I agree with most of the assessment, but there are a few tell-tales in it.
What the author is calling "traditional Republicans" are anything BUT traditional Republicans, as bad as they wish they were. What they are calling "Traditional Republicans" are what Traditional Republicans call "Neocons" or "RINOs". They developed in the 1960's and 1970's, but never had much power until they seized control of the party from actual Traditional Republicans in the mid-1990's, in the wake of the disastrous first Bush administration. There's a reason Daddy Bush didn't get re-elected... and that reason is that, as a Neocon himself, he botched government badly. Not only did he miss his chance for re-election, he left an opening, a power vacuum, for the Neocons to seize control of the Republican Party. They were not "traditional" until they had enough control to try to make themselves look so. Older Republicans can still recall what "Traditional Republicans" were like, and Neocons ain't it - they're just Democrats in Republican's clothing.
Like Nikki Haley. Her failure to behave as an actual Traditional Republican is the source of her troubles with Republican voters. It's the same reason Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger lost their asses after they showed their true Leftist colors.
So, no, "Traditional Republicans" are the very reason that the wannabe traditionalists, the Neocons, are having such a time of it. Republicans don't want them, even though they are still in control of the party. This is currently a struggle within the party to wrest control back away from them, and return it to the actual traditional Republicans.
Until they realize that, and adjust accordingly, they are likely to continue to be handed their walking papers as opportunity arises.
Traditional Republicans don't believe that we should be jumping into every war we can with both feet, for example. Check your history books - you will find that no Republican president between Lincoln and Daddy Bush started any wars. That has been a Democrat purview. Now, realizing that, take a look at Nikki Haley's wish list - more war. She, like Lindsay Graham, has never met a war she didn't love. I bet that shit would change double-quick if Presidents had to lead their troops from the front lines like it was done by leaders centuries ago, when leaders still led. But since they don't take the risk or feel the pain themselves, they are more than happy to throw YOU, and YOUR children, at the wars they start.
Now in the last two paragraphs, the writer gives just plain bad advice. There is nothing Nikki Haley can do to gain the trust of Traditional Republicans. We already have her number, and it's too late for her to backpedal now. We've watched her, and listened to her, and believe what she's already said... and we are leery of any sudden Come-To-Jesus moments she might have now, at this late stage of the game. We trust her to do what she's already claimed, and would not trust any sudden moments of enlightenment she might claim to have now. In short, we would not believe that any of her course corrections would be genuine.
If the Neocon Republican Elites succeed in getting her the nomination by hook or by crook, it will only assure another Biden victory - probably an honest one, this time, since Traditional Republicans see no reason to get off our asses and vote for her when we can get the same thing from Biden by doing nothing. Maybe that's what the "Republican" Elites are after, anyhow - insuring another Biden victory. That would be true to the Necon form.
As for the Democrats, we do not believe they are capable of delivering "moderation, openness, conciliation and simple competence". Not after the shit show they have treated us to over the last couple of decades. We are tired of being talked AT, and do not believe them capable of anything else. So, no, it is NOT "still possible to acknowledge, listen and pivot."
That ship has already sailed. We take them at their word - the word they've been talking at us for the last few decades now. We do not believe that leopard is going to change it's spots, and any claim Democrats might make to the contrary will be met with... less than solid belief in their sincerity.
.
What the author is calling "traditional Republicans" are anything BUT traditional Republicans, as bad as they wish they were. What they are calling "Traditional Republicans" are what Traditional Republicans call "Neocons" or "RINOs". They developed in the 1960's and 1970's, but never had much power until they seized control of the party from actual Traditional Republicans in the mid-1990's, in the wake of the disastrous first Bush administration. There's a reason Daddy Bush didn't get re-elected... and that reason is that, as a Neocon himself, he botched government badly. Not only did he miss his chance for re-election, he left an opening, a power vacuum, for the Neocons to seize control of the Republican Party. They were not "traditional" until they had enough control to try to make themselves look so. Older Republicans can still recall what "Traditional Republicans" were like, and Neocons ain't it - they're just Democrats in Republican's clothing.
Like Nikki Haley. Her failure to behave as an actual Traditional Republican is the source of her troubles with Republican voters. It's the same reason Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger lost their asses after they showed their true Leftist colors.
So, no, "Traditional Republicans" are the very reason that the wannabe traditionalists, the Neocons, are having such a time of it. Republicans don't want them, even though they are still in control of the party. This is currently a struggle within the party to wrest control back away from them, and return it to the actual traditional Republicans.
Until they realize that, and adjust accordingly, they are likely to continue to be handed their walking papers as opportunity arises.
Traditional Republicans don't believe that we should be jumping into every war we can with both feet, for example. Check your history books - you will find that no Republican president between Lincoln and Daddy Bush started any wars. That has been a Democrat purview. Now, realizing that, take a look at Nikki Haley's wish list - more war. She, like Lindsay Graham, has never met a war she didn't love. I bet that shit would change double-quick if Presidents had to lead their troops from the front lines like it was done by leaders centuries ago, when leaders still led. But since they don't take the risk or feel the pain themselves, they are more than happy to throw YOU, and YOUR children, at the wars they start.
Now in the last two paragraphs, the writer gives just plain bad advice. There is nothing Nikki Haley can do to gain the trust of Traditional Republicans. We already have her number, and it's too late for her to backpedal now. We've watched her, and listened to her, and believe what she's already said... and we are leery of any sudden Come-To-Jesus moments she might have now, at this late stage of the game. We trust her to do what she's already claimed, and would not trust any sudden moments of enlightenment she might claim to have now. In short, we would not believe that any of her course corrections would be genuine.
If the Neocon Republican Elites succeed in getting her the nomination by hook or by crook, it will only assure another Biden victory - probably an honest one, this time, since Traditional Republicans see no reason to get off our asses and vote for her when we can get the same thing from Biden by doing nothing. Maybe that's what the "Republican" Elites are after, anyhow - insuring another Biden victory. That would be true to the Necon form.
As for the Democrats, we do not believe they are capable of delivering "moderation, openness, conciliation and simple competence". Not after the shit show they have treated us to over the last couple of decades. We are tired of being talked AT, and do not believe them capable of anything else. So, no, it is NOT "still possible to acknowledge, listen and pivot."
That ship has already sailed. We take them at their word - the word they've been talking at us for the last few decades now. We do not believe that leopard is going to change it's spots, and any claim Democrats might make to the contrary will be met with... less than solid belief in their sincerity.
.