What I think is going on with the Republicans.

[Kablooie]

The only thing important to them is massive tax cuts for the rich but if they show any signs of disloyalty to Trump he will veto everything they put in front of him. He obviously doesn't make decisions on the merits of a bill.

The thing that puzzles me is that getting rid of Trump and putting a regular conservative in his place wouldn't prevent them from succeeding so why not dump Trump as quickly as possible?

[Sculpin Beauregard]

1. Many of them are complicit. Remember, they're all Koch frat boys.

[Kablooie]

2. Does seem to be the only reason they would risk the whole structure of the US like this.

[2naSalit]

3. +1

[tblue37]

9. Plus they fear his rabid base. nt

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. I think the reason the GOPers don't want to dump Trump,

even though doing so would give them a more predictably conservative president, is because if they act to get rid of him they're acknowledging he was a bad candidate in the first place (but they supported him anyhow); and, worse, his impeachment or resignation under the threat of impeachment would taint and weaken the entire GOP. Clinton's impeachment and subsequent acquittal actually increased his popularity because most people saw that the impeachment was politically-motivated bullshit, but impeachment/resignation on account of evidence of colluding with Russia to influence an election is a whole 'nother thing. It would make the whole party look bad; they'd get clobbered in the next election; and it would terribly weaken Pence. So they'll try as hard as they can to keep it all from happening.

[Kablooie]

5. But it seems to me a large majority is turning against them for doing nothing.

This could be just as damaging and possibly even more because it endangers the structure of government.
Damned if you do and damned if you don't so wouldn't you at least take the more honorable path normally?

[CrispyQ]

7. They are protecting GOP leadership, not Trump.

They'd cut him loose in a second if they could.

[Sculpin Beauregard]

8. Yup. But they will still be eviscerated eventually.

Citizens United has to go, and the public needs to be educated about Koch bros. ideology infecting GOP.

'Dark Money' is a book by Jane Mayer that is excellent in describing how this has happened. Highly recommend.

[raging moderate]

10. Maybe the GOP is getting blackmailed?

The Republican network was hacked, the same as the Democratic network. Who knows what the Russians or the Koch brothers or the Mercer family are holding over the heads of the Republicans, threatening to release unless they do as they are told.

[Kablooie]

11. Yes. Seems to me that they must be protecting their own skin.

There are so many problems created by them doing nothing that there much be a much bigger problem for them individually if they act.
I wouldn't think the threat would come from the Kochs or Mercers. They would both benefit from the removal of Trump.
It must be that many of them were in on or at least aware the Russian actions but remained silent.

[CentralMass]

12. I have wondered thst as well.