The GOP convention will mark the end of the evolution of the party into the POT (Party of Trump). For obvious reasons, there will be little discussion of such supposedly immutable Republican principles as free trade, support for liberal democratic allies, and limited government. It is doubtful that any kind of vision of a better future will be on display, because that vision exists at the whim of the man on golf cart, and it changes from day to day, depending on his mood. Why box him in? Just drop the leash and let him run! Wherever he goes, that’s what Republicans are!
Expect a nauseating festival of blame shifting, lib owning, and Trump worship. Still, some questions remain, as follows:
- Will the party embrace any form of “national conservatism?” That would involve moving away from regressive tax and safety net cuts and towards a more worker-friendly budget and subsidies. It won’t happen; Trump is a true believer in most aspects of Reagan-era economics, and the business community won’t allow it. The menu will still be limited to tax cuts and deregulation at present, although the future is up in the air.
- Will the party embrace the lockdown protesters, and tell the elderly that their health is a lower priority than economic recovery? My guess is yes, but only in code, given their desperate need for votes from older Americans. It will be up to the Democrats to crack the code and make the message explicit.