The pundits have been quick to mark Liz Cheney’s resounding primary defeat in Wyoming as the “end of an era” for the Republican Party, a “mass repudiation of the Bush-Cheney-McCain era”, as noted by one GOP stalwart, and soon to be “remade in Trump’s image”, according to another. Maybe so, but remember that Liz Cheney had a Congressional voting record in support of Donald Trump’s policies of 93% and that ideologically she fits the profile of traditional conservatism very well. What happened was January 6th, and I am not yet cynical enough not to believe that she genuinely feels that Donald Trump is a threat to the republic and that she joined a considerable number of Republicans who share that view and who can no longer abide Trump. No, what is beyond the Cheney/Trump issue and much deeper is that the Republican Party and the country at large are in the midst of a reassessment of who we are. In the case of the Republicans, it’s not about a Trump personality cult, although it sometimes seems that way thanks to the mainstream media; it is a genuine nationalist/populist movement with tendencies to protectionism and isolationism, some elements of which are healthy and some are to be avoided. And in the case of the Democratic/progressive left it is about whether or not the goofier elements of their “wokism” movement will bring the hard right to the streets in a civil war. And what The Wall Street Journal has described as our “Jacobin moment” cannot be stopped by an accord between the progressive left and the weak liberal establishment, which owns the place but is currently devoid of leadership.
Greg Stachura says
Jim,
I wish you would expand upon this point. Can DeSantis, Noem, Pompeo, and others of that quality not provide the leadership?
In Michigan the Republican Party members are fighting with one another and missing the point that, without unity, there can be no victory, and without victory no opportunity to implement conservative goals.
Jim Windham says
Greg – Those are all good people and active on the talk show circuit, but where is the Newt Gingrich of this generation, taking the lead with an updated Republican “Contract With America 2022”–ten bullet points to turn this country around? I don’t see him or her inside or outside public office. Meanwhile, Trump is about to blow another 2 or 3 Senate seats and probably several winnable House seats with his weak candidates.
Bob Juva says
Jim, you’re expecting a Contract with America from a party that didn’t even bother to have a platform in 2020? The party has no ideas and doesn’t try to win ideological battles with cogent arguments espousing good policies. It’s a pedantic, tribal bunch of Trump sycophants. Or as Ted Cruz told me repeatedly the last time we spoke, “it’s a blue-collar party now.” Well, as I told Ted, I’m not a blue collar guy. The GOP needs to quickly get through this faux-populist Tea Party posing phase and get back to actual governing according to classical liberal principles.
Bob Juba says
Jim, you’re expecting a Contract with America from a party that didn’t even bother to have a platform in 2020? The party has no ideas and doesn’t try to win ideological battles with cogent arguments espousing good policies. It’s a pedantic, tribal bunch of Trump sycophants. Or as Ted Cruz told me repeatedly the last time we spoke, “it’s a blue-collar party now.” Well, as I told Ted, I’m not a blue collar guy. The GOP needs to quickly get through this faux-populist Tea Party posing phase and get back to actual governing according to classical liberal principles.
James Windham says
I didn’t say I was expecting it, Bob, and I am certainly pessimistic about the prospects of finding the necessary leadership.
Ann McCulloch says
Absolutely, Jim, we have to pray the radicals on both sides will not outscream sanity.
Vern says
I believe we are in the midst of a populist movement to an even more conservative place. Gingrich and Hansen are on it.
Bill Close says
What does it take to get you too realize that she is too plolitical and fall’s much into the old line of Republicans that bartered too much—reminded me of the British who said–we have Hitler’s guarentee—.
I am not as much of a Trump cult follower as I am one that does not like to let the chicken yard gate left open and trust the chicken’s get out.
much like our Senator from the same group !
Bill Close says
What does it take to get you too realize that she is too plolitical and fall’s much into the old line of Republicans that bartered too much—reminded me of the British who said–we have Hitler’s guarentee—.
I am not as much of a Trump cult follower as I am one that does not like to let the chicken yard gate left open and trust the chicken’s not to get out
much like our Senator from the same group !
david redford says
Over 50% of republicans believe that Trump won the election and that is really the only issue Trump is interested in. There is no evidence to support this and 60 courts have ruled against this. The big issue is truth and the pursuit of truth. Jesus said “you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” which quote is on the facade of the Texas Law School. Thinking republicans need to speak up to dispute this idea that Trump won the election. Cheney and the Bushes and a few others have spoken up but silence is the norm.
Danny Billingsley says
Cheney is from a savvy political family. She had to know her actions would cost her the primary. I know not what her angle was, but I don’t think for a minute it was to save our Republic from Trump.
Dr. Tom says
To my knowledge, and I have followed closely, NO court has heard a vote fraud case, even in those states where Election Boards ignored state election law.
You may think Trump is nuts, but that was mostly based on his tweets since the MSM would not report on him except negatively. We are in a populist struggle to save the middle class, Otherwise we turn into another Russia with a few wealthy elites like Gates running the show, the rest of us turned into serfs. Look at the failure to indict Comey, McCabe, Hillary, and others who are on the face of it gross lawbreakers (pending trial, and none has been indicted).
For Cheney to be one of 18 committee members, one of 2 nominal republicans, in a committee where the GOP party leaders were not allowed to name members, is simply a show trial, at which Stalinists are great.
Sorry, Jim, you are being too generous by far.
Jim Windham says
I can validly hold two views simultaneously: one, that the Jan. 6th Commission is a sham and complete show trial, and two, that, however she balances things in her mind, Liz Cheney is genuinely convinced that Donald Trump is a threat to the country.
Dr. Tom says
And let us not forget or ignore Trump’s many correct policy decisions.
Abraham Accords, anyone? Getting troops home? Pushing Euros to meet their NATO obligations? You think he would have been as wretched as Biden at leaving Afghanistan, now the 4th best-armed military on the planet because of the great gear we abandoned in cowardly flight? That is right: USA, China, Russia and Afghanistan!
Dr. Tom says
Ask yourselves, why did Cheney lose overwhelmingly in Wyoming?
Because, aside from megamansions, 2nd homes which are owned by non-WY voters in Jackson Hole, WY is almost totally middle class.
Danny Billingsley says
Jim I can see the validity of the two views, however if she really believes Trump is a threat to the country, what does she think about the current administration, given she voted with Trump 93% of the time? Vendetta seems more likely to me. Trump attacks her father, “W”, her, she’s stripped of her GOP house position and kicked out of the Wyoming State GOP.
Jim Windham says
Maybe, could be, but I prefer to step back from complete cynicism.
david redford says
No one has said whether they believe the election was stolen. It is clearly a lie but around 80 to 100 million republicans believe this out of loyalty to Trump. This causes me to be very worried for our democracy. Cheney and the Bushes and many people are worried because of the silence of Republicans who know this is wrong headed. Do the folks contributing to this blog discussion believe Trump really won. If not is it scary that Trump is carrying on this charade. Most all of the Jan 6 committee witnesses were republicans.