Does anyone else think it's more than a lust for power...

[Trueblue Texan]

...that keeps Republicans tethered to Trump? Anyone with eyes can see, or a brain can understand the destruction Trump has done to the Republican party, indeed to our Constitutional Democracy, yet they continue to do his bidding, continue to pretend he is the way, the truth, and the light. I keep thinking it's something much more compelling than mere power that holds them. I think it's stone, cold terror. Someone has something on all of them and they are afraid of shame and/or prison. Is anyone trying to figure out what it is that is holding them?

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. ... do all roads lead to Vladimir????

[Arkansas Granny]

20. We never got an explanation for that.

[Irish_Dem]

22. Money and info: how to cheat to win elections.

Those are the main reasons our congress people would fly to Moscow.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. The Republican party

The Republican party's commitment to democracy only extends to it keeping it in power. The rest is history.

[CrispyQ]

4. I'm sure there's dirt on some of them but at the base, it's lust for power.

They see how he can bring in money & get out voters. They're in a bind. They cultivated the zealots, racists, & loons & now they've lost control & they can't win without them.

[Thekaspervote]

16. ☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️

[Laelth]

5. Mostly, I suspect that they just don't want to lose their jobs.

It sucks to lose a job. It’s a blow to the ego that ushers in a period of uncertainty. Losing a job can also devastate your personal finances.

Notice that it’s much easier for “former” Republican officeholders to criticize Trump. Those people don’t have jobs for lose. Current officeholders do. In the main, they’re just trying to keep their jobs.

-Laelth

[uponit7771]

6. Trump has 90% approval rating in the kGOP, its pure lust for power. Could you imagine if the...

... DNC "distanced" themselves away from Obama just for being Obama?

Yeah, the kGOP can't do that either ... it'll crack em into pieces.

Moscow Mitch made a deal with the devil and now the devil wants to seal the relationship.

[SlogginThroughIt]

33. The two are not even remotely comparable.

I don’t know how in the world one compares the relationship that Donald Trump has with the GOP to the democratic party and Obama. The GOP is supporting a criminal. Why?

Obama isn’t a criminal who was impeached two times. While I do believe fir some it is lust for power I think some of the, and possibly large fish are loyal because of bribery.

[uponit7771]

34. That would be true if the kGOP thought Trump did anything wrong (link inside)

70% of Trump voters don't think the 1/6 attacks were Trumps fault.

Poll: Most Republicans believe Trump bears no responsibility for Capitol attacks

https://www.vox.com/2021/1/16/22234704/poll-republicans-trump-capitol-riot-blame

Of course Obama isn't a criminal but we're not dealing with a fact based bunch of people, FAUX News like outfits are litterally tearing the country apart at the seams.

[oldbones]

8. I think you nailed it, that and they cant get enough money. They are killing us for greed.

[RKP5637]

9. IMO it's all about holding power, money and keeping them in office, plus their personality type.

They're afraid if they don't side with Trump, they will lose their vote ... and there are so many crazies in the US, that's a legitimate concern to them. ... and it brings to mind, why did some Germans side with Hitler ...

[Trueblue Texan]

12. I just have trouble believing they would feel more enslaved...

...by losing their jobs and making less money than they already are, being shackled to a lying, crazy, power-hungry egomaniac. I do not understand how they can feel empowered in the situation they are in when they are clearly owned.

[RKP5637]

19. I've been amazed they haven't collectively told Trump to F off. Really, do they expect their

political futures to be great being a slave to a sociopathic narcissistic ass like Trump. It's stunning to me and amazingly stupid.

[Nay]

21. They are OK with sucking up as long as it allows them the power to kick down. nt

[Demsrule86]

10. Primary fear...pure and simple.

[OAITW r.2.0]

11. Remember the Russian hacker break-in of the Democratic email server?

I'm betting they also have the emails from the GOP. I'm also betting that there's many more embarrassing, possibly even criminal implications to many party members.

[Trueblue Texan]

14. ...this is what I'm thinking...

I'm thinking it's not only something that is criminal and can land them in prison, but something that is deeply shameful. You know how Trump is always projecting...you know the crazy shit Qanon followers believe...maybe they are merely projecting as well. That's some shameful stuff. Who knows where the boundaries of Nutsville lie?

[BComplex]

26. Republicans are the pedophiles. They always accuse other people of the things they themselves

are guilty of.

That's how Qanon reeled them all in, by saying it's democrats who are pedophiles. You know that many of them have been accused before. I know a young aide that had the experience himself with a GOPer, but never made the accusation publicly. Plus, the "Christian" party, also are cheating about half the time on their spouses.

I'm sure putin and his spies have all the information they will ever need on hundreds of republicans, in DC and in state houses, not to mention the money they've taken from the russians.

[Irish_Dem]

13. Power, greed, and agreement.

They agree with the racist message.

[Skittles]

15. the thing is, Trueblue Texan

what could that someone POSSIBLY know that would make repukes seem even more disgusting than we already know them to be?

[Trueblue Texan]

17. Yes, Skittles!

It would have to be something completely repulsive, something so vile even they would fear it's disclosure.

[dutch777]

18. I think its primarily power and being bereft of any new good ideas, Trump is what's left

It's pretty pathetic. And while there may be a little LBJ style hardball back room politics where skeletons in the closet are known (Lindsey Graham aka Lady G maybe?) I don't think there is all that much. Maybe we should start a QAnon style conspiracy theory alternative universe that has all the terrible Repubs under a Snope like master and eating puppies and kittens for breakfast?

[Kitchari]

23. It's Both/And

They need the power because they are afraid AND they have shameful deeds to hide -They are also afraid of the polonium or whatever Putin has threatened not just their lives, but their family's lives as well

[2naSalit]

24. +1

[RKP5637]

29. +1, n/t

[Baked Potato]

25. Someone may have solid information of Rat-fucking the elections for Republicans.

Money isn’t the only leverage with these people. It’s knowledge of deeds. Trump now has all the Intel gathered as President. And, he has what Putin and other countries have provided him for blackmail on politicians and others for deal making.

Some thoughts on what the leverage could be:

On Trump:
Underage girls, human trafficking
Drug trafficking
Shady deals

On Trump as President:
Payoffs to terrorists and drug lords
Shady deals to include arms sales

On Republicans:
Proof of shady deals
Rat-fucking of prior elections
Emails hacked with highly embarrassing info

Rich Republican movers and shakers don’t want the country to enjoy the good life of what a Democratic President can deliver lest we figure out their way is total crap. These rich donors don’t care what happens just as long as the country doesn’t go liberal. Happy people vote Democratic and the scared, unhappy people vote Republican. So, they will pour money into what and whoever helps them stay rich and the country stay miserable.

At this pivotal point in time Trump controls the civilian “muscle” of their Party. Republicans now have to decide how to control that muscle. Trump still owns them. Republicans who care about the country are in a helluva bind. Trump needs a talkin’ to with a heap of leverage on him. They need to get him out.

[Trueblue Texan]

36. I just don't think their base would care...

...about shady deals, or even illegal deals with known terrorists. There's plenty of evidence of that already and the Republican party isn't phased. It's gotta be something really disgusting, really shameful. I mean, what laws hasn't Trump broken with ample evidence to back up the accusations and his base couldn't care less. No big deal. It's only a big deal when the Democrats are accused of it (Al Franken?) so I rather doubt they are worried about election fraud on the Republican side, or bribes, or campaign violations, money laundering, or whatever. It's something that is vile and a lot of them are terrified. And it could be that their families are threatened. I hadn't thought of that before.

[Baked Potato]

37. It could be exactly what the Q people are projecting about.

Pedophilia. Sex trafficking. Ritualistic cults involving children.

I always wondered where all the investigations went with regard to illegal drug usage. I know all the Mueller subjects weren’t upstanding drug-free good citizens. I assume the drug charges were dropped for testimony on other issues.

[Mariana]

27. They're afraid of Trump's terrorist cult members.

They're afraid of losing their seats, yes, and they're afraid of losing social status at home if they dare to criticize Trump.

They're also afraid their homes will be burned down, their children harassed, and their families' lives threatened. They're afraid of being assassinated. They are appeasing the terrorists.

[Baked Potato]

28. Yes, this. At the base level they are scared of the very people who put them in.

This didn’t start with Trump. I remember when the right wing TEA party pieces of shit started carrying guns around when President Obama was in town. I remember seeing them in Arizona carrying around assault rifles. That was to intimidate President Obama AND intimidate their own local politicians. There was no push back—just more coddling.

[RKP5637]

30. Yes, I think there is a lot to what you say, and they've well demonstrated how violent and ruthless

they are. I do fear for the future of the US. I think some voting republicans still think we have Eisenhower type republicans in office and running for office. Some are damn dense, IMO.

[BlueNProud]

31. Most GOP objections to Dump are about style and his odious lack of character

On the substance, most of them agree with everything he's done,

[ananda]

32. Does it being with an R and end with an a?

Derp

[stillcool]

35. When I look at the way...

the GOP has behaved throughout my lifetime, the only thing that has changed is the amperage. It bothers me, that I can not understand how people can be okay with the path they're on, and where it's leading. They eat, sleep, and breathe rage and hatred. That's my problem, but it sure isn't theirs. They live in a different reality. Lots of different realities. The silent power of greed, those who serve that power, and the desperate true-believers. Not a lot of wiggle room when you're wrapped that tight.