Politics The Elephant in the room...The GOP today

That article is pretty garbage. There's no real evidence that Republicans are distancing themselves from Trump, and given that more than 80% of Republican voters approve of Trump as of last week there's little reason to think they would. There's definitely some power plays happening; I think Republican leadership expected Trump to be more docile and controllable, and are now having a hard time keeping him on track, but that is not the same thing as separating themselves from him. The Russia sanctions were not a blow at Trump, they were just experienced politicians doing what experienced politicians do. With more evidence emerging seemingly by the day that Russia interfered in the 2016 election, retaliatory sanctions are pretty much required.

In the same vein, characterizing the ACA repeal vote as some great Republican rebellion against Trump is blatantly disingenuous. Senators Murkowski, Collins, and McCain all have long histories of taking moderate stances on many issues, and all three have a track record of being very willing to voice opposition to the party line when they feel it's warranted. This was not some great Republican renunciation of Donald Trump or anything else; it was three moderate senators voting against a terrible piece of legislation.

Some media outlets seem determined to spin a narrative of Trump's fall from grace as if he's going to be repudiated and impeached any day now. That doesn't really reflect reality. Trump has put the GOP in a bad spot right now in that their choice is essentially to alienate independent moderates or alienate their far-right core voters, but there's no sign that they're going to go against their base any time soon. I think it's important to be realistic about these sorts of things, and as of right now, talk of the GOP distancing themselves from the Trump administration is pure fantasy.

 

Not that I'm complaining...but holy shit.
It's a strange world

 

I'm not one for the current GOP...although I have some conservative values
But I wonder what those who identify themselves as Republicans feel about this???
The GOP’s Civil War Over Trump

Any perspective?

 

Good move by the GOP governor of Maryland.
Some are finally getting it.
Gov. Hogan wants controversial statue removed from Maryland State House grounds

Hey, I may be cynical and say he's doing it because MD tends to be Dem leaning and there's a significant and powerful black population here.
But same difference, even if he is...
It pulls it down and something non-offensive goes up.

Hopefully, he's doing it for the right reasons.
If anything, it's time to move on. (besides, MD hasn't been "Southern" for a LONG time)

Weird the way the momentum of things that get built or titles and such to just stay around....whether good or bad.

 

Good question...
Why Republicans Can’t Govern

Can't govern if your primary premise is government is bad

 

Let’s talk about ‘The Jimmy Kimmel Test’ for a second, and not the one that you think

And no ones fault but your own...

 

Kushner used private email to conduct White House business

Umm...isn't THIS what the GOP accused Hillary of??
And launched a 1000 investigations...and a million accusations.

What do we hear now??
*crickets*
Except for one non-partisan investigation train conducted by Mueller...with cow-catcher and all...chugging along
Train's coming...

The hypocrisy is deafening

 

The GOP Identity Crisis

They lost their way and souls years ago.
Going from disappointing to despicable.

And I used to vote Republican and have quite a few conservative values.
Sure the Dems may be corrupt...but the GOP raised it to an artform.
I can't stand the hate.
The bile
The dirty tricks
The stand. no matter the logic, the impact, the harm

You can be better humans, better citizens, better leaders.
They're supporting the worst of us.
Do the right thing.
You CAN do that AND still be conservative.

 

Hundreds of White House emails sent to third Kushner family account

Why does this NOT surprise me at all??
GOP has become a purveyor of constant hypocrisy (not that the Dems are often clean either...but the GOP seems to have made it an art-form and a mindset)
Do as we say, not as we do.
JAIL that one over there, but not us...it's not important when we do it.

And they do it, WHY...because they can get away with it...and it works.
We allow it to influence our choices...then don't react when someone is not REALLY screaming about it.

So why do WE let this happen?
Sure, life is full and it's a blur...but we're biased, tribal and seemingly do NOT remember anything from the past.

The voters have as much to blame on the quality of their government and Congress
And the lack of action to do something about corruption and poor ethics.
It's THEM, not US
My Rep is good...theirs is BAD.

Look in the mirror lately??
Think about who you're voting for??
What HAVE they done?
Do you REALLY care?
or are you just voting the ticket...and what you saw on the filtered news...or what your family and friends said??

Are you REALLY independent?
Do you REALLY think for yourself?

Why vote for a party or representative that lies or twists or "gets away" all the time??
They sure do a hell of a tap dance, don't they??
Pay the piper, folks.
They need their money...

 

True
The GOP needs to save their souls
The DNC needs to find their souls...

Voters need to figure out how to read souls
Because we suck at it as a whole

 

In a switch, GOP deserts its budget-cutting mantra

I've got one question...did they really EVER??

I'm all for some fiscal conservativism, restaint, efficiency, budget and debt reduction.
BUT
1. within reason...we DO have to spend some money.
2. GOP actually spends MORE than Dems
(FACT - they cut the programs they don't like, which are small and a fraction of the whole REAL no magic budget...and spend TONS on military, intelligence , police, etc...)

It's like saving a buck on eggs, then spending several hundred on those spinning rims.
(one is FOOD, the other is projection of power...totally unnecessary - hey guys...the PENTAGON even said they do NOT need those tanks )

 

The Republican’s Guide to Presidential Etiquette

Pretty Much...

Hypocrisy
'nuff said

 

Analysis: Trump’s attacks on Senate Republicans are paying political dividends

Looks like the GOP have invited a serpent into the nest.
Hasn't anything taught you not to trust serpents??? (things that make you go...hmm. What is that book called that they rave about so much?? )

Oh well, guess Trump gets to have his GOP eggs and eat them too.
And the Dems in the other nest are just watching and waiting when theirs is vulnerable and maybe even empty.

The GOP really has to work on who they invite to the table.
They contradict themselves so much on those values they espouse on.

 

Analysis | Republicans’ horrible week (and not-great year) was entirely predictable

You reap what you sow...
There's a reason that's a truism.
Sowed hate
Sowed discord
Sowed distrust
Sowed division
Sowed selfishness
Sowed ...
And so on...

This is why they're collapsing like a rotten pumpkin.
The only thing going for them is the Dems have no drive, no message, no spine.

But you can only live on the weakness of your opponents so long.
You have to lead, govern, fix
It doesn't do it by itself.

And putting an insane bus driver at the wheel doesn't help.

This is why I cannot side with the GOP...they are doing everything the "wrong" way.
Not ideas...but attitude.
Although their ideas are mostly driven by the salesmanship of corporate lobbyists. (or what sells to their basest base)
Not what works.

Gotta throw away that rotten pumpkin.
Start fresh.

 

Trump’s GOP Firewall

You ever wonder why that couple over there allows their brat to run amok??
You're basically seeing it in action here.
The GOP is only concerned with their own asses??

No rule here.
No leading.
No adults.

Just stare in shock at the chaos
and nobody responsible for controlling stopping it. (hey, they're majority...he's in their party...it's on them)

 

Everyone Knew Roy Moore Dated High School Girls, Says Former Colleague

Not a good thing for the GOP
How do you defend this???

The Dems may gain a seat...