What are the odds that Tulsi Gabbard eventually becomes the Republican nominee for president? I think they're quite good. Let me explain.
We are currently experiencing a massive cultural, tribal, and political realignment that our parties don't fully reflect at this point.
Trumpism is a placeholder for a GOP that's not quite done killing off Bushism. Bidenism is a placeholder for a Democratic party that hasn't fully embraced wokeism.
The more wokeism takes over the Ds, the more working class voters of all races will flock to the Rs, and the more the elitist class and racial disdain that Ds have for these groups will be made evident.
Whether these parties remain, I don't know. But I expect to see a socially conservative, deeply pro-life, fiscally moderate-to-liberal party arise in the future competing with upper class faux socialists who don't want poor people moving into their neighborhoods.
This brings us to Tulsi. She's certainly quite liberal. But she's got some instincts that will be greatly favored by the Post-Bushism Republicans--anti-forever war stuff and big tech skepticism.
Likewise, and perhaps more importantly, she seems to be a genuinely kind-hearted woman--something that is antithetical to the kind of screeching, AOCism that may well come to dominate the Woke Democrats.
On top of this, shrill, untalented, unlikeable wokemongers HATE attractive, likable, accomplished gals like Tulsi. (Remember Hillary Clinton's "Tulsi is a Russian asset" bit? We all know what that was about.)
So Tulsi has no future with the Woke DNC. But people with massive star potential don't just accept being relegated to the kiddie table. Odds are, like other potential stars before her, she'll migrate to a place where she's appreciated.
And that's not as difficult of a switch as you might think. The New GOP is going to be a socially conservative, fiscally moderate-to-liberal party. There will be room for her there.
Likewise, while Tulsi is far too pro-choice for me, she's one of the only Dems you'll meet who favors SOME restrictions on abortion. And anyone who favors SOME restrictions at this point can be convinced to favor MORE restrictions in the years to come.
So I don't think a pro-life conversion is, by any means, out of the equation.
Similarly, I don't think anyone expects Obergefell to be overturned anytime soon. So "favors gay marriage but a robust defender of religious freedom" would be enough to win the trust of religions conservatives. (That's precisely what we've seen with Trump, btw).
So, with a few alterations, what could Tulsi be? A pro-life, pro-religious liberty, anti-stupid-war, anti-crony-capitalism, pro-social safety net, pro-immigration-of-people-who-are-now-voting-Republican platform. That's the future of the Republican party.
(Her position on guns would be a big problem but I'm inclined to think that, if you're 75% of the way there, you'll figure out a way to get 100% of the way there.)
I could be wrong, of course. I am just a humble parish pastor and not a political prognosticator. But I'm not sure that this is a purely political thing. It's primarily human nature. People go where they're appreciated.
And Republicans would ADORE her and GLADLY give her the nomination if she had a relatively modest political conversion. So all y'all owe me fifty bucks if she ever finds her way to the top of the GOP ticket.
P.S. This thread is basically a hybrid of @JesseKellyDC and @lymanstoneky's respective political theories.
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