We examine the Republican Party which appears to be led, as of February 7, 2021 by two leaders: Representative Lynn Chaney
(R-WY) and the immediate ex-president Donald Trump. These two leaders are representing: 1) the more traditional (the last 20-25 years) Republicans like Chaney who favor the interests of the wealthy class of Americans (the so-called “Country Club” Republicans—who favor smaller government (especially less emphasis on government back Social Security Retirement, Medicare, Medicaid, Educational, Environmental Protection Programs, free trade globally and active support for the carbon-based energy industries), concern about the national debt (especially when the Democratic Party was in control of spending), muscular military equipment spending with active use of military action to promote “defense of the homeland” including active use of the intelligence services to keep foreign and domestic terrorism under tight control and 2) the newer form of Trumpian Republicans who favor “America First” policies such as promoting religious freedom and reducing LGBT rights and gay marriage, increasing tariff barriers, increasing physical and diplomatic barriers at our borders (such as a wall at the Mexican border), withdrawal from treaties such as the Paris Climate Accord and the Iranian Nuclear Deal (aka JCPOA—Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action), distancing from with traditional allies such as NATO (North American Treaty Organization), Japan and South Korea (to balance the problem of North Korea’s military increases, greater military support by our allies, closer ties with Israel and Saudi Arabia, having a more neutral relationship with Russia and a more strict relationship with China. Both wings of the Republican Party were in agreement on making abortion illegal, keep taxes low with 80% of the benefits going to the top 1% of that 80% going to the top 0.1%), giving billions of dollars of tax credits to the corporate giants and large banks, a distrust of any plan to reform immigration laws, and a hostility toward healthcare reform, especially the Affordable Care Act (ACA) also known as “Obamacare.” President Trump was very vocal about how much better the Republican healthcare plan would be, but the Republican plan never quite saw the light of day—some people even doubted that the Republicans even had a comprehensive alternative. We will discuss the ongoing Republican struggle and some programmatic alternatives in future programs.


https://ballotpedia.org/The_Republican_Party_Platform,_2020

https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/2016-republican-party-platform

https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/2012-republican-party-platform

https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/2008-republican-party-platform

https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/2004-republican-party-platform

https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/2000-republican-party-platform