Why the GOP likely won’t run Trump in 2024

Conservatives have a love-hate relationship with the Republican Party. The reason is straightforward: the Grand Old Party (GOP) frequently disappoints them. The media regularly complains that Republicans have been radicalized and are governing from the far right; conservatives not so much. When they look to Washington they perceive lots of righties selling out. Sure, they talk a tough game — but when’s the last time they actually cut the size of government?

This is why various conservative parties have cropped up in states at various moments in America. Perhaps most famous was the conservative party of New York State, which managed to elect two members to Congress — one of whom was James Buckley, the brother of William F. Buckley Jr., who, as it happens, ran for mayor of New York City on the Conservative ticket. Unfortunately, their victories are few. The two major parties have thrown up a ton of hurdles to competition.

Righties are not the only Americans dissatisfied with their parties. More Americans today identify as independents (34 percent) than as Republicans (29 percent) or Democrats (33 percent). Public dissatisfaction with what feels like a Coke versus Pepsi political choice has been growing for decades. And it is not surprising. Each party’s brand is less than sterling, and these days a voter who is wound up about a particular issue (federal spending, animal rights, or the “responsible conservation and care of reptiles”) can give their dollars to a trade group or interest group who will fight for them in the Swamp.

The 2016 Republican presidential primaries were an incredible illustration of the rejection of the Democratic–Republican duopoly. A dozen individuals threw their hats in the ring, and most were standard GOP politicians. Donald Trump, who was anything but a lifelong Republican, crashed that party, and went on to beat the Democratic Old Guard’s candidate….(Read more)