Recent Events

 So, yesterday was a banner day for American democracy... I don't know what they were thinking...I mean, really... now and in the future. How the hell can Republicans win any races; any ad the Dems will run will include scenes from yesterday.  How can we contend to be the adult party after this?

The funny thing is... for all of the articles like this:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/the-damage-trump-did-to-the-gop-in-georgia/ar-BB1cwr0Q?li=BBnbcA1

Which I think is 100% correct, in this case...but anyways, prior to yesterday, you could look at something like:

https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-political-scene/the-deep-origins-of-latino-support-for-trump?utm_source=pocket-newtab

...and say...yes, that's about right; someone who is less divisive -- Josh Hawley certainly has some populist credentials -- but who can retain the message of Trumpism can keep the new voters in the fold and retain the old ones (certainly, people like Hawley and Cruz are Establishment enough) and you can start winning elections again.  There is certainly an argument for all of the GOPers who held their noses and came home in 2016, they stayed home or crossed over (the shitshow), and running someone less divisive could do the trick.  Certainly, no one on our side is discounting the ability of Joe to fuck things up. The point is, all you had to do was hold serve for two, four years, run a good candidate....

As for now... well, where do you go from here?  Hawley and Cruz and ilk seem to be in the shitter (for now; I don't think that will last, depending on how things go in the Senate), and the Tom Cotton wing of the party will ride ascendant for a bit.  I don't really think the Donald will go away, for a bunch of reasons, but as to his ability to win anything... well, there is this:

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/07/trumps-grip-on-gop-grassroots-456062

Which I think is also largely correct (to a point); on the other hand, I also think there are a lot of people in the GOP (especially voters) who still love the guy but also realize he is toxic and no one will win anything with him on the ticket. I am not sure how much say they will have, but unlike in 2016, I can certainly see them unifying on the "anyone else" candidate, whoever that will be.  Even if some voices have been eclipsed by certain recent events.. there are certainly others.  Pence might have helped himself.  Tom Cotton is a strong choice.  DeSantis is picking fights with CNN reporters, which is not an unwise move for a GOP candidate.  I can certainly see a road for, say, Rob Portman, if the party wants someone more milquetosat, though I do not think we are there yet...