Commentary: GOP needs conservatism

Never in my lifetime has there been an easier political post-mortem. It’s obvious what caused the GOP’s midterm wipeout. The harder question for Republicans is what comes next. And no, it’s not just ending the war in Iran — although that would help. The Republicans who remain in office are not only in a lame-duck, choose-your-own adventure policy vacuum. They are also wading through the floodwaters of a largely self-inflicted blue wave. Democrats now control the drainpipes, complicating matters for Republicans keen for a quick escape. The GOP cannot flip policy levers and undo the experience of the last two years, any more than Democrats could flip the script after COVID lockdowns and Biden’s absenteeism. It’s going to take time to rebuild trust and demonstrate a different way of governing. This cannot happen in the next two years, but it can start.

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