GOP ’23: The disconnect between conservativism and the Republican Party

Two weeks ago, the midterms shook up America’s political landscape. Many, particularly in the media, anticipated Republicans would sweep the House, Senate and do decently well in the state of Michigan.

However, that didn’t happen. The red wave was more like a trickle and in Michigan it was non-existent.

But all this anticipation got us thinking on Detroit Today: what do Republicans actually want to do if they win? What kinds of policies do they want to enact, what are the values driving conservatism, and how do they hope to shape the country?

Thus begins our new series GOP ’23: Where the Party At?

“The attainment of power and the expansion of government power was necessary for the preservation of conservative values.” — David French, conservative editor

Listen: How conservative ideals are influencing the Republican Party.

 Guest

David French is a a contributing writer for The Atlantic and a senior editor at The Dispatch, a conservative magazine.

He says a few decades ago the political right felt it was losing cultural power.  As a result, the coalition began expanding its ability to wield power in government, unlike what the coalition felt it was doing under the authority of President Ronald Reagan.

“The attainment of power and the expansion of government power was necessary for the preservation of conservative values,” says French, “because the thinking was that was the last piece of American cultural authority that the right could control.”