If the Republican party were a company, it would now file for bankruptcy. Donald Trump, arguably the most grotesque candidate ever to have run for the Oval Office, seems certain to be the party’s presidential nominee. The former favourite, Marco Rubio, lost in his home state of Florida on Tuesday and has now bowed out of the race. After seven years of deeply unimpressive government from a divisive and ineffectual Democratic president, American conservatism has been unable to offer voters a convincing alternative.
A candidate as flawed as Hillary Clinton should be easy to beat. But the best the Republicans seem able to do is send a dodgy businessman-cum-reality TV star whose political ideas stretch no further than the diatribe of a shock jock and whose first instinct when faced with any kind of challenge is to insult his opponent. Anyone trying to compare Donald Trump to Ronald Reagan should watch recordings of Reagan’s TV debates with George H.W.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in