Never Trump Republicans believed that Trump's GE loss would decimate the GOP.

[Bleacher Creature]

They obviously were wrong on the timing, but I'm starting to think that their overall thesis may have been spot on. As his approval numbers crater, more Republicans will be forced to call him out. You're seeing it today with Jeff Flake, who's always been wobbly on his Never Trump credentials. You'll also start to see Trump start attacking the GOP, which is now starting to happen - i.e., getting rid of Spicer and Priebus within a week wasn't a coincidence.

Assuming the country can survive, I'm seriously wondering whether we're witnessing the long, slow death of the GOP. Don't get me wrong, I'm not speculating on the end of organized conservatism in the U.S. Political parties have died before, and get reorganized into something else.

I know this sounds crazy, but it really is starting to make sense to me more and more.

[marylandblue]

1. I think the GOP will survive

But after 2020 they will spend some years in the wilderness.

[bitterross]

7. Yes, it will survive. Pernicious evil always does.

With all their money I'm not even sure they'll wander in the wilderness much. They have proven time and again they are better at messaging and are willing to play to the lowest drivers of human behavior to win at any cost.

They are the party fear. They effectively use the base, animal fear, lizard-brain driver in people to great success. That will not change as they are simply using millions of years of evolution in their favor.

Democrats, on the other hand, appeal to the higher brain - intellect. That only evolved in the most recent 200,000 years or so. It has to fight very hard to overcome the lizard-brain. Most people don't bother with the effort.

[still_one]

2. I have no idea what goes on in such minds, but one thing this should show in case there

were any slow learners out there in the crowd

There is a difference between republicans and Democrats

[cilla4progress]

3. Well, this is the only way

justice will be served!

[BamaRefugee]

4. The GOP has lived down Nixon and Watergate, Reagan, Bush, 9/11, EVERYTHING, why would it stop?

They are the famous "roaches who will survive a nuclear holocaust".
Evil never sleeps, and will never be eradicated.
Fight.

[awesomerwb1]

5. I agree BamaRefugee

The GOP is not going away, and talk about it happening is just silly.

[Bleacher Creature]

9. Again, I don't think the GOP is going away.

But I do think some sort of political realignment is inevitable, and far from unprecedented. I also think the end result is a divorce between the nativist/populist wing, and the more traditional Republicans. I'm just saying that we shouldn't assume that the former will be the ones to go.

[elleng]

6. Right. ;-(

Look at mcconnell, the REAL destroyer of U.S. democracy. IF he were to go, THAT would be a positive sign.

[BamaRefugee]

8. McConnell is always called a "political mastermind" by the media, even MSNBC, BUT...

He has never passed ANYTHING except meaningless stuff during Obama's terms that they knew would be vetoed anyway...Now, CRUNCH TIME, he is shown to be IMPOTENT, which is the best word you can EVER USE against Republican slimeballs and their empty, dust filled sacs!

[LeftInTX]

10. I've always compared them to roaches