Where have all the Republicans gone? Where is Abraham Lincoln or Teddy Roosevelt? Who sets the standard for the GOP? At present there is only one answer; Donald Trump.

Several articles on the internet today stated two irrefutable facts. The dumbing down of the GOP did not begin with Trump, it is all John McCain’s fault for introducing a cheer leader as his running mate in 2008. Sarah Palin began a trend which continues to fester. The other articles all talk about something I have claimed for over a year; the GOP is imploding and cannot exist while the extremist TEA Party refuses to govern in the American way.

I began my interest in politics when Eisenhower was president. I was fascinated at the give and take from both Democrats and Republicans. Somehow they found a way to work together and improve the future of our nation. I entered my first year of high school just before John F. Kennedy was elected. I loved American history, and how those who served in Washington helped make our country great as the fought for all of America’s people to receive equal protection under the law.

I have always been an Independent. I supported Ronald Reagan in his first election, and voted against him in his second. I vacillated when George H.W. Bush was campaigning, and decided to vote for a third party candidate. I liked Clinton. When George W. Bush declared himself a candidate for the 2000 election I registered for the first time as a Democrat. I would have done anything possible to prevent his being elected. When he was given the election by the Supreme Court, I became more involved in politics.

When Barrack Obama defeated Hillary Clinton for the nomination in 2008, I was once again unsure of who would receive my vote. When McCain selected Palin, my choice was made for me. I had supported the Senator from Arizona in 2000 when he sought the GOP nomination, but his abominable choice for vice-president convinced me that Obama had to win.

I have great admiration for Bernie Sanders, and believe that Hillary Clinton would also be a good president for these tumultuous times. I wanted to consider a Republican, but none of the fifteen wannabees represent true Republican ideals.

I seriously believed that someone would emerge who had the intellect and imagination to deserve the GOP nomination. It must be an embarrassment for those my age who remember when the Republican Party was admirable, even when we disagreed with them.

The true weakness of the GOP is twofold. It begins with no real Republican leadership. Reince Priebus, the Chairman of the RNC, has drastically failed his party. After the 2012 general election he stated that the GOP must expand its base. Here in 2015 its base has narrowed thanks to open displays of racism, bigotry, and misogyny by the candidates. It doesn’t help that they have no qualifications and blatantly lie to the American people.

John Boehner and Mitch McConnell were unable to control a small group of extreme obstructionists. Both failed the definition of ‘leader.’

As of this day Donald Trump is the party’s leader. Sadly he represents what is wrong with the GOP in the 21^st century.

Although they now call themselves the ‘Freedom Caucus,’ they remain the TEA Party which has lost credibility with GOP voters. They are the minority in the GOP, but they speak the loudest and have promised never to compromise. The saddest truism of all is that the ‘Grand Old Party’ doesn’t exist anymore; there’s nothing ‘grand’ about it. It is actually two parties under a single banner; Republicans and the TEA Party. The only thing these two separate groups have in common is that they despise the man who leads them in the polls. Although Ben Carson has now passed Trump, his almost sleepy speech has not impressed voters.

Some members of the GOP believe that electing Paul Ryan as the man to replace John Boehner will reunite the party. It that’s true, and it’s not, FOX Noise is actually ‘fair and balanced,’ which it isn’t.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

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