Donald Trump is an electoral disaster for the Republican Party. He cost the GOP control of the House of Representatives in 2018, lost the presidency in 2020, and contributed to the party’s underperformance in the 2022 midterms.
So how to stop Trump from wreaking havoc in 2024? Apparently some desperate Republicans are simply hoping he dies before the election.
I’m not exaggerating. Earlier this week, the Atlantic’s McKay Coppins recounted multiple conversations with Republican officials who see no way to stop Trump from destroying the party in yet another electoral cycle other.
When this is one of the GOP’s plans, you’ve pretty much thrown in the towel
According to former Michigan Rep. Peter Mejier, “You have a lot of folks who are just wishing for [Trump’s] mortal demise. I want to be clear: I’m not in that camp. But I’ve heard from a lot of people who will go onstage and put on the red hat, and then give me a call the next day and say, ‘I can’t wait until this guy dies.’” Coppins noted that Mark Leibovich, in his recent book “Thank You for Your Servitude,” quotes a former Republican representative saying of Trump, “We’re just waiting for him to die.”
It’s reminiscent of the “Seinfeld” episode in which George, desperate to get out of his impending wedding to Susan, wishes she might take a plane somewhere.
“And what, hope for a crash?” Jerry asks.
“It happens,” George says.
Trump is 76 years old, has the eating habits of a teenage boy, views exercise with the same disdain he does modesty, and is seemingly permanently stressed and enraged. But when this is one of the GOP’s plans, you’ve pretty much thrown in the towel — or at the very least, tacitly acknowledged that you have no political courage whatsoever. For a party that has long preached the virtues of determination, resolve and rugged individualism, the level of cowardice is shocking (albeit not longer surprising).
To be sure, the GOP is right to be…
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