Excellent response, and great book recommends. Thanks.

Yes. You're right. IF we had moved on, yes. Or maybe things would be even shittier, like Reconstruction. But we HAVEN'T moved on.

Sorry, I actually read you wrong on this, you said yourself in the text I quoted in my last reply that we hadn't really moved on. Not sure what happened on my end.

JD Vance successfully launching a presidential run

It's not because he doesn't want to, but yes, I agree, he will never be met with success. No one that I named would. Their attempts at carnival barking aren't the refined, chaotic humor that Trump seems to naturally emanate. I can't think of anyone who'd be successful, honestly. Like even if MTG wasn't as stupid/crazy as she is, she just isn't funny or entertaining enough.

What's going to change is their ability to hurt the rest of us.

I hope so, because SCOTUS is further gone than even a lot of cynics thought they might be. Now I'm wondering whether the Koch's stopping support for Haley was only about South Carolina, or if it was because they got early wind of the decision to take up presidential immunity (and likely not rule on it until fucking JUNE), which will almost certainly postpone Trump's J6 trial until after the election. There will probably be no conviction, and certainly no sentencing. Obviously, they will rule that presidents are not free to break the law with impunity, but they've effectively given it to him anyway for the election. And (stole this from Maddow, no shame, she's right) the incentive structure that would set up if he wins guaran-fk'n-tees that he'll never leave office in 2029.

Voting is all we have. And on the one hand, you're right, the party is the weakest it's ever been, popularity-wise, financially, and with respect to ability, but it's very clear that most of their focus is going to be put not into winning elections, but instead, doing everything they can to delegitimize and sabotage elections (like this failed attempt last night by some Turning Point USA idiot, Aubrey). Let's hope our institutions can weather it, and let's pray any firestorms don't involve SCOTUS. They know exactly what they did, yesterday. It's not a legitimate court.