Oops. We Missed the Exit(s).

The GOP has been heading full speed down the Trump Expressway and refusing to ask for directions.

The once venerable GOP has rendered itself indistinguishable from Trump and Trumpism, and it’s an entirely self-inflicted wound. Republicans have had numerous opportunities to distance themselves from Trump — opportunities, if you will, to take an off-ramp from the Trump Expressway. They’ve sped by all the exits, and they now find themselves in “ride or die” mode.

It started with the 2016 primaries. Well, the Trump era started then, but the GOP had been paving the way for a candidate like Trump for decades before that. Trump picked off Republican presidential hopefuls like ducks in a shooting gallery. One by one, they were blindsided by the way that Donald Trump flouted the norms of campaigning. Every one of his contenders were more qualified for the job of POTUS.

But he was willing — even eager — to eviscerate his fellow primary contenders using any means available. He lied. He insulted their spouses and family members. He infantilized them. In many cases, he attacked their…