Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

"So many Republicans, exemplified by the invertebrate House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.), continue to debase themselves in defending defeated former president Donald Trump despite his attempt to o*******w our democracy. In turn, mainstream media outlets shrug their shoulders at the sycophancy and deep dishonesty. “What do you expect?” they effectively argue. “It’s just politics.”

It is just that sort of cynicism — Republicans’ abiding contempt for v**ers and the media’s irresponsible indifference to anything but horserace politics — that leaves America vulnerable to the return of Trump and Republican authoritarian rule. If it’s all a game and no one is expected to do the right thing, then why not reelect the lying MAGA crowdpleasers?

Aside from the moral nihilism, the Trump sycophants and the media overestimate how hard it is to break with the leader of the i**********n. Some conservatives do it without batting an eye.

Arkansas Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson essentially told off his spineless fellow Republicans for continuing to support Trump in an interview Sunday with Fox News’s Bret Baier. "Republicans need to do a lot of soul-searching as to what is the right thing here and what is the right thing for our democracy in the future and not simply adhere to the basic instincts of some of our base.”

Hutchinson added that “Trump is politically, morally responsible for much of what has happened, but in terms of criminal liability, I think the committee has a long way to go before they could establish that.” It’s not clear why Hutchinson can’t seem to grasp the facts of the conspiracy to defraud the United States and to disrupt Congress’s proceedings to certify e*******l v**es, but at least he refuses to play along with the “big lie.” Too bad Arkansas Republican Sens. Tom Cotton and John Boozman have not the decency to follow his lead.

You might argue that it’s easier for Hutchinson to criticize Trump, since he is term-limited from seeking ree******n. But there are Republicans in deep-red states who are seeking ree******n and refuse to pander to the MAGA base or defend Trump. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), who v**ed for the independent commission to investigate the i**********n, declared on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday that Trump’s actions on J*** 6 were “wrong” and that Trump would not be his pick in 2024.

Bacon declared, “We have to learn the lesson ‘why did we lose in 2020?’ It was the comportment and the temperament.” He also agreed with the suggestion that Trump was guilty of “dereliction of duty.” Bacon went further, saying he would not dismiss out of hand a criminal indictment of Trump. Despite these views, Bacon won more than 80 percent of the v**e in his primary contest last month.

It is not hard for Republicans to admit the obvious, to stop pandering to the deluded MAGA base and to acknowledge that Trump betrayed his oath. Yet the timorous McCarthy (not to mention the ridiculously ambitious crew of 2024 contenders) cannot manage even that.

All praise is due to Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), who has already earned her place in history. But amid the admiration and praise for her, the question remains: Why is the rest of her party so cowardly?"

Jennifer Rubin

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

Dump "the deluded MAGA base"??? Meaning half the country?

Sorry, but 'Make America Great Again' is not an empty slogan especially after what Biden, AOC, and the woke Lefty Dems have done to our country.

You and Rubin are suffering from the delusion of an alternate reality in regards to American sentiment.

Old Coot

Personally I agree with the policies of the Republican Party. It's Trump who I cannot stand.
In my opinion he is an egotistical nut case.
Who else takes every personal negative comment as a full blown on insult and responds to every single thing he does not like with online tweets etc.
I will v**e Republican but I will never ever v**e again for Trump.
Come on Republicans. You have plenty of excellent characters who can do the job.
If the Republican party supports Trump for the next P**********l race, I fear they will lose not just that office but many others as well.
Just dump Trump

DennyT Loc: Central Missouri woods

👍👍👍👍👍👍. But sadly to many belief if one is no in lockstep with trump , they liberals . Why is it hard to understand that is not true?

You right on if trump were the candidate that hands the presidency to democrats

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

The Republican party is just a looney baby brother of the Dumbocrats without Trump. Don't you realize what it was like with Bush and McClain?

And second of all, which Democrat is not an egotistical nut case, Biden, AOC, Pelosi, Sanders, Kerry? Plus they are all i***ts.

But more than that it takes a strong ego to be a Donald Trump and accomplish what he has in light of the constant slings and arrows based on sheer h**e and stupidity such as you show.

As an old coot you should know that even Babe Ruth said 'It's not bragging' if you can back it up.

btbg

Your reasoning doesn't even make sense. If you agreed with Trump's policy decisions and disagree with what the Democrats stand for why would you cut off your nose to spite your face? Most of the excellent characters are unelectable and those who might be able to get elected are rinos and not true conservatives. V**e for whoever is going to do the best job. Cause look at the pain people who refused to v**e for Trump have inflicted on our nation because of the four years we are stuck with Biden.

btbg

It is much harder to break with Trump than you seem to understand. We want someone who will stand up for us and not let the progressives just roll over us. Candidates like McCain and Romney just rolled over and didn't even fight back. They are or were spineless. Trump may be crass, crude, rude, loud and obnoxious, but at least he stood up for American. Much better than the alternative.

Instead of continuing to rail about Trump how about if you post something talking about what is happening with the current administration, because as near as I can tell your constant disdain for Trump has a lot more to do with his personality than his job performance, while your apparent approval of Biden has a lot more to do with his personality than his job performance. Job performance should always come first. So, if you want to attack Trump how about if you attack his policy decisions and if you want to support Biden how about if you try to defend his policy decisions.

Old Coot

Both evil. Which one is less !

Old Coot

Not cutting off my nose. Lets just choose any of the better candidates.

Old Coot

Policy decisions are one thing. But a deranged maniac is another.

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

zackly!

Ront53 Loc: Maryland

What is not understood is that when they say, "break with Trump" what happens, they do not break with the policies that he had during his administration. America First is a great idea and if you don't believe that, time to leave and live somewhere else. Right now the country is on a serious down slide which is the worse in history.

Wyantry Loc: SW Colorado

Frank T Loc: New York, NY

Unfortunately, his practice was Trump First, not America.

thom w Loc: San Jose, CA