According to ex-Romney strategist Stuart Stevens, the defeat of Wyoming Representative Liz Cheney has caused the Republicans to lose their bearings.
Stevens, who currently serves as a consultant for the notorious anti-Trump conservative organization Lincoln Project, told CNN on Wednesday, ‘I believe the party is pretty lost.’
The Cheneys were expelled from the Republican party. It had nothing to do with policy; she supported Trump’s agenda inasmuch as it was coherent.
Stevens stated, ‘I believe it is a grave error if we make this too much about Trump, because this is really about the full abandonment of the Republican Party and what it means to operate inside a democratic system.’ ‘Ultimately, this is about the unwillingness of Republicans to lose.
Cheney, Wyoming’s lone House representative, was defeated by Harriet Hageman, who was backed by Trump, by 37 points after the daughter of the former vice president sparred with Trump over his election fraud claims and became a key member of the January 6th committee.
Stuart stated that regardless of who runs in 2024, it will not be a ‘normal race between two political parties with different philosophies,’ but rather a ‘race to remove an occupier,’ as he asserted that the majority of the Republican Party does not believe that Biden was legitimately elected president. Stuart has helped elect Republicans such as Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, and Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker. He has also worked on the presidential campaigns of former President George W. Bush and John McCain.
Cheney was the last of the 10 impeachment-voting House members to face Trump’s fury in a primary election. Four of these impeachment supporters chose to retire at the end of this year, four lost their primaries to a Trump-backed candidate, and two retained their Republican nomination.
Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Washington, defeated an opponent endorsed by Trump, and Rep. David Valadao, R-California, avoided Trump’s endorsement of a primary opponent.
Stuart stated that Cheney is reminding Americans, and the Republican Party in particular, what it means to be an American.
“In order to be an American, you must exist in a system in which all sides can have validity. And if the opposing side prevails, you are prepared to lose. That’s the crux of the matter. This is the distinction between us and the current situation in Hungary, he continued.
He asserted that the 6th of January was not a “isolated event” but rather part of a Republican campaign to “alter the way we vote in America.”
He stated, “[Republicans] are losing the support of the majority of Americans, and they must act before they become an autocratic party.”
The three-term congresswoman stated after her defeat that she will do “whatever it takes” to keep the former president out of the White House.
She stated on the NBC Today Show, “I feel that Donald Trump continues to pose a very significant threat and risk to our Republic.” ‘And I believe that defeating Trump will take a very broad and united front of Republicans, Democrats and Independents. And that is just what I want to do.’
She continued, “I know there are millions and millions of Americans across this country, whatever of their party affiliation, who understand that there is something more important than partisan politics and that we must all join together to defend this republic.”
When asked if she is considering running for president, the representative responded, “That is a decision I will make in the coming months.”
‘I’m not going to make any announcements here this morning,’ Cheney continued. However, it is something I am considering.