The Republican Party is at a point where it seems almost untouchable, and that's not just because it continues to perform in ways that please the people, but because the Democrats just can't stop themselves from getting in their own way.
As my colleague Bonchie recently reported, even voter registration is outpacing Democrats by and large:
According to The New York Times, Democrats saw dramatic declines across the country, including in key battlegrounds like Nevada, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. Just as importantly, though, the Democratic Party continues to crater in formerly purple states like Florida. And while I'm not predicting Republicans will start winning there anytime soon, you're even seeing massive drop-offs in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Read: Analysis of Nationwide Voter Registration Trends Shows Catastrophic Situation for Democrats
When I saw this, two things crossed my mind.
The first is that the people trust the GOP to help get this country back on track, which is great news. The Democrats were so awful that it defies reason, and it taught a great deal of the public a lesson; they aren't up for the task.
But the second is wholly understandable. If the people are migrating toward the GOP so heavily (except in Colorado), then I can't help but get the feeling that many voters are somewhat fearful of where we are as a country, and they have every right to be. This is a time of uncertainty, and there's a sense that things should be a certain way, but aren't.
There's a real sense that something isn't right, and the signs are everywhere. While things are getting better thanks to the Trump administration, things like the cost of living still remain oddly high.
I'm personally trying to buy a house at the moment, and I'm struck by the pricing of certain homes that would suit my family's needs without venturing into too much, being in a price range that the house has no business having. My wife and I have a dual income, and we're still getting sticker shock.
I'm sure some of you have seen similar and remember a time when a blue-collar worker could afford a pretty decent home on a single income. Those days are gone... and they shouldn't actually be.
This is an economic issue that can elicit real fear in people, and the fact that they're practically running to the GOP shows that they have confidence that the Republicans can get things back on track by doing what it does best: improving the economy.
But the GOP should take a moment to stop and think about this. It's more than just things going their way politically. If people are being motivated by real worries and fear, then this makes the GOP's task all the more serious. It means that expectations are high, and patience is limited. It means that fumbles and missteps are going to be taken far less lightly.
The GOP has to get this one right. They have to win, not just politically, but economically. This is, of course, a multifaceted issue that winds up looking a lot like a Gordian knot, and you can hack at it with a sword for days and still won't fully unravel it. It's going to take time to undo what's been done by previous administrations, but the GOP has to make constant progress or else things could go south for them very quickly.
The Republican Party stands at a scary crossroads. It can either continue to succeed and show progress, making them more popular than they've been in decades, or it can trip, stumble, lag, and stall, and garner ire faster than any party ever has. It could become just as unpopular as the Democrats are right now.
I have no doubt that Donald Trump is the guy for this job, but this job is going to take more time than he has in Washington. Vice President JD Vance, or someone just as economically savvy, will have to take over for him by law, and no transition of power from a person that popular ever happens smoothly. Loyalties get tested, feelings get hurt, hatreds boil over, and soon the Party is spinning out of control.
You think the Democrats have been okay since Obama? They haven't.
The GOP is going to have to endure many things, including time and itself, to get this done. So long as they keep their eye on the ball, they can give the people a golden era that won't soon be forgotten, but it won't take much to slip up here. It has to be diligent because it has just as much to lose as it does to gain.
