May 17, 2021
Republican lies have thrust America into its third revolution. We are a nation in crisis.
To read and listen to the headlines after House Republicans voted to remove Rep. Liz Cheney from her leadership post, one would think that the “turning point” in the Republican Party began with its denial of the 2020 election result after Nov. 3, or the Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6. Neither of those moments, however, is or was the actual turning point. Instead, the transformation one of the nation’s two major political parties took place well before each of those events. And the longer it takes for the public conversation to recognize how dramatically the Republican Party has already shifted, the longer it will take to develop a coherent civic strategy to protect U.S. democracy going forward.
And we do need a strategy, because this political crisis is not just the internal machinations of a single political party; it is a political crisis of a nation. Indeed, it might not be hyperbolic to characterize our present national state as in the midst of the third revolution.
We are witness to a political revolution that will define American society and governance for decades to come
What was at first an acquiescence to Donald Trump since his nomination at the Republican National Convention in 2016 slowly became a public acceptance, and then an entanglement. Some who were slow to realize the tectonic shift taking place in the Republican Party over the past five years have awakened from their slumber in the wake of the attack on the Capitol. They are a little late. Those who thought they could wait out Trump’s presidential term before getting on the right side of history were wrong; the time for choosing in a way to actually affect the trajectory of the modern-day Republican Party was earlier.
Read the full article from USA Today.
More from CNAS
-
Americans Need Domestic Unity for Effective Foreign Policy
Commentary
Today’s international challenges threaten the security, prosperity, and freedom of the American people. But Americans will naturally shy from a focus on overseas problems unti...
By Richard Fontaine & Stephen J. Hadley
-
Carrie Cordero on Maine Ballot Ruling
Video
Robert M. Gates Senior Fellow Carrie Cordero joins The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer to discuss the decision in Maine to remove former President Trump from their election b...
By Carrie Cordero
-
Countering Domestic Violent Extremism in the Ranks: Barriers to Recruitment Screening
Commentary
Lawful interaction with the technology sector, including social media platforms, is essential to effectively address national security threats, foreign and domestic....
By Carrie Cordero & Katherine L. Kuzminski
-
The Lessons of 9/11 Can Help the U.S. Dismantle Hamas
Commentary
Hamas's savage attack on Israel on October 7 has pulled the world’s attention back to the menace of international terrorism. Although it did not disappear in the twenty-two ye...
By Carrie Cordero
