Does Donald Trump Threaten the Future of the Republican Party?

Such fears are expressed quietly within GOP ranks.  They are based upon concerns that President Trump, a Hillary Clinton Democrat not so long ago, has transformed the Republican Party into a populist bastion which is isolationist and free-spending, quite different from its conservative tradition.

Polls support the worries, with close to 90% of Republican voters expressing approval of the president.  Yet it is a mistake to conclude that such backing is an endorsement of Trump’s conduct and policies, at least not all of them.

Old-line Republicans (of whom The Sensible Conservative is decidedly one), basically approve of Trump’s domestic policies, citing immigration, judicial appointments and bureaucratic reform.  They are less enamored with unbridled spending and a disregard for entitlement reform.  And there is growing alarm with his seeming ignorance of foreign affairs which fosters policies of doubtful benefit to the U.S.  Think Syria and North Korea in particular.

But what about members of the base who attend Trump rallies (featured regularly on Fox News) or who identify with President Trump? Their allegiance seems tied to him rather than the Republican Party.  So what happens when Trump is no longer in the White House?

Are they “Trumpians” first who will remain on the electoral sidelines when Donald Trump is no longer on the ballot?

That question is why so many Republican politicians avoid saying anything which might annoy the president and, thus, alienate his fervent supporters.

That attitude, although politically reasonable, places them in an embarrassing predicament, delightedly highlighted by the liberal media.

To illustrate - earlier this month, the most popular question for the mainstream media (like CNN’s Jake Tapper and NBC’s Chuck Todd) to ask GOP congressmen was a variation of the following:

“Do you agree that it is wrong for a President to solicit help from a foreign leader to demand information on political foes?”

Of course, the answer is obviously “NO” for several reasons – that leverage should not be given to a foreign leader (quid pro quo) is merely the most prominent.

But, in fact, the question was uniformly sidestepped.

To give the obvious response would risk the President taking offense. with the implicit and unfavorable comparison with his phone conversation with the Ukrainian President which mentioned Joe Biden.

That would likely generate personal attacks from the President and, perhaps, political retribution from Trump loyalists at home.

And that would not serve the interest of a viable Republican Party post-Trump.