What happens to MAGA after Trump?

[Politruk]

Vance appears ambitious to step into Trump's shoes. So does DeSantis.

Rubio, OTOH . . . he just ain't got it.

 

[Politruk]

Perot wasn’t the leader of anything. He was there, by his own hand or by backing of others, to tank H.W. Take Perot out of the equation and Bush cruises to a second term. He wasn’t a serious candidate.

You can't seriously believe Bush would have beat Clinton in a different lineup. There was nobody else to blame for the recession.

 

[YDB95]

Take Perot out of the equation and Bush cruises to a second term.

Wrong. After the Democratic convention, with Perot out of the race, Clinton was over 20 points ahead. In November, with Perot back in, Clinton won by "only" five points.

 

[MasterAnimus]

Remember, Trump did not create the Trump movement. A RW nationalist-populist current already existed in American politics. In the 1990s, it manifested with Ross Perot's Reform Party. In the Obama years, it re-emerged as the Tea Party -- which then took over the GOP. And Trump simply placed himself at the head of it. Which implies it will still exist after Trump is gone, just waiting for new leadership.

MAGA is a cult of personality. Love him or hate him, Trump has a great personality to match what people need. I can't say the same for his sons, Vance, etc. The draw was never just the isolationism or hate for minorities, it is when coupled with a "rich and successful white man" telling them it's ok to do so.

Vance - Too educated, not rich. Although he speaks the language but without sophistication of Trump
Trump sons - Beavis and Butthead. What else can I say!
DeSantis - Judas, not to be trusted. I think he's beyond salvageable for MAGA

The problem now is that no one dares to get out of Trump's shadows only to risk his wrath of stealing limelight. So, there may be someone who will in a few years. Or, change their persona (like Vance did after he was a VP candidate)

Here are some candidates, IMO:

Vance - if he magically changes his persona again to be populist rather than just a sidekick
Karoline Leavitt - may not be 2028 candidate (She will be 31), but could be a major player
MTG - Too bombastic/non-diplomatic, but may soften

As they say in politics, even a month is a lifetime. Trump has shown that there's a lot of riches to be made off of presidency. And changed the rules on open corruption. There are many who will sell their soul to gain those riches. Time will tell...

 

[eric_erosfan]

You can't seriously believe Bush would have beat Clinton in a different lineup. There was nobody else to blame for the recession.

Less than two years after a triumphant liberation of Kuwait? The recession was the normal cycle that followed 8 years of Reagan defense spending. The Soviet Union collapsed. We outspent them. There was always going to be a recession after all that spending. And Bush was fixing it. In fact in 1993 you saw the beginning of a boom cycle that was seeded in 1992. But all you saw on TV was, "Read my lips, no new taxes." And Bush became the scapegoat. From great Commander in Chief, liberator of Kuwait to out of office in 18 months.