A very real chance exists that Republicans could enter next summer with their political ticket led by an incumbent president tweeting nonsense to distract from an economy in retreat, ISIS terrorists and Iranian mullahs both resurgent, Russia and China enjoying greater spheres of influence, and even his own Justice Department hot on his trail.
Unless a seriously credible opponent begins working now to plan a challenge to President Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, he will win the nomination by default and then drag his whole party down to electoral depths not seen since the post-Watergate lows.
Worse even than 1974, however, the devastation to supposed Republican principles could be unprecedented. At least post-Watergate there remained plenty of conservative Southern Democrats, and the Democratic Party nationally was moving back somewhat to the center after being shocked into reality by the 49-state loss by leftist George McGovern. Today, on the other hand, the Democratic presidential field is a battle between far Left, farther Left, and crazy Left. And there is no longer a tradition of cross-partisan comity on Capitol Hill or even of semi-shared values to moderate legislative action or executive fiat.
In sum, it’s not just Republican fortunes that are at stake, but the entire American notion that government should be limited in any material way. The ultra Left’s ascendance, enabled by Trump, could become a civic and cultural catastrophe.
Some serious Republican, therefore, must step up. Republican voters deserve a legitimate choice other than a corrupt, volatile patsy for foreign dictators. Nikki Hayley, Will Hurd, Kelly Ayotte, or General James Mattis — or somebody — should take the chance. Trump must be put out to pasture.
