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CatWoman

(79,283 posts)
Thu Jul 2, 2020, 01:28 PM Jul 2020

Senate Republicans can't catch a break

The high point of 2020 for Senate Republicans — if there is one — may have been Feb. 6.

The Senate had acquitted President Donald Trump in his impeachment trial the day before, and he held an hour-long “victory celebration” in the East Room of the White House.

With Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) among the dozens of GOP lawmakers in attendance, Trump made sure everyone knew how he felt about the Russia investigation, Special Counsel Robert Mueller, his impeachment, and all the accusations against him. “It was all bullshit,” Trump said. “It was hell.”

Senate Republicans now know what he’s talking about.

In the almost five months since that day, the coronavirus pandemic has killed nearly 130,000 Americans and decimated the U.S. economy. Despite Congress’ approval of trillions of dollars in spending to combat the downturn, unemployment levels have soared to their highest levels since the Great Depression. Trump has slumped badly in the polls due in no small part to his erratic response to the crisis, which now seems to be getting worse after looking like it was improving.

The death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers sparked a national outpouring of anger over racism and police brutality, with protestors taking to the streets in numbers not seen since the Vietnam War. Trump has responded to these events with an harsh reaction that many Republicans disavowed, ordering the violent clearing of Lafayette Park of peaceful demonstrators so he could take a photo op with a Bible. Trump has also tweeted and later deleted a video with a supporter cheering “White power!” and repeatedly used a racist term to describe Covid-19, more troubling behavior that left Republicans scrambling for cover.

On top of that, a new scandal has emerged over alleged Russian bounties paid to the Taliban to kill U.S. soldiers. The New York Times and Associated Press reported that Trump was aware of the allegations for months but took no action, forcing Republicans to respond to yet another Trump-related uproar.

This seemingly unending barrage of bad news has made what was already going to be a tough cycle for Senate Republicans even more difficult. They’re in real danger of losing their six-year-old majority to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and the Democrats, who have gotten their favored candidates lined up in key races, including Arizona, Colorado, North Carolina, Iowa and Kentucky. If something doesn’t change for Senate Republicans soon, they could be facing real problems in November, according to political handicappers.

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/01/senate-republicans-all-news-has-been-bad-347178?fbclid=IwAR2iwC_PIkascm1yCKKAD7GpESfJ9Rkc8lWPHmMaUh1NtCDpfbd_QJX1UyA

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empedocles

(15,751 posts)
1. 'Got their favored candidate lined up' - [candidates who have the best chance of winning]
Thu Jul 2, 2020, 01:35 PM
Jul 2020

Something to be said for that.

SWBTATTReg

(21,856 posts)
2. Way too late for the scumbag ridden, traitors all, senate republicans. They had their chance and...
Thu Jul 2, 2020, 01:35 PM
Jul 2020

time at the podium, and blew it. A big part of it was two fold, rump and their ignorant, clearly biased policies towards the 1%ers (their donors) and not the everyday American on the streets of America.

I hope the doors slam shut on their fat a&&es when they are all kicked out of office.

Frustratedlady

(16,254 posts)
4. Republicans need to self-examine their recent history. With the exception of the COVID-19 invasion,
Thu Jul 2, 2020, 02:30 PM
Jul 2020

most of the other things that have happened were self-inflicted by not doing their jobs correctly. They should have reined in Trump during his many violations in leading this country. They should have stood by their own convictions, having witnessed various stunts Trump pulled that they knew were wrong, rather than given him blind loyalty. Many senators have been in office for years and knew better, yet they didn't have the backbone to fight for what was right.

There are many violations that the Democrats didn't pursue, due to the quantity and time involved, but if the Repukes were to be honest with themselves, they would have to admit they failed to do their jobs...do what was needed for our country. This is why they have lost the support of their constituents. As Barnum said, "You can fool some of the people..."

Trump never deserved that loyalty. Never. You now own your weakness and it will never be forgotten.

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