Jonathan Martin: “The complete and total, to borrow a phrase, realignment of the GOP into the Party of Trump was nearly complete after he avoided being seriously challenged, let alone defeated, through the primaries. But it was cemented in Butler, Pennsylvania, when Trump escaped death and seconds later rallied his stunned audience to forge a bond few American presidents have enjoyed with their supporters.
”“With that instant moment of political iconography, Trump is well-positioned to stifle what little intra-party dissent remains in the GOP.”
“More worrisome for his opponents, and perhaps the country, the shooting and his defiant response will strengthen his case for a brand of strongman politics to which our democracy had mostly been immune. Trump’s clenched fist will strengthen his hand — not only in the campaign but also, should he win, with a party that will prove far less likely to resist his second-term impulses.”