“Republican voters…were attracted to shallow political entertainers and obviously unqualified candidates long before Mr. Trump threw his hat in the ring”

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For years before Mr. Trump was elected, Republicans lacked a consensus plan to replace Obamacare, and their tax reform plans were vague. Republicans blew up the deficit under Mr. Bush before complaining about it under Mr. Obama, and the party has fought bitter internal battles over immigration for decades.

Republican voters, meanwhile, were attracted to shallow political entertainers and obviously unqualified candidates long before Mr. Trump threw his hat in the ring.

Mr. Trump didn’t cause any of this. He just took advantage of it. He is the most successful huckster of the bunch.

Peter Suderman, “The Republican Party Is a Mess”, The New York Times (14 October 2017), A19.

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