We admit that one can take too much away from watching CPAC and believing that they somehow represent all Trump voters or all people who have considered voting for Trump. To the extent one does, it can be unbelievably depressing because one can see the cult turn into a religion hour by hour, they even had the golden Trump to worship.

But we need perspective and so we’re finding it in unlikely places.

First, we will note, that the Republican party, such as it is, is currently eating its own, Trump called out every single senator that voted guilty in his second impeachment and Liz Cheney, by name. It is near impossible for him and them to win as they narrow their base and it is simply not possible as Trump requires ever-greater unity, to the exclusion of others who might otherwise be somewhat sympathetic.

But there was even evidence that came out of CPAC, a shocking poll that showed that – when voting anonymously, Trump’s support isn’t as impenetrable as one might think by just watching the crowd. From none other than Karl Rove, swamp creature, who in speaking to John Roberts of Fox News broke down the CPAC straw poll:

“95% said they wanted the party to continue his policies, 70% of people said that they wanted to see him run again but 55% said that they would vote for him. I thought that number might have been higher.”

“Bingo.”

Remember, this was a group that came to this meeting for largely one reason: President Trump was going to be there. This is the truest Trump believers. And for him to only get 55% says — as I said in my column — he is losing strength because he’s not introducing something new. He’s losing strength whether he recognizes it.

“I’d take that as a cautionary not. He needs to refresh his act. He needs to change and he needs to offer a vision for the future.”

Trump cannot “refresh his act,” his act wasn’t fresh when he came on the scene. It was his only act, the only one he’s had since he was in his 20s, brash, bold, lie, say whatever is needed to be said, and talk about his own greatness. That was all he could do then and he’s still doing it now.

And it’s even worse because Trump essentially kicked off his 2024 campaign at CPAC Sunday and did it by talking about his great administration and that he won the election, on and on and on about winning the election. It is the same act only more tiresome than ever before. Trump does scare us by circling back to fighting for what they want, almost admitting that if they can’t win legally, they’ll have to fight by whatever means they have. Other than that, we saw a dying party.

They are already split, even at CPAC.

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Peace, y’all
Jason
[email protected] and on Twitter @JasonMiciak