I cannot say that I am really surprised that Liz Cheney was removed from her power position in the house following her persistent refusal to blindly proclaim that election fraud took place in the 2020 presidential election. Seeing as Donald Trump remains quite popular amongst republicans, leading any potential challenger in the party by solid margins, it is almost a given that he will seek reelection in 2024. And, after a devastating loss and blow to their egos by losing to Joe Biden, who they claimed was no real threat to Trump, it only makes sense that they would take revenge any way they can find it, not only to get back at dissidents, but also to bolster Trump's image for the next election season. Trump is essentially solidifying his role as a political outsider; this way he can state that all of the problems that he caused were in fact the democrats screwing up his policies. It is a deceptive tactic that seems as if it will ultimately fail; however, Trump's appeal amongst his base is not going anywhere. However, I do not see old school republicans going anywhere either. In fact, 100 popular republicans recently left the party after the vote to nix Cheney was approved. None of the republicans were currently in office, but do not underestimate this tactic by the more moderate republicans. They are attacking Trump in the best way they can, by simply allowing him to make a fool of himself with his humongous ego, which is what made him lose in 2020. There are prideful people everywhere, but most like to give off the pretense of civility; Trump has no such civility. He is brazen and bold leader that has little regard for the suffering of others. It appears to me that these two factions within the republican party will eventually devolve into a more intense battle for status. At this moment it appears that the republicans' biggest enemy is themselves; they cannot seem to find cohesion on any issue, and when they finally are able to it is often too extreme, and not at all well thought out. Today's republican policies are not written in smoke filled rooms with men in suits, but by online gossip columns spewing conspiracy theories. Any idiot with a computer and a little spare time is official a political strategist; Trump set that standard and now it appears that all bets are off. The republican train has fallen off the rails. Its ideas about a less liberal republican party are overshadowed by the fact that Liz Cheney's replacement is actually more liberal than Cheney when it comes to voting; this whole idea of ridding the party of RINOs (Republicans in Name Only) is a complete farce. Then there is the fact that the real deciders of elections are now independent voters. Independents can be moderates, but they can also be extremely neoliberal. Free market economics is a very big part of capitalism. How does one justify destroying business while at the same time promoting their own businesses? How does this not come off as manipulating the market for their own personal gain? How does purging politicians you do not trust result in stronger party? It seems to me that republicans are in the worst spot they have been in since they decided to give Michelle Bachman a platform. This is all political theater; it reeks of theatrics and only Tucker Carlson fans are impressed. Shock politicians like Trump are only appealing to massive amounts of people when they act foolish. But after the pandemic it is difficult for me to envision most people taking another chance on such a contentious candidate, one who is not willing to recognize their own mistakes. Trump's leadership skills failed. He acted like more of a coward than a man with courage, choosing to give people what they wanted instead of what they needed. He then decided to attack a woman who actually stood for something. Perhaps that is the real reason people adore this man, the fact that he is willing to destroy his enemies with gusto. Such performative dictates are alarming.