Carl Bernstein Says GOP Senators Weighing Action If Trump Won't Step Down

[Siwsan]

Watergate journalist Carl Bernstein said Sunday that a handful of Republican senators are beginning to discuss what they’ll do President Donald Trump refuses to leave office if he’s defeated in the election.

Trump has refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses, and has repeatedly tried to undermine the integrity of the electoral process by claiming the only way he can lose is if the vote is rigged.

As many as 10 GOP senators are “talking with each other about how to restrain what they regard as an out-of-control” president who is “determined to do anything to hold on to office regardless of its legality.” Bernstein told CNN’s Ana Cabrera without naming anyone involved.

They are “terribly, terribly concerned about what they regard as the president’s unconstitutional and unthinkable acts to undermine the electoral process,” Bernstein added, calling Trump’s aggressive grip on power a “scorched earth” strategy.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/carl-bernstein-gop-senators-trump-loss_n_5f9629fbc5b6a2e1fb629679

[FeelingBlue]

1. First...

They should vote agains Barrett.

[pandr32]

17. +1

[Hugin]

32. Just like they should have voted to remove him during Impeachment.

Their concerns don't seem to line up with their actions. Do they?

[mitch96]

35. As Rachel says, look at what they do not what they say.. as noted before, they lie and lie alot. nt

[enough]

2. It's not Trump's choice. NT

[Bettie]

3. If they don't have the balls to vote against the Handmaid

they don't have the balls to do anything but wring their hands publicly while cheering him on in private.

[DFW]

15. That's how I see it, too

They don't want their names tied to what would probably be a coup attempt, with possible arrest and expulsion from the Senate for openly defying the Constitution (and thus their oath of office). But they certainly wouldn't THINK of voting against Justice Inquisition for her rightful place at the side of Torquemada, er, I mean, John Roberts.

[PatSeg]

20. Yep

I wouldn't place money on any of these bootlickers doing anything that involves integrity or character. They pay lip service to democracy and principles, but that's about all they're good for.

[wcmagumba]

4. They are apparently "concerned"...

[Wounded Bear]

5. Gee, if only they could have seen this coming and had a vote on it...

you know, like an impeachment vote?

[exboyfil]

6. I am not sure this reporting accomplishes anything

The cultists don't believe it.

The rest of us really don't give a crap since the GOP has proven they are craven cowards.

[Guilded Lilly]

7. They should have voiced their concerns about his sanity when he was impeached. They failed US.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

8. Oh goodie! They can join Collins and Murkowski in the "Concern Caucus". Mind you, they

won't do shit. But hey.......

[Statistical]

11. I was thinking what they should be called. You nailed it.

[JHB]

28. Don't leave Romney out of that caucus

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

41. The vice chairman himself! nt

[Voltaire2]

9. The Collins wing of the party will be very concerned.

Anyone who thinks our American Fascist Party is going to step up and save us is delusional.

[Eid Ma Clack Shaw]

10. An eye on 2024.

They can sell themselves as “independent minded” and “brave” senators who courageously stood up to a President who lost the election and absolutely has to leave office in January. They’re going to want praise for that, just you wait for it, and there'll be plenty who laud them for it.

[OAITW r.2.0]

14. My thinking as well.

I'll wager that most have an election in 2024 to worry about. And don't want to have Trump anywhere near their election.

[Eid Ma Clack Shaw]

16. I think the key to stopping them from successfully rewriting their craven history is communication.

I hope that President Biden constantly speaks to the public, not via vanity rallies but by regular, fact based broadcasts.

People trust him, he's capable of speaking a language people can hear - I think that from his inaugural speech onwards, it’s almost essential to stop the disconnect that all too often sees a President's first midterms end up being an electoral massacre.

[spanone]

12. what? pass new protections for him?

FUCK THEM

[Dave in VA]

13. I bet they are planning

to write him a sternly worded letter!

[Wicked Blue]

39. Ooooooh noooooooo

[crickets]

18. The meaningless concern parade will be led by Susan Collins, no doubt.

:yawn:

You had your chance to show your true concern for your country a year ago, Senators. You failed to do your duty when trump was impeached. Anything you pretend to do now is performative at best, as usual.

[gratuitous]

21. Just two things to say about this

Bull and shit. Not one of them will go on the record, none of them has the courage or the integrity to stand up and deny this authoritarian wet dream. "Oh, I was against Trump's power grab, and it's too bad that so many of his supporters turned out to be violently deranged lunatics, but who could have possibly foreseen . . . "

[Miguelito Loveless]

22. If Trump refuses to setp dowm, they will back him like the good little

Nazis they are.

[NorthOf270]

23. He will be dragged onto the White House lawn if need be.

I don't care what Young Ben Sasse and Shit Rmoney think.

[CrispyQ]

24. They had their chance back in February.

Fuck you cowardly assholes, every damned one of you. Yeah, you too, Mitt.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

25. But I thought

that Susan Collins said Trump learned his lesson

[Proud Liberal Dem]

26. What action(s)?

His term ends on 01/20/2021 if he loses. His authority as President ends at that time, so President Joe Biden can then order the Secret Service, Millitary, police, etc. to remove him and any other dead-enders. I truly hope that it does not come to this.

[yellowcanine]

27. Sounds as if the "CONCERN" is getting serious. But will they vote to impeach? Doubt it.

[central scrutinizer]

29. A strongly worded letter of concern is being drafted

[peggysue2]

30. They're concerned?

Little late in the day. And sorry, the Susan Collins' spin is weak. If these same Republicans were so concerned about Trump, they should have voted for impeachment. Trump has been lawless from the start.

Late-day epiphanies are as hollow as the GOP.

Never forget, never forgive!

[LiberalFighter]

31. The other members of the family lose Secret Service protection.

Makes it easier to arrest them.

[unblock]

33. Interesting. I wonder what the political dynamics of ousting him will be once he loses.

They might actual be able to replace him with pence after the election. Far less political risk for them at that point, especially if it's a landslide.

[Dr. Jack]

34. How about threaten him with the 25 amendment if he doesn't cooperate?

Just say if he won't cooperate with the transition that they will have him booted from office via the 25th amendment and have Pence to the transition instead.

[LisaL]

36. Lure him out with some McDonalds?

NT

[WyattKansas]

37. Mmm... I don't think Republican Senators can shove their heads up tRUMP's ass any further...

Without being completely sucked up into him.
Just saying!

[cbdo2007]

38. I think this is why Pelosi did the 25th Amendment stuff a few weeks ago...

and I think Pence and most of the top Repube Senators are in on it. He is toxic to them right now, but he will be SUPER TOXIC to them if he is in real scorched earth mode and they all know it. I think they all want him gone as much as we do but they have to play along to keep power. Once they've lost power I think they will quickly move beyond Trump as quickly as possible and never look back.

[hatrack]

40. BlahBLAHBLAH blahblah blah BLAH BLAH blahblahblahBLAHBLAH blahblahBLAHblah Blah Blah BLAH!!!

.

[Siwsan]

43. I do believe you win for providing the most succinct reaction!

It would be nice to think it's possible there are 10, or so, GOPers who still have a conscience. I just do not believe it is probable. AND I challenge them to prove me wrong.

[Efilroft Sul]

42. Come on, Bernstein, GOP senators are like nuns and lesbians: They won't do dick.

[rusty fender]

44. Bullshit!

They won’t do a damn thing but wait for his tantrum to play out to see if the result goes their way

[tavernier]

45. Well of course since they are men of such high honor.