Friedman spends a entire column suggesting that Trump will “Force Principled Conservatives to Start Their Own Party” but acknowledges that there are no principled conservatives.
As the Trump presidency heads into the sunset, kicking and screaming, one of the most important questions that will shape American politics at the local, state and national levels is this: Can Donald Trump maintain his iron grip over the Republican Party when he is out of office?
This is what we know for sure: He damn well intends to try and is amassing a pile of cash to do so. And here is what I predict: If Trump keeps delegitimizing Joe Biden’s presidency and demanding loyalty for his extreme behavior, the G.O.P. could fully fracture — splitting between principled Republicans and unprincipled Republicans. Trump then might have done America the greatest favor possible: stimulating the birth of a new principled conservative party.
How many times does Friedman use the rhetorical question “Wishful thinking?” THREE TIMES
Republican scoundrels and traitors from Susan Collins all the way down to Mike Ramone are more afraid of a Trump backed primary opponent than they are of being viewed as lacking in principle.