I do think it’s important to remember that the Republican party did not want Trump to be the nominee in the first place, and once he was elected he and his ilk purged anyone who wasn’t a MAGA bootlicker. Since MAGA is a cult of personality, I don’t think anyone could really fill that hole, especially because he’s so narcissistic that he couldn’t even set up a dynasty to succeed him. So I do think there will be some retrenching and more reasonable minds coming back to the party, but that’s not saying much because their philosophy on governance was already so toxic and broken to begin with. Thus:
Outfits like The Heritage Foundation, religious fundamentalists, and literal Nazis have been greatly empowered. I fear they’re going to double down on their reactionary policies and we’ll be fighting them at every turn. Maybe it won’t be as bad as when Trump was president, or (shudder) if he gets another term, but I don’t like the idea of pining for the days of Dubya.
But it will be influenced by world events which happened between now and then. Has populism gone out of style in Europe, or triumphed? Was there war with China? Did we win? Is it still going on? What about Russia? Has the remarkably long period during which no nuclear weapon has been used in war continued?
Right. If Trump fails this year and is gone by 2028, there will still be a rebranded Project 2029(*) Team out there, selling that manifesto to upcoming Republican would-bes as the plan to follow.
(* ok, maybe even further rebranded to avoid reminding people of What Failed To Happen)
I think it’s been with us for a while; there was a previous populist/fascist movement in the 1920s-1930s in the world, and while the US avoided the worst of it (Carl Weiss made sure of that), it did take hold elsewhere in Europe and the world.
This is just another resurgence of the same thing- look at all the similar politicians and movements elsewhere in the world in the past ten years or so. What makes it look so crazy to us is that this is the first time we’ve actually had to deal with a right-wing demagogue at a national level, and we’re finding out where the weak spots in the governmental system are as a result.
I disagree with the premise of the OP. Trump is not unique, hence the Mango Mussolini nickname. Elon Musk would have been an obvious successor but for the arbitrary details of US presidential eligibility. Don’t worry / relax, once Trump is gone it is only a matter of time before some other wanabee fascist leader comes along.
MAGA has been with us forever. Trump just gave them permission to crawl out from under their rocks into the sunlight.
As to what happens to the republican party once Trump finds his way to the fiery beyond? I am hoping for an interparty civil war that drives them into the wilderness for a generation.