5 ms·

We are moving that way, but it's not something that we can't start to reverse by changing the president in the upcoming election. I'm really stunned that so man

We are moving that way, but it's not something that we can't start to reverse by changing the president in the upcoming election. I'm really stunned that so many republicans in congress go along with him. One after another, when they decide not to seek re-election come out against him, not all but many. Why are they so cowardly? It's very sad for me to see this as an American.

redis_mlc 6y ago
> I'm really stunned that so many Republicans in congress go along with him. Trump is not a Republican, he is a Trumpist. The Republican party wanted nothing to do with him, but when you're a billionaire with a national TV show and massive Twitter profile, you win.
- dmix 6y ago
  It’s funny how quickly people forgot how none of the mainstream republicans wanted anything to do with Trump... until he was the only option left and they went with their only viable option to win (sounds familiar to this year’s democrat primaries doesn’t it? Although with even less internal resistance to the winning is more important than quality idea.) What we’re witnessing in Congress and elsewhere is political survival. Politicians are masters at compromise and self survival. And power blocks have a way of closing ranks while their power remains, but the second it slips no one will care and they’ll eat him alive (just like how Bush was persona non grata for almost a decade, until his recent image revival by cynical democrats). A recent poll of Americans using words to describe the president and one of the most popular words by right leaning Americans was ‘jerk’. So many people draw huge conclusions simply because he was seen a least bad option in the minds of less than half the voting public, when the Democrat option was deeply unpopular (including judging by her prior repeated failed campaigns) and seen as untrustworthy. The fact the next election is not a cake walk for democrats also says everything you need to know about the quality of the competition they managed to pull together against what should be the easiest adversary in modern history, with wall-to-wall negative coverage by the global press and endless attacks across social media... just like last time. But I guess it’s easier to make partisan platitudes than have nuance.
- ytpete 6y ago
  That felt true originally. But the degree to which the GOP has capitulated to him, made excuses for his misstatements, and insulated him from the consequences of his behavior - it's hard to spot much distinction between the party and Trumpism at this point. I hope some kind of sane, non-demagogic, fact-interested conservative party emerges from the ashes of this thing someday though. We do still need political counterbalances in this country, at the end of the day.
  - Chris2048 6y ago
    Trump isn't any more Republican, The GOP just got more Trumpist..
titzer 6y ago
He is the most effective sideshow and cage rattler they have ever met. It is exactly what they want. He gets the spotlight, gets to be a complete asshole with absolute impunity, is literally immune from prosecution, and his daily twitter rants keep the media bloviating endlessly. Meanwhile, completely unqualified conservative judges are being packed into every court, EPA is going out the window, treasury dollars go to all their friends, and oversight of the whole thing is phased out. It's a smash and grab operation and the Republicans are in on it. Every once in a while they'll get their base all worked up about some dumb thing or another while the ship lurches further towards fascism.

redis_mlc 6y ago

> I'm really stunned that so many Republicans in congress go along with him. Trump is not a Republican, he is a Trumpist. The Republican party wanted nothing to do with him, but when you're a billionaire with a national TV show and massive Twitter profile, you win.

dmix 6y ago
It’s funny how quickly people forgot how none of the mainstream republicans wanted anything to do with Trump... until he was the only option left and they went with their only viable option to win (sounds familiar to this year’s democrat primaries doesn’t it? Although with even less internal resistance to the winning is more important than quality idea.) What we’re witnessing in Congress and elsewhere is political survival. Politicians are masters at compromise and self survival. And power blocks have a way of closing ranks while their power remains, but the second it slips no one will care and they’ll eat him alive (just like how Bush was persona non grata for almost a decade, until his recent image revival by cynical democrats). A recent poll of Americans using words to describe the president and one of the most popular words by right leaning Americans was ‘jerk’. So many people draw huge conclusions simply because he was seen a least bad option in the minds of less than half the voting public, when the Democrat option was deeply unpopular (including judging by her prior repeated failed campaigns) and seen as untrustworthy. The fact the next election is not a cake walk for democrats also says everything you need to know about the quality of the competition they managed to pull together against what should be the easiest adversary in modern history, with wall-to-wall negative coverage by the global press and endless attacks across social media... just like last time. But I guess it’s easier to make partisan platitudes than have nuance.
ytpete 6y ago
That felt true originally. But the degree to which the GOP has capitulated to him, made excuses for his misstatements, and insulated him from the consequences of his behavior - it's hard to spot much distinction between the party and Trumpism at this point. I hope some kind of sane, non-demagogic, fact-interested conservative party emerges from the ashes of this thing someday though. We do still need political counterbalances in this country, at the end of the day.
- Chris2048 6y ago
  Trump isn't any more Republican, The GOP just got more Trumpist..

titzer 6y ago

He is the most effective sideshow and cage rattler they have ever met. It is exactly what they want. He gets the spotlight, gets to be a complete asshole with absolute impunity, is literally immune from prosecution, and his daily twitter rants keep the media bloviating endlessly. Meanwhile, completely unqualified conservative judges are being packed into every court, EPA is going out the window, treasury dollars go to all their friends, and oversight of the whole thing is phased out. It's a smash and grab operation and the Republicans are in on it. Every once in a while they'll get their base all worked up about some dumb thing or another while the ship lurches further towards fascism.