On GOP Politicians and Factions

I noted this morning that someone was doing a search to determine what faction can claim Marco Rubio as its own.  It’s a good question, and one that requires some additional explanation.

When I use the term “faction,” it should be viewed as a separate strain of ideology, or an ideal type, not as an actual form of organization within the GOP. The four “factions” are very different ways of looking at politics and the world that are not always easy to harmonize;  hence, the ongoing disunity of the GOP.

Since no one “faction” is large enough by itself to win elections, at least at a national level, hardly any prominent member of the GOP can be characterized purely as one or another.  Applying my standards to some of your favorite people, here is what you get:

  1.  While both Rand Paul and Ted Cruz are clearly part CL and part Reactionary, the mixtures are different.  Paul is essentially a CL, but must accept Reactionary doctrines on social issues to get elected;  Cruz is primarily a Reactionary who sucks up to the Koch brothers on economic issues.
  2.  Donald Trump’s ideology, if you could call it that, is self-adoration, but in practice, he is a Reactionary who espouses PBP ideas on tax cuts and deregulation in order to win support from the GOP donor class.
  3. I think that if you could strip the innumerable layers of opportunism away from Rubio, he would be a CD.  He has been more willing to consider ideas about tax cuts that are heretical to PBPs than any other prominent member of the GOP.  His idealism about human rights also fits the CD mold.  When push comes to shove with the donor class on economic issues, however, he falls into line with the other PBPs.
  4.  Jeb Bush, like his brother, is a PBP on tax cuts and deregulation, and a CD on everything else.  So is Mitt Romney–hence, my references to the “Romney Coalition.”  John Kasich is also a member of this group, which is typically identified as the “moderate” grouping within the GOP.
  5.  Paul Ryan is part Reactionary, part PBP.  So is Mike Pence.

If anyone has questions about any other GOP figure, please let me know.