[Cardfan1]

Cardsfan and vector, I appreciate you sharing that.   CF, we are all to be excused for one bad vote...LOL . My dad voted for Nixon in '60. He regrets it to this day. There was a large scare campaign initiated by Republicans(yes, they were using fear even six decades ago) using the anti-Catholic bias that existed at the time.  Dad said they were scaring voters into thinking if JFK was elected, he would be answering to the pope.  Republicans  always use fear as a tactical recruiting tool. It's a shame but  they really do play off of people's fears and prejudices to sucker in vulnerable people. Fortunately, after I was born in '62, dad returned to his senses and has voted Democratic ever since.

Let me ask you this--- what do you think is the future of the GOP?   Trump has obviously damaged the party to where it probably can't win another general election for a pretty long time. Can it be brought back to some degree of normalcy? I mean, right now the party is being led by a maniac who attempted to overthrow the government. And this extremist element of the party supported his attempts to do so. A lot of the moderates have either left the party or denounced its current incarnation.  

Can people like Kinsinger, Romney,  Cheney, and other principled conservatives and moderates wrestle control away from a maniacal, nefarious, monster.  Personally, I want to see a vibrant and sane two-party system, one that respects the principles of democracy. I want to be able to have a honest debate of issues with Republicans again.  But how do you debate a faction that denies that a violent insurrection took place on Jan. 6 or insists that an election was rigged, in spite of zero legitimate evidence to back up such a claim?  

What happens to the GOP in the short run and in the long run , in your opinion?

To the question...I have no idea.  I thought the fever would break after the Insurrection, but for some, it's gotten worse.   Many in the GOP have lost their morals and their support for democracy.  

The allegiance to the worst of the worst amazes me.  I fear they will put up an even more vile human being than Trump in 2024.   MTG and Gaetz have huge followings if they can split a primary field in 2024 one of these crazies can be the nominee.  I don't think they can beat a vegetable Biden, but it's a sad state of affairs that these bigots can get so much support.  

I will say this. Democrats have to be worried about a 3rd moderate party.  GOP lite made up of those folks you're talking about, independents, and the more moderate Democrats, and this new party could swipe the Presidency on the first try.  I wonder if they will try to make a midterm run with this new party.

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https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/27/politics/...index.html

Now, this is interesting. I'm not sure if Paul could make himself palatable to moderates but the alternative tastes like crap.