Have you ever woken up in the morning and the first thought on your mind is about the Whig Party? Yeah, me neither, until today that is. Hear me out, it’s not as crazy as it sounds. Now that we are in the post-partum Trump era, it is worth giving a thought or two about the future of the Republican Party. Or, at least what’s left of it.
First, let’s deal with the big question. Is it possible the GOP in its entirety may disappear from National politics? The answer is yes. Political parties including major ones do shutter their doors and go out of business, so to speak. As for any Constitutional issues, there is no mention of political parties in the Constitution.
For the most part, the Founding Fathers did not favor political parties and were worried the newly minted America would divide itself into two bitter rivalries like the Whig and Tory Parties in England. We got off to a good start with Washington, who did not belong to any formal political organization, although if we look at his policies and preferences, he was far closer in theory to the strong central government Federalist Party of Alexander Hamilton than to the burgeoning early “power to the people” leaning Democratic-Republican Party of Jefferson and Madison.
Washington’s presidency was relatively free from the type of political party shenanigans we see all the time today. George might have even been cautious, but hopeful America would remain free from our own worst tribalistic instincts as he found political factions, well, fractious and not conducive to unity.
But alas, twas not to be as with England and France slugging it out during the Napoleonic Wars, Americans were torn between supporting England and France. The result being a far more formalized Anglo-centric Federalist and now rival Franco-centric Democratic-Republican camps gaining their initial foothold in the New World’s nascent national political dialogue.
So, right about now you might be wondering what this has to do with the Whig Party. My point is, although political bloc (heads) for the time being are here to stay, individual parties do from time to time disband with the individual members going their separate ways, often either switching parties, or sometimes starting a brand-new institution.
FTR neither the Federalist (done in by the War of 1812) or the Democratic-Republican party of early America still exists. The strain of Democratic Party we know and love today did not formally exist until 1824 when the D-R Party essentially split itself into four separate parts with the followers of Andrew Jackson forming the first direct descendant of the modern Democratic Party, donkey and all.
One of the other four splinters rallied around Henry Clay and founded the Whig Party. Interestingly, the Whigs adopted their policies in large part as an antimonarchist party in direct opposition to “King Andrew” and his authoritarian ways. For the most part, what held the Whig Party together was their shared hatred of Andrew Jackson.
The Whig Party did enjoy some success for several years most notably when William Henry Harrison won the 1840 Presidential election, but he died 31 days into his term, was replaced by John Tyler for the remainder of his term.
In 1848, when the Whigs elected their second presidential candidate Zachary Taylor to office, he became the second president to die in office, and was succeeded by Millard Fillmore, one of our worst presidents and as with the Dodo, the last of the Whigs.
With the coming of the Civil War and the Northern and Southern Whigs divided over the issue of slavery, the party dissolved with the abolitionist faction morphing into what we know today as the Republican or GOP. With the Democrats similarly divided, in 1860 Abraham Lincoln becomes the first, but not the last, Republican president. But, is it possible we have seen our last Republican president? The answer is yes.
That we are at a political and geographic crossroads like the 1860s is beyond question. The GOP demographic is old, decrepit, out-of-touch and growing increasingly obsolete by the minute. Not surprisingly, their elected officials reflect the same creeping madness flowing through their veins to the degree two Senators have concluded their right to “argue” and “defend” the Constitution extends to outright acts of sedition and insurrection, deluding themselves into believing their mandate extends to overthrowing the US government as part of their duty to represent their constituents’ interests, based on nothing more than blatant lies.
147 Republicans in Congress voted to overturn the results of a free and fair election. Why? Because they don’t like the outcome. Several members of Congress continue to try to sneak firearms onto the floor of the House. Once again, I must dissent. We have met the enemy within and they are us.
So, why stop at removing a few dunderheads from positions of power they should have never been entrusted to in the first place? Why not, let the party, the GOP die? What exactly is it the party of racism, conspiracies, crime and corruption adds to the mix of legitimate political discussion and debate?
Isn’t it time we all realized Barack Obama was not born in Kenya? Hillary’s emails never mattered? Benghazi, as unfortunate as the four deaths were, now behind the five souls taken, including one police officer during the sacking of the Capitol. MAGA is a racist pro-Nazi organization (they don’t deny it, why should we?) and QAnus isn’t even real?
Let us give it a minute to sink in. What would happen if the GOP simply, vanished? Do we need a two-party system? Is that truly in our best interests? George Washington didn’t think so. In fact, he preferred number of political parties was zero. Political parties or organizations are not mentioned in the Constitution and there is was and will always be good reason for that.
In his 1796, Farewell Address, after two terms in office, George Washington left political life for good. His 34-page speech hit on many points of hope for the new country. He also wrote of the many problems that could jeopardize the future existence of the Republic. Washington reserved some of his most pointed criticisms for political parties.
Several of the passages are eerily prescient to today’s situation. This is how it starts.
“Let me…warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally.”
Washington continues to discuss the deleterious tendencies political affiliations have on the average citizen.
“This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy.”
In short, he paints an unflattering picture of political parties where any potential benefit is outweighed by the potential risk and harm to the body politic.
“The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty.” (emphasis added)
Sound familiar? George, as usual, knew what was coming. It took over 200 years, but there is simply no denying the despotic tendencies of the GOP have led to a despot. Individual responsibility is fine but why leave the putrid Petri dish of Republican politics able to breed another parasitic malignant orange semi-life form that thrives on the tears of the innocent?
Where cruelty and brutality are further enhancements to an already sick and deeply disturbed mentality? After the events of January 6, 2021, it is my position the GOP must go and I suggest we do everything within our power to send it bon voyage and on its merry way. One way ticket on the Titanic anyone?
Oh, don’t worry, it’s not as dramatic as it all sounds. I would imagine many more moderate might join the Democratic Party and in all likelihood the Repulsive part of the party will form another, but much smaller, regional party to keep trolling about in their seemingly endless pit of giant mosquito mesquite malaria inspired swamp of artificial fever flavored dreams until they cough up another savior or two. I understand Leader Trump is planning on starting the MAGA Party. Good enough name as any, seeing as the Know Nothings is already taken.
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