OK then...the modern republican party is a wasteland of extremism and home to nazis and white supremacists and conservatives just elected as president the most incompetent, know-nothing blowhard in the history of the country. But according to Gerson, the problem is both sides blah blah blah. 

And Gerson conveniently forgets that it was Reagan who first promoted supply side economics, aka the lie that tax cuts for rich people helps everyone. And it was Reagan who promoted the hatred and distrust of govt institutions with his "government is the problem" nonsense. And of course, it was Reagan who openly recruited the racists and bigots into the GOP tent. 

The decline of America in general and the republican party in particular began with Ronald Reagan. But according to Gerson and his favorite tact, the false equivanlency, the reason we have Trump is "both sides".