2 November—Today is All Souls’ Day It’s a holy day on which certain devout and charitable Christians—notably Roman Catholics and Anglo-Catholics—pray for souls still in Purgatory before they enter heaven. Purgatory, to remind you, is a (or the) place or state of suffering where the souls of sinners abide while atoning for their sins so they can be admitted to heaven. Whatever it takes.

Suffering and atonement segue to an interview with retired Connecticut Republican Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano that was broadcast yesterday on Connecticut Public Radio to fill in for an interview with someone else that for some reason had been cancelled. Fasano spoke about the future of the GOP in Connecticut and the nation. Being retired from elective politics, he was able to be honest. So suffice to say he wasn’t happy nor sanguine.

That naturally takes us to the predominant cause of the Republican Party’s ongoing decline. Make that downfall. Because what used to be the Republican Party has deteriorated into the Trump Party pure and simple. Including in Connecticut.

The once proud and respected Grand Old Party—the good guys for most of the history of the United States (although some Democrats might disagree)—has been undermined and debased to such an extent by the machinations of Donald Trump and his equally disgraceful cohorts that many Republican candidates—even those who admire and pledge fealty to their meretricious messiah—are reluctant, and often refuse to mention his name even though he’s their presidential candidate. Of course that doesn’t go unnoticed by their opponents.

So just what is the future of the Republican Party? In Connecticut, the first question to ask is, what Republican Party? The Democrats have ruled the tripartite roost—both houses of the General Assembly and the administration—for so long that you wonder if there really is a Republican minority in Hartford. And if there is, what’s it doing? And, more to the point, why isn’t it doing better?

It’s certainly easy to blame Connecticut Republicans’ hard times on Democrats’ strategic pandering to a voter base of union members and people who thrive on public largess, many of whom are on the lucrative public payroll. But, sad to say, the quality of too many Republican candidates for state office also is to blame. And, sadder to say, all too many of those who manage to get elected just aren’t up to the job. They’re no more than hacks. (We won’t embarrass the few competent Republicans by naming them, nor will we embarrass the multitude of incompetent hacks who predominate the Republican legislative rolls. But we all know who they are.)

So why can’t Connecticut Republicans find good candidates and pander just a little? Good question.

Nationally, then, the Republicans need first to dump Trump. Assuming—and hoping—he loses next week’s election, that shouldn’t be too hard. Shouldn’t. But not necessarily won’t. After all, Connecticut is essentially a microcosm of national Republican incompetence, and the same inability to field good candidates and pander just a little to a plurality or majority of voters promises to work to the advantage of Democrats, if not America . . .