July: The GOP is done for. Parties don’t live forever, you know.

There you are, the five stages (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance) of grieving the destruction of the Republican Party. Many Republicans are still stuck on depression, but others see the handwriting on the wall and are ready to move on. They’ll support Republicans for House, Senate and state elected offices and come to grips with Clinton 45 and a more liberal Supreme Court. Other Republicans note there is still the opportunity for a floor flight, but it is hard to see where the numbers will come from.

AD

AD

There are individual congressmen and senators and a number of governors who embrace ordered liberty, the essence of modern conservatism, and whose penchant for reform is a useful antidote to the calcified welfare state. But there is no national party capable of presenting a foreign and domestic policy center-right agenda that appeals to a majority of the country.

The state of the GOP is embodied in the jaw-dropping proposal from (apparently) rejected vice-presidential candidate Newt Gingrich: We should interrogate anyone with a Muslim background and find out if they believe in sharia law. If so, deport them.

It has all the classic signs of the Trumpized GOP: It’s stupid (people will lie). It’s unworkable (who would be able to question millions of people). It’s unconstitutional (First Amendment? Fifth Amendment? 14th Amendment?). It’s counterproductive (we need Muslim communities to help us intercept radical jihadists plotting to kill). And it is hateful and radical. Put simply, it is un-American. There’s the Trump GOP in all its glory.

AD

AD

It would be comforting to begin the process of creating a viable national party now, if only to distract one from the embarrassment of Trump. It’s hard to see how that is possible while the campaign is going on. Nevertheless, the seeds of a new, center-right party can be planted. Here’s how:

Refuse a unanimous nomination of Trump. The dissenters are the nucleus of a new party. The manifesto put out by the various #NeverTrump groups is precisely the sort of principled opposition that should be loudly and consistently voiced. (“Donald Trump is an admirer of tyrants. . . . Donald Trump routinely tramples and cheats ordinary Americans. . . . Trump repeatedly traffics in bigotry.” It is worth reading in full to remind us why he is the greater threat of the two major party candidates.)

Test run a new message. If a youngish, independent candidate can be found willing to articulate a realistic reform vision (e.g. strong national security, fiscal sobriety, free trade, reformed immigration, respect for gay rights) he or she could at least present what a future, viable agenda would look like.

AD

AD

Recognize the stalwarts. There are many Republicans who refused to condone, enable or endorse Trump — e.g. Sen. Ben Sasse (Neb.), Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.), New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, Sen. Mike Lee (Utah), Rep. Adam Kinzinger (Ill.), Sen. Jeff Flake (Ariz.) and Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

Denounce the Trump apologists. These people and groups went out of their way to enable and defend Trump. They include Fox Non-News evening hosts, Rush Limbaugh, Breitbart, American Conservative Union Chairman Matt Schlapp, RNC chairman Reince Priebus, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Sen. Jeff Sessions (Ala.). These people do not have the interests of the country in mind or are so misguided that their judgment cannot be taken seriously. Alternate conservative outlets and voices should be cultivated, especially in the realm of talk radio. (Better yet, just turn it off.)