Never Trumpers

David Roberts lays out a fairly convincing case that Never Trump Republicans should join with Democrats until the Republican Party abandons it's descent into lawlessness and authoritarianism.  Roberts rightly notes that we have a two-party system that isn't going anywhere.  You effectively have a binary choice, and if you truly believe Trump is an existential threat to the Republic and the rule of law, you should vote with Democrats to rein him in. 

The biggest question about Never Trump Republicans is just how many of them really exist.  I've been teaching the creation of the Reagan Coalition the past two days.  Basically, the Paleocons provided the money and small government rhetoric, the Neocons provided the foreign policy and ideas, the Theocons provided the votes.  Today, 83% of Evangelical Whites support Trump.  That's higher than Republicans as a whole (80%), but we have to consider that "Republicans" has come to mean "Evangelical Whites."

Roberts dismisses a third party, as does the conservative writer he cites.  I would argue that if you could get 20% of Republicans to split with the party, that would have basically the same effect as voting Democrat.  Not always, not in every race, but it would create a home for people who would otherwise hold their nose and vote Republican.  They aren't going to vote for Democrats in most circumstances. But if they voted for the National Republican Party or the Reform Republican Party, then those are votes that are effectively being denied the Ethnonationalist Republican Party. 

The current balance between the two parties is very, very close.  Even with all the talk of gerrymandering, it seems as if Democrats have a pretty good shot at taking back both Houses of Congress.  If you also stripped away 10-20% of Republican voters into a third party, that would have the effect of electing Democrats, even in marginal districts.  It would allow Never Trump Republicans to hold on to their ideals and create an eventual successor to the Party of Trump.

America needs a responsible conservative party.  It does not currently have one.  It needs the Conservative Party of Britain, but all it has is the National Front of France.  A third party would be necessary to wrest control of Congress from America's National Front, and create a haven for those wishing to remain conservative but not willing to vote for Democrats.