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What you saw Tuesday in the vice presidential debate was an audition for the leader of the post-Trump Republican Party.
Over and over again Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, successfully distanced himself from his long, well-documented track record of inflammatory statements on everything from reproductive health to immigrants. Those Americans who tuned in to the debate saw an affable, reasonable Vance (no matter how many times he lied). That should terrify anyone who cares about democracy.
In many ways, Vance proved that there will be another Donald Trump, one who is just as sinister but far better produced for middle-of-the road voters. It does not matter if Vance was only pretending to align with Trump’s combative politics and disastrous policy proposals. What matters is that Vance has proved that he will change all of his fundamental beliefs in order to win.
I don’t mean the dreaded “flip-flopping” that is too often applied to a politician who dares to change her mind. I mean a deliberate strategy of supporting any position in the name of procuring power. That was Trump’s best political innovation.
Trump has lied, cheated, misdirected and inflamed not out of ideology but for the bald pursuit of power. Only two things have blunted his worst impulses: the legal system and his own boorish behavior. His ongoing legal troubles show his weakness. He is gluttonous — for attention, for money, for privilege. His boorish behavior has turned off a lot of voters who would otherwise vote for him.
Vance is the perfect solution to Trump’s self-inflicted political frailties. He is just as starved for power but not nearly as desperate for attention. He sells dangerous policy positions better to the kinds of voters who are tired of being embarrassed.