I don't give two shits and a popcorn fart what Steve Schmidt has to say about the GOP

[eleny]

That is all.

[JI7]

1. I do. He says it better than most. I like it that when people tell the truth about trump

And the gop.

[eleny]

3. He helped the GOP to get into power and now all he has is angry words

Well, until he plans the strategy and leads the charge into whatever battle he's proposing he can STFU, imo.

[JI7]

7. No he didn't. He opposed trump from the start

[eleny]

9. He's been working for the GOP for decades

We here at DU knew where his Party was headed while he was working within it. Now that the inevitable has happened I won't give him an inch until he starts to lead a movement. Angry words aren't enough for me to let him off the hook.

[JI7]

13. No. Many on DU supported trump unlike steve schmidt

They ended up being banned. But many on du over the years claimed no difference and only attacked Democrats.

Steve opposed trump from the start and he doesn't find back or do both sides bs in telling the truth about him.

[eleny]

33. The people at DU who suported Trump were probably trolls

Jesus! Get a clue.

Schmidt supported the GOP's march to total power. Now that it's almost too late for our democracy and he's scared he can go to blazes.

[JI7]

36. Schmidt opposed trump from the start and tells the truth about trump more clearly than anyone

And he is the guy you are attacking ?

It's people who attack those who criticize trump that are the problem, not schmidt.

[eleny]

43. Dream on at your own risk

Bounce Schmidt on a blanket if it pleases you. But i'm not putting any eggs in ex-GOP baskets.

[JI7]

45. It seems to please you to attack one of the strongest voices against trump

[eleny]

49. IMO our strongest voices have been long time Democrats

I hold them in higher esteem than some loudmouth who helped the GOP get to where it is and then shit his pants over the outcomes.

[JI7]

53. Nope, Schmidt has been stronger than most and his being a former republican was

A huge reason he is so effective.

[eleny]

69. You mean to tell me that you hold Schmidt in higher esteem than Democrats who speak out every day?

I find our Dems stronger than Schmidt. We've each made our choice. It's obvious that I don't find him as effective.

[JI7]

74. I think Steve does far better than Alan dershowitz who is a long time Democrat

[leftofcool]

62. The only Dem screaming out about Trump is Maxine Waters

[eleny]

65. You haven't been listening to the Dems who serve(d) on investigative committees?

Sounds like only loud gets your attention.

[bdamomma]

101. there are other Democrats

who have been speaking out Swalwell, Adam Schiff, Warner, Blumenthal
John Lewis, Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris.

[Exotica]

130. My Rep, the wonderful Ted Lieu, has been very vocal against the rotter Trump

and all he and his legion of goons embody.

[GWC58]

135. My Representative is

Andy Harris! 🤮 Nuff said!!

[jberryhill]

122. His promotion of Sarah Palin ripped off a scab that would better have been left in place

While the jingoistic strain of the GOP got a huge boost from Reagan, the nomination of Sarah Palin was the opening bell of the latest round.

[renate]

5. I do too

He has an absolutely wonderful way with words.

[obnoxiousdrunk]

15. Me too.

[Hekate]

6. You and me both. He IS doing something -- he has a microphone and a camera and the truth.

[eleny]

11. The right wing isn't listening to him

They could care less. He helped get them to where they are today. To me he's no better than the "good Germans" of WW2. He wasn't so stupid that he didn't know they were after total power. Now that he's scared, he's mad? He's worried about the future of his kids? He can go peddle rack shellac.

[JI7]

16. That's such bs. Right now going after those who oppose trump are the problem

Who cares if the gop doesn't listen to him. They don't listen to any Democrats or anyone who opposes trump so you think only trump should be allowed to speak ?

[eleny]

21. I didn't say Schmidt shouldn't be allowed to speak

I'm saying I don't trust him for the long haul. I call bs on him. He'll crawl back to the GOP as soon as there's a Republican candidate like Romney. Schmidt is no Democrat at heart. Like he said in an interview - he's worked for the GOP for most of his life.

[JI7]

23. I don't give a shit if he wants to support romney. I'm glad he opposes trump

Who is the one in office now and fuck8ng things up.

[eleny]

26. I do give a shit if he supports anyone in the GOP

And I believe he will. He worked for the GOP for way too long.

[JI7]

32. This isn't about the usual party politics. So you don't think republicans in congress should

Speak against trump ?

You don't think republ8can governors and mayors should speak against trump ?

[eleny]

41. Trouble is that most of those are speaking out because they're leaving office

There are a scant few speaking out and against Trump's policies who are running for reelection.

Why do you think the Mass. governor defies Trump and won't send Nat'l Guard troops to the border? He's in a generally liberal state. How many red state GOP politicians are speaking out against Trump? Do you need more than five fingers to count them? Don't hold your breath now that Trump is on an immigration roll with the SCOTUS providing wind for his back.

Dream on at your own risk.

[JI7]

42. Yet. You decide to attack those who do speak out.

[eleny]

46. I don't trust Schmidt and his epiphany

He should at least have left the GOP as soon as Trump won the nomination. For me, now was too late. I don't trust him.

He stuck with the Party even though Trump got the nom because he fed the racist, fascist core of the base. He stuck with the GOP even after learning along with the rest of us that our national security organizations had evidence that the Russians helped him steal the election. It is too late for me to take his sincerity seriously.

[JI7]

48. Too late for what ? Kids are still trying to get back with parents

He fuck8ng opposed trump.

Dershowtiz is still a Democrat, maybe we should listen to him.

[eleny]

51. You're arguments have devolved to nonsense

Come back when you can make sense.

[JI7]

54. Kids being kept from their parents is not nonsense

I expect everyone to speak against what is being done regardless of their party.

[eleny]

57. Well, we can thank Schmidt for helping his old Party to get so powerful

After all, Schmidt is so articulate. He's been part of the problem all along. So, no thanks to holding him in esteem.

[JI7]

61. Nope we can't blame the guy who opposed and spoke strongest against trump

Trump lost the popular vote and the republ8can party has gotten weaker.

Their hold on power is mostly Putin and gerrymandering.

[eleny]

86. He remained in the Party long after Trump won the nomination

He worked hard to try and make Palin palatable to voters. His anger isn't enough penance, afaic.

[JI7]

90. He did not support trump and spent all his time attacking trump. Kim Davis was a Democrat

While she was opposing gay rights.

[eleny]

94. If you want to defend an ex GOPer who helped take our country down the path to destruction...

... I won't be joining in on that circle jerk.

Obama didn't support gay marriage until Biden gave him a shove. I won't hold it against McCaskill for some of her votes because I know she's holding onto a thread to keep her seat. I sent support to Doug Jones to get us another Dem senator even though he holds some moderate positions.

You want to diss Dems - you're in the wrong forum. I'll fight to help change moderate Dem minds. But I won't kiss up to an ex GOPer who supported the Party on the march to fascist power. He knew what he was doing.

Thanks for the thread kick. I appreciate it.

[JI7]

95. I'm dissing Kim Fucking davis who is a trump supporter

[thegoose]

2. Balloon juice

Time for activism, Steve-o.

[eleny]

4. Amen!

[brush]

8. You probably should. We need all the allies we can get from the other side. If he can draw more...

repugs away from voting for trumpsters it helps us.

[Awsi Dooger]

10. If you ignore his background

He's the sharpest guy out there right now. Easily the best and most devastating analogies, and they show several times per week. None of the left wing pundits or writers come close to matching Schmidt in that regard. That's why his name appears so frequently in headers here.

I feel sorry for anyone who doesn't appreciate it. When these type of threads show up apparently they are designed for a certain crowd to tunnel vision clap clap. More pathetic than anything else. If we rely on people like Chuck Schumer to publicly define Trump with his incompetent standard-fare phrasing, the truth never makes it to the public record.

And make no mistake, this era will be heavily scrutinized 50 and 100 years from now and beyond. Book after book and documentary after documentary. Whatever the outlet and method of the era. Donald Trump will be viewed as one of the worst Americans of all time. Historians will find people from this period who were describing it perfectly in real time:

I can guarantee Steve Schmidt's words and clips will be there.

[eleny]

14. He worked hard for the GOP to achieve total power

Now that they have it he's scared. Spare me thoughts about his wisdom. How many has he gotten to see the light and switch sides?

Guys like him will go crawling back to the GOP as soon as there's a candidate like Mitt Romney they can cling to. Mark my words. Schmidt's epiphany is temporary.

[JI7]

19. Who givesa shit about Romney. Trump is the one in office right now

And the one that needs going after.

[eleny]

24. I'm confident that Schmidt would work for someone like Romney

He'd reverse his decision to abandon the GOP in a heartbeat. So I take his current assertions with a grain of salt. You want to trust him? Go ahead. I'll pass on the adulation.

[JI7]

25. I don't give a shit if he supports romney. I'm glad he is speaking out clearly

Against the fuck8ng mess that is trump.

[onecaliberal]

107. I have to say I agree J17. I'm sick of the mealy mouth lets be nice bull...

The fact is we don’t have enough Dems willing to tell it like Steve. The fact that he was a diehard republican, makes him all the more effective in my perspective.

[njhoneybadger]

12. You Don't give two shits about the loudest and best defender of Democracy in America today

Why?

[eleny]

17. I've explained my thoughts in replies in this thread

I don't trust him for the long haul.

[njhoneybadger]

31. We must use the weapons we have for the November elections.

We don't have to swear fealty to him. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

[leftofcool]

66. Well, whatever. I am greatful to anyone who defends our Democracy from Trump

I don't see Dems except for a few like Maxine and John Lewis doing much except calling for "civility." America needs all the help it can get right now.

[ck4829]

125. It is suspicious.

[obnoxiousdrunk]

18. +1. n/t

[JI7]

20. Exactly, makes one wonder. Maybe we should listen to dershowitz

[BeyondGeography]

22. Steve Schmidt is a fucking hero

He’s desperate. Everyone should be. I support any and all people of goodwill who oppose this regime intelligently and forcefully. This isn’t a political calculation on his part. It’s real. There are plenty of Democrats on the telly who have always voted the “right” way and aren’t bringing a fraction of his passion and articulation to the table right now. That should bother you.

[jaysunb]

30. +1000 n/t

[njhoneybadger]

34. Damn right!

[leftofcool]

68. +1

[Raster]

104. Yes!

[teach1st]

27. At this point

It's not party politics anymore. We are not Democrats or Republicans. We are pro-Trump or anti-Trump. Some of my Republican friends are speaking out against the Trump idiocracy, and their voices have value regardless of their past stances. Mr. Schmidt is on the good side right now, and his arguments against Trump are eloquent and powerful. He's with me.

I used to be an idiot in some respects. I regret some of the things I've done in my life. I've changed, and my voice in support of issues I believe in shouldn't be judged on what I used to be like. The same with Mr. Schmidt.

[quickesst]

28. Well....

Despite his past, Steve Schmidt is a better spokesperson for voting Democratic than many Democratic spokespersons. I have to ask myself, why would someone kick a person to the side of the road who will undoubtedly garner votes for democratic candidates.

[we can do it]

29. I'd like to get a video clip of him on Chris Hayes show a minute ago.

I think it would be effective in persuading a couple people I know.

[mnhtnbb]

58. I just watched it, too. He's articulate and 100% correct about the threat of Trump

and Trump's followers to this country.

[Raster]

105. Oh yes, we are at a perilous juncture in our Country's history...

...Schmidt is brilliant, a keen student of history and extremely familiar with the American political process. And I do not doubt his love for this Country ONE IOTA. He succinctly articulates what I am also feeling.

[leanforward]

35. Just happened to watch Steve S with Chris H

He is articulate. He is a patriot. I likewise remember he was the campaign manager Senator John McCain.

Steve has made a change. I listened tonight and he is right on for me. I understand what he is saying.

We must act.

[procon]

37. You should. He's an activist who appears on every major news network,

including all the rightwing TV and radio stations, and his opinion articles get published in nationally read newspapers. Like George Will, now Schmidt has renounced the Republican Party and he's out there encouraging Republicans to vote for Democrats.

Schmidt is a Never Trumper and he has never hesitated to speak up against him. The DNC isn't paying him to do that. He's an eloquent and forceful speaker, a new voice in the resistance that might make other moderate Republicans think that it is more important to save the country and the Democrats are their only hope of doing that.

[BootinUp]

38. There's no such thing

As a popcorn fart.

[njhoneybadger]

76. The saying is "dryer than a popcorn fart"

If a popcorn fart did exists it would be dry.

[eleny]

82. Not at our house!

Sincerely, thanks for the thread kick.

[madaboutharry]

39. Steve Schmidt has integrity.

He has owned his mistakes. He is now fighting to save our democracy. He deserves respect.

This country will never right itself if people shared your attitude.

It is always those who can overcome differences and work together toward a common goal who are remembered as the heroes and peace makers.

[eleny]

83. I wonder if he has the strength and integrity to go to Utah and throw shade on Romney

Please let me know when he does that.

Sincere thanks for the thread kick.

[madaboutharry]

89. I feel sorry for angry people.

[Tatiana]

40. We are in a national crisis and he seems willing to help.

I don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth. We can't change what he did, we can only change where we go from here.

He is willing to use his voice to help us defeat Trump. Let's just work from a common goal, for now.

Schmidt understands how the current Republican party thinks and can help us formulate a strategy to take these monsters down.

We need all the help we can get. We've lost the Presidency, House of Representatives, Senate, Supreme Court, and control of numerous governorships. Yeah, they cheated and stole power, but the end result is we ain't got it and there's an uphill road we have to climb. We're not in a position to cast aspersions.

If we demonstrate this attitude towards people who can help us, we're going to stay stuck in the mud, watching the Cult of Trump's steady march towards fascism.

[njhoneybadger]

91. Well said, Tatiana

[Salviati]

44. Then don't listen to him. Problem solved.

You have control of your own life. Exercise it.

[JI7]

47. Exactly, i doubt the kids trump is hiding care about the purity

Of those speaking out against what trump is doing.

[Honeycombe8]

50. I do. He's articulate, and an important voice to add to the growing Republican voices.

He's one of the regular Republicans. Not one of the wacko alt-righters. Well, he WAS one of the regular Republicans, until he changed to Independent.

[eleny]

55. Growing Republican voices?

You mean the ones who found bravery after they decided not to run for reelection? Or, no, maybe it's the moderate Massachusettes governor who knows he wouldn't have a chance at his next bid for reelection because he's in a mainly liberal state.

"Growing Republican voices" - Thanks for the chuckle.

[JI7]

56. They could have kept their seats by going along with trump. Would you have preferred

That ?

[Honeycombe8]

60. Not those. I'm speaking of others...

Joe Scarborough speaks to millions of Americans of both parties every M thru F. McCain. Jeff Flake. Warren was somewhat critical, which was what caused Trump to tweet-attack him.

There aren't many, which is what makes each voice important. Esp if they are articulate and knowledgeable, as Schmidt & the others are.

It's important to have Republican voices.

[eleny]

63. They aren't running for reelection because they're afraid they'd lose

Where have you been? The GOP's Alabama experience had them making for the doors.

Frankly, I would have enjoyed seeing them have their asses handed to them come November.

I'll keep the faith with Democrats even if you can't.

[JI7]

67. They would have won if they went along with trump and were not critical of him in any way

Which you seem to prefer.

Democrats don't run in republican primaries.

[eleny]

71. But they'd lose reelection and that's why they're fleeing

[JI7]

72. They would have lost the primary.

[Honeycombe8]

59. I'll 'splain it to you. Joe Scarborough is another. Millions watch him every M - F. McCain...

who was critical of Trump from the start. Flake was critical while he was running for re-election. Warren, who was SOMEWHAT critical of some policies, resulting in Trump attacking him and Warren losing. And a few others. Not many. WHICH IS WHY EACH VOICE IS IMPORTANT.

[eleny]

102. I don't trust him

Help toss him on a blanket if it's what you want to do that but I remain skeptical and trust my own judgement. He turned on a dime and now he's some darling of the left. No thank you.

[Honeycombe8]

114. That's not the point. The point is...there are Republicans who have, & are, speaking out.

They speak to an important audience. It is HELPFUL.

They are Republicans of the old guard. They are not Trumpers. But they are still Republicans at heart.

They hate Trump, and because they are Republicans, they have some insight into exactly what is going on with Trump and that it's not the Republican Party.

They are important. They are saying...no...that's not the Republican Party. Warning, warning.

[eleny]

115. He worked way to hard for Palin

He didn't see what she was and I should trust his voice? No thanks.

[Honeycombe8]

116. Noted. Everyone's approval is not needed. It's enough that he's helping the cause.

But he IS Republican at heart. And he'll rejoin that party.

I don't hate Republicans of the old guard just because my views differ. But I'm probably unusual in that respect. I DO hate the Trump Party and its ignorant supporters.

[eleny]

117. I just read tonight that he was the one who selected Palin

It's here in this posting at DU tonight.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=10793340

According to the article in that posting Obama draws a straight like from Palin being chosen to Trump's election. So no thanks to forgiving or listening to Schmidt. He chose Palin. Let that sink in. He's dead to me.

[Honeycombe8]

118. I'm aware he was involved in McCain's campaign. I don't think you understand.

I don't CARE what he's done in the past. His is an important voice NOW in fighting what he calls the Trump Party.

It was ultimately McCain's decision. That they didn't vet her properly was a group failure, including McCain's. And Schmidt admits it was a mistake and he didn't really know what she was. I saw an interview where he more or less admitted that the thought of her as President, should she have made it that far after becoming VP, is scary.

But it was a group of McCain campaign team members who found her & failed to vet her. They were scrambling, knowing they were losing, and desperate for a "game change," as the movie's name says. They didn't even know her daughter was pregnant & unmarried.

[Honeycombe8]

120. I don't take what Obama said in the same way you do.

You seem to imply the Palin thing was a causation of sorts, to Trump. I think he meant he sees a straight line of correlation, as a reflection of the rise of the Tea Party and the power it was gaining in the Republican Party.

Palin didn't cause anything. She got support because the Tea Party was gaining power, and they latched on to her, which propelled them to latching on to the next hate-filled Tea Party type candidate.

That's how I interpret his remarks. He clearly says, "I see a straight line from the announcement of Sarah Palin as the vice-presidential nominee to what we see today in Donald Trump, the emergence of the Freedom Caucus, the tea party, and the shift in the center of gravity for the Republican Party." and... "Donald Trump has galvanized blue collar workers among the American electorate who have often felt left behind by Washington and national politics. The populist language he has adopted on the campaign trail—paired with the anti-trade, America-first policies he champions—links back to the spirit that made former Gov. Sarah Palin a national force in the years after the 2008 election."

Anyway, it is what it is. And it's precisely because the anti-Trump speakers are not Democrats that gives them some persuasion with others, like Independents & Republicans, that Democrats don't have.

Joe Scarborough, Steve Schmidt, McCain, George Will. They reach a different audience. Some people will listen to them, when they won't listen to Democrats. That's all I mean. Plus, I just think most of these guys are articulate in stating their views, that it's especially persuasive.

[doc03]

52. I think he is saying what needs to be said by Democrats. We have another potential Hitler running

the country and for the most part Democrats are as afraid of Trump as Republicans. So far we have George Will, Steve Schmidt and
couple elected Republicans that are speaking out. What do we have Maxine Waters and that is about it.

[eleny]

73. Maxine Waters isn't alone

Sounds like you haven't been paying attention.

[doc03]

78. Please name one that tells it like it is and doesn't pussyfoot around. nt

[eleny]

81. Elizabeth Warren

[doc03]

84. I don't see her on TV every night, matter of fact haven't seen her in weeks. The

republicans seem to have an endless list of people that will go on Fox day after day defending Trump in anything he does.

[eleny]

92. Our tv networks are owned by right wingers

We're lucky that some hosts invite Warren.

Btw, here's something Warren has been up to since you haven't seen her on tv.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100210792287

[Puzzledtraveller]

64. count me in that too

[highplainsdem]

70. Judging by Twitter, most Dems and progressives would disagree with you. They admire him.

The only hatred I'm seeing directed at Schmidt there is from Trump supporters.

[eleny]

75. I can't admire a man who worked to helped the GOP achieve its awful power

[Dawson Leery]

77. If he is going to go the extra mile and back Democrats for public office for the time being

as a means to stop Trump and the horrifically corrupt GOP, I will take his support.

This does not mean we should not deal with the greater problems affecting the right.

[eleny]

80. He'll have to spend a lot of his time stumping for Dems in red states...

... for me to spare him an inch.

I want to see him in public throwing shade on the Republican candidates running for office this November including Romney. That would take the kind of gumption and resolve that I don't believe Schmidt has in him.

[nini]

79. You better because without people like him we will never get out of this mess

Since the elected repuke leadership is in on all this people like Schmidt need to speak up and get those who are reachable to lead the charge. We won't be able to do this alone unfortunately.

You don't have to agree with him on everything but you do need to on this fight for democracy as we know it.

[eleny]

97. He helped get us to where we are today

I don't trust him.

[nini]

110. Wake up.. this one extreme or the other thinking is killing us

Yes.. he did some dumb stuff with Palin etc.. but if you remember he knew it right away. He has been talking half way sensible for years on MSNBC. Now he is going full jugular. We need him.

If you want to live in the past we will have no future.

[eleny]

111. "dumb stuff"? You wake up

According to him he spent most of his life promoting the GOP. This goes way beyond "dumb stuff". He should have quit the Party when Palin was selected.

Thanks for the thread kick.

[nini]

112. you're welcome - here's another kick for you.

Again.. keep living in the past. :eyes;

The rest of us will do the heavy lifting I guess.

[eleny]

113. Thx for the second thread kick

I appreciate it.

[ck4829]

124. Indeed

[Cha]

85. Lawrence Tribes disagrees and so do I..

Laurence Tribe: We need more like Steve Schmidt and Nicolle Wallace. Desperately.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100210792655#top

[FloridaBlues]

87. Steve is talking more against this trump regime than most elected Dems!

[eleny]

100. Baloney

[USALiberal]

88. Well, you are wrong on this topic. But keep trying! nt

[EffieBlack]

93. What's a popcorn fart?

[JI7]

96. Maybe failed attempt to silence one of trump's strongest critics

[eleny]

99. I don't call for his silence I simply mistrust and said so

Oh, the horrors for not agreeing with you.

[eleny]

98. An almost silent small puff of gas

[chillfactor]

103. Sorry but I strongly disagree

Steve has done some things in the past that he has said or done that I did not approve of.....but for a life-long Republican to leave the party is quite stunning. A now Steve has one of the strongest voices against tRUMP and the defunct republican party out there. His words are strong and thoughtful He makes me sit up and take notice.

[eleny]

108. I sit up and notice what Dems are saying

Schmidt can take his act elsewhere. I don't trust him.

[shanny]

106. Strongly agree!

Just another rightwinger trying to pretend that twitler is somehow different from what the Republican party is and has been for decades. Fuck him. I don't want to help him build a lifeboat, I want to throw him an anchor.

[eleny]

109. I appreciate your lifeboat image

If he quit McCain's campaign when Palin was chosen I'd have some respect for him.

[BannonsLiver]

119. Thanks for the update.

[Garrett78]

121. As I recently posted:

Various Republicans, including members of the media and retiring Congresspersons, have been critical of Trump. Steve Schmidt, Republican Party strategist turned TV pundit and Trump critic, has even renounced his Republican Party membership. Schmidt tweeted, "29 years and nine months ago I registered to vote and became a member of The Republican Party which was founded in 1854 to oppose slavery and stand for the dignity of human life. Today I renounce my membership in the Republican Party. It is fully the party of Trump."

Now, let me preface what I'm about to write by saying the more people that recognize the horrors of the Trump Administration the better. But let's be clear about a few things. Trump and his base of support is a monster of the Republican Party's making, a monster who was 50 years in the making. The Southern Strategy and racist dog whistling has been modus operandi for the GOP for longer than Steve Schmidt has been alive. Schmidt turned eighteen as Ronald Reagan's administration was coming to an end. I imagine Reagan inspired Schmidt to register as a Republican. Reagan, the man who basically kicked off his 1980 presidential campaign by giving a speech about "states' rights" less than ten miles from Philadelphia, MS, where three civil rights workers were murdered. Every other Republican presidential candidate, from Nixon to Bush to McCain to Romney, has also engaged in dog whistling.

In addition, the Republican Party has engaged in race-based gerrymandering and race-based voter suppression. The Republican Party has also fomented and exploited sexism, misogyny, xenophobia, jingoism and hatred of LGBTQ persons. The Republican Party has undermined trust in government by infusing government with incompetence and corruption. The Republican Party has also fostered the "liberal media" myth, which has contributed to a highly irresponsible infotainment industry that promotes false equivalencies and seems unwilling to label facts as facts and lies as lies (out, I suppose, of some twisted sense of what constitutes fairness or balance).

All of the above made the rise of Trump or someone like him almost inevitable. So, all I can suggest to Republicans who are critical of Trump is that you keep scrubbing those hands. The blood won't come out easily, but what choice do you have but to keep scrubbing?

Let me make one more point before closing. Unless one is genuinely ignorant of history, it is utterly disingenuous to suggest that the Republican Party of today (or pre-Trump) is anything like the Republican Party that was started by anti-slavery Whigs. Nor is today's GOP the "party of Lincoln," as some like to claim (Lincoln, by the way, was no abolitionist). Mr. Schmidt, the pre-Trump Republican Party is no more the Republican Party of 1854 than today's Democratic Party is the Democratic Party of pre-1964 Strom Thurmond.

Why call out Republicans who are critical of Trump, one might ask. The reason is simple. Republicans need to take ownership. We need to be clear about who Republicans have been for half a century now. All persons of conscience must guard against this notion that all will be well or "normal" if we simply rid this nation of Donald J. Trump. All is not well. Republicans have very deliberately created a monster, which was born before Trump moved into the White House and will undoubtedly survive long after Trump is gone. Own it, Republicans. Own it.

Lastly, to all those persons of conscience, vote for Democrats in November. The party may not be perfect, but it's the only thing standing in the way of authoritarianism, the only thing standing in the way of fascism. If you've never voted before, 2018 would be a good time to start. Your Social Security, your health insurance or your child's health insurance, and your very life may depend on it. Please vote.

[ck4829]

123. Kick

[Blue_Adept]

126. I love some foolish purity in the morning!

Enjoy your tribalism. You're becoming the thing you hate.

[ProfessorGAC]

127. K&R For This Post, BA

Totally agree. The strategy of "spitting on allies" escapes me.

[Blue_Adept]

128. It's because they're not "real" allies

It's the same kind of crap as "real americans" and all that.

We lament and disparage the other side for their inability to compromise and work together which is what politics should be about - even as acrimonious as it gets over the decades that we've seen throughout American history.

But we see that same kind of inability showing up on our side as well, fomenting more tribalism and becoming that which we "hate".

[ProfessorGAC]

131. Spot On!

To your point, who gets to define "real"? Then the slightest disagreement on that point becomes an impasse. Nothing gets accomplished.

[Blue_Adept]

132. Exactly

I already know that to a lot of the purists/tribalists that I'm "not a good dem" because of my views even though I'm a solidly reliable left liberal from Massachusetts. But if I disagree on certain things or approaches, I'm not a real dem. I've had that thrown at me more than enough over the years.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

129. When Sarah Palin wanted to use the race card on Barack Obama.

It was John McCain and Steve Schmidt who stopped her.

[jberryhill]

133. "She is more experienced and more accomplished than Senator Obama"

[DemocratSinceBirth]

136. I wouldn't want my life to be judged by my worst moment/moments

[jberryhill]

137. I wouldn't want to spend an entire year as my "worst moment"

These people are paid to say whatever they think the largest audience wants to hear.

But, sure, so Sirhan Sirhan had a bad moment. What was the rest of his life like?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

138. "So Sirhan Sirhan had a bad moment. "

That's a reductio ad absurdum. Plenty of people have had bad moments, moments that they would not like for their entire life to be judged by, that fall far below assassination.

[jberryhill]

139. Yeah, Trump has had a few too

Steve Schmidt established his reputation, and got his microphone, by lying to millions of people.

My judging him, rest assured, isn't going to cause his million dollar ass one moment of discomfort.

We do judge people on their worst moments all the damned time.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

140. Trump has led a life largely free of virtue.

The virtuous things he did, if there were any, were the exception.

In another milieu he would have been a gangster, albeit a feckless and pusillanimous one.

[jberryhill]

141. The real trick is in the timing when one decides to switch sides

Being virtuous from the get-go is for suckers.

Next up - Martin Shkrelli on prescription drug reform.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

142. The outlook for humanity is dim if people can't change.

Look at the gentleman in my avatar. He started out his adult life as a black separatist and ended it as a largely universally loved figure of peace and reconciliation. I would argue the latter was much closer to his true nature.

[jberryhill]

144. Okay, well, when I have enough bank, I'll change

Look at the animal in MY avatar. It laughs, and gives cheese.

[oasis]

134. Schmidt locks his teeth into Trump like a pit bull and never lets go.

He'll be a valuable asset to our side in the recruitment of disenchanted fence sitters.

[disillusioned73]

143. Bravo..

I am so tired of the rehabilitation of the Schmidts, Bushes & many others that have caused so much damage - we hear don't "normalize" Trump all the time.. well, guess what.. don't normalize the ones that brought him up & into power either.. they have to own him..

[disillusioned73]

145. And people think this guy is on OUR side...

jeeesh!! you guys are being played..

"This is the moment for the center to rise" says corporate news anchor

Steve Schmidt attacks Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for ‘dishonest progressivism’ — and says it’s bad as ‘Trumpism’

[link:https://www.rawstory.com/2018/06/steve-schmidt-attacks-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-dishonest-progressivism-says-bad-trumpism/|

If you are against her platform as a whole.. then you a f#cking republican/con, own it..