General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums*IF* Trump is removed, there will be 2 main right wing narratives, which will overlap some.
Members of the media, right wingers and possibly others will push one of the following narratives:
One narrative will suggest that Trump was a victim of the Deep State, evil Democrats and RINOs. That's what we'll hear from the likes of Gaetz.
The other narrative will be something akin to, "Republicans put country over party and did the right thing. Trump had gone too far and nobody is above the law. Everything is back to normal now and most Republicans are honorable civil servants."
There will also be some who sort of meld the 2 primary narratives.
Both narratives are dangerous. Whether or not either narrative dominates depends largely on how Democrats respond. Democrats will need to be vigilant in pushing back against those arguments. 50+ years of increasingly cruel and unhinged rhetoric and policy created a monster (this is something the Never Trumpers continue to deny). That monster is the Republican Party and its base, as a whole. Trump is a symptom (i.e., he didn't happen in a vacuum) and Trumpism will live on after Trump. The GOP is not filled with people who simply have a different take on the role of government. It is filled with people who foment and exploit racism, sexism, xenophobia and a general ignorance. It is filled with people who have been actively working to undermine all democratic institutions.
Lastly, if (big *IF*) Republicans remove Trump (by conviction or by talking him into resigning), it will be an act of self-preservation and nothing more. None of this "they did the right thing/put country over party/stood up for the law" bullshit. That party is ethically bankrupt. Period.
mr_lebowski
(33,643 posts)Garrett78
(10,721 posts)regnaD kciN
(26,045 posts)Republicans tried the same two narratives after Nixon left and got blown out in the 1974 midterms and lost the presidency in 1976.
Garrett78
(10,721 posts)1) This is a totally different era in which our tyranny of the minority system is a bigger problem than ever before. And media has changed drastically, as well.
2) 2020 is not my only concern regarding one of those narratives becoming dominant.
3) It's not just right wingers who will be tempted to go along with that second narrative. There remains far too strong of a belief that Republicans are, for the most part, good and decent people and that all will be well post-Trump.
empedocles
(15,751 posts)that trumpsters are really evil - to fully deal with the 'con problems.
Garrett78
(10,721 posts)There is an epidemic in this country. Tens of millions of US adults (including some members of Congress) believe in batshit crazy nonsense (more emphasis on media reform and public education, including media literacy curriculum, is needed). Republicans, in their desperate attempt to undermine institutions (including the FBI, national intelligence agencies and every department in the federal government), are willing to align with dictators who also wish to undermine any and all democratic institutions for personal gain. And they exploit the ignorance of the electorate in more ways than one.
All Democrats and the media members who are willing to do their fucking job must not shy away from being blunt about this epidemic.
empedocles
(15,751 posts)to stay more cautious.
Garrett78
(10,721 posts)It's the post-Trump narrative and a regression toward old habits that we must be wary of.