Saturday, July 4, 2026

Republicans can’t do anything right, not even throw a party

Republicans can’t do anything right, not even throw a party

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/7/4/800064162/news/america-250-republican-failure-party/ 

Republicans can’t do anything right, not even throw a party

by kos
Staff
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The U.S. Capitol is seen from the ferris wheel at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall, Thursday, June 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jen Golbeck)
The grounds for the Great American State Fair, on the National Mall, shown on June 25.AP (original)

The Conversation is a weekly dive into the most popular stories on Daily Kos and what it tells us about the national political environment.

Republicans suck at governing. That’s not a partisan observation. 

Objectively, Republicans prioritize ideology over competence and expertise. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the party insisting that government can’t work also can’t run one. Yet voters keep giving them another chance.

So we remain trapped in an exhausting cycle. Democrats inherit a mess, fix it, prosperity returns or at least starts to, and voters decide it’s time to hand power back to Republicans so they can wreck everything all over again.

The Trump administration, however, has distinguished itself with a level of incompetence all its own. Everything it touches ends up broken. 

The Great American State Fair coverage has been particularly hilarious, with Fox going all-in on breathless, on-the-scene reporting from what was, for all practical purposes, an empty field. 

It is yet another reminder that Trump is simply incapable of turning his fantasies of grandeur into reality. Remember last year’s military parade in Washington, D.C., on his birthday? He clearly imagined ranks of North Korean-style troops goose-stepping past the reviewing stand in perfect lockstep. Instead, he sat dejected through cheerful American soldiers casually waving to a thin, low-energy crowd. It was closer to a hometown parade than an authoritarian spectacle.

People dance with a U.S. Army robotic dog at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall, Sunday June 28, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jen Golbeck)
People watch a U.S. Army robotic dog at the Great American State Fair on June 28.AP

It’s hard to imagine he envisioned anything different for America’s 250th anniversary. In Trump’s mind, this wasn’t supposed to be a celebration of the nation’s founding. It was supposed to be a celebration of the nation for choosing him. He pictured a grand national fair framed by a swimming-pool-blue Reflecting Pool, gold-accented monuments, his face on a $250 bill, and an arch bigger than anyone else’s—especially that French one. If Napoleon could have a giant triumphal arch, surely Donald Trump deserved an even larger one.

Now take a moment to stop laughing at the buffoonery and appreciate this: Republican strategists believed these celebrations would help save their electoral prospects this November.

“We will make sure that people are aware of the fact that we are the party of patriotism and love of country, and the Democrats are just … not proud to be Americans,” one strategist told NOTUS back in May.

Turns out, the people who can’t help themselves are Republicans, who seem constitutionally incapable of getting out of their own way. At this point, I wouldn’t be shocked if this weekend’s fireworks display fizzled or literally flamed out. It’s already likely to cause hazardous air pollution.

Meanwhile … 

I will never get tired of reading about those idiots. 

On the other hand, I am getting extremely tired of watching the right systematically dismantle America’s media institutions.

Happy Fourth of July, everyone! Celebrate the country. Just don’t let Trump convince you he’s synonymous with it.

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  1. Comment by Taku Oholasni.

    It's hard not to compare all this to what I recall of the July 4,1976 Bicentennial. Nearly a year-long party, culminating with performances by everybody from Elvis to Elton John, Johnny Cash as a parade Grand Marshal, with Bob Hope and Walter Cronkite hosting national broadcasts that ran all day long, an official State visit by Queen Elizabeth, and concerts across the US featuring Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, and all the other top acts of the day. Yeah, lots of jingoism, and over the top merch with Bicentennial Everything being sold next to every gas station cash register for months---but it was a huge, nation-wide event with literally something for nearly everybody, and a very real Party atmosphere. For our 250th today, we have an empty mall with a fenced-off algae pool with random bystanders being arrested for imagined vandalism, stages literally falling apart, power failures, all the musical acts cancelling and replaced with a political rally headlining ".......your Favorite President----ME!" as Trump posted on his failed Truth Social account. It's more than just "republicans don't know how to hold a party". Much, much more, and much, much worse for our 250th......even considering Republicans were hosting the 1976 event too. Truly amazing how low we've sunk over the past fifty years, and Trump's ramshackle "State Fair" , complete with hellishly abnormal heat and an algae filled swamp-like reflecting pool is almost the perfect metaphor for where we are at today.

  2. Comment by Talmas.

    The Declaration of Independence is a document RW would HATE to read. It talks about Freedom from Tyranny, you know, MAGA Government running amok!! All Men are created equal!! Not in their EYES!!

    • Reply by Whatsnuts.

      I really want to change the word "men" to "all people".

  3. Comment by Whatsnuts.

    I'm kind of glad this weekend is really getting people to stop and think what this holiday is supposed to be about other than cookouts and fireworks.

  4. Comment by Dillonfence.

    The DC fireworks are at 10:45 tonight. Normally they are 90 minutes earlier when people with young children can enjoy them, but The Apricot Idiot (tm) needs to hold a political rally first.

    Who makes people stand around for 90 minutes in the gd 104 degrees and a major thunderstorm coming through just as the fireworks are scheduled to end? Stupid people. Stupid, incompetent psychopaths who literally can’t conceive of serving anyone but their idiot master’s basest instincts.

  5. Comment by FreeSomeday.

    Maybe it really is about character. Republicans see this as a zero sum world, which is why they pull up the ladder behind them.

    Who really wants to go to a party that is not inclusive, where you, or someone you care about, is not welcome? Who likes a scold?

    Andy Rooney, (in his excellent war memoir), wrote that every time he hears about patriotism, he remembers that perhaps the greatest patriots in history were the Nazis.

  6. Comment by indianobserver.

    Take a mental day off and celebrate like a 250 year old constitutional republic deserves to celebrate.

    The same one that elected Trump twice because a swingy fraction of people felt neither party was working out. That’s democracy in action like it or not. Every point of view gets its time in the sun. His appeal will fade, the money bags backing the Republicans may retreat, and the fight will continue.

    For today, don’t worry about all that, put down all the burdens and appreciate everything good. Happy 250th Independence Day!

    • Reply by FreeSomeday.

      Like the song from the 1930's, "We're the Daughters of the American Revolution, but we'll never be the mothers of another".

    • Reply by indianobserver.

      I don’t understand the reference. If anything, am suggesting a day’s pause for rest, recuperation and recreation in the revolution.

  7. Comment by juliethotel.

    The Republicans are very good at demagoging, calling their opponents commies, manipulating their followers, and pretending they care about America.

  8. Comment by Slideman.

    Great diary, thank you! Truly I am ambivalent about this July Fourth.

    A lot of things boggle my mind about this:

    Since Reagan, THE ENTIRE REPUBLICAN PHILOSOPHY HAS BEEN THAT GOVERNMENT IS BAD AND IT CAN"T DO ANYTHING RIGHT! IS IT ANY WONDER THEY CAN'T GOVERN?

    It truly boggles my mind that nobody points this out!! Granted, the media in this country is pathetically incompetent and doesn't do it's job! But have the Boomers and my Gen Xers all of a sudden developed collective amnesia on this?

    What is also amazing that old school Republicans bought into this! I remember reading once that Bob Dole said that he and Clinton could probably figure out health care over lunch, but his Party would not allow him to do that! I remember that in the 1970's Republicans weren't that insane and you could do deals with them. But they can't now as their primary voters are ginned up on the lies of Fox "News" and will vote them out for being compromisers. How long can a Party survive when their elected officials are afraid of their base?

    I have asked this here before to no response. And if we had a functioning media they would point this out!

    All of this incompetence is an underhanded way to undo the New Deal and Great Society, but that is a topic for another day!

    With all of this, another topic is how a political party could be completely held in thrall to a felonious fascist, and be perfectly OK with it! Their own lust for power made them given up ANY pretense of legitimacy on ANY topic, and they don't care who gets hurt as long as it is not people like them!. Even Stuart Stevens, former Republican strategist who I hear every so often on YouTube, wrote a book saying that it was all a lie!

    What does this say about the fundamental evil that makes up the Republican Party? The ONLY word to describe them is evil! And what does it say about the cognitive dissonance a person needs to be a Republican, to where they can rent their clothes and gnash their teeth over Bill and Monica, yet they turn a blind eye to the Felon and Paxton? And what does it say about their hypocrisy that they can do this too?

    I have stated here many times before, usually to deafening that the Republican Party must DIE as the rot is too deep to be reformed! Does anyone here agree with me?

    • Reply by Slideman.

      One other thing - we have GOT to get out of this cycle of Democrats fixing everything Republicans break! We have been doing this since FDR! Granted, in a sane world, there would be no elected Republicans! But given the fact that this might not happen, how do we get out of this cycle?

    • Reply by FreeSomeday.

      That was pre Gingrich.

      We're now post Gingrich.

      That same philandering, married three times, pontificating blowhard who told his elected colleagues that they really needed to read a little something called "The Federalist Papers".

      Why do Republicans always assume that if they just now learned something that no one else knew it before them?

  9. Comment by jiminmaryland.

    If you want to see the State Fair noncrowd live, Fox has a live cam. I won’t link to Fox but it’s easy to find.

  10. Comment by Whatsnuts.

    You had better believe the GOP would enslave or deport anyone to hang on to power. These "detention" centers are not just for immigrants.

  11. Comment by cindylouhoo.

    Except Democrats don't "fix" anything either. They just break it in a different way.

    • Reply by Slideman.

      Really? How so? Please elaborate. Because I remember things differently, like Biden fixing he economy the Felon broke, Clinton giving W a balanced budget, and Obama cleaning up W's mess.

    • Reply by Dillonfence.

      Yeah, we’re in this mess because - while we restore competence to governing - our vision and goals are decidedly not ambitious. It’s always how can we get people to participate in this garbage system rather than how to change the system.

      We need to straight up start over on how we pay for and access health care, fund schools, enforce tax laws and pay them, etc.

    • Reply by FreeSomeday.

      That's what the oligarchs want you to believe. There's no difference between the Party that brought us Social Security and Medicare, et cetera, and the Party that opposes such programs EVERY step of the way, ad nauseum.

      So don't trouble yourself! Don't keep up with the news, and especially don't ever read history. You might start noticing differences they don't want you to see.

      Which President said, "You'll never have to vote again?". Was it Biden? Can you even imagine him - or ANY Democrat - saying that?

  12. Comment by Buddy5542.

    MAGA is a “circle jerk” for the village idiots.

  13. Comment by maggiejean.

    Having the World Cup here in the US, with all the diversity of its players, and the reception the teams received have raised my joy level and made me proud again. Those celebrating diversity are alive and well in the USA. despite the overt racism among many of her leaders.

  14. Comment by hissing kitty.

    I was over on some RW sites, catching up on World Cup and nuptials gossip. There are several articles and discussions about the 🍊💩👑 and his visit to South Dakota, including photos of the "new' Mt. Rushmore in faux gold, and emblazoned on cookies. And the bots are either bashing the notion or gleefully crowing about owning the libs.

    I'm convinced the right will smugly and willingly march off to future disintegration chambers (think "Taste of Armageddon" from Star Trek: TOS). They will be smug because at least the libtards got done away with first.

    Infant school mentality, imho.

    • Reply by Slideman.

      Oh they would definitely do this! And be happy to do it!

      BTW - The Felon is John Gill from Patterns of Force! What do you think about that? I think it is an appropriate analogy.

      Lifelong TOS fan here! :)

      See my post above please!

  15. Comment by Whatsnuts.

    The GOP is not an American political party. They are an organized crime group. And I want a President and DOJ that will darn well do something about it.

    • Reply by Slideman.

      Preach It! Me Too! I have said, we need Nuremberg 2.0 when this is done and ALL of them need to be held to account!

  16. Comment by BobRR.

    As an ordinary Democratic voter, I don't appreciate being called a traitor and a communist.

    Today was supposed to be about unity!

    I am not celebrating today. Screw this.

    • Reply by Whatsnuts.

      The Constitution was not ratified until June of 1788 and did go into effect until March of 1789.

    • Reply by BobRR.

      Correct. What we celebrate today is the Declaration of Independence -- which our president calls "a document of love and unity". I don't know about you, but I don't think he has ever read it.

    • Reply by FreeSomeday.

      About 30% of adults in the U.S. are functionally illiterate. About 30% of adults in the U.S. support the current President.

      The current President struggled once years ago to read a short document in a courtroom case. That is why so many of his hires are known to portray a role on television; a doctor (Oz), an attorney (Pirriro) or a soldier boy (Hegseth), et cetera.

      At least prudish, privelaged scion Romney had "binders full of women" that he had at least skimmed through!

  17. Comment by Digler.

    I just read the analysis on how many tons of pollution the giant fireworks display will cause in DC. Plus it's going to be over 100 degrees. Typical Trump just does shit without ever caring about repercussions.

    • Reply by BobRR.

      There will be deaths.

    • Reply by barneydogg.

      I'm saying a novena for one in particular.

  18. Comment by jjohnjj.

    The Republican Party has succeeded at one thing. They brought immigration to a screeching halt. That’s what they were elected to do… even if voters won’t confess to that motive.

    • Reply by BobRR.

      We need open immigration and amnesty.

    • Reply by Whatsnuts.

      I would rather have the immigrants here than the Republicans.

  19. Comment by MDGluon16.

    I give it a 50/50 chance that the fireworks either literally fizzle or there is a rapid launch sequence with unexpected deconstruction…..like the San Diego great fireworks error but with 10x+ more fireworks.

    I also am certain there will be an unprecedented number of heat related health emergencies since you will not be allowed to bring your own drinks in, no chairs, no blankets, no food, no shade allowed.

    This is what KKKonservative Reich Wing White KKKhri$tian GrOPer Biggest Brother government gets you.

  20. Comment by teerah.

    It has been said that for 100 years, the GOP has insisted that govt, especially democracy, doesn't work and has repeatedly proven it

    • Reply by Bring the Lions.

      They insist GOVERNMENT doesn't work. As in a social democratic government that benefits the many at the expense of the few.

      It's only recently, since the GOP base has become a minority, that they've decided that they don't want democracy.

    • Reply by teerah.

      Its truly a shame that these misanthropes don't choose the easy path to eliminating democracy and just move to Iran, or China, or Russia. What a sweet win- win that would be.

 

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