Never mind, #NeverTrump

Now that well-known conservative journal The Atlantic is the latest to lecture supporters of the GOP ticket, accusing them of having “sold their souls for Donald Trump.” How silly an argument. Consider that two of Trump’s core issues—immigration and China—many of us addressed in books, columns, and on radio and TV, as far back as 25+ years ago (long before Trump entered the political fray). Their latest sad efforts to bait us into fights over the meaning of “conservatism” are pointless and should be ignored.

The Foolish ‘Feelings’ Campaign

Would it that someone would tell this grumpy lot that we are no longer living in 2004, during the still hopeful initial phase of the Iraq War. In the real world, the Bush-Cheney coalition had its last chance with Mitt Romney in 2012, and it was decisively rejected. Sorry to burst your bubble, but if you’re a person who likes unrestricted free trade, largely open borders, and war, while doing just enough social conservatism to avoid offending the press, your days of leading anything are finished. Now we have two new coalitions:

One is an Establishment Coalition that combines a strong distaste for border enforcement, modest optimism about China and trade, support for war in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, higher taxes, huge budget deficits, and an extremely aggressive Hard Left agenda on social issues. People like Liz Cheney have decided to join this coalition. On the other hand, people like Elon Musk, RFK Jr., and Tulsi Gabbard want no part of it.

The other is a Populist Coalition that combines real borders, pessimism about China and trade, skepticism about war in Europe and the Middle East, lower taxes, smaller budget deficits, and respect for free speech that will enable social conservatives to participate in public life. This coalition is much more attractive to minority voters than the old Bush-Cheney coalition was, and has achieved remarkable success in former swing states like Ohio and Florida.

Advertisement

Obviously, if you really believed that Mitt Romney was right on all the issues, then you won’t be happy with either coalition. But the number of people who really believed that Mitt Romney was right on the issues is very small, and is almost non-existent outside the Beltway. And for everyone who has left the GOP over the rise of Trump, Republicans have gained other voters. Romney garnered only 206 electoral votes in 2012. But Trump chalked up 304 in 2016 and 232 in 2020. If the GOP crawled back to being a Romney-style party, it would alienate and lose millions of people who only voted Republican because they agree with Trump’s new direction.

Mike Lee on Harris: ‘Miraculous Rise, But Where’s the Substance?’

Thus, arguing with the old Romney crowd about who should run the GOP is like arguing about who won the last Super Bowl. That question is settled. And to take a phrase from Kamala, we aren’t going back. Whatever happens in 2024, in 2028 the GOP nominee will be closer to Trump on the issues than to Romney. During the 2000s, many of us became comfortable with an Establishment that had amassed too much power. It then used that power (and still does) for its own purposes, rather than for the good of Americans. At this juncture, we should stay focused on the big issues and ignore those who want to spend their days banging on their keyboards, litigating the old debates from Trump’s first presidential run.