The Last of the Establishment Republicans

The Republican party has been retreating from a once dominant position in the political landscape of the United States. The breed of politicians known as the “establishment Republicans” have now almost faded away into the past. Established Republicans were the moderate standard bearers of the GOP for decades, but their power and influence over congressional politics has all but disappeared.

Who are the Establishment Republicans?

Establishment Republicans were a blend of moderate conservatives who existed in the political realm since the late 1940s. They were generally from Northern and Midwestern states and were considered the more moderate wing of the GOP. These politicians were known for their stay-the-course approach to governing and for keeping the Republican party from going too far to the right or the left. Though their power and influence has become almost negligible, their legacy remains bounded by key political moments in the late 20th century.

Notable Leaders of the Establishment Republicans

There have been many noteworthy politicians who have been considered a part of the establishment Republican movement. The most prominent include:

• Bob Dole: A Kansas Senator, Dole was the leader of the Republican congressional delegation in the 1980s and 1990s. He was known for his ability to work with both sides of the aisle to pass important legislation and strike deals.

• George H.W. Bush: The 41stPresident of the United States, Bush served as Vice President to Ronald Reagan. He was well known for his moderate stances on social issues and for his foreign policy doctrine of “prudent realism.”

• Jim Jeffords: A senator from Vermont, Jeffords was known for his pro-environment and pro-choice stances. He was seen as a maverick for his occasional opposition to bills favored by many Republicans.

• John Chafee: The Senator from Rhode Island was a leader in environmental legislation and was known for his commitment to fiscal responsibility and pragmatism.

• Olympia Snowe: A U.S. Senator from Maine, Snowe was a vocal advocate of bipartisanship. She championed many measures aimed at helping small business owners and entrepreneurs.

Why they are Missing in Action

The causes behind the diminishing presence of the Republican establishment within the party are multiple and complex. Perhaps the most significant factor has been the ideological schism that has developed within the GOP. Traditional establishment Republicans supported moderate stances and compromise on social and fiscal issues. However, a new breed of conservative politicians have entered the party and held a much less tolerant view of such moderate ideals.

The electoral success of these conservative politicians has seen a significant shift in the makeup of the party. Traditional GOP stalwarts such as Bob Dole and George H.W. Bush were replaced by more austere conservative figures such as Newt Gingrich and Rand Paul.

The Tea Party Movement has further aided the sidelining of established Republicans. The emergence of the Tea Party movement saw an even newer breed of conservative politics enter the Republican party. This has caused a further shift in the political consensus of the GOP.

The Distance between the Establishment Republicans and the Other Wing of the GOP

Today, the distance between the establishment Republicans and the newer more conservative faction of the Republican party has grown significantly. Traditional GOP principles of fiscal conservatism and social moderation have been replaced with stringent fiscal austerity and social conservatism. Many politicians on the conservative end of the spectrum have even gone so far as to reject altogether the notion of bipartisanship, deeming it the equivalent of political treason.

The establishment Republicans, therefore, find themselves ever more alienated from the core of their own political party. The days of these moderate Republicans have now all but passed, and they have retreated to the shadows of political irrelevance. The traditional platform of the GOP has been replaced and the moderates who once held the Republican party together have now been pushed to the side.

Is There Hope for a Comeback?

Given the political reality of the GOP in this day and age, it is unlikely that the establishment Republicans will be able to make a full comeback anytime soon. The extreme level of intransigence and polarization that has emerged within the party has made any sort of central, moderate consensus almost impossible.

However, all hope is not lost for traditional Republican thinking. Established Republicans still have a small but dedicated contingent of supporters who remain devoted to their traditional platform. Though the odds of a full-blown comeback for the center-right are slim, these practitioners of the old GOP standard will not give up without a fight.

The Republicans once had an abundance of established politicians in its ranks, but now they are few and far between. Traditional conservative stances on fiscal and social issues have been all but replaced by the conservative ideology of the Tea Party movement. Establishment Republicans have been pushed out of their own party, and those remaining are clinging to the hope of a political comeback. Though the odds of regaining a meaningful presence on Capitol Hill are slim, the loyal followers of the old guard will remain devoted to their cause for as long as there is breath. The last of the Establishment Republicans still remain a powerful reminder of the GOP’s former glory days, and as such they will always be remembered as a part of the nation’s political history.