Vance might not be The Guy, but I disagree that removing Trump solves the problem at all. He's more like the most prominent symptom.

Before 2016, Trump in the minds of most Americans was some washed up reality show star from the 90s. He is, and has always been, an ugly, uncharismatic, racist piece of shit. If the conservative propaganda machine can propel this artificially colored, barely articulate moron to the top, they can propel just about anyone. The only caveat is that whoever they propel has to be willing to do anything, to destroy any international relationship, to flip flop at the drop of a hat, and to not ask questions outside of "how will this benefit me?"

Vance might be a selfish, uncharismatic idiot in his own right, but unlike Trump he does have two braincells to rub together. Fox, Newsmax, Rogan, and the like might not be willing to throw themselves behind that. But there's no shortage of vaguely remembered, self-absorbed celebrities who will be willing to take his place. Think President Oz, or heck, maybe Hulk Hogan would throw his hat in the ring.

Point is, as long as we have a populace that disrespects education and science, and that's completely unmotivated to participate in our gerrymandered and unrepresentative FPTP system, the propaganda machine will always churn out a shittier asshole next year. The worst of us will hand them the reigns, and Republicans will follow that asshole without question. Trump isn't as special a case as people want to believe. We've been on this trajectory for decades.