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During the campaign, Kamala Harris received support from Republicans collectively known as "never Trumpers." At the top of the list was Lynn Cheney, a former Congress member from Wyoming, who inveighed against Donald Trump's potential changes to foreign policy. She was joined by her father, former Vice President Richard Cheney, whose hardline views concerning foreign policy are quite militant.
Now, they justify their dislike for Trump by mentioning Jan. 6, 2021, and wrapping themselves in the flag while waving the Constitution. Forget the elder Cheney and his boss, George W. Bush, who ignored the War Powers Act and concocted a tale about Iraq's nuclear capabilities to wage a conflict. The never-Trumpers pretended it was all about "the rule of law." Their concerns are to continue the forever wars, chiefly in Ukraine.
But they're not the only group of the Republican Party seeking to oppose Trump. You have Tim Miler, former manager of the Jeb Bush effort in 2016, and Rick Wilson for the Lincoln Project, who have predicted the demise of Trump since 2015. They happily endorsed Harris and ultimately had zero impact on the result. Indeed, the Harris campaign at times resembled the Bush campaign of 2004 -- a lot of Ballyhoo and little substance.
Harris advocated a hardline in foreign policy and suffered as a result. Arab Americans in Michigan helped provide Trump with his narrow victory. And, it would appear that the attempt by the neo-conservative wing to co-opt the Democrats failed. Having lost the GOP, they put their new allies in a difficult position. This is a group that still could not grasp how Trump rolled to his first nomination in 2016.
In many ways, these Republicans resemble the members of the French old regime when they fled to London in 1792. When they returned in 1814 it was said they "learned nothing and forgot nothing". Never have allies been as useless as they were in promoting the Democratic ticket. These never-Trumper neo-conservatives laid an egg.
Having managed to harm the Democrats they are now stirring up their old Republican allies. Matt Gaetz gave up when it became clear that he did not have the votes to become Attorney General despite Republicans winning a majority of the Senate. Undaunted, Trump nominated a replacement as MAGA as Gaetz. But the old neo group will not give up, aiming at Trump's nominee for Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth. Likewise, they are aiming at Tulsi Gabbard, the President-elect's choice for Director of National Intelligence. Continuing on, they aim to prevent a negotiated settlement in Ukraine supporting Joe Biden's attempt to make major moves before Trump is sworn in on January 20, 2025.
Proof enough, Biden approved a dangerous measure allowing Ukraine to send missiles deep into the Russian Federation.
It appears that Biden is trying to saddle his successor with his failed policies. For Democrats, it is imperative that they are not locked into the status quo. No less than Trump, they should not be locked into the "endless war" fraction of the Republican Party.