Is Josh Hawley the More Capable Fascist We’ve Been Expecting?
By: Lauren Elizabeth
Tags: Elections, Republican Party, Government, Politics, Donald Trump

Is Josh Hawley the More Capable Fascist We’ve Been Expecting?

The Senator From Missouri has his sights set on higher office, and he seems to have every intention of following in Trump’s footsteps.

Patrick Semansky / Bloomberg via Getty Images file

With the January 6th date on which congress will certify the results of of the 2020 election quickly approaching, it was reported as recently as December 15th that Senate Majority Leader was warning Republicans against disputing the electoral college tally.

Lisa Mascaro and Mary Clare Jalonick with the Associated Press write:

“…In public remarks and private warnings, McConnell worked to push ahead to the Biden era and unite a fractured Republican Party ahead of the runoff elections that will determine Senate control. First, the Republican leader heaped praise on Trump’s “endless” accomplishments as he congratulated President-elect Joe Biden during a morning Senate speech. Then he pivoted, privately warning Republican senators away from disputing the Electoral College tally when Congress convenes in a joint session Jan. 6 to confirm the results. That fight would yield a “terrible vote” for Republicans, McConnell told the senators, according to two people granted anonymity to discuss the call, which was first reported by Politico. They would have to choose whether to back Trump or publicly buck him.”

While Mitch McConnell is concerned about nothing more than the Republican majority and the future of GOP Senators in swing states, his warnings were not enough to deter a small number of Republican Senators from ignoring him, and announcing they would object to the certification of the Electoral College results. The first, unsurprisingly, was none other than Missouri Senator Josh Hawley. The very same Senator Hawley who was the only Republican Senator to join Bernie Sanders in the fight for larger coronavirus relief checks for the American people.

There is no denying that Hawley has his sights set on higher office, and it appears as though he has decided to follow in the footsteps of President Trump in order to get there. Picking up on the populist sentiment behind the relief checks, understanding their dire need, and then being the first to essentially publicly declare his continued loyalty to the President is undoubtedly laying the groundwork for a run for the Presidency in the future. The question is, how well would he actually do in the primary? Is Josh Hawley the more capable fascist we’ve been warned about, and been expecting to see rise in the aftermath of a fractured Republican party?

While I’m not entirely sure he has what it would take to pull it off, he’s certainly shaping up to be one to watch for. While there is absolutely no denying Hawley could win the Presidency, the Republican primary is something else entirely. Would he be able to muster up enough support from older, more traditional Republican voters without the celebrity behind him that Donald Trump had, while still holding on to the economic populist shtick that attracted so many? It’s possible, but I can’t help wondering if it would be more difficult for him than it was for Trump. That said, perhaps his recent antics will give him an even bigger boost on the national stage than expected.

Timing of course, will be everything. The timing might not be right for Hawley in 2024 or even 2028, but in ten to twelve years I’m sure Hawley’s chances will fare better, as all signs point to the nation only growing more divided and the economic circumstances for the masses continuing to worsen. But whether it’s him, Tucker Carlson, or Tom Cotton, it should be an alarming sign to all of us that a number of prominent Republican figures are already in the waiting to accomplish the autocratic takeover that Donald Trump was not able to achieve.