I spent some time on the show talking about how the Republican Party can quote, Move on from Trump.
That phrase means different things to different people. Some republicans hear: ‘a party with no Trump’.
Others hear: ‘a party now that Trump is a former president, but still influencing the party.’
And still others hear :‘a party that can’t do without Trump’.
My take is. Whatever any individual or smaller group of Republicans, Conservatives, or Trumpers thinks about the man, the best way to agree to work together to defeat the Democrats and continue moving the conservative agenda is to put aside the differences on Trump...and move on.
Why wallow in the disagreements the different factions might have-when trump is a ‘post-president’? It is not likely that he’d run again at 78 years old. He seems upset with the other leaders of the party right now. He’s not likely to want to run again in 2024 and if he does it probably won’t be under the party banner..
And regardless -he hasn’t made his intentions known yet. So why insist that the party must go through some painful reckoning ...or period of almost religious self-reflection...before we move on?
Just-move on-and agree we all have a larger battle to fight- a larger common enemy: the left!
So it was heartening for me to hear several GOP leaders say essentially the same thing, in their own way yesterday. Here’s what Rona McDaniel, the leader of the republican national committee had to say:
I couldn’t agree with that sentiment more: lets continue the outreach into the Black and Hispanic communities that Trump was far better at than any modern republican before him...and let’s keep promoting the successful policies of his that the bulk of the American people liked and appreciated...
And let’s not get hung up on what is ‘Trumping’ or ‘republican’. Because, in truth, Donald Trump joined our party, and he adopted most of our principals, and unlike either of the George Bushes, he wasn’t afraid to fight for them and focus on them...and they worked.
And then, in other ways, Trump re-invented the wheel on some things, and some of that worked.We celebrate and internalize the policy wins, foreign and domestic, and move forward.
This is how the party moves on- post trump.
The glitterati media seems particularly frustrated with house leader Kevin McCarthy these days...because he won’t play their game of badmouthing trump or insisting on some sort of purging of the party.
And I applaud him for it.
Now that he’s a former president, those who are still running the party can simply pick and choose whether they think trump has a good idea that should be followed...or a bad idea that should be ignored.
I know Donald Trump has an outsized presence, but so far, there is no reason to believe that he isn’t going to ...in short order....slide into the normal status of a former president: giving speeches, getting some attention for what he is saying, sometimes snarking at the party from the cheap seats, sure....
But...his ‘take’ won’t carry any more weight with what is going on in the party three or four years from now...than bill or Hillary Clinton’s or barrack Obama’s does in the Dem party now.
We’ve talked about how- very few of today’s democrats really care what the Obamas or the Clintons have to say: the party has moved on.
Many in today’s more socialist progressive party consider both the Clintons and Obama to be failures and poor presidents.
Trust me- neither Barrack Obama, nor the Clintons, have any real power to sway policy or opinion in that party, anymore. And, because of the way the Obama admin and Hillary’s run ended, their status in the party slide dramatically and almost immediately.
And so-depending on what trump does...he could be assuming the role of ‘quiet old former president’ more quickly than you’d think.
And I say-depending on what he does.
If he wants to salt the 2024 field by quickly insisting he’s running again...then he remains a thorn in the GOP’s side.
If he runs off to form a third party...then he’s a big thorn in the GOP’s side.
But, if he’s a more traditional ‘former’ president... You’ll be surprised how quickly his influence fades. Even knowing that certain right wing news outlets will keep running to him every two days to see what he thinks.
The lefty media has done that with Hillary. For some reason, we still need to have Hillary chime in every few days on something or other. A few members of the lefty media-still-rush to her.
And you know what?
No one cares what Hillary thinks. Including people in her own party. Because- in politics- if you aren’t in the game...you’re just a bystander. No matter how loud you shout.
And so- yes- right wing websites, for the next two to four years, are going to keep rushing to Donald Trump to see what he thinks...
And yes-short term- his thoughts and opinions are going to hold some sway. But as months stretch into a year and we start focusing on the 2022 elections, if he’s just ‘a former president’, his opinions are going to be heard less and less and matter less and less.
That is the longstanding pattern here, with former presidents.
And I understand that trump is different when it comes to his standing and sway. I understand there’s a stronger sense of ‘mission interrupted’ here that is going to take some time for trump supporters to get over...
But...the party will move on, and at some point soon, trump won’t be a big focus of it....nor a major player in it...unless he decides to run again.
But as for short term- Lindsey Graham and Rand Paul and I are correct: 90 percent of republicans like trump for his effectiveness...and a huge chunk of the party still loves and appreciates him...because trump spoke to them. Finally ‘understood’ them and their longstanding concerns about the direction of this party.
Lindsey Graham knows that this ends badly if Donald Trump goes off to form a different movement or party...
And he knows how appreciated-if not beloved- Donald Trump is in this party.Some chunk of the GOP base- adores. Idolizes. Canonizes Trump.
And an even bigger chunk simply appreciates him greatly for what he put himself and his family through for five years...and for standing up for America and rebuilding what he could...in four years.
Party leaders would be idiots to isolate and insult trump....and those lawmakers and talking heads who are insisting this party needs to undergo some cleansing or dismantling are dead wrong.
And I mean- from both ends: the never-Trumpers who are insisting on resignations and a trump purge are fools.
And the fawning trump fans who insist anyone who doesn’t love ‘our dear leader’ needs to be pushed out of the party are also fools.
Think what you want to think about Trump...but let’s agree to move on and focus our wrath, fire, and energy on the real threats to the republic: those in the left.
The next stage for the Republican Party doesn’t need to be one of deep upheaval and infighting and purity tests. Trump joined-our party. And he brought a lot of new people into it, and in doing so, reinvigorated the party and gave it real purpose.
So let’s keep the best of that. Make it clear we’d love to keep those new people in the party if we can. They are wanted and valued.
And move forward.
photo credit: Getty Images