How Trump is forcing Republicans to debase themselves one more time

[Zorro]

Opinion by Paul Waldman

Donald Trump had acquittal in his second impeachment trial all teed up. If there was any doubt that the necessary 17 Republican senators would never convict the former president, it was dispelled when 45 of 50 voted to essentially declare the entire proceeding unconstitutional.

But Trump couldn’t just take the win. He’s determined to use the trial as one more forum to air his absurd lie about how the 2020 election was stolen from him — the lie he used to drive his violent supporters to rampage through the Capitol, the very thing that has him on trial in the first place.

Which means those Republican senators will once again have to publicly help him continue spreading that lie, with all the damaging ramifications that flow from that. They want to hide behind procedural objections — acquitting based on the idea that a former president can’t be convicted — but Trump isn’t letting them: He’s forcing them to be full participants in his continuing efforts to wreck American democracy.

The news from the former president’s defense is truly remarkable. At first unable to find anyone in the white-shoe Republican legal establishment in Washington who would defend him, Trump located a South Carolina attorney named Butch Bowers to lead the team. But then this weekend, Bowers and his colleagues dropped out. Here’s why:

Trump’s lawyers had initially planned to center their strategy on the question of whether the proceedings were constitutional and on the definition of incitement, according to one of the people, who, like others interviewed for this report, spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the internal conversations.

But the former president repeatedly said he wanted to litigate the voter fraud allegations and the 2020 race — and was seeking a more public defense of his actions. Bowers told Trump he couldn’t mount the defense that Trump wanted, the person said.

It’s as if someone charged with murder in a drug deal gone bad wants to say, “Ladies and gentleman of the jury, you’re darn right I killed him, because he tried to short me on the cocaine I was buying from him. I rest my case.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/02/01/how-trump-is-forcing-republicans-debase-themselves-one-more-time/

[relayerbob]

1. There's no "forcing"

They are kissing his ass of their own free will. All the more reason for disgust

[RKP5637]

2. Somehow, they think that will benefit them teaming up with a loser sociopath and narcissist. n/t

[Prof. Toru Tanaka]

4. And when this is over and he's acquitted,

I say it is likely he stabs the GOP in the back and starts a 3rd party. Even if they have no hope of retaking the WH, he can push his agenda and do some big time grifting from the rubes.

The stupid ass Repubs never learn. They keep kissing his backside and he keeps crapping on their faces.

[relayerbob]

3. Stupid is as stupid does