To what circle of hell are Republican officials about to consign themselves? It would be useful for members of Congress to declare that they will never enter the fourth circle — the demolition of the integrity and independence of the FBI — if only to deter Trump from forcing a constitutional crisis. Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) has done so, arguing such an action would be “the beginning of the end of the Trump presidency.” But it is hard to imagine such courage written broadly in today’s GOP — and even harder to imagine such courage exhibited preemptively.
The Republican Press is supporting Trump:
It is worth making clear that every conservative media voice — including, recently, the editorial voice of the Wall Street Journal — that attacks the objectivity and legitimacy of Mueller is giving Trump cover and encouragement to move against him. They are dropping lit matches in the dry tinder of American politics. And they would be responsible, in part, for the resulting wildfire.
Trump staged a hostile takeover of an intellectually and morally bankrupt party. The question, Gerson writes, comes down to this:
Do Republicans and conservatives really want to be remembered as a bodyguard of enablers for this man? For this cause?
If this is their cause, ignominy will be their legacy.
Image: politicaldig.com
8 comments:
My father gave me fabulous advice. Never wrestle with skunks, as you know no matter if you win
the stink will live on.
Thats what we have here. Two groups of incredibly stinking people fighting to find perfume.
There is no evidence that the Russians did anything. So why would they? What is the payoff? Therefore you should ignore all the nonsense. Unless you think the Russians are some kind
of social media wunderkind?
Has the bankrupted Trump got mercy from Russia? One thing we know for sure the coup
that happened in the Ukraine gave a big cash flow to many connected players. So its this
that periels Monafrant, not trying to overthrough the USA with Russian Money.
Politicians, as a rule, are at heart timid, feckless creatures focused primarily on their personal interests and fortunes. These qualities are on glowing display in Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell and they set the tone for their respective caucuses.
Who is standing up to Trump? Flake, Corker and McCain, none of which will be around for another term in the Senate. House Republicans are even more timid. They live under constant threat from Trump to unseat them in their next primary should they not toe the line.
How much of this reflects realities that pre-existed Trump such as "big money" politics in which powerful donors get to call the shots and those interested in a political career understand their place. How many of them rose up against their "bought and paid for" Congress? McCain, Feingold and a handful of others. And so transactional government moved in, the manifestation of which is ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council, where bought off legislators go annually to receive their marching orders from their corporate patrons.
Trump seems to have a talent for gauging moral weakness and that creates many opportunities for his self-serving amorality. He knows that most Congressional Republicans are easily cowed and reliably complacent. His entire history is one of playing suckers.
Owen I love Paul Krugman but he destroyed a lot of credibility when he went to the wall
for Hillary despite no public evidence,
I'm afraid there's mounting evidence that the Russians did do something, Steve. Whether it worked out as they wished is an open question. Perhaps a chaotic Trump administration is what they wanted and what they got.
Exactly right, Mound. Trump does not have a giant intellect. But he does have a giant ego -- and he knows how to play people for suckers.
Public evidence of what, Steve?
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/10/31/16579016/paul-ryan-mitch-mcconnell-cowardice-trump
Thanks for the link, Mound. Vanity Fair also has a interesting piece on the reaction of right wing media to the Mueller indictments:
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/10/how-right-wing-media-is-ignoring-the-mueller-indictments
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