The Next Trump

Trumpism is defined by its relentless appeal to white grievance, but luckily for the country, it appears as if Trump's malignant narcissism and profound lack of intelligence has limited his appeal to about 40% or less of the voting population. I would guess his floor is around 35%, and we might see it in polling before the election.  He will then do better than that, because some reluctant or shy Trump voters will "come home" on election day.  But 40% feels right for support for the GOP and Trumpism - which have largely become identical.

Trump is a uniquely clownish oaf. However, the roadmap to victory that he created within the GOP will be there after he's gone (to prison, hopefully). The next GOP politician to use that roadmap could be subtler and more intelligent than Trump. If it's another TV blowhard like Tucker Carlson...I'm not worried.  Carlson has ample tape of him defending and expanding on Trumpism.  He's not subtle in his racism, and the fact that he's a TV personality makes it easier to tar with the Trump 2.0 brush.

Tom Cotton has the smarts and the complete lack of scruples to become the next Trump. Luckily, he has the charisma of wet socks.

To me, the most worrisome figure is Dan Crenshaw.  Crenshaw is handsome, bright and subtler than Carlson or Cotton. I don't know how much he embraces Trumpism or if he simply complicit in his silence. My worry is that he's cynical enough to grab the roadmap Trump used and not aware enough of how that roadmap becomes its own destiny. Decrying "political correctness" is an easy enough rhetorical nod.  Amping up the volume enough to reach the WWC GOP base means a constant series of escalations.

My sons play something called "the Penis Game," where you go back and forth saying the word "penis" a little bit louder than the person before you. Republican grievance politics has become the new "Penis Game" where you have to say the racism and the fascism a little louder than the person before you. I have no idea what is in Dan Crenshaw's heart. Maybe he's a closet Mitt Romney waiting for his opportunity to reject Trump and Trumpism.  He is equating Black Lives Matter with antifa activities, so I'm hardly optimistic.

There has to be a Republican who can lead the party out of its racist, authoritarian dead-end. Otherwise the party will and should die. Crenshaw just seems like he will re-package the same hateful politics with a smoother delivery.