How establishment Republicans are being used to sell 'raw fascistic Trumpism': ex-GOP strategist

25 January 2024

Never Trump conservative and former GOP strategist Rick Wilson's prediction that establishment Republicans would ultimately "bend the knee" to Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election is proving to be spot on. Despite the fact that Trump is facing four criminal indictments, he has been endorsed by Sen. Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida) and many other prominent Republicans who aren't known for being ultra-MAGA.

With only two Republicans left in the GOP presidential primary — Trump and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley — much of the Republican Party is consolidating around Trump just as Wilson predicted.

In an article published by the conservative website The Bulwark on January 25, Never Trumper Tim Miller — another former GOP strategist — warns that establishment Republicans are being used to make Trump appear less threatening and "authoritarian" and normalize "raw fascistic Trumpism."

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"There will once again be a group of patsies willing to be the Trump Administration's frontmen and frontwomen, offering themselves as tributes to the wannabe strongman," Miller explains. "They will be put forth as evidence that Trump will be constrained, that dictatorship is not imminent, that there will still be a few 'adults in the room.' Moreover, there will be mainstream, establishment figures who encourage 'good people' to serve because they still hold on to their belief that Trump can be reined in and the office must be protected."

The Never Trump conservative, a frequent guest on MSNBC, continues, "So brace yourself: In the weeks ahead, you are going to be introduced to 'Committee To Save America 2.0: We Protect. We Serve. We Care.' The new committee will be weaker and more pliant than its predecessor. But like the previous version, it will serve the purpose of comforting the Republican elites and Wall Street Journal-reading voters who want to go to bed at night without worrying that they might be accidentally ending the American experiment."

Miller cites Scott and Rubio as examples of establishment Republicans who have been "obsequious" in their support of Trump as he moves closer to winning the nomination.

"In the end," Miller warns, "a new Trump Administration would be far more radical and dangerous than the last one. And on balance, it would have a much higher percentage of MAGA true believers, from the cabinet all the way down to the interns buying pens and making coffee. Hell, even Vivek (Ramaswamy) could probably get a job. But Trump and his team are not oblivious to perception."

Miller adds, "The new Committee To Save America rollout is coming soon. Don't let the voters who might be persuaded by their act be fooled."

Tim Miller's full article for The Bulwark is available at this link.

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