For 150 years, the Grand Old Party (GOP, aka Republican Party) was the proud standard bearer of Lincoln’s legacy. Yet, in just four years, Donald Trump transformed the Republican party into a cult led by a mafia don. This transformation must have Lincoln rolling over in his grave.
The party now thrives solely on loyalty to Trump – the general welfare of the country be damned. For example, Republicans control the House. But they couldn’t care less that this is the least productive Congress in modern history.
To be fair, though, their dear leader has nothing to show for his time in the White House – except tax cuts for the rich. So, these Republican do-nothings are perfectly happy to follow his lead.
Governing by extortion
“Game of chicken” fairly describes the governing strategy of Trump’s GOP. But I cannot overstate that Republicans are just following his lead.
Trump banks on everyone being more concerned about avoiding harm than he is about causing it. His career is littered with bankers, politicians, and judges who continually cowered. That’s why Trump always acts with such bravado and daring in any game of chicken.
Likewise, Republicans are now banking on Democrats. They expect a similar concern for avoiding harm when it comes to everything from passing the budget to immigration reform. That’s why Republicans have no compunction about holding aid to Ukraine hostage to extract political concessions – the welfare of that besieged Democratic country be damned.
The GOP’s new normal
GOP Senator Tommy Tuberville demonstrated this hostage style of governing by holding up promotions for over 400 military officers for over nine months. He was blocking their promotions. His objection? The Pentagon’s policy of reimbursing members who must travel to seek abortion care.
Far worse, though, Trump himself is now threatening civil war. He’s daring the Supreme Court to uphold the Constitution. Specifically, by ruling that engaging in the Jan 6 insurrection disqualifies him from ever holding public office again.
All the same, the justices must not cower the way bankers and politicians have. Because that would give a reelected Trump just cause to think he has the right to be a dictator, not just for a day but for life.
But, given that political extortion is the GOP new normal, this latest development came as no surprise:
Far-right Republicans in the House are threatening to force a partial government shutdown unless Congress enacts strict new changes to immigration law, imperiling crucial government services — and US aid to Ukraine — over a long-fraught issue that could be critical in this year’s elections.
(The Washington Post, January 5, 2024)
In short, Republicans control the House. Yet, they are demanding that Democrats – who control the White House and Senate – enact Trump’s controversial immigration policies, or they will force a government shutdown.
That, folks, is easily and eerily the political equivalent of a terrorist group like Hamas demanding Israel enact Sharia Laws, or they will kill all Israeli hostages. Yet this is what passes for governing in the party of Lincoln that has now become the cult of Trump.
Governing by extortion is a strategy as morally bankrupt as it is politically dangerous. But hey, why govern responsibly when you can play a game of chicken with the general welfare?