It is far past time that we acknowledged that MAGA is its own "Party", and that most of the Republicans who still stand by their principles are too spineless..or too selfish.. to do anything about it.
I know that hindsight is 20/20 but I have been thinking lately that Joe Biden tried to take the high road with regard to Trump and the Republican Party. Don't spike the football after Jan 6, don't demonize Republicans----Trump will go away and the Republicans will return to being the party you could disagree with, but not fear. I think that was a noble thing to try, and I am certainly not claiming foresight in this matter, but in hindsight, that appears to have been a major, and possibly disastrous, miscalculation. I can see why he would have preferred not to bash Trump, starting in 2021 by showing the contrast between his presidency and Trump's, but ignore him instead, it would be better for the country. Similarly with Merrick Garland ---it would be better not to have to prosecute a former President, as a bad precedent for the country in the future. But now, with the aforementioned hindsight, these efforts may be coming too late. Trump is actually stronger within his party than he was in 2021. I believe that I understand Biden and Garland's well intentioned efforts to heal the country and avoid setting precedents for as long as possible, but unlike the situation with Ford and Nixon, Trump hasn't gone away and is more dangerous a threat than ever. I hope that our nation can survive this evil man
I honestly blame Garland for putting the country in this mess with Trump. This guy (Trump) should have been held accountable long before now. He (Trump) wouldn't have had this chance to try delay his trials , at least the federal ones. He (Trump) does not care about the unity and stability of this country. Why should the rule of law care about that with Trump?.
Add the Mueller investigation to this list. They absolutely missed the importance of the moment and failed to rise to it. Stuck in the past and hoping precedent and institutions would hold steady. It was IMHO the first of many missed opportunities to check Trump.
"Republican leadership" goes on the honor roll of oxymorons, along with "jumbo shrimp", "only choice", "working vacation", etc. Oh, and I can't omit "alternative facts".
There. Are. No. "Good." or "moderate." or "reasonable." Republicans. left. In. The. GOP.
There are only spineless, conscienceless, otherwise-unemployables. Who know that about themselves.
This is the result of 70 years of what began as failed-academic William F. Buckley's "conservative" movement. "Standing athwart history, shouting 'No.'" It's also the result of Fount-of-All-Evil Richard Nixon's "Southern strategy." The "Southernist Party," a political parasite that attached itself to whichever of the two national parties would allow it to retain its "peculiar institutions" decided after the "treason" of the Democrats who they had dominated for 150 years, that they would take over the new host. We all know what happens to the host when the parasite tries this. That is what we are seeing. This is also the result of Sainted Ray Gun feeding the party the poisoned monkey brains.
These people are not "conservative," and the only "movement" they're part of is the one that sends them to the restroom.
Donald J Trump will be the nominee of the Republican Party. The pseudo-candidates mounted by the RNC to give an appearance of an actual primary, are an absurdity. Trump has the allegiance of all elected Republicans in the end, even those who at one time appeared to be vertebrates. They are all slugs and deserve to be roundly defeated in 2024. If you ever had a doubt about why your vote must be for Biden, look at the sad example of Tom Emmert. You don’t want his kind in charge of your future.
I think Trump should demand that all of the GOP congressmen get a tattoo of his face on their bodies just to see how far they would be willing to go for this doofus. Good grief.
"The party’s “leaders” are terrified of him and what his base can do to them if they don’t fall in line."
Although I agree with the political analysis, the problem is that the "base" is basically the totality of the Republican party; the vast swath of the GOP is MAGA, full stop. To represent the party, candidates either accept that reality and, by extention, its fealty to Trump, or sideline themselves (Sununu), or go down to noble defeat (Cheney).
Irrespective of Trump, the problem going forward is how will the country deal with 35-45% of the voters that see nothing in wrong in the anti-democratic, authoritarian MAGA principles that now make up the party of Lincoln?
Sam do I have your permission to reframe your question? If yes, I would like to Twick it slightly like this. What do they do WHEN he (Trump)loses in 2024
It makes no difference if the ReTrumplican't jellyfish even have any sort of policy beliefs...they look only to remain in the good graces of Trump so they don't lose their "job" as a Congressperson.
I agree with you. My guess is that Garland was trying to avoid a precedent that would be damaging in the future, beyond the current crisis with Trump. Which is a laudable motivation but, in hindsight, looks like a major mistake. At the very least, it would have been much better if he had started the process before Trump declared his candidacy for President. Presumably, that would have taken away Trump's argument that it was politically motivated. But, knowing Trump, he would have said that it was obvious that he was going to run again and so politically motivated anyway. So, it was somewhat of a no-win situation. But I totally agree with you that sooner would have been better, especially now that we can see what has unfolded.
Trump's feelings or how he reacts or say should not play into the equation at all. He should have been charged long ago. He will always find a way to say it's a witchunt.
Chris, what a good piece as it hits the nail on the head, however, we need to encompass all of the GOP. The sane ones have no spine so they are no better than the ass kissing ones. For me, I think one of the reasons why this is all so hard to wrap my head around is that I am not a; bigot, racist, misogynist, rapist, lying cheating scum, etc.. I have morals, ethics and over all a good person and expect that from others. So far, we have had free and fair elections but the elected aren’t all upholding their oath. This is all despicable.
It is far past time that we acknowledged that MAGA is its own "Party", and that most of the Republicans who still stand by their principles are too spineless..or too selfish.. to do anything about it.
It is their shame that history will remember.
I know that hindsight is 20/20 but I have been thinking lately that Joe Biden tried to take the high road with regard to Trump and the Republican Party. Don't spike the football after Jan 6, don't demonize Republicans----Trump will go away and the Republicans will return to being the party you could disagree with, but not fear. I think that was a noble thing to try, and I am certainly not claiming foresight in this matter, but in hindsight, that appears to have been a major, and possibly disastrous, miscalculation. I can see why he would have preferred not to bash Trump, starting in 2021 by showing the contrast between his presidency and Trump's, but ignore him instead, it would be better for the country. Similarly with Merrick Garland ---it would be better not to have to prosecute a former President, as a bad precedent for the country in the future. But now, with the aforementioned hindsight, these efforts may be coming too late. Trump is actually stronger within his party than he was in 2021. I believe that I understand Biden and Garland's well intentioned efforts to heal the country and avoid setting precedents for as long as possible, but unlike the situation with Ford and Nixon, Trump hasn't gone away and is more dangerous a threat than ever. I hope that our nation can survive this evil man
I honestly blame Garland for putting the country in this mess with Trump. This guy (Trump) should have been held accountable long before now. He (Trump) wouldn't have had this chance to try delay his trials , at least the federal ones. He (Trump) does not care about the unity and stability of this country. Why should the rule of law care about that with Trump?.
Add the Mueller investigation to this list. They absolutely missed the importance of the moment and failed to rise to it. Stuck in the past and hoping precedent and institutions would hold steady. It was IMHO the first of many missed opportunities to check Trump.
"Republican leadership" goes on the honor roll of oxymorons, along with "jumbo shrimp", "only choice", "working vacation", etc. Oh, and I can't omit "alternative facts".
Once again:
There. Are. No. "Good." or "moderate." or "reasonable." Republicans. left. In. The. GOP.
There are only spineless, conscienceless, otherwise-unemployables. Who know that about themselves.
This is the result of 70 years of what began as failed-academic William F. Buckley's "conservative" movement. "Standing athwart history, shouting 'No.'" It's also the result of Fount-of-All-Evil Richard Nixon's "Southern strategy." The "Southernist Party," a political parasite that attached itself to whichever of the two national parties would allow it to retain its "peculiar institutions" decided after the "treason" of the Democrats who they had dominated for 150 years, that they would take over the new host. We all know what happens to the host when the parasite tries this. That is what we are seeing. This is also the result of Sainted Ray Gun feeding the party the poisoned monkey brains.
These people are not "conservative," and the only "movement" they're part of is the one that sends them to the restroom.
We need to flush them.
Donald J Trump will be the nominee of the Republican Party. The pseudo-candidates mounted by the RNC to give an appearance of an actual primary, are an absurdity. Trump has the allegiance of all elected Republicans in the end, even those who at one time appeared to be vertebrates. They are all slugs and deserve to be roundly defeated in 2024. If you ever had a doubt about why your vote must be for Biden, look at the sad example of Tom Emmert. You don’t want his kind in charge of your future.
Really not a lot of difference between today's Republican party and Soviet style Communist parties. Fealty to the leader is everything.
https://www.caclubindia.com/wealth/tom-emmer-net-worth/
Emmer : Worth 18M. Yet groveling and crawling to kiss the Trump toes. Why? Just quit and enjoy life where you can maintain some self respect.
Tom, that stink won't wash off.
For an odd historical note, that's Michelle Bachmann's district that Emmer has.
I think Trump should demand that all of the GOP congressmen get a tattoo of his face on their bodies just to see how far they would be willing to go for this doofus. Good grief.
You don't really want to know.
"The party’s “leaders” are terrified of him and what his base can do to them if they don’t fall in line."
Although I agree with the political analysis, the problem is that the "base" is basically the totality of the Republican party; the vast swath of the GOP is MAGA, full stop. To represent the party, candidates either accept that reality and, by extention, its fealty to Trump, or sideline themselves (Sununu), or go down to noble defeat (Cheney).
Irrespective of Trump, the problem going forward is how will the country deal with 35-45% of the voters that see nothing in wrong in the anti-democratic, authoritarian MAGA principles that now make up the party of Lincoln?
I think you nailed it.
This is terribly scary and the only way this ends is when he dies. I hate typing that sentence, but I see no end to this.
So what do they do if he loses again?
Feckless quislings.
Sam do I have your permission to reframe your question? If yes, I would like to Twick it slightly like this. What do they do WHEN he (Trump)loses in 2024
We then flush them with the rest of the political shit.
Would that it were that easy.
I think the endorsement of shame will be fun to watch as the campaigns march on. Until it’s not. But, we are keeping the receipts.
It makes no difference if the ReTrumplican't jellyfish even have any sort of policy beliefs...they look only to remain in the good graces of Trump so they don't lose their "job" as a Congressperson.
"What is the face of a coward? The back of his/her head as he/she runs through the battle."
(Frank Underwood from House of Cards)
I agree with you. My guess is that Garland was trying to avoid a precedent that would be damaging in the future, beyond the current crisis with Trump. Which is a laudable motivation but, in hindsight, looks like a major mistake. At the very least, it would have been much better if he had started the process before Trump declared his candidacy for President. Presumably, that would have taken away Trump's argument that it was politically motivated. But, knowing Trump, he would have said that it was obvious that he was going to run again and so politically motivated anyway. So, it was somewhat of a no-win situation. But I totally agree with you that sooner would have been better, especially now that we can see what has unfolded.
Trump's feelings or how he reacts or say should not play into the equation at all. He should have been charged long ago. He will always find a way to say it's a witchunt.
Chris, what a good piece as it hits the nail on the head, however, we need to encompass all of the GOP. The sane ones have no spine so they are no better than the ass kissing ones. For me, I think one of the reasons why this is all so hard to wrap my head around is that I am not a; bigot, racist, misogynist, rapist, lying cheating scum, etc.. I have morals, ethics and over all a good person and expect that from others. So far, we have had free and fair elections but the elected aren’t all upholding their oath. This is all despicable.