The article argues that recent executive overreach and politicization have severely undermined established norms of U.S. civil-military relations. To restore professional standards, the incoming Congress must actively exercise its oversight powers, moving beyond mere criticism to demanding transparency in defense policy and personnel decisions. Key reforms include enforcing meritocratic promotion processes, requiring documented justification for senior officer removals, and preventing the partisan use of the military. These actions are crucial for bolstering public trust and ensuring the military remains a nonpartisan instrument of civilian control.
The Elephants in the Room: How Trump Voters Seized the Party From Republican Leaders
English Summary
The article argues that the Republican Party's nomination of a candidate despite electoral losses and criminal indictments signals a profound shift in party governance. Research indicates that while establishment leaders initially favored safer candidates, they ultimately ceded control to a populist, nativist faction. This shift was driven by the voters' deep belief in conspiracy theories, particularly the narrative of election fraud, which superseded traditional concerns about electability. Consequently, party leaders followed the voters' lead, establishing a new set of rules for the party's choices that prioritize loyalty and grievance over conventional political strategy.
中文摘要
本文論述共和黨在面臨選舉失利和刑事起訴的情況下仍提名某位候選人，這標誌著黨內治理結構發生了深刻的轉變。研究指出，儘管建制派領導人最初傾向支持更穩健的候選人，但最終他們將控制權交給了一個民粹主義且本土主義的派系。這一轉變的驅動因素，是選民對陰謀論的深信不疑，特別是關於選舉舞弊的敘事，這種信念超越了傳統上對當選可能性的考量。因此，黨內領導人跟隨了選民的潮流，為黨的選擇建立了一套新的規範，將忠誠度和怨氣置於傳統政治策略之上。
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