Nothing unites Republicans of all persuasions, from that vestigial remnant of New England Brahmins to that large swath of Southern evangelicals, from fiscal conservatives to cultural warriors, from the multifarious disciples of Ronald Reagan to the minority of defenders on behalf of George W. Bush — nothing more quickly concentrates the minds of interventionists and isolationists, and subordinates differences of policy and personality, than opposition to Bill and Hillary Clinton.
Whether this or that Republican survives the defeat of Donald Trump is secondary to the wall of opposition the GOP will impose — must impose — against President-elect Hillary Clinton; because, provided Republicans retain control of the House of Representatives, and I see nothing to suggest they will forfeit their majority, this Congress is more conservative — and its base is more populist — than the political realignment wrought by Newt Gingrich in 1994. Which is to say, Mrs. Clinton will bring all the toxicity that her surname elicits from Republicans, and none of the charm her spouse possesses (and managed to husband for the enactment of everything from welfare reform to the passage of the line-item veto to a cut in the capital gains tax).
Indeed, it is not unreasonable to imagine that Congress will continue its investigation concerning whether then-candidate Clinton committed perjury by denying she had ever sent or received classified information via her private email server. If that is the case, and I think the evidence would overwhelm any amount of dissembling and attacks by this Clinton White House, then we may witness a stillborn presidency and a push for (as this Republican is already prepared to support) the impeachment of the 45th President of the United States.
With her budget blocked by Congress, and with Republicans willing to endure a prolonged shutdown of the government, it will be difficult for Mrs. Clinton to summon the electorate, divided as it is and deplorable as this president deems many of its members to be, to her side.
Perhaps the more relevant question is not which Republicans will withstand a Trump defeat, but which Democrats can survive a Clinton victory?
