Bobby Kennedy's son has endorsed the Republican presidential candidate, while former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) Prominent Reagan Republicans He was given the task of speaking at the Democratic National Convention.
It's like the dog and cat living together in the movie Ghostbusters…it's not quite mass hysteria, but it's close.
The political realignment that began with Donald Trump's 2016 election has intensified, with political parties shuffling not only their supporters but also key parts of their brand identities.
Last week's Democratic National Convention, for example, emphasized many of the symbols and imagery once associated with the Republican Party — the American flag, football, small-town life — while appearing to eschew left-wing symbols and rhetoric.
This observation is not merely anecdotal. Bill Kristol, in his criticism of Harris's convention speech, said: Observed “The words America, American, American [by Harris] “34 times, country or nation, 20 times, freedom, 12 times, opportunity, 6 times, Democratic Party, 0 times.”
“Overall, the vision was something like Bill Clinton at home (with a dash of Jack Kemp) and John McCain abroad, with a dash of the patriotism of John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan. Harris even offered a strong endorsement of American exceptionalism,” Kristol added.
On the policy front, Harris has campaigned on fracking, Medicare for All, and more recently, Border wall.
Harris has been able to embrace the patriotic themes and policy preferences once associated with the Republican Party only because Trump's MAGA movement long ago abandoned them.
To be sure, realignment happens over time. In the 20th century, the Republican Party went from being “the party of Lincoln” to losing 80% to 90% of the black vote. This latest realignment has been underway since Trump became the Republican standard-bearer.
Consider some examples: Democrats' aid to Ukraine was a bizarre response to Trump's Adoration for Vladimir Putinclearly Long before the 2016 electionTrump's penchant for big spending actually outweighed the Democrats' huge fiscal spending. And Trump's character flaws and personal behavior (he He has long been known for boasting.) certainly suited Bill Clinton better than a zipper.
At this summer's Republican National Convention, Amber Roseadult video actress and feminist protest organizer Slutwalk was given a prominent speaking spot. Republican National Convention headliner and famous wrestler Hulk Hogan once He was caught up in a sex tape scandal The photo shows him with his friend's wife.
To old-school Republicans, they're strange bedfellows.
Furthermore, recently, Trump Promised He has been described as “great for women and their reproductive rights.” His running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Trump has said he will veto it. A nationwide abortion ban.
Speaking of which, the one area where Democrats are not trying to win over conservatives is abortion, which Democrats see as key to winning post-Roe elections. Trump seems to agree with the Democrats' strategic assessment, refusing to make opposition to abortion a litmus test in 2024.
These are just a few of the ways Trump's Republican Party has abandoned territory it once controlled.
Of course, this is all a voter trade-off: Instead of alienating Reagan conservatives, Trump has attracted new types of voters, many of whom were previously Democrats or apathetic nonvoters.
For example, Trump secured the endorsements of RFK Jr. and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), clearly timed to blunt Harris's momentum, but these figures (and one might also add former Democrat Elon Musk) have bases of support. They were called “Logan Democrats.” Author Jim Antle is following in the footsteps of podcaster Joe Rogan, even if that's not the majority opinion.
If you're a staunch conservative, the situation is confusing, to say the least.
Sure, you can root for the old “team” out of nostalgia, tribalism, or even because you prefer elephants to donkeys, but don't expect a clear and consistent commitment to the principles and positions you hold dear.
Both parties are trying to reframe the debate beyond a clear-cut left versus right paradigm.
MAGA Republicans love to draw an insider vs. outsider contrast: the establishment and its “corporate media” allies versus the masculine heroes who are unafraid to tell the truth as they see it about vaccines, election interference, and Ukraine, even if it means getting canceled.
Meanwhile, today's Kamala Harris and Tim Waltz Democrats want to position themselves as the “normal team” against vulgar weirdos, “very online” edgelords, and billionaire tech bros who mock “cat girls.”
Which framing is right? Probably both. This is not the Republican or Democratic party your father belonged to. The old rules no longer apply.
Matt K. Lewis is a columnist, podcaster, and author of “Too stupid to fail” and “Super rich politician.”
