If you still believe that Trump has ruined the Republican Party, and that “Trumpenstein” is not the creation of failed GOP leadership, let me give you a little history lesson, which will end with the California Primary yesterday, June 7th.
It actually began in 2000. Jim Nicholson was the Chairman of the RNC. He sold the soul of the Republican Party to steel the election from Al Gore, and insure that George W. Bush would live in the White House. A biased Supreme Court ordered Florida to end its recount, and the GOP was given a gift; a gift which sadly keeps on giving.
The actual leader of the Republican Party was Dick Cheney; no one could oppose him as he ruled with an iron fist. Jim Gilmore became the Chairman in 2001, but he was only a figurehead.
Cheney’s party had a single goal; make the richest of Americans more wealthy. He lobbied for war under false pretenses in support of his former company Haliburton and other companies and individuals invested in the Military Industrial Complex. He convinced an unqualified President to ‘trust’ Wall Street by removing all transparency. He taught other Republicans how to win elections through fear tactics and falsehoods about Democrats.
When our nation was finally relieved from his tyranny, a man of honor and morality was elected to lead our nation out of the great recession and bring our soldiers home. But Republican leadership was not going to make it easy for President Barrack Obama.
While Speaker of the House, John Boehner, was bowing to the wishes of extremists in the House, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was promising that Mr. Obama would be a one-term president by doing nothing until his first four years were completed. We know how well that worked.
In 2011, Reince Priebus was given the reigns of the GOP. He was expected to mount a strong campaign to defeat the President in 2012. Whatever his plans were, they failed miserably. His post-election interviews promised the Republican faithful that the party would change; they would seek the support of more demographics such as Hispanics, blacks, women, and younger voters.
One year ago, a heavily scrutinized businessman declared his candidacy for the presidency. Priebus and the Republican establishment did not take him seriously until his poll numbers began to rise. By the first “debate” in early August, he was far ahead of the other 16 passengers in the clown car; Donald Trump was now driving the Republican Party.
Efforts, beginning with that “debate” to derail Trump failed; his numbers simply rose. The fact that not one of the other 16 had qualifications and ideas strong enough to defeat Trump reveals extremely weak leadership and a lack of acceptable candidates.
Trump’s rise was based on a single fact; Republican voters had tired of its leadership, or lack of. The party of Lincoln, Roosevelt, Eisenhower, and Reagan had moved so far to the right, it was off of the chart. They were expressing their displeasure, and chose to support a total outsider; a man who had no experience in government, and absolutely no knowledge about how it worked.
Yesterday California held its primary. Although Trump was virtually un-opposed, polls revealed that he was supported by only one-third of Republicans in the state with the largest population.
But the real failure of Republican leadership is proven in the race for the Senate; the GOP does not have a candidate who will appear on the ballot in November from California.
California has a ‘blanket law,’ under which all candidates from every party are placed on a single ballot. Only the top two finishers will be allowed on the ballot for the general election. The top three in the polls were all Democrats.
California Republican leaders attempted to explain why they were unable to find a candidate with the ability to challenge Democrats, but none were viable.
Trump does not have sufficient intelligence to have planned the success he has on this day. Failures by those expected to maintain the party’s integrity, and offer candidates who voters will support slowly built the monster that is “Trumpenstein.”
I have no doubt that many Republicans secretly disdain Trump and will refuse to support him on November 8th.
Op-Ed
By James Turnage
Photo Courtesy of DonkeyHotey
The Truth With No Restrictions 