Trump says 'We must fight' hard-line conservative Freedom Caucus in 2018 midterm elections

[EricMaundry]

Source: Washington Post

President Trump effectively declared war Thursday on the House Freedom Caucus, the powerful group of hard-line conservative Republicans who blocked the GOP health-care bill, vowing to fight them in the 2018 midterm elections.

In a morning tweet, Trump warned that the Freedom Caucus would hurt the entire Republican agenda if they don't get on the team, & fast." He grouped its members, all of them Republican, with Democrats in calling for their political defeat an extraordinary incitement of intraparty combat from a sitting president.

There are about 32 members of the Freedom Caucus, and most of them were elected or reelected comfortably in solidly Republican districts. With his tweet, Trump seemed to be encouraging primary challenges to each of them in next year's elections. Asked to elaborate on Trump's threat, the White House had no immediate comment.

"Nothing to add at this time," White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said. "The president's tweet speaks for itself."

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/03/30/trump-says-we-must-fight-hard-line-conservative-freedom-caucus-in-2018-midterm-elections/

---

Trump is fighting a two front political war now.

[OldHippieChick]

1. Those he has not insulted can fit in one room. eom

[lark]

4. Ha, they could fit at one table in one room.

And I'm including everyone in the entire world that he hasn't offended. So, at the table are his family, Putin and his top oligarchs, along with drumpfs traitorous aides and top legislative folks such as Nunes, Eddie Munster and McTurtle.

[They_Live]

40. So basically if said room was a prison cell,

all would be right with the world. I like that idea.

[Sunlei]

2. Trump, Ryan will just change the "Republican Clubs membership list" so no elected names are members.

chasing ghosts Mr Trump.

[ck4829]

3. Cults don't like other cults - Trump Misadministration vs Right Wing Authoritarians

Hitler vs al-Baghdadi / Ted Bundy vs Jeffrey Dahmer / James Holmes vs Jason Dalton / Trump vs the Freedom Caucus

Some fights have no good guys.

[lark]

5. I really hate watching fights on tv.

However, this is one fight I'm all in for. Bring on the tubs of popcorn!

[notdarkyet]

26. Anyone taking bets yet?

[meadowlark5]

6. Good luck with that

That band of thieves has got the financial backing of some of the wealthiest people and organizations. Will be fun to watch, but I don't think Trump's mafia can take them down. Although, if he asks his boyfriend pooty poot to get some dirt on them (which I'm sure exists) then smear them and take them down that way.

[underpants]

14. Yes and their districts are Gerrymandered safe zones for them

They are pretty rock solid. I will say that Dave Brat is actually vulnerable in a primary - but not a general election

[Bernardo de La Paz]

23. Yeah, tRump has now increased Koch's hatred of him. Alt-right vs Corp-right vs Nut-right! . . nt

[Tanuki]

7. So much for his "outreach" to moderate Democrats!

Why would any self- respecting Democrat get on board with what the fake president calls "the Republican agenda"? He's too stupid to even pretend to cast it as something "for the good of the American people."

[tinrobot]

8. More shots fired in GOP civil war...

I hope they keep fighting while we remain united.

[cab67]

9. He just increased the likelihood that non-Freedom Caucus R's will be primaried.

[Initech]

10. How To Lose Friends And Manipulate Enemies, by Donald Trump

[notdarkyet]

27. Seems to be his modis operindi. Threats and Intimidation. School yard bully. Asshole.

[titaniumsalute]

11. So he hits out at the hard core right-wing?

These Freedom Caucus guys are many people Trump's voters look up to. That won't bode well for his approval ratings going up anytime.

[NewJeffCT]

12. they don't care

they have Koch Brothers money supporting them...

[harun]

19. And the basket of deplorables, who can be manipulated in to supporting anyone who

says "I hate big gubbermint!", "I hate Liberals!" and "I hate <insert minority here".

[n2doc]

13. Winning!

[Friend or Foe]

15. Ivanka?

Is that you?

[EllieBC]

21. Nosing around and reading various tweets and posts by conservatives....

that is exactly what they fear. They think she's a hard left liberal who is using her position as his favourite child to influence him and pull him away from the tea party and FC "base".

If she can actually create division in the GOP, good on her.

But I think it's more the case that his supporters all were conned and can't deal.

[mr_liberal]

36. I think liberal groups should reach out to her.

She could possibly influence the next supreme court pick...

Instead of crying about nepotism... liberals/democrats should be glad she's there and has influence. imo

[FreepFryer]

37. She's done nothing to establish her as an ally of Liberals, she is a Trumpist until proven otherwise

As misogynistic as Trumpism is, it's tempting - but so far, unwarranted - to treat Ivanka's gender as proof of her commitment to Liberal Democratic (nor even little-d democratic) values.

[mr_liberal]

43. It has nothing to do with her gender

Its based on things she has said, her convention speech, where she's from, her friends....

Don't hate her just because she's a Trump. Thats irrational. People here did the same thing with the Bush daughters and they turned out to be liberal, at least on some issues.

I don't think gender or race should matter at all for anything. It should be about on someones character and beliefs. I wouldn't care if the whole supreme court and congress was white men if I agreed with their beliefs. I think whole push for diversity is moronic. I just want to make that clear.

[FreepFryer]

44. I don't hate her. I have no further response to your bewildering (and falsely assuming) post. (n/t)

[mr_liberal]

46. And you falsely assumed my post was about gender, so we're even. (n/t)

[FreepFryer]

57. I call BS. WHICH "things she has said, her convention speech, where she's from, her friends"? n/t

[Chemisse]

47. Let me guess.

You're a white male.

That 'whole push for diversity' doesn't help you, so it's 'moronic.'

[FreepFryer]

52. Bingo. (n/t)

[mr_liberal]

53. You're right, I guess I should have voted for Sarah Palin,

and be glad Clarence Thomas is on the supreme court, and that Betsy Devos is Sec of Education....

Someone's beliefs shouldn't matter, all that should matter is if theyre a woman or a minority. Ill try to remember that. Thanks.

[Chemisse]

55. When all else is equal, opt for diversity.

It's not that hard to think like a liberal. Just consider what is kind and fair.

[mr_liberal]

56. No two people are exactly the same, theres always other reasons

rather than discriminating based on gender or race.

[FreepFryer]

58. Diversity-based hiring isn't discrimination - that's a very Right wing argument, 'mr_liberal'. (n/r)

[procon]

16. Trump's crazy paranoia is leaving him isolated and suspicious of everything.

Trump has no ability to control himself and he will continue blurting out inappropriate comments and lies that only add to his plunging poll numbers. He wants to run the entire government out of the Trunk Family Bunker in the WH. He trusts no one but his immediate family, and they lack the skills, knowledge and intellect to provide any wise counsel or guidance. The cycle of conspiracy theories, suspicions, vindictive threats, and retaliation will only get worse as the investigations into the Trump Mob's connections to Russia are revealed.

[notdarkyet]

28. I think Ivan's has been drafted to be his Nancy Reagan. Lead him around by

His elbow, whisper in his ear, speak for him when he's out of it. Full time babysitter. Oh boy.

[Still In Wisconsin]

17. That should go well for him. n/t

[LovingA2andMI]

18. Let Them Tear Each Other Hair Out.....

[joeybee12]

20. Shitbags at war with each other

I love it!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

22. tRump is fighting his own base! Incompetent at governing AND at politicking! . . nt

[Fast Walker 52]

34. exactly-- these are his base!!! WTF is he thinking, if anything?

Or is he just lashing out like a wounded animal?

[DK504]

24. Yes Cheetoini.... We MUST fight the RWNJ's in 2018.

You betcha' Donnarhea, we will make sure you lose the House and the Senate. Good idea!!

[Juliusseizure]

25. Koch bros. vs. Trump

Go to war you sociopaths and bury your party. I'll get my popcorn.

I hope this gives the Koch bros. incentive to bribe more Republicans to impeach Trump, who will then go on full attack, causing the Kochs to threaten a tea party challenge to every incumbent, causing Republicans to decide to get rid of Trump as the Republican party explodes like a gigantic colostomy bag.

[Happyhippychick]

29. That works for me!

Have fun boys!

[Javaman]

30. I'll get the popcorn. precede mr. prezzzident. nt

[jeanmarc]

31. Idiots and amateurs

Trump doesn't have any kind of movement. He has zero political capital. These people have nothing to worry about. Besides, the boy emperor changes his thoughts on things on the hour. Soon he'll be supporting the Freedom Caucus.

[hibbing]

32. What a putrid populace of people that party is n/t

[Hekate]

33. If just one good thing comes out of this disaster, it will be breaking up the GOP into little pieces

If I read this correctly. It's early and I'm still looking for the IV line for my first cup of coffee

[pangaia]

35. I don't think he even thinks of it as a political war.

He doesn't know what politics is.

He just violently lashes out at anyone who crosses him.

And that has me concerned about Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim Jong-un !!

[Juliusseizure]

45. It's his business/narcissist mindset....

which doesn't translate well to politics, especially when his approval rating sucks.
All he can do is throw a tantrum.

I knew he'd go after the Freedom to die in squalor Caucus. They mocked his and Bannon's earlier threats, brought down Trumpcare, and made him look dumb and weak.

[Marthe48]

38. Because. Drama.

He's a shit-stirrer.

He stirs shit. Doesn't matter who the target is, he likes drama and spends all of his time devising the worst shit storms he can imagine. And over and over, he gets drama.

No audience. No drama. Show's over.

[Gothmog]

39. This will be fun to watch

[NCjack]

41. #45 thinks he manages the House. That's the job of Speaker Ryan,

who is now very pissed-off at #45. I like what you are doing #45 -- keep doing it!

[J_William_Ryan]

42. That Caucus should be called something else

It has nothing to do with freedom.

Indeed, it's the anti-freedom Caucus.

[Chemisse]

48. Could he be any more stupid?

It's hard to imagine.

[KittyWampus]

49. This is Bannon's attempt to make Trump look moderate.

[47of74]

50. "Only an idiot fights a war on two fronts."

- Londo Mollari.

[dalton99a]

51. Outstanding. Let them kill each other into extinction.

[Koch Ebola]

54. Trumpsters vs Koch-Heads

Who is gonna win this bout? Well the Koch Brothers and their fan club, "Freedom Caucus has more money. I put my money on the Koch-heads

[Honeycombe8]

59. I thought his base was the Tea Party (Freedom Caucus)???

Is there ANYONE that he doesn't consider his enemy and who he seeks to destroy? (Besides the "great leader" Putin)

[stlsaxman]

60. If freedom caucus backs down he'll go for single payer and become-

"KING OF THE WORLD!!!"

... He's often said he thought single payer was the way to go. So, you never know.