Thanks to failed Republican leadership, the most unqualified and un-American candidate in history has made the 2016 campaign season sometimes laughable, sometimes confusing, and mostly embarrassing. Donald Trump has changed the Republican Party forever; and not for the better.
Once again, I’m not making this up; there is a movement by some Republicans to encourage Trump to resign from his campaign before September 1st, and allow a new candidate to replace him.
Before we get into the legality of this ridiculous possibility, just consider Trump and his enormous ego and weak temperament. I’m certain he has read about this, and is seething. According to Trump’s beliefs, he is always right, and anyone who does not support him 100 percent is completely wrong, a loser, and an idiot.
The opinions regarding a Trump suspension of his campaign are as huge as the failed businessman’s opinion of himself. Some believe that when odds makers show that his chances of winning the election drop lower than they are today, just under 26 percent, he will begin to consider the possibility. When the probability of a Republican winning drops to slightly above zero, he may realize that campaigning is no longer worthwhile.
Although no one is sure of the process which would replace the mistake they made just two weeks ago, if he fails to take action before September first, all Republicans are in agreement that a replacement could not be selected early enough to establish a minimally successful campaign.
Early in 2015, those of us who follow American politics closely, were convinced that the 2016 election would be historic. We all expected that for the first time in history a woman would be nominated by a major political party. This is now a reality. What none of us expected was that the Republican Party would nominate a candidate with no experience, no qualifications, and no understanding of how government works. Even more importantly, they nominated a candidate who revealed that the GOP is the party of racists, bigots, misogynists, homophobes, and xenophobes. This reality has shocked the American people and re-identified the Republican brand.
The big question; one which actually has no answer; is who could they nominate; and would any qualified candidate with future aspirations within the party accept such an historic situation? I don’t believe that anyone has that answer.
None of this will have an ending until late in the evening on November 8th.
One thing for certain; there is no doubt that the Republican Party will be forced to completely reinvent itself. It is likely to split into two factions; moderates and extremists.
Extremists have placed our government into gridlock; they cannot call themselves Republicans. Republicans work with Democrats. Republicans deliberate and eventually find a compromise which positively affects the majority of the American people.
I have no idea what the other party would call itself, but I’m certain is would not truly represent a group of obstructionists accurately.
History? Yes. But is it a history our nation will remember with pride? I don’t think so.
Op-Ed
By James Turnage
Photo Courtesy of DonkeyHotey
The Truth With No Restrictions 