The GOP doesn't deserve to survive this debacle

[applegrove]

The GOP doesn’t deserve to survive this debacle

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), with his chief of staff, Sharon Soderstrom, on Capitol Hill after the Senate voted Friday against allowing witnesses in President Trump's impeachment trial. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

By Max Boot, Columnist at the Washington Post

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/02/01/gop-doesnt-deserve-survive-this-debacle/?itid=hp_no-name_opinion-card-h%3Ahomepage%2Fstory-ans

"SNIP......

I was recently asked if I would ever rejoin the Republican Party after having registered as an independent the day after President Trump’s election in 2016. The answer is an emphatic no. Trump will leave office some day (I hope!), but he will leave behind a quasi-authoritarian party that is as corrupt as he is. The failure to call witnesses in Trump’s impeachment trial revealed the GOP’s moral failure.

.......


But wait. It gets worse. The prize for the most illogical statement must go to Sen. Lisa Murkowksi (Alaska). She wrote: “Given the partisan nature of this impeachment from the very beginning and throughout, I have come to the conclusion that there will be no fair trial in the Senate.” She then announced her opposition to calling witnesses — a move that could have made the trial a lot fairer. Huh?

Given the flimsiness of the Republicans’ rationales, it’s hard not to conclude that something else accounts for their decision-making. It’s obvious what’s going on in Rubio’s case — he thinks he has a future in politics and wants to stay on the good side of Trump supporters. His colleagues who are facing reelection this year, such as Cory Gardner (Colo.) and Thom Tillis (N.C.), are no doubt terrified Trump will endorse a primary challenger. Some other Republicans are no doubt deluded enough to imagine that Trump’s call was “perfect.” But what about Alexander and other senators who know better and will never face the voters again?

Tim Alberta of Politico makes a convincing case that even retiring lawmakers fear breaking with the president would hurt their future “earning power” and subject them to unwelcome “harassment” from Trump cultists. These concerns are understandable but should not be dispositive. Senators who shirk their constitutional duties are cowards who disgrace their oaths of office and betray the Constitution. Our troops risk their lives for this country; these senators won’t even risk some unpleasantness.

......SNIP"

[applegrove]

1. That is another ad for democrats in 2020.

[Brother Mythos]

2. Unfortunately, the Republican "brand" will continue to survive.

The Oligarchs have invested way, way to much money in it to allow it to completely fail. And, they're smart enough to know that investing in a third political party is a waste of money, time, and influence.

I am, however, pushing for a movement to "rebrand" the old GOP label as the "Global Oligarchs' Posse," or perhaps the "Greedy Oligarchs' Party."

I don't believe these old brands and labels can be destroyed, but they can be damaged.

The other thing I'd like to see happen is a movement to stop the Republicans from hiding behind the "conservative" label all the time, like it's really a good thing.

[Cicada]

3. Republican Party will soon die

The youngest 40% of eligible voters hate the Republican Party, favoring Dems by almost 2 to 1. Pew says they are not getting conservative as they age. Voting turnout increases with age and the heavily Republican elderly are dying. Bye Bye Republican Party.

[Brother Mythos]

4. I wish that were true.

But, those neo-confederates, neo-nazis, white supremacists, rabid gun fondlers, evangelicals, religions fundamentalists, etc., that make up a significant portion of the GOP base aren't going anywhere. And, no matter what else is true about them, they're smart enough to know they only have political strength because of their combined numbers.

And, the Oligarchs, both foreign and domestic, who utilize their vast wealth to exploit those groups for their own gain, aren't going anywhere either.

[Cicada]

6. Those Trumpsters you mentioned are old, mostly, and will die

Tucker Carlson and George Will concede the Republican Party will soon cease to be a national political party. Demography is destiny. Those you described only got 45% of the vote in 2016. And a large share of them were old. Not only are they old but for the past 3 years the life expectancy in Trump counties has declined while it has increased in Clinton counties. Republicans are dying at a much higher rate than democrats.

[Brother Mythos]

8. Those old Trumpsters won't all die before November

And, neither will the Oligarchs who ultimately profit from them.

I've been hearing and reading about the immienent death of the Republican Party since Bill Clinton won his second term. I'm still waiting.

[Cicada]

9. 2020 is a toss up, but after that blue skies

There has never before been a margin as large as exists in young people today. The two to one margin of dems over Repubs is unprecedented.

[Brother Mythos]

10. On a level playing field, 2020 should not be close to being a toss up.

But, the Republicans don't need the numbers. I believe the proof of this is that they've already managed to take two (2) presidential elections, in my own lifetime, without having the numbers. And, again, you yourself have written that 2020 is a toss up.

Unfortunately, the game was rigged from the start, when the Electoral College was written into our constitution. And, make no mistake about it, the Republican Party has used, and will continue to use, the Electoral College to their advantage.

On top of that, the Republicans have managed to rig the game even further by resorting to voter suppression, gerrymandering, the lifetime appointment of sympathetic judges, a massive, corporate, shamelessly lying, propaganda machine, and outright election interference. (You may have noticed on Friday that "the fix was in" on calling impeachment witnesses, and many Republicans haven't even tried to hide their disdain for the impeachment process itself.)

I'm smiling to myself as I write this, because I'm old enough to remember when the Republican Party's "Southern Strategy" turned millions of Democrats into Republicans. That started happening way back in the 60's, but the South and Midwest are still mostly Republican today.

I do understand what you are saying. And, I truly wish I had your optimism. But, I strongly recommend that you do not underestimate the current strength, or the depths to which the people who control the Republican Party will sink, in order to remain in power.

And, if you've ever wondered why those people in control willingly to do what they do, I can sum it up in one word:

GREED

[Cicada]

12. The tidal wave after Japan earthquake defeated 40 foot high barriers

Yes, Dems face barriers. But the margin favoring democrats in the youngest forty percent of the electorate is almost two to one. Hillary’s margin in a fair race was maybe 4%. Among millennials democrats will win by more than 20%. A gigantic tidal wave is coming once the youngest 40% reach the age when a high percentage of them will vote. Young people do not vote so the year 2020 will be close. But those 40% are not going to stay young. Once they are middle aged they will drown the Republican Party. Pew tracking shows they are not getting conservative as they grow older. They favor Dems over Repubs something like 57% to 28%. Tsunami! Run Republicans!

[moondust]

5. Make room, Whigs!

History's dumpster got a big new load comin' in!

[not_the_one]

7. If a lot of ifs fall into place....

If there is a blue tsunami

If the votes are accurately counted

If down ballot republicans ride the turd's coattails OUT of office, resulting in state legislatures flipping blue

Then we may see the silver lining in the entire turd saga... the complete destruction of the republican party.

If THAT happens, the democrats have to NOT do something they are famous for doing... snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. We have the uncanny ability of being able to fuck up a wet dream.

I'm just sayin'.

[KentuckyWoman]

11. You won't get rid of them.

There are too many economic predators in this world with big money who will figure out how to buy American politicians. However, at the moment the balance of representation is too far out of whack. The Republican party, or whatever takes it's place, needs to be forced back to the middle. We need a variety of viewpoints. Diversity makes everything stronger.

Good article. Thanks for posting. Yes, this particular bunch does need to be sent packing. But until we fix a system that allowed the Republican party to become so toxic, we might be trading in the pot and gaining a kettle... so to speak.