According to The Daily Beast, the Republican Party of Minnesota had a paltry $53.81 in cash, juxtaposed with a significant debt of $335,781.36. This financial state, as pitiable as it appears, is not unique to Minnesota. The Arizona Republican Party’s savings have plummeted to below $50,000, a stark descent from the $770,000 it boasted four years ago. Moreover, the Colorado Republican Party is purportedly bankrupt and is currently undergoing eviction from its office.
Such dire straits are symptomatic of larger rifts within the party, both ideologically and in terms of leadership. Politico highlighted a significant downturn in financial health for the GOP, especially in battleground areas. The ramifications of this decline extended beyond mere numbers; they revealed deeper chasms over the party’s ideology and direction.
Colorado and Michigan serve as glaring indicators of these internal conflicts. As reported by Axios Denver, the leadership change led to considerable upheaval within Colorado’s GOP. Concurrently, Michigan’s GOP was grappling with its very essence and identity, as portrayed by The Hill. But it’s not just about money; it’s about uniting a fragmented base and setting a clear direction.
Texas, traditionally a Republican bastion, displayed one of the most alarming declines. As covered by The Texas Tribune, intra-party battles reached such a fever pitch that impeachment discussions for key figures were initiated. These weren’t mere political skirmishes but indicators of profound ideological rifts mirroring the national divide within the GOP.
An e-mail today from Beto O'Rourke:
The Texas Senate’s acquittal of Attorney General Ken Paxton proved to the entire state and nation what you and I have known for a long time: The Texas GOP is the party of corruption and impunity.
Before the verdict came down on Saturday, many Texans — Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike — believed that the evidence against our corrupt, twice indicted Attorney General was so damning that Senate Republicans had no choice but to convict him.
But when they let Paxton walk scot-free on a national stage — despite overwhelming evidence of his corruption and abuse of public office — they firmly established the corrupt and self-serving direction of the Texas GOP.
Robert, this is our chance to capitalize on Texans’ hunger for true leaders who will hold corrupt politicians accountable. We can show Texans that Democrats stand for democracy and the rule of law — and win over the voters we need to produce change in this state.
Yeah, a pitch for money; but there's blood in the Texas political water, the like of which I haven't seen since Bill Clements beat Mark White to retake the Governor's Mansion for the GOP (1987, if you're wondering).
In the run-up to the 2024 elections, as per Yahoo News, the GOP’s state-level disarray had national implications. With traditionally Republican strongholds showing cracks, the ability of the national party to present a unified front was compromised. The party’s divisions were no longer hidden in state committee rooms but were played out on national stages.
Financial strains also played a role in magnifying the national consequences. MPR News highlighted the financial troubles of Minnesota’s GOP, indicating that gearing up for the upcoming elections would be a herculean task. When state parties, traditionally responsible for significant fundraising efforts, are cash-strapped, the national party must compensate, redirecting resources that might have been used elsewhere.
One of the more visible fractures that epitomized this tumult was the impeachment fight surrounding Ken Paxton, as discussed by The Texas Tribune. This was not a mere state issue. It showcased the broader challenges the GOP faced in presenting a cohesive stance on pivotal matters. This infighting, rather than presenting a unified opposition to their political counterparts, illustrated the GOP’s internal strife to the national audience.
Yes, I'm focussing on Texas because that's of greater interest to me. Unstated, and therefore understated and completely missed, is the effort Trump now claims he put into getting Paxton off the hook for a thoroughly justified impeachment.
In light of Machiavelli’s keen observations on leadership and manipulation, the GOP’s trajectory appears to be influenced, in no small measure, by the overpowering presence of a divisive figure. Whether one sees Trump as the “deceitful man” Machiavelli described is subjective, but the upheaval and redefinition within the GOP under his shadow cannot be denied. The party’s path, as it approaches the 2024 elections, will undoubtedly be a crucial chapter in the annals of American political history, with lessons to be gleaned for generations to come.
I think the only thing missing in this analysis is the bold stroke of recognition that the Republican Party is no longer a political party. The infighting is the two rumps of what was once the "GOP" squabbling over the carcass and who has possessory interest in the bones. The Trump side of the "party" has no interest in governance, no interest in issues of corruption and abuse of office, except as the concepts can be clubs to beat on their enemies: Democrats first, and when those aren't available, Republicans who are not of pure enough essence (yes, the reference to "Dr. Strangelove" is intentional). MTG and Boebert and Gaetz and the "Freedom Caucus" don't want to govern, they simply want attention. Ken Buck of CO is sounding rational when he condemns MTG and Boebert and Gaetz as bomb throwers, but he still votes to restrict spending to levels he approves of, and nothing will shake him from the purity of his cause. He just wants to keep his essence pure from the fluoridation represented by Gaetz and Bimbo Boebert and barking ape Greene.
And the GOP? I honestly believe, after Trump loses again in '24 (I think he gets the nomination by default, not by virtue; but I still think he gets it. It's a rigged game for him.), the question won't be "whither the GOP," but: "Where is the GOP?" Gaetz is making noises he wants to beat DeSantis in Florida, because he's tired of beating on McCarthy. Boebert is now the representative for Colorado 3rd base; I don't think her excuse that is was their first, and last, date is having the effect she expected it to have. And Greene? What is she worth, really, in a House that is no longer controlled by the crazies in the GOP? Back to wandering the Capitol grounds looking for a TV camera?
It might be fun to watch a major political party dissolve before the nation’s eyes. Something to tell the grandkids, anyway…
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