Why a Senate Republican tantrum over Trump's conviction matters

[LetMyPeopleVote]

Last edited Tue Jun 4, 2024, 01:33 AM - Edit history (1)

Sen. Mike Lee and nine of his GOP colleagues aren't just furious about Donald Trump being held accountable, they're also throwing an important tantrum.

Link to tweet

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/senate-republican-tantrum-trumps-conviction-matters-rcna155146

Almost immediately after the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape rocked the 2016 presidential campaign, Sen. Mike Lee made headlines with an unexpected reaction to the controversy. In a Facebook video that’s no longer online, the Utah Republican urged Donald Trump to end his candidacy and allow GOP officials to nominate someone else......

At the time, the Utahan still appeared eager to present himself to the public as a serious and principled lawmaker. Eight years later, Lee has adopted a dramatically different partisan posture in the wake of Trump’s criminal conviction. The Associated Press reported:

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, circulated his own letter in which he suggested it was the White House that “made a mockery” of the rule of law and altered politics in “un-American” ways. He and other senators threatened to stall Senate business until Republicans take action. “Those who turned our judicial system into a political cudgel must be held accountable,” Lee said.

It is, by any fair measure, a curious document. The day after a jury of Trump’s peers held him accountable for his crimes, Lee took the lead in circulating this one-paragraph statement. On social media, the GOP senator declared, “Strongly worded statements are not enough. ... We are no longer cooperating with any Democrat [sic] legislative priorities or nominations, and we invite all concerned Senators to join our stand.”.....

The procedural nuances matter. The Senate, on a day-to-day basis, functions in large part by unanimous consent. Yes, the institution often appears slow and sclerotic, but determined members still have the capacity to make matters even worse through tactical delays.

And it appears that Lee and his far-right colleagues intend to do exactly that — not because Senate Democrats have done anything wrong, and not because the White House was responsible for Trump’s prosecution, but because of an imaginary conspiracy that Republicans prefer to treat as true.

Or put another way, Lee and nine other Senate Republicans will deliberately stand in the way of their institution doing the people’s business because local prosecutors held a private citizen accountable for his crimes. These GOP senators apparently believe their job is to elevate Trump’s interests above the nation’s interests.

What’s less clear, however, is the possible remedy. What, exactly, do Lee and his cohorts expect to happen? What ransom do they expect to be paid in order to allow the Senate to function as it should?

If the answer is that federal officials will somehow meddle in a local criminal matter, intervening to free Trump from accountability for his felonies, that isn’t going to happen — because it can’t.

[Emile]

1. Suffering from imaginary illness. They're not fit for office.

[Bev54]

11. Every member of both congresses should be attached to convicted criminal Trump

by the dems. Every damn one of them, say exactly what Trump has done both civil and criminal and show that is who their republican party members are supporting. Make them responsible for supporting a fraudster, rapist, insurrectionist, thief of national secrets who had a years long affair with one woman and had sex with a porn star, while his 3rd wife was home with their newborn. Make them own this shit.

[TwilightZone]

2. Eh, it really doesn't matter.

It's nothing new -- they excused the behavior and crimes long before the trials even started. They've railed about the process as long as the process has been ongoing.

They're not going to influence anyone who wasn't already all in for Trump. It looks hypocritical, of course, but that train left the station a very long time ago.

[Biophilic]

3. I find it too weird.

They are all playing to just one person. How did trump become more important than their constituents or the constitution or the rule of law. Suddenly nothing and no one else matters. It’s like all these people are Stepford wives with no will of their own and absolutely no caring about anything else except their lord god trump. It’s really, really weird. And scary.

[JT45242]

7. The kompromat from Putin and Prince Bonesaw

The RNC hack and other dirt held on them by Russian and Saudi sources keep them all in line except for the literal handful who aren't dirty (kinzinger, etc )

[HandmaidsTaleUntold]

9. Why Isn't Biden Calling That Out

[Cha]

14. Don't Worry about President Biden.. he and his

Team Know What they're Doing.

[HandmaidsTaleUntold]

15. I'm Not Worried. It's An Actual Question

[NanaCat]

16. Why do you think he has solid evidence

To support such an assertion?

[TwilightZone]

12. Who else would they play to?

He's their presidential candidate and they're stuck with him.

They've never cared about the Constitution or their constituents or the rule of law. They care about power, and getting Trump elected is the easiest way to keep that and press their agenda.

[bucolic_frolic]

4. Delusional to believe Pie in the Sky exists, it's a mental illness

Medications do exist for those so afflicted.

[NanaCat]

17. They're not psychotic

They're stupid and wilful about it.

[COL Mustard]

5. I'm confused

I thought Joe was too sleepy to mastermind a scheme like this. Now I’m supposed to believe he’s the puppet master pulling all these strings? I am really confused.

[ancianita]

6. ...

[DemocraticPatriot]

8. All of those Republicans would probably have voted against President Biden anyway

on all of these nominees or issues....

What they are doing here is merely pitiful 'grandstanding'
in support of their convicted felon presidential nominee---

and in doing such, they have totally abandoned any pretense that they support
law and order, the rule of law, or simple morality, or simple "christian morality"....

Yes, Jesus Christ supported forgiveness for 'sinners'--
for those who REPENTED of their sins!

Instead of repenting, Trump and his Republicans "double down" on all of their crimes

[NanaCat]

18. The psychopath demigod

Has weird ideas about what constitutes sin. Like thinking it's a sin not to murder disobedient children, or to reject the nonsense he peddles.

[lostnfound]

19. Why didn't Nixon's GOP do this? Because, not a cult. What is the purpose of a cult?

To maintain a clear order that concentrates power.

When people are kept in a mental lockstep believing absurdities, they are controllable. Like a team of horses can be controlled by the man holding the reins.

[KS Toronado]

10. I'm betting my Roger Marshall was one of them

He's like the MTG of the Senate.

[Cha]

13. Kcik.. TY

[czarjak]

20. Imaginary Conspiracies?

Look up Mormon God. Brother!