Will Ailes be toppled as the head of the most influential Trump Super PAC?

Source: Conservative Review | July 19, 2016 | Steve Deace

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Human nature rarely anticipates things being any different than what it’s grown accustomed to. Then one day everything changes. Fault lines that have always existed suddenly experience a tectonic shift, and the landscape is fundamentally altered seemingly out of nowhere. This is the earthquake you were long warned about, but figured would never occur in your day. 

In that regard, remember the date July 18th, 2016. For this will be a day long remembered. It cemented not just a long-simmering schism, but also saw the potential downfall of arguably the most influential conservative media figure ever.  

The Right may never be the same. It remains to be seen if it will be better off.

Fox News, the most powerful platform in conservative media, has been skewing more liberal in recent years under the watchful of long-time Svengali Roger Ailes. Leaving many conservatives to wonder why. We now seem to know.

Whenever a once principled man suddenly seems to have lost his way and starts compromising his public virtue, it’s always because he is morally compromised in his private life. Every. Single. Time.

Ailes proved this point once more, and may have just been brought down by a sex scandal Bill Cosby-style. One whistle-blower, in this case former Fox anchor Gretchen Carlson, inspired multitudes to also come forward. Now it looks like the dam has burst forth. The so-called “family values party” now may have to count Ailes alongisde three former House Speakers, and Mark Foley— each of whom were all brought down by sex scandals in less than 20 years.

No wonder the GOP’s nominee is serial adulterer Donald Trump.

The network was already walking a razor’s edge between record ratings, and an aging audience that is only getting older. Which probably explains why it schizophrenically went from last fall trying to kill Trump, who is beloved by older voters most of all, to carrying him across the finish line of the primary.

The network as a whole devolved into a veritable Trump Super PAC months ago. Cementing its most loyal viewing bloc, while at the same time being panned by almost everyone else.

If Fox loses its perch atop conservative media, it would be like ancient Greece following the death of Alexander the Great. With no obvious heir, so everyone remaining stakes out their own turf. Perhaps, then, its providential Fox is having an existential moment at the same time a schism is forming on the Right. For Fox was probably as responsible as anybody for holding this marriage together, for better or for worse.

History shows factional differences become schisms once it becomes clear the powers-that-be no longer plan on dealing fairly with their dissenters. When they demand no accommodation other than total compliance, and will stop at nothing to obtain it.

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The corrupt spectacle that was Reince Priebus and the GOP establishment’s Politburo impersonation on day one of the convention Monday follows in these footsteps. It is now known for sure what has long been speculated — the Republican Party will go to lengths to undermine its own base it would never deploy against the Democrats. If Republicans ran Congress the way they ran this convention, the government would be a lot smaller.

When have Republicans ever bragged about “crushing” the Left? When was the last time they ever went to the wall to beat the Left? When was the last time they violated tradition, protocol, or the rules to stop the Left?

Spoiler Alert: never.

Therefore, this is a crystallizing moment for both sides. If you’re a loyalist who emphasizes party fealty, you believe the ends justifies the means in putting down even a hint at rebellion against the group-think. On the other hand, if you’re a patriot who emphasizes principle, you received loud and clear the message that any dissent, contrarian thinking or decentralization of power is viewed as rebellion.

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The fault lines are clearly drawn now. The divisions are hardening. If this feels like a divorce, when a dysfunctional family splits and even the healthy extended relationships become casualties, it’s because it is. We’re off to the undiscovered country.

That’s why both sides usually put it off for as long as they can. That whole “devil you know” thing. But then one day the levee breaks. 

That day was July 18th, 2016.

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  • Consistent #8231

    Consistent #8232

    ConservativeGranny #8234

    What a great commentary.

    Victoria #8237

    I read this today: “DRUDGE reporting exclusively that Greta, O’Reilly, Hannity, “Fox & Friends,” and “The Five” anchors have set meeting to discuss walkout…”

    If they do a walkout, we will surely know it. However, if they did it, their jobs would likely be gone. They may not be willing to lose their life style by backing Ailes.

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