How Come the GOP Still Loves Trump?

Even though Donald Trump endorsed Keven McCarthy for Speaker and so far has refused to accept the idea that he might be nominated to chair the House, there’s no question that the basic push behind the assault on McCarthy came from Trump’s most fervent legislative allies in the GOP.

And what continues to be an important story in the run-up to 2024, is the degree to which the MAGA crowd, although not even close to representing a majority of the GOP, has certainly made it clear that Orange Shithead, 4 indictments and 91 felony charges notwithstanding, is still their man.

For comparison, take what happened to Sarah Palin after 2008. Going into the election, she was lionized as a true, conservative warrior who was considered to be the unquestioned leader of the growing, alt-right base.

Where is Palin now? Nowhere, that’s where.

How do we explain the continued presence and influence which Trump exercises over the GOP? I can’t think of another member of either party who has managed to remain in such a powerful and influential position after losing a national election. After all, Golden Shithead can carry on about election ‘fraud’ for as long as he likes, but that doesn’t obligate anyone to believe what he says or continue to support his political goals.

And yet, they do. How come?

Andrew Kydd, a Professor of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin, who specializes in political violence and armed conflict, among other…