The Republican world today

Eyes locked on a television set, sitting ramrod straight, lean-faced, Dan stared at Joe Biden – in the middle of a sentence Biden lost his train of thought, stammered, waving his hands, face blank.

“He’s senile.”

Turning, Dan glared at me. “Those two polls about Trump that John Bolton or you did were a joke.”

 Jack, taller than Dan, older, white-haired, laughed.

“Dan’s right, ole’ Biden’s got a loose screw but I like Bolton – how did you meet?”

“Both of us supported Reagan in 1976; he helped me in Jesse’s campaign a year later – he’s an old-fashioned conservative.”

Last February as John and I talked, catching up, he asked, “Do you believe it’s true Trump rules the Republican Party?”

“No. But if you want to be sure take a poll – numbers don’t lie.”

Half the Republican primary voters – in the poll John took – said Trump’s endorsement made no difference to them; the rest split, some for Trump’s candidate, some against. Trump consigliere Jason Miller slammed John on Twitter – John took a second poll; again, half the voters said Trump’s endorsement didn’t matter to them.

Next Trump charged into the Texas Special Election to elect his candidate, roaring, “Susan has my Complete and Total Endorsement.”

Susan Wright lost.

Jack ran his hand through his hair. “That sounds like Bolton’s polls were right.”

Last November, before the election, Jack, like Dan, had been an unbending pro-Trumpster. After Biden won, for months, he nodded when Trump said, “The election was stolen” – he put both elbows on the table.

“Can Trump beat Biden next time?”

“I suspect Biden’s praying Trump runs again.”

“So a fresh face would be a stronger candidate to whip Biden?”

I nodded, asked Dan: “When Trump told Pence, ‘Throw out the Electoral College votes,’ Pence said that would be unconstitutional. Do you agree with Pence or Trump?”

“Pence was chicken.”

Jack took another small step away from Trump.

“I don’t fault Pence – he did what he thought was right.”

“And put Biden in the White House,” Dan snapped.

That’s the Republican world today – unflinching Trumpsters, past Trump supporters stepping away from Trump, and old-fashioned conservatives who obey principles not Trump.