What happened to the “we need to move on from Trump” Republicans?

[All Along The Watchtower]

They seem awfully quiet currently.

[President Johnson]

Gone silent after they figured out the base wasn't there at all and the Trump fever didn't break.

[Unbeatable Titan Susan Collins]

We are here. Sad but here.

[Spectator]

I'm here. Just voting Democrat for against anyone that enables it at this point. Not holding my breath anything is going to change until Trump passes away or becomes so senile that the base is forced to move on.

I'll be the first to admit that I'm hardly a Republican anymore by doing so. I've mocked the idea of "McCain Republicans" that have voted Democrat for POTUS-Senate-Governor-SOS-AG. But I still vote in Republican primaries, will not ever donate to a Democrat, and generally hold libertarian values that aren't really aligned with Democrats.

[Arizona Iced Tea]

Maybe if they ran better options than DeSanctimonious, an obese New Jersian, a traitor to Trump, and female Dick Cheney they could have gotten strength within the party.

[All Along The Watchtower]

Gone silent after they figured out the base wasn't there at all and the Trump fever didn't break.

They (other Republican candidates) didn’t even try to persuade the base that they should move on from Trump!

No one ever said, “Donald Trump is a demented old man who lost to a goofy and very old career politician, he and Biden are both senile, we need someone younger and smarter who won’t be distracted by criminal indictments.” Way too much capital (political and financial) was wasted propping up Ted Cruz-tier right-wing sicko Ron DeSantis who had about as much charisma and ability to counterpunch against Trump as Jeb! in 2015-2016. He and others have all but folded under pressure.

Then again, this isn’t the first time Republicans have done this in regard to Trump and the voter base—hell, they’ve been cravenly pandering to popular figures on the hard Right long before Trump was politically relevant. See: George H.W. Bush sucking up to Rush Limbaugh and Pat Buchanan in 1992.

Regardless, it’s always pathetic.

[oldtimer]

Generals without soldiers.

[Cyrusman]

Because reality set it. Trump isn't going to be beaten in the GOP primary. I think most have accepted that, especially since the debates haven't made a difference.

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

Maybe if they ran better options than DeSanctimonious, an obese New Jersian, a traitor to Trump, and female Dick Cheney they could have gotten strength within the party.

Who do you want them to run? It's also cute you think the GOP is still a serious political party. It's a cult around one man and nothing more than that.

[The Economy is Getting Worse]

Maybe if they ran better options than DeSanctimonious, an obese New Jersian, a traitor to Trump, and female Dick Cheney they could have gotten strength within the party.

Who do you want them to run? It's also cute you think the GOP is still a serious political party. It's a cult around one man and nothing more than that.

Youngkin

[All Along The Watchtower]

Generals without soldiers.

Yes, and as Trump himself said he’s smarter than the Generals.

[Lumine]

There's an element of spinelessness sure, but it's not just that the base isn't there for them right now, but that - as we've seen reported quite a few times this year - they instantly stop listening (or go sour) the moment someone raises criticism of Trump. The sad reality is that you can't quite expect most politicians not to start giving up or lying low after persistently hitting the equivalent of a brick wall, much as they should keep trying far harder than they've done thus far.

(At some point, responsibility must also fall on the voters too for refusing to even entertain criticism of the man, regardless of how feckless the politicians themselves may be)

[Agonized-Statism]

Like you said, those that haven't made the switch yet have just gone quiet since DeSantis' spectacular collapse. They think they can take the party back when Trump is gone. They're an aging, shrinking, and out-of-touch group even compared to the Trump supporters, though. Interesting little fact: the youngest voter who would have had the opportunity to cast a ballot for any other Republican presidential nominee will be 30 in 2024. If any do return down the road, they'll return to a pretty unrecognizable party.

[Arizona Iced Tea]

Maybe if they ran better options than DeSanctimonious, an obese New Jersian, a traitor to Trump, and female Dick Cheney they could have gotten strength within the party.

Who do you want them to run? It's also cute you think the GOP is still a serious political party. It's a cult around one man and nothing more than that.

I like Youngkin, he seems to have potential.

[pbrower2a]

Trump effectively purged such people from a Party that he shaped into his. Republican majorities have depended upon such people in coalitions that form its majorities, and the GOP has a very shaky majority going into 2024.  Now this majority depends upon Representatives with big problems. George Santos? Lauren Boebert? Jim Jordan?

[Associate Justice PiT]

     I was hopeful the base was ready to move on too, but it seems they weren't. I'm not very enthusiastic about 2024, for a whole host of reasons that include but are not limited to Trump.

[TodayJunior]

They’re either now democrats or gave up

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

Maybe if they ran better options than DeSanctimonious, an obese New Jersian, a traitor to Trump, and female Dick Cheney they could have gotten strength within the party.

Who do you want them to run? It's also cute you think the GOP is still a serious political party. It's a cult around one man and nothing more than that.

I like Youngkin, he seems to have potential.

He wouldn't crack 35% against Trump. The fact is the base wants Trump and will vote him in until he stops running or dies.

[BG-NY]

They realized that Trump is their best chance of avoiding a democratic trifecta in 2024.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

They realized that Trump is their best chance of avoiding a democratic trifecta in 2024.

Lol Marist had Trump losing by 7 you voted wrong in 2020 and Rs haven't beaten Biden as VEEP or as Prez 2008/12/20/22, stop underestimated Biden

I know you like Trump but let me say this again HES AN INDICTED FELON AND 2*IMPEACHMENT PREZ THESE ARE POLLS NOT VOTES

Bush W hardly trailed in any of his polls after Reagan funeral in June 2004 how many polls has Trump trailed in and it's not June yet

Users really like Redban really thinks polls are votes no they arent and they cherry pick the ones they want to believes

Haven't enough D users said Trump is narcissistic and he is gonna lose, the 303 map with wave insurance is still there on the 24 board

[Sumner 1868]

How can anyone look at the Speakership nonsense and still argue with a straight face the Great Satan Of Real Estate is the real problem? Pretty obvious by now a post-Trump GOP will simply just keep going endlessly down the path of No True Rightist as long and far as they can without being wiped out.

[Roll Roons]

How can anyone look at the Speakership nonsense and still argue with a straight face the Great Satan Of Real Estate is the real problem? Pretty obvious by now a post-Trump GOP will simply just keep going endlessly down the path of No True Rightist as long and far as they can without being wiped out.

The problems were there before Trump (see what happened with Boehner), but it's clear that our politics would likely not be as toxic as they are if he wasn't in the picture. His supporters are cultish like virtually no other politician's supporters are and that's why they're so unhinged. He encourages the worst of the worst on both sides to run for major office.

[Shaula🏳️‍⚧️]

Gone silent after they figured out the base wasn't there at all and the Trump fever didn't break.

They (other Republican candidates) didn’t even try to persuade the base that they should move on from Trump!

No one ever said, “Donald Trump is a demented old man who lost to a goofy and very old career politician, he and Biden are both senile, we need someone younger and smarter who won’t be distracted by criminal indictments.” Way too much capital (political and financial) was wasted propping up Ted Cruz-tier right-wing sicko Ron DeSantis who had about as much charisma and ability to counterpunch against Trump as Jeb! in 2015-2016. He and others have all but folded under pressure.

Then again, this isn’t the first time Republicans have done this in regard to Trump and the voter base—hell, they’ve been cravenly pandering to popular figures on the hard Right long before Trump was politically relevant. See: George H.W. Bush sucking up to Rush Limbaugh and Pat Buchanan in 1992.

Regardless, it’s always pathetic.

You do realize that's what Chris Christie has been saying and everyone hates him lol.
Liz Cheney has been tougher on Trump than anyone and she has a higher approval with Democrats than Republicans now.

I always find the people who go "well if only they were harsher on Trump then Trump will lose". Like, no, all it will do is end whoever said it's political career.

[DavidB.]

I suppose I'd be one of those if I were American, but honestly, what is the question to them? Trump will win the primary. Some of the people who would have preferred to move on from him will vote for him while holding their nose; others will vote third party or Biden. But it's pretty clear DeSantis' campaign collapsed before it ever took off and it's pretty clear there's no room for any other viable candidate than Trump. It is what it is.

[Respect and Compassion]

They realized that Trump is their best chance of avoiding a democratic trifecta in 2024.

Based on how the other candidates have been, it really seems to be the case that Trump is unironically the most electable 2024 Republican candidate.

I'm not *too* sure about Youngkin because we can sic the Romney "out of touch with working class from being a private equity exec" strategy on him.