for the old GOP of Eisenhower if you want to get any credit of missing a different party.

[-] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 32 points 3 months ago

Yeah it’s a continuum of garbage, it’s just that all the trappings of reasoned debate have been jettisoned. They’re literally just screaming to kill people now. They ruined it for the centrist Republicans of yore. (And the mysterious and elusive ‘swing voter’)

[-] DancingBear@midwest.social 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Hey now, that’s mean. I’m seriously having trouble choosing between a full bowl of shit and a half bowl of shit over here

[-] CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world 14 points 3 months ago

Yep. Donnie just gave them a permission structure to be even more vocal about how awful they truly are. Like everything else in his life, he has created nothing. He just waltzed in after Palin laid the groundwork for him and slapped his name on the place.

[-] Nougat@fedia.io 10 points 3 months ago

Even before Eisenhower, the GOP was shit. They were against social security during FDR.

[-] CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world 11 points 3 months ago

Didn't they try plotting a coup way back then, too?

[-] Irremarkable@fedia.io 8 points 3 months ago

Yes*

*besides a handful of key figures, who was actually involved in the business plot is entirely a he said/she said situation. Some theories implicate a wide range of sitting congressmen, some keep it mostly limited to the businessmen themselves, and there's some everywhere in between.

Personally, I think the idea that it was close to happening is way overblown.

[-] Mikelius@lemmy.world 7 points 3 months ago

Yup, Dubya’s grandpa was in on it.

[-] Nougat@fedia.io 4 points 3 months ago

Oh yeah, I haven't finished reading Prequel yet, thank you for reminding me.

[-] A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world 58 points 3 months ago

Remember the old GOP that hes grieving is the exact same fucking thing as it is under trump, the only difference was the old GOP knew to hide its evil with flowery and coded language.

[-] SkyNTP@lemmy.ml 41 points 3 months ago

Yes and no. The old GOP would concede an election, and that, it turns out, is a pretty fucking huge deal.

[-] zaphodb2002@sh.itjust.works 12 points 3 months ago

I mean, they stole an election in 2000 and we just let that happen with no consequences. Nixon tried to cheat and was caught, and we let that happen with no consequences. They haven't liked democracy for a while now.

[-] Pacattack57@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago

I wouldn’t say no consequences for Nixon. They would have impeached him if he hadn’t decided to resign. And the president pardoned him to not set a bad precedent but again had he not resigned with tact, that may not have happened.

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[-] A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world 10 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Again, because they hid their evil, waiting for the right time.

and the right time is now. which is why they are so die hard for trump, cause hes the excuse they needed to go loud and proud and, they think, let them finally seize the country for themselves and get rid of the pesky democracy.

Which has always been their goal.

[-] veganpizza69@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago

Trump is the Tea Party candidate. They took over the GOP since 2009: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_Party_movement

[-] A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world 10 points 3 months ago

Tea Party was nothing but a group of republicans that wanted to drop the facade earlier than the rest thought they should.

still the same ol GOP

[-] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 41 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

The year is 1964. Republicans lose in a historic landslide. Democrats are poised to take full control of the Supreme Court and further entrench their congressional majorities. Pundits predict the end of the GOP and the dawn of a Great Society.

The year is 1976. Republicans are infested with Nixon-era scandal and Democrats are poised to pick up the pieces. Is there any path forward for a broken and humiliated GOP?

The year is 1992. Republicans fumble the Presidency, reversing a near unbroken string of White House victories going back a quarter century. News media questions whether the party can recover from a near endless string of scandals and a soured voter base.

The year is 2008. Republicans are routed from the House and Senate in a historic win for liberal Democrats. The Senatorial supermajority could pave the way for a Green New Deal and a permanent Democrat majority. Is the Republican Party doomed to become a regional rump?

The year is 2020. Turnout for a Presidential election hits a generational peak as Republicans are forced into retirement in droves. With Trump-mania still gripping the party and demographics forcing white nationalists into smaller, more regional minorities, will this spell the end of the Republican Party?

[-] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 7 points 3 months ago

The year is 1964. "Tricky" Dick Nixon sets his sights on crime and undermining voting rights.

The year is 1992. Ross "Can I Finish" Perot spoils the soup for republicans who vow to never allow a third party conservative voice again.

The year is 2008. republiqans once again face the prosepect of themselves not having any fucking money - just like the goddamned Democrat poors. Better to let the Dems figure it out while we ensure the previous administration isn't literally arrested for crimes against humanity.

The year is 2020. Batshit insanity has enveloped the republiQan party like an orange cloud of airborne virus. The cult is complete, resistance is futile. Non-compliant republicans will be exiled. Plans to stage a coup are already well underway.

I mean, yeah, cretinous evil is tenacious.

[-] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 24 points 3 months ago

I won’t hide the fact that I grieve the old GOP

Which one? Because every version from Reagan onwards will keep leading right back to where we are today.

[-] dudinax@programming.dev 6 points 3 months ago

This all feels a bit like the revenge of the Nixon team.

[-] iknowitwheniseeit@lemmynsfw.com 5 points 3 months ago

I mean, the right wing efforts worked. Trump has objectively done way worse things than Nixon while he was President, but is very likely going to be elected again.

[-] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago

That was the entire purpose of Fox News. So, yeah.

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[-] DrSleepless@lemmy.world 20 points 3 months ago

He's about four years late

[-] WhiskyTangoFoxtrot@lemmy.world 8 points 3 months ago

More like twenty.

[-] BallsandBayonets@lemmings.world 3 points 3 months ago

Forty years late actually, if he's going off of "cult of personality".

[-] Sanctus@lemmy.world 16 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

After reading that, this feels far too late for commentary like that. The well has long been poisoned. With all that is going on with the Democrats I guess I could see how we could not be focusing on the populist takeover of the RNC. But its too late, November will be tumultuous no matter what. If Trump loses in November the Trumpets will be razing the streets. The question that bites at my mind is, even if we do win, what happens? They can't run Trump again in 2028 they know that. But they also can't let go of this thing they've created because its been purged of those who didn't swear their fealty to Trump.

[-] Drusas@kbin.run 2 points 3 months ago

It's not as though he just started opposing Trumpism today.

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[-] ShittyBeatlesFCPres@lemmy.world 13 points 3 months ago

The Republican Party hasn’t had serious policy positions since like 1980. And arguably since 1964 but we don’t talk about how it’s been a John Birch society shitshow for so long, that whole grandparents remember it turning into a conspiracy theory driven shitshow.

[-] mosiacmango@lemm.ee 13 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

His substack was posted before Biden resigned, so the jabs at "resigned to lose" democrats seem outdated now, especially with record grassroots fundraising on day 1 for Harris.

Maybe this helped motivate Joe stepping back in some way though, so maybe it was a good thing to say after all.

[-] Etterra@lemmy.world 11 points 3 months ago

You're years too late my dude. They've been fucking that corpse for years.

[-] Bonesince1997@lemmy.world 8 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

These guys might think they are making statements that set them apart. They joined this shit show not long ago. It's on all their heads, too. I appreciate the now, fuck you and all yours for the before.

[-] Drusas@kbin.run 9 points 3 months ago

Kinzinger has been a rep for longer than Trump has been in politics and is one of the few Republicans who has showed a spine all this time, rejecting fascism and Trumpism.

Maybe try to be a little bit more informed on the topic if you're going to comment on it.

[-] Bonesince1997@lemmy.world 8 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Yet saw the party of birtherism and thought that was a good place for him. That was the before Trump times, yet still very much Trump. 2011 he joined congress, not long before Trump. All the groundwork laid out for the fascist. His voice, too little too late.

Edit: He looks to have had a 90% in-line voting record during the Trump presidency, according to 538. Doesn't look like he stood up to the guy to me. https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/congress-trump-score/adam-kinzinger/

[-] PunnyName@lemmy.world 8 points 3 months ago

It's the GQP now.

[-] EnderMB@lemmy.world 5 points 3 months ago

I've said this for a while. General conservatism will likely make its way into the Democrats, and the GOP will likely align to populism - like many right-leaning parties have done worldwide.

What many have found is that when the right fails to gather support, they rapidly fall apart because all sides smell blood. The far-right have failed, so conservatives have a route towards taking control while the right claw back power where they can. It's an epic battle where they tear each other apart, because their dear leader is gone and the cult of personality either needs another personality (near impossible, they rarely leave an heir) or a seismic shift that'll take years.

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[-] Sam_Bass@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago

Theyve been dead for over a decade

[-] satanmat@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

Here is the substack link

source

[-] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago

It’s also in the body of the post

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this post was submitted on 21 Jul 2024

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