23 Comments

"Hutchinson actively petitioned the Republican National Committee to change the loyalty pledge to exempt supporting a convicted felon. The RNC shut him down."

Is there really any need to say anything else about the GOPers of 2023?

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I know I mentioned this before, but three of the candidates who raised their hand at that debate (Jeb!, Cruz, Kasich) refused to support Trump when he became the nominee.

I am curious what the GOP's motivation for this whole pledge is. To show harmony? But everyone knows it's a work.

I'm glad you wrote this, Chris, the absurdity here has been driving me crazy.

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The whole thing is meaningless. As Christie said he’d do, sign it to get on the debate stage. If Trump is the nominee and they don’t back him, what will happen? Trump goes after them? Who cares?? At the end of the day, it’s all the same B.S. and means nothing. If people don’t realize by now that loyalty is only one way, shame on them.

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It's just one more instance of how fake our national politics have become. How else could a TV host with no political experience become president of the United States?

I find it so depressing.

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He was in peoples living rooms as a reality tv host and people loved him. He appeared to these people to be a great business man and seemed very smart. In their living rooms, every week, they begin to think they know him. Being disgusted in politics, they looked at him as a different kind of candidate, a successful businessman who wouldn’t lie to them. They are the deplorables.

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His opposition is not allowed to make such comments as your last, only he can.

That's because his are so 4th-grade funny. ;-)

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I never liked him. You could tell he was a fake from the very beginning and I never watched his show. Trash is trash.

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I grew up in the NYC suburbs, in NJ, he was all over the news and he was despicable then. He’s only gotten worse.

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Chris

Your point about Trump not needing the RNC is spot on!

He has no reason to debate because there is no upside. He already has his support baked in and he could readily stumble.

Trump will never, ever get on stage with Chris Christie. He can insult Christie for being fat and about Bridgegate, but that's it.

He'd be shown to have less energy that Low Energy Jeb.

The Defendant-In-Chief can't even summon up the energy and venom after being indicted to go all ad hominem extemporenously on Jack Smith, the Biden's, and Hillary.

In both Miami and Bedminister speeches, he was reading his "angry" speeches off a teleprompter.

So easy to tell when he's not off script and not winging it...

...he pauses at awkward moments becuase he can't read the prompter and his vocal range is two octaves higher and breathy.

If Christie can't get into the debates, then the Trump anointed RNC will beg Trump to participate for the $$$$.

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I honestly don't know where our country is going to end up. If I was a young person, I don't know if I would want to have children or not. I already feel terrible that this is the world my children have become adults in. I feel a total sense of despair about our future.

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Pledge or no pledge... he can run for President but he will NOT be able to vote for anyone if he’s a convicted felon! 🙏🙏🙏🙏

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The joke Will Rogers had about the Democrats being an organized party doesn’t begin to cover what the situation is with the GOP. You’d think when Trump dies the party would go back to somewhat normal, but I don’t believe that’s going to happen. I really think it’s going to be more of a Mad Max situation with so many in the party that have nothing approaching principles, ethics or morals.

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We may yet live to see the GOP go the way of the Whigs and a new "not insane" conservative party take its place.

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I'm left of center and I agree. We need smart and dedicated legislators on both sides to make our country thrive.

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I'd prefer they take back the principles that "Republican" connotes. Standing for, preserving and promoting our democratic Republic.

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I see no evidence whatsover that the party is interessted in that. To the contrary, they told Asa Hutchison that maybe he shouldn't run if he can't agree to support the twice impeached, twice indicted Trump as nominee.

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Sadly, neither do I. I also could never support their "definition" of conservative.

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Good point, K.

That Rogers' line was pure great satire. His skits didn't insult people, just exposed the ridiculous and hypocritical situations.

The current ReTrumplican't Party is stuck in the "rank outs" (term for verbal put downs in NYC of my youth) of the grammar school playgrounds.

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MTG 2028 😂

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Betsy,

Thanks for a bit of jovial in these wicked (not in the Boston jargon) times.

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One of your best articles, IMO.

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I am so looking forward to the negative ads that link the sycophants to the traitor. It will take some more time, but eventually most Republicans will face the truth and some may grow a spine. Look, if Chris Christie can do it, anyone can.

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