Lindsey Graham gets Trump's appeal to Republican voters

 Red States:

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“I hope people in our party understand the party itself. If you’re wanting to erase Donald Trump from the party, you’re going to get erased,” Graham told Fox News just hours after the inauguration Wednesday of President Joe Biden.

“Most Republicans like his policies. A lot of Republicans like his style,” Graham continued. “A lot of people are disappointed with him personally at times but appreciate the outcomes he’s achieved for our country.”

He stumbles upon an inconvenient truth for the anti-Trump right at the end there. It’s not just that voters like Trump’s policies. It is indeed that they also like his style. Now, admittedly, there are ways to modify and make that combative style more effective and useful. That’s always been true and had Trump listened to just a little advice on that front, he may have won by a large enough margin to ensure he got a second term. There’s always room for improvement with any politician.

But the overall truth remains. GOP voters do not want a return to the status quo. They don’t want floating approvals of Joe Biden from Mitt Romney. They don’t want Liz Cheney voting for impeachment based on the ridiculous notion that supposition stands in for evidence of actual wrongdoing. What they want is a party that will fight for their values and policy desires. The reason Trump exploded onto the scene in the first place was because Republicans simply failed on that front.

Graham would go on in this interview to lament the idea of Trump and his supporters starting a new party. I also think that’d be completely pointless and self-defeating. You want to ensure Democrat control into eternity? Start a marginal third party, which is what the ‘Patriot Party’ would be. Yet, Republicans need to understand that the ball is actually in their court on that front. You don’t want a Trump-esque party being started? Then actually do what your voters want you to do. Stop being so enamored with the beltway lifestyle and culture. Remember who actually put you there and why they did.

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This is a message that many of his fellow Senators need to grasp for their own good and the good of the party.  I get the impression that some of them rushed to judgment on the Capitol riots and lashed out at Trump and that includes McConnell.  Graham is looking like a more astute politician right now.

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