John Kasich Sounds Like He's Over The Republican Party

BuzzFeed ^ | 04/28/2017 | Henry J. Gomez

[SeekAndFind]

The Ohio governor ran for the Republican nomination and lost. Now, in his new book and on the road, he's critical of the party and frequently noting the day will come when an independent could win the presidency. Is there space for Republicans like John Kasich in the party anymore?

Is John Kasich still a Republican?

The Ohio governor and mainstay of the party’s mainstream is out this week with a book that at times reads like an angry breakup letter.

“Oh yeah, I’m a Repub… ,” Kasich trailed off, conspicuously unable to finish the word in his rapid-fire stream of consciousness from the front seat of a big SUV barreling toward New Hampshire on Wednesday night. Kasich finished second in the state’s hugely important presidential primary last year. That was enough to make it one of the few high points of his campaign and, also conspicuously, one of the first book-signing stops on his national tour.

“I’m pro-environment, I’m pro-trade, I’m anti-debt, I’m pro-immigration, I’m pro-NATO,” Kasich continued. “And when I look at the party, I see it moving in a different direction. But I’ve always said I have the right to define what it means to be a Republican and a conservative.”

At a time when he clearly wants to remain a player on the national stage, Kasich is struggling with his political identity — and so is his party. If and where he fits in a GOP led by Donald Trump will say a great deal about the kind of Republicans who can succeed in it, and whether there’s still space for the open and internationalist values Kasich and other Republicans long have cherished.

[Wallace T.]

That is the DC beltway dogma that is completely missing the facts.

I hope you are right. Many of these areas reflected 3-4% of the vote going to the Libertarian candidate, well above the usual 1% or so that party usually attracts. One big problem for Trump are the RINOs like Paul Ryan, who is thwarting the sort of moves like tax cuts, repeal of Obamacare, and deregulation that would appeal to these voters.

[Wallace T.]

That is the DC beltway dogma that is completely missing the facts.

I hope you are right. Many of these areas reflected 3-4% of the vote going to the Libertarian candidate, well above the usual 1% or so that party usually attracts. One big problem for Trump are the RINOs like Paul Ryan, who is thwarting the sort of moves like tax cuts, repeal of Obamacare, and deregulation that would appeal to these voters.

[SharpRightTurn]

Your 15 minutes of fame were over long ago, Son of Mailman.

[blam]

I’m as over John Kasich as I am over Glenn Beck.

[1Old Pro]

At a time when he clearly wants to remain a player on the national stage, Kasich is struggling with his political identity — and so is his party

He could be a player in the kook party with Bernie Sanders, Liz Warren, etc.

[Steve_Seattle]

I used to like Kasich, but somewhere along the line he became a pompous, preachy ass.

[Steve_Seattle]

"Why do we see periodic articles such as this, about identity crises within the GOP, but never hear such stories about Democrats???"

Because the Republican Party is diverse in ideology and is therefore internally contentious, whereas the Democrats are all liked-minded totalitarians who do not experience crises of conscience.

[ThanhPhero]

Is there space for Republicans like John Kasich in the party anymore?

There is space for him and all the other gopes in Paul Ryan's Party. Kasich isn't even the gopiest, just the most voluble.

[SoFloFreeper]

OK bye.

[Theodore R.]

Gerald Rudolph Ford, Jr., an alias, said his most important success in politics was naming John Paul Stevens to the Supreme Court. Nothing more need be said.

[Theodore R.]

Anywhere a Democrat wins, HHH would be smiling and applauding.