One way to see the evolution of the Republican Party is that what was once the right wing fringe has now taken over the party, and moderates are leaving.
Another way to see this is what @dziblatt calls the conservative dilemma, which is this:
Conservatives tend to represent the wealth and powerful corporations, therefore the policies they advocate are not appealing to the majority of people.
So how do they win elections?
They win through lies and propaganda.
The lies pulled in moderates who didn't understand what they were really about.
When Trump emerged as a logical outcome of Republican Party ideology, people like @stuartpstevens realized It Was All A Lie.
Now the party is shrinking to the extremist elements who are willing to tell Big Lies for political gain (or who are unable to distinguish truth from lies).
As moderates leave, they'll keep getting more extreme, creating a cycle of radicalization.
A few tweets back: "can go deeper," not "can do deeper."
There are probably other errors as well, none of which are my fault. It's early here, I need more ☕️ and my keyboard hates me. (I am a victim of keyboard hostility)
That's why, ironically, they see legislation that makes it easier for people to vote and harder for elections to be overturned as a Democratic power grab and attempt on the part of Dems to keep themselves in power forever.
We've had times with one dominant party while another struggled to be born (the Federalists Party implided after 1812, but the Republican Party didn't form until 1854).
As long other parties aren't prevented from forming, it's fine.
Adding: I don't see the Republican Party going away: I see them becoming smaller and more dangerous while retaining power, at least over enough states to remain a threat.
Think about it: These guys ⤵️want a party, too, and there are a lot more where these came from.
Sorry. I keep coming back and adding stuff.
It's common to say "we need a center right party."
In this new world, the two parties may align differently. Instead of left v. right, they may align pro v. anti-democracy.
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I had trouble understanding the genuine panic meltdown last night. It seemed clear to me (this is only June 2020) that the vote last night was the start of negotiations.
Not with the Republicans, but within the ranks of the Democratic Party.
2/ You see, McConnell and pals want to undermine democratic institutions.
They're having trouble winning national elections. Their policies are unpopular, and their demographics are shrinking. (Duh, right? They cater to white supremacists in a country growing diverse.
The long-term solution to GOP power grabs is to strengthen and depoliticize our democratic institutions to better enable them to withstand autocratic power grabs.
As you'll see, I leaned heavily on legal and political science scholars for this.
From Levitsky (co-author of 👇) the greatest danger to democracy is the government slipping into dysfunction, which will erode public confidence.
When public confidence erodes, people become vulnerable to the appeal of a strongman, who promises to get things done.
1/
When the public loses confidence in democracy, they are willing to torpedo democratic processes. Using anti-democratic means to save democracy has obvious problems.
McConnell wants to break the government because he doesn't like what America has become.
2/