The central political question of our time is: Will Republican voters recommit to liberalism? Or will they continue the pursuit of their authoritarian project? I can give you all of the usual caveats, if you like:
But the unavoidable reality is that over the last decade, enough Republican voters have developed a preference for authoritarianism that the party installed a strongman who:
You can say that this authoritarian project is experiencing pushback, or that it is doomed to fail, or that it is more clownish than menacing. But you cannot reasonably deny that it exists. And here is the brutal, depressing truth: The only thing that can stop this authoritarian project is Republican voters choosing to abandon it. The Democratic party cannot save liberalism, in perpetuity, by itself. The Democratic party is not a messianic construct. It is subject to all of the weaknesses, failings, and corruptions of a normal, healthy political party. It will win elections; it will lose elections. It will make good choices; it will make mistakes. All of which is why I am genuinely heartened by Marjorie Taylor Greene. She is the best hope for liberalism in America. [record scratch] Wait wut? Yeah, you heard me. Let me explain. ... Join The Bulwark to unlock the rest.Become a paying member of The Bulwark to get access to this post and other subscriber-only content. A subscription gets you:
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