On the edge of despair with the GOP convention’s last Never Trumpers (2024)

MILWAUKEE — This was supposed to be the Happy Place. There was a beer on tap with that name.

Michael Steele strode to the front of the room at the historic Pabst brewery on Wednesday to hoots and hurrahs. Not so long ago, the silver-tongued former lieutenant governor of Maryland was running the show at the Republican National Convention as the GOP’s national chairman. But when he tried to rile up a crowd of Republican fans with a simple “What’s up?” all he got was tepid nervous laughter. “Really?” he said.

The reaction seemed worrisome for a gathering of Never Trumpers who are typically glad to find a place — any place — where they can be both openly conservative and openly disdainful of the man being nominated just a few blocks down the street. But some of them also aren’t sold on the Democratic nominee, so a diagnosis was in order. Steele seemed disheartened that his fellow travelers weren’t exactly fired up to beat the man atop the GOP ticket.

Advertisement

“I don’t know what the hell is wrong with anybody in this room right now,” Steele said.

Skip to end of carousel

The Style section

Style is where The Washington Post covers happenings on the front lines of culture and what it all means, including the arts, media, social trends, politics and yes, fashion, all told with personality and deep reporting. For more Style stories, click here.

End of carousel

“I don’t know what the hell your problem is. I don’t know why you have questions or doubts. I don’t understand why anybody outside this room is sitting here wondering, ‘What am I going to do in November?’”

“So I don’t know what the hell your problem is. You need to explain it to me because I don’t get it.”

To recap: President Biden put on a disastrous performance at a debate against former president Donald Trump on June 27, prompting panic among Democrats that his old age and verbal cul-de-sacs are more of a political liability than they previously thought — and igniting a movement to push him out. At one of the former president’s freewheeling rallies in Pennsylvania, a gunman with an AR-style rifle literally shot at him, though Trump escaped with a bloodied ear. That united the Republican Party in officially nominating Trump on Monday, the same day a federal judge also dismissed a case against him. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) once called himself a “Never Trump” guy, and now he’s Trump’s VP pick.

“He just won the election,” Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) said of Trump in Politico after the shooting. “We’ve all resigned ourselves to a second Trump presidency,” a senior House Democrat told Axios. Earlier Wednesday, a top House lawmaker became the 23rd congressional Democrat to call on Biden to step down, and as the event started, phones buzzed with more grim news: the president tested positive for the coronavirus for the third time.

The anti-Trumpers at this function put on by the group Principles First are more than happy to explain how they’ve been feeling about all this.

Advertisement

“Depressed. It’s pretty sad,” said Cass Davey, a 27-year-old electrical engineer from Peoria, Ill., sitting at a table by the entrance to the wooden-walled brewery.

“It’s been rather depressing, actually,” said James Wigderson, a 55-year-old political writer from Waukesha, Wis., who wore a hat that said “Make Red Hats Wearable Again” and recalled attending the RNC in New Orleans in 1988 — “a great year to be a college Republican.”

“I’ve been feeling like a stranger in a strange land,” said Jason Watts, a 47-year-old consultant from Allegan, Mich. He’s here serving as one of four delegates for Nikki Haley — the onetime United Nations ambassador who fiercely attacked Trump on the campaign trail before taking the stage at Fiserv Forum and declaring that her former opponent “has my strong endorsement, period” as Trump smirked from the VIP box.

Advertisement

Perhaps instead of panel presentations, this gathering might better resemble those clandestine occasions where people arrange the folding chairs in a circle. There’s not a lot of big-name Trump critics at the convention — no Liz Cheney or Mike Pence — but the other members of that endangered species are here. Half the reason Davey came was to see how she could get more politically involved to defeat Trump.

“The other half,” she said, “is therapy session.”

What brings you in here today, America? At the brewery, there was some rationalization and acceptance.

“I am a little bit of a realpolitik person,” said Amanda Stewart Sprowls, co-chair of the Haley Voters Working Group, at one of the panels. She started blinking insistently and looked down. It felt like she didn’t want the words to leave her mouth. “So I, I condone what she’s doing. I’m — I’m fine with it. I am one of those people who, you know, we do still have to have people who are within the party, working within the system to represent our values.”

Advertisement

All right. One step at a time. Let’s lean on our coping mechanisms, change our thought patterns.

“Every time you’re tempted with that ‘I’m here on this island,’ and you know, ‘What’s wrong with me?’ — that’s not the right question,” said Charlie Sykes, a longtime political commentator and former host of a conservative radio show here. “That’s not the right question. You aren’t the crazy ones. Right?”

If the calmer heads were here at the brewery, it didn’t seem like there was much left for them to say to the MAGA-minded Republicans down the street.

“Okay, deep breath in,” began Joe Walsh, a tea party guy who U-turned and ran against Trump in 2020, during the panel discussion with Sykes. Then a sobering note: “Anybody that thinks the fever is going to break, that we could return to normal anytime soon, is completely wrong.”

George Conway, the conservative lawyer turned Trump critic turned Biden fundraiser, produced two orange poster boards from a bag during his panel. They were the diagnostic criteria for narcissistic personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder. He spent six minutes evaluating You-Know-Who, and you know what he concluded.

Advertisement

It’s unclear where the Never Trumpers go from here, beyond the platitudes about putting country before party. Biden, up until now, had been the alternative. “Biden can be in his underwear sitting in a corner drooling with covid, and I’d still vote for him,” Steele said, and almost the whole room agreed with that idea, judging by applause.

Others aren’t so sure: Both Davey and Wigderson think he should step down.

“You have to vote for the only person who can defeat that man, and that’s the Democratic nominee no matter who the hell it is,” Walsh thundered. (The next day, Steele would post on social media that Democrats “need to administer Last Rites to the Biden Presidency and move the hell on.”)

Watts, the Haley delegate, is still not sure who he’ll vote for in November. He’s been riding the bus with the Trump delegates for an hour and a half each way between Milwaukee and Madison, where the delegation is staying, and listening to the chatter. The election: rigged. This or that person: a fake Republican. The whole time he’s sitting there thinking: “How long before I can get off? Why am I here without my wife? Is this the party that I signed up for?”

Advertisement

He thinks “kvetching sessions” like this one can only make a difference if the undecided voters like him show up to vote, because he’s not sure the others on the bus with him can be convinced.

“Those people that are saying ‘I’m voting for Trump,’ we’ve probably already lost. It’s those that are on that fence. And there are still a lot of those. They’re on the fence. And I don’t know what other appeals to make. Because you’ve made the existential argument. You’ve made the rational argument. You’ve made every other possible argument under the sun. What is left?”

Steele left the downtrodden with some parting advice.

“I’m good. I hope you’re good. If you’re not: Get good now. And do the right thing this November.”

Okay. Do we feel a little less depressed?

Wigderson kind of shrugged, looking a little resigned.

“I’m not alone,” he said, before exiting out to the Unhappy Place.

On the edge of despair with the GOP convention’s last Never Trumpers (2024)

FAQs

What happens at the Republican convention? ›

The goal of the Republican National Convention is to officially nominate and confirm a candidate for president and vice president, adopt a comprehensive party platform and unify the party, as well as publicize and launch the fall campaign.

Where is the 2024 RNC convention? ›

What is the gop? ›

The Republican Party, also known as the GOP (Grand Old Party), is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States.

Where is the RNC in Milwaukee? ›

The RNC activities will take place primarily at the Fiserv Forum, Baird Center (previously known as the Wisconsin Center) and Panther Arena. Smaller events will take place throughout the Milwaukee metro area.

What are the main points of a Republican? ›

Currently, the party's fiscal conservatism includes support for lower taxes, gun rights, government conservatism, free market capitalism, free trade, deregulation of corporations, and restrictions on labor unions.

What does the Republican Party seek to do? ›

Our platform is centered on stimulating economic growth for all Americans, protecting constitutionally-guaranteed freedoms, ensuring the integrity of our elections, and maintaining our national security. We are working to preserve America's greatness for our children and grandchildren.

Where is the Democrat 2024 convention? ›

It is scheduled to be held August 19 to 22, 2024, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. By tradition, because the Democratic Party currently holds the White House, its convention will be conducted after the 2024 Republican National Convention, which was held from July 15 to 18, 2024.

Where is SCI 2024 convention? ›

Join us in Nashville, TN for the 2024 SCI Convention

Top manufacturers from the outdoor industry are here, showing off their newest releases, from firearms and accessories to optics, ammunition, archery, gear and the equipment you need out there, wherever “there” takes you!

Where is the 2024 NATA convention? ›

Get Ready: NATA 2024 On-Site Reminders

The 75th NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo in New Orleans begins next week! To ensure attendees are well-equipped to enjoy their convention experience, taking place June 25-28 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (MCC) in New Orleans, here...

What is the nickname for Democrats? ›

Members of the party are called "Democrats" or "Dems". The most common mascot symbol for the party has been the donkey, or jackass.

What do liberals believe in? ›

believing in equality and individual liberty. supporting private property and individual rights. supporting the idea of limited constitutional government. recognising the importance of related values such as pluralism, toleration, autonomy, bodily integrity, and consent.

What do Democrats believe in? ›

From workers' rights to protecting the environment, equal pay to fighting the special interests, Democrats believe we can and should make life better for families across our nation. fairness, justice, and equality for all by standing up for all middle-class Americans and those struggling to get there.

What does the Republican Conference do? ›

The Conference is responsible for electing House Republican leadership, approving GOP Member committee assignments, managing leadership-driven floor debates, and executing a communications strategy that is both implemented within the party and conveyed to our constituents.

What happens at the convention? ›

State delegates go to the national convention to vote to confirm their choice of candidates. But if no candidate gets the majority of a party's delegates during the primaries and caucuses, convention delegates choose the nominee. This happens through additional rounds of voting.

How long does the Republican convention last? ›

From July 15 - 18, approximately 50,000 Republican state delegates, guests, and media members will be in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention, according to the Host Committee responsible for coordinating the four-day event.

What is the significance of the party convention? ›

The formal purpose of such a convention is to select the party's nominee for popular election as President, as well as to adopt a statement of party principles and goals known as the party platform and adopt the rules for the party's activities, including the presidential nominating process for the next election cycle.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Lakeisha Bayer VM

Last Updated:

Views: 6203

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (49 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Lakeisha Bayer VM

Birthday: 1997-10-17

Address: Suite 835 34136 Adrian Mountains, Floydton, UT 81036

Phone: +3571527672278

Job: Manufacturing Agent

Hobby: Skimboarding, Photography, Roller skating, Knife making, Paintball, Embroidery, Gunsmithing

Introduction: My name is Lakeisha Bayer VM, I am a brainy, kind, enchanting, healthy, lovely, clean, witty person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.