When John Boehner was the Speaker of the House of Representatives, he failed both his party and his nation. He allowed a small group of extremists who called themselves the TEA Party, or the Freedom Caucus, to control his branch of Congress. They promised their owners that they would refuse to deliberate and compromise. They did attempt to repeal every law instituted for the welfare of the working class; voting to revoke the Affordable Care Act more than 50 times.
Boehner’s lack of ability to control his peers became a major reason for the creation of “Trumpenstein.” Republican voters became angry, and displayed their displeasure with GOP leadership by choosing to support an “outsider;” someone who was the most unqualified candidate in history, a man who encouraged their anger, and moved it towards hatred. Although Boehner resigned before Trump became the party’s standard bearer, he was one of Trumpenstein’s creators. The party is now fractured into three groups; Trump supporters, anti-Trump forces, and the TEA Party. But Boehner denies this fact and once again is revealing his ignorance and naivete.
John Boehner’s former press secretary, Michael Steel, has denounced Trump’s candidacy, and said that he is “not a Republican.”
“He’s a third-party populist candidate,” Steel told ABC News’ Jonathan Karl and Rick Klein today on the “Powerhouse Politics” podcast. He said Trump “captured the nomination of the Republican party because of a five-car, six-car pileup in the establishment lane. He essentially was able to hijack the party.”
Steel went on to say that he believes the election is over, and Trump has lost.
For some unknown reason, Steel indicated that he and Boehner do not believe that this is the end of the Republican Party. He believes that GOP leaders will unite the party, and with the leadership of Paul Ryan rally in the 2020 election and challenge Democrats for whatever losses Republicans will endure on November 8th.
Steel and Boehner must live in an alternate universe. First of all, Trump supporters will never unite with anti-Trump Republicans. They will remain angry, and dismiss any GOP politician who did not become a hypocrite and support Trump after the convention. The “Trump effect” will endure for years to come.
Secondly, Paul Ryan has proven to be weak and un-principled. He has lost the respect of many Republicans, and will be renounced by Trump supporters.
The TEA Party will be known as the primary reason for the implosion of the Republican Party. Ted Cruz, Tom Cotton, Marco Rubio, Joe Heck and others will be ostracized by whoever the new GOP leadership will be. Their obstructionist tactics are the very reason why millions of Republican voters became angry and rebelled.
The final problem for Republicans is the fact that Donald Trump revealed the truth about the GOP. It is the party of racism, bigotry, homophobia, misogyny, and Islamophobia. This is a fact no one in the party can deny.
Millions of Republicans found their leader; their voice.
I cannot predict what will happen to the once Grand Old Party in 2017. The only thing I know is that failed leadership has been at the core of it’s demise. Boehner, Reince Priebus, Mitch McConnell, and Paul Ryan were entirely ineffective. They chose a passive strategy, believing that past failed policies would offer opportunities in 2016. RNC Chairman Reince Priebus promised change after the party lost in 2012, but change never happened.
Finding effective leaders must be the priority. The party’s base is no longer the largest voting bloc in America. With each passing year millennials and women of all ages are gaining power. New leadership must move the party forwards instead of backwards.
Please re-post. We can make our nation a proud country once again. Thank you.
Op-Ed
By James Turnage
Photo Courtesy of DonkeyHotey
Follow me on twitter; @jamesturnagenov
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