# Should the republicans distance themselves from the current president? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 17, 2018, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-republicans-distance-themselves-from-the-current-president/816276 "2018-06-17T18:50:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-republicans-distance-themselves-from-the-current-president/816276/21 "2018-06-18T02:44:22Z")
The Republicans can’t distance themselves from Trump. Some 15, 20, or 30 years ago, the two parties were dominant, big tent colossuses. Politics has become Balkanized, tribal, plural. The tribe that stays united wins. When we look at numbers that indicate Trump’s ‘approval’ rating is at an all time low, progressives delude themselves into believing that Trump is weak – and in a sense, he is. Trump is vulnerable. But he’s strongest when he plays the tribal card. Trump could win with a 40% approval rating if progressives and independents fail to unify against him and fight with each other about how to out-Trump, Trump. Republicans know this, which is why they shut up. From their point of view, speaking out against the tribal chief is dangerous. The traditional Republican party is dead, but then again, so is the traditional Democratic party. And so is traditional American politics. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-republicans-distance-themselves-from-the-current-president/816276/22 "2018-06-18T03:02:06Z")
I’m so glad folks are taking this subject seriously. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-republicans-distance-themselves-from-the-current-president/816276/23 "2018-06-18T14:59:30Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I’m so glad folks are taking this subject seriously. What did you expect? This is \*\*Through the Looking Glass \*\*stuff right now. Should the Republicans distance themselves from Trump because it is the right thing to do? Of course. Should the Republicans distance themselves from Trump to win/hold seats in the midterms? Nobody knows. Should the Republicans distance themselves from Trump to preserve the stated principles of their party? Yes, incredibly. Should the Republicans distance themselves from Trump so they won’t be branded as hypocrites and haters for all time? Yes, because they were already but getting branded hurts, though I wouldn’t mind holding the iron. Should the Republicans distance themselves from Trump because he hurts his friends worse than his enemies? I think that would be a good idea. Should the Republicans distance themselves from Trump because he says what he means or because he means what he says? Yes to the former, no to the latter. (or is it the other way round?) ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-republicans-distance-themselves-from-the-current-president/816276/24 "2018-06-18T15:34:42Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Try America-hating fuckstick. > [@Covfefe](#): > > Nine out of ten fuckstick-hating Americans agree, this sobriquet will show instant results. A word of advice: don’t share your password with **Drunky Smurf** ; he REALLY can’t be trusted with it. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-republicans-distance-themselves-from-the-current-president/816276/25 "2018-06-18T15:40:22Z")
Its a tough moral choice. How to exploit the deplorables’ “get tough on immigration” cravings while simultaneously blaming the Dems? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-republicans-distance-themselves-from-the-current-president/816276/26 "2018-06-18T15:42:00Z")
Easy. Just lie. ---
**Author:** ![Covfefe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee7513/32.png) [@Covfefe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covfefe)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-republicans-distance-themselves-from-the-current-president/816276/27 "2018-06-19T05:22:31Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I’m so glad folks are taking this subject seriously. Isn’t this a parody thread, at least in origin? They can’t all rise like a phoenix. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-republicans-distance-themselves-from-the-current-president/816276/28 "2018-06-19T16:49:15Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > What did you expect? This is \*\*Through the Looking Glass \*\*stuff right now. > > Should the Republicans distance themselves from Trump because it is the right thing to do? Of course. > > Should the Republicans distance themselves from Trump to win/hold seats in the midterms? Nobody knows. > > Should the Republicans distance themselves from Trump to preserve the stated principles of their party? Yes, incredibly. > > Should the Republicans distance themselves from Trump so they won’t be branded as hypocrites and haters for all time? Yes, because they were already but getting branded hurts, though I wouldn’t mind holding the iron. > > Should the Republicans distance themselves from Trump because he hurts his friends worse than his enemies? I think that would be a good idea. > > Should the Republicans distance themselves from Trump because he says what he means or because he means what he says? Yes to the former, no to the latter. (or is it the other way round?) _Will_ the Republicans distance themselves from the current president? :dubious: Prolly not, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-republicans-distance-themselves-from-the-current-president/816276/29 "2018-06-19T17:15:09Z")
He was great in _Taxi Driver_, but his later work kinda taints him. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-republicans-distance-themselves-from-the-current-president/816276/30 "2018-06-19T18:19:34Z")
Taking the parody OP seriously for a second: if they want to be reelected, probably not. Speaking their consciences cost Jeff Flake any chance of reelection, and seems to have dulled the reelection hopes of others such as Bob Corker. Morally? Sure, but who the hell remembers politicians who lost elections because they took moral stands? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-republicans-distance-themselves-from-the-current-president/816276/31 "2018-06-19T18:21:22Z")
JFK wrote a whole book about them. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-republicans-distance-themselves-from-the-current-president/816276/32 "2018-06-19T18:30:53Z")
[Au contraire](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2478/did-john-f-kennedy-really-write-profiles-in-courage/). But anyway, did you read it? ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-republicans-distance-themselves-from-the-current-president/816276/33 "2018-06-19T18:43:55Z")
It won’t work, if there’s an R next to your name, you own it. Remember how well it worked for Democrats trying to separate themselves from Obama in 2014. Alison Grimes in Kentucky even refused to say who she voted for, she still got demolished. This is an era of extreme partisanship, the era of Southern Democrats being quite different and separating themselves from the liberal wing of the party is over. Same with Republicans separating themselves from the Reagan wing. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-republicans-distance-themselves-from-the-current-president/816276/34 "2018-06-19T18:43:58Z")
From what I can see so far, tying themselves to Trump may help individuals in primaries but doesn’t help them in generals. Republicans are screwed, in other words. As a party, tying themselves to Trump overall can only hurt Republicans. Is there a group of voters that will embrace him? Yes. The Tea Party block will likely stay firmly in that corner no matter what. Overall, however, I think that conservative voters would like to see a return to core conservative values. By adhering to those, even when it means going against the president, Republicans could get more of the Independent vote and would ultimately have a stronger base. As it is, they leave responsible people nowhere else to place their votes other than the Democrats. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-republicans-distance-themselves-from-the-current-president/816276/35 "2018-06-19T18:44:23Z")
**RNATB:** Of course I have. I take it you haven’t, or at least have forgotten it, based on your saying “who the hell remembers”. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-republicans-distance-themselves-from-the-current-president/816276/36 "2018-06-20T00:54:19Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > First you would have to find some principled republicans. Good luck! This. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-republicans-distance-themselves-from-the-current-president/816276/37 "2018-06-20T01:22:14Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > I’m still partial to “Mango Mussolini”. Nah. Mussolini made the trains run on time. Trump can’t even make the Oval Office run on time. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-republicans-distance-themselves-from-the-current-president/816276/38 "2018-06-20T16:53:56Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > **RNATB:** Of course I have. I take it you haven’t, or at least have forgotten it, based on your saying “who the hell remembers”. I haven’t. I mean, I haven’t read most books that were written decades before I was born. But in fact, I didn’t actually know what it was about until I looked it up after your post. I had always assumed it was about courageous actions by military leaders. So you fought a bit of ignorance yesterday! ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-republicans-distance-themselves-from-the-current-president/816276/39 "2018-06-20T18:11:46Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I’m so glad folks are taking this subject seriously. I think the Republicans are waiting to see how the midterm elections shape up. That will be a sign if the support of pro-Trump voters outweighs the opposition of anti-Trump voters and how much the association with Trump helps or hurts other Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-republicans-distance-themselves-from-the-current-president/816276/40 "2018-06-20T18:17:49Z")
Yanno, I’m going to go reread _Profiles in Courage_ next, just to remind myself that it hasn’t always been this way, and that we really have had people in government who put country ahead of party and made us closer to the Beacon of Freedom that so many have just talked about and worked against. It’s sad that we have a new generation of voters who’ve never known the Republicans to be anything other than what they are now, and I’m tired of trying to explain it to them. Now, to wonder who the next chapters in the book would be about, and how they would unfold … pretty sure the names McConnell and Ryan wouldn’t be there … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-republicans-distance-themselves-from-the-current-president/816276.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-republicans-distance-themselves-from-the-current-president/816276.md?page=3)