Never forget that Republicans could stop all this if they wanted to.

[milestogo]

But they are too beholden and stupid.

[Emile]

1. They are career politicians and afraid of being primaried.

[milestogo]

9. But if all your constituents hate you, you're going to lose anyway.

And there's a lot of push back at these town halls.

[kkmarie]

32. Maybe they are afraid of donny

Closing down the legislative branch if they don't play along. At least this way they keep their paychecks and benefits. If they fight donny he might fire them all sooner than what is in the plan. Remember you don't need a legislature if you have proclaimed yourself king. He's just asked a crowd, not sure if it was a presser, if they thought he should run again. And in 2 years I could really see there being no more elections.

[bdamomma]

37. I don't think

he will last that long being he has horrible health issues.

[dflprincess]

42. Whether they lose or not will depend on who counts the votes

To paraphrase Stalin.

I am not optimistic about 2026 or 2028 because of that.

[Kablooie]

64. There won't be any more elections.

Just pretend elections that Trump controls.

[Omnipresent]

34. If they don't get primaried and replaced before election day 2026...

They will lose any way. Let’s not pretend there won’t be any blow back to what they’re allowing to happen.

[Walleye]

53. I think it's more than that. I think, they are physical cowards. They are afraid of the inevitable death threats

[PatSeg]

56. Now it has become about more than fear of being primaried

Many are actually afraid for their lives and the lives of their families.

Meanwhile, if they don't step up soon, they may not get another opportunity. Soon Trump/Musk's takeover of the government will be total and complete; congress will become impotent and elections won't matter.

[mdbl]

59. I don't think they care about the primaries anymore

I think they just want to retire in peace instead of receiving death threats the rest of their lives.

[Bluethroughu]

2. They are stupid traitors too.

[Irish_Dem]

3. They decided to align with Putin a long time ago.

Trips to Moscow, etc.

They have been done with democracy for some time.

They want what Putin has in Russia, permanent total power and access to all national resources and assets.

The GOP has no intention of stopping Trump.

[Seinan Sensei]

36. Never forget that seven Rethugs made a trip to Moscow on JULY FOURTH

They called themselves a "congressional delegation.” They made a trip to Moscow July 4, 2018. Which was AFTER the Russian “annexation” (read: invasion) of Crimea.

Sen. Richard C. Shelby (R-Ala.),
Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.),
Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.),
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.),
Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.),
Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.),
Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.),
Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas)

F**king traitors.

(P.S. Do you think John Kennedy's Russian translator had to talk like Foghorn Leghorn?)

[Irish_Dem]

48. Yes this is my point. In 2018 the GOP decided to align with Putin.

I believe Putin gave them cash and help rigging elections.

[JohnSJ]

4. Absolutely correct, which means they support it.

[GoCubsGo]

5. And, there are a whole slew of cowards in the lot, too.

Looking at you Susan Collins, Lindsey Graham, Mitch McConnell, Tom Tillis...

[Johnny2X2X]

6. Could have

They no longer can IMO. Trump is above the law, he's ignoring the courts, he owns the justice system and the media, and he would ignore Congress if they tried to hold him to account.

We have lost our democracy, and I don't think anyone knows when, how, or if we get it back.

[milestogo]

10. They can impeach him.

I'm sure the Democrats are ready to impeach.

[Johnny2X2X]

13. What good would that do?

No way the Senate would convict, and even if they did, he is not leaving office.

I beleive the only thing that can get Trump out of office now is a violent military coup or he gets ill and/or dies. If he's able to serve in 2029, he's simply not leaving, period. We literally have our own Vladimir Putin now.

[milestogo]

15. When I said "they" I meant Republicans in the House and Senate.

If they care about this country, they can remove him from office.

[Johnny2X2X]

17. He owns enough of them

If there was a real chance he could be expelled from the White House, he'd have several Senators killed, or he'd just send the miltary to disband Congress altogether.

We are in a dire situation, our Democracy is no longer in peril, it has instead perished.

Nothing Elon Musk doing is legal, Trump doesn't have the authority to give Elon Musk the power to do what he's doing. Trump doesn;t have the authority over these federal agencies he's dismantling. The courts are bing ignored. Congress has been rendered obsolete. Whatever Congress passes for spending won't really matter, Trump will spend and cut as he sees fit.

[milestogo]

19. Congress still has the power of impeachment.

They are just choosing not to exercise it.

[Johnny2X2X]

20. Because they love this

They're all reaping rewards from Trump's coup. This is a party that expelled reasonable people from it. Mitch McConnel is seen as moderate by this group of extremists. You're basically asking, why didn't the Nazis get rid of Hitler? Well, because they were Nazis, they loved Hitler and what he was doing.

The GOP has been building towards this for 50 years. It's what their party has been moving towards the whole time, authoritarianism. Trump is doing everything they dreamed of doing for 50 years. They are Trump, Trump is them.

[lonely bird]

30. They don't care, period

They only care about themselves. They are gutless, go along to get along, wastes of air, food and water.

Destroy the Republican Party.

[Buckeyeblue]

7. Yes they could. It could be ended very quickly.

They should have ended it in 2021.

[PJMcK]

8. Republicans are complicit in this tragedy

They didn't vote to convict Trump in TWO impeachments.

They stood behind his re-election.

They voted to seat all of his terrible cabinet picks.

Republicans want to destroy American democracy and they are poised to do just that.

Time to move.

[Lonestarblue]

11. The direction that Trump/Musk are forcing on the US reminds me of an old film, Elysium.

Here’s the short synopsis.

“In the year 2154, the very wealthy live on a man-made space station while the rest of the population resides on a ruined Earth. A man takes on a mission that could bring equality to the polarized worlds.” (From imdb.com)

The wealthy have built an enclave where food and water are plentiful, healthcare is excellent, and the residents have complete freedom. When the wealthy residents need something from Earth, they send their armed guards to obtain it and to prevent any Earth-bound starvlings from getting to their personal paradise.

This dystopian experience may not be so far off. Fast forward to a few years from now, and Musk will have used our tax dollars to build his own space station for wealthy white people once he and Trump have destroyed the US and probably caused the rest of the world to be at war.

[lonely bird]

31. Just finished watching it again

The two-tiered political economy has been building for decades.

If it is not here yet then it will be shortly.

[appalachiablue]

39. Thanx for the reminder. Here's a clip from Elysium (2013).

[bronxiteforever]

12. Kick for the truth! It is ALL on the GOP. N/t

[Harker]

14. They're all in.

They've come this far, and they're not going back.

[spanone]

16. They could stop it instantly, but they are as corrupt as trmp.

[Lovie777]

18. I have never voted republican....................

it shall continue.

[surfered]

21. Think of all the people in the military who may be asked to give their lives for this country.

Then consider the politicians who aren’t willing to risk a job they don’t really need to defend this country.

[wiggs]

22. One person could have stopped it years ago. Moscow Mitch. But all of them know not to get in the

way of the well-funded mob which has planned this for decades.

[Martin Eden]

23. Republicans in Congress want most of it

They've been wanting to shrink government to a size that can be drowned in a bathtub since before Grover Norquist coined that phrase.

They oppose the social safety net and regulatory agencies, which is what the oligarchs who fund their political careers demand from them.

The Trump/Musk maladministration is accomplishing illegally in a very short time what they've failed to do legislatively in generations.

They may not like putting an unfit scumbag like Hegseth in charge of the US military and abandoning our NATO alliance in favor of Russia, but they are too cowardly to stand up against Dear Dictator and Eloon's $millions.

[karin_sj]

24. And scared and cowardly

They're deathly afraid of the orange mob boss and his loyal, stupid, and violent henchmen and followers.

[IronLionZion]

25. MSNBC has run clips of current GOP officials' previous statements

it wasn't that long ago that they spoke out very strongly against exactly what is happening now.

[Blue Full Moon]

26. They are all Kompromat.

Between Epstein and the orgies. Madison Cawthorn was right about the drugs and orgies.

[Scalded Nun]

27. I'll admit to a lot of ignorance, are there any remedies in states to recall their reps

based upon their support for Trump and what he is doing? Perhaps something can be done re the slim GOP majority in the house without having to wait until the 26 mid-terms. Anger, tempers and feelings of betrayal are running high right now on the right and getting stronger every day. It seems like we could stoke those flames and initiate recall actions i states where they are allowed. Just getting those movements off the ground could get some in the GOP in Congress to get their lips off of Trump's ass. All we need right now is 1 house of Congress to derail this betrayal of our country. Might even work in the Senate, but I think the House would be the better option.

[ecstatic]

28. They are complicit and active participants in the coup

As are the corrupt six on the Supreme Court.

The great gop utopia they have in mind will not come to be because... look at who they've linked up with to achieve it?

Russia, with gop help, is destroying us from within without firing a single bullet. Why didn't republicans just move there instead of destroying the United States? I assume it's because they're angling for another version of race based slavery.

[suegeo]

29. Surrender from Chuck Grassley stands out

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/editorials/2025/02/20/chuck-grassley-joni-ernst-power-government-shutdown-elon-musk-doge/79228164007/?tbref=hp

“Congress can’t do anything except complain,” Sen. Chuck Grassley told reporters this week after a question about mass dismissals of federal workers.

A lot of egregiously false things are being said in Washington these days. But this surrender from Grassley still stands out.

The simplest and most effective way Grassley and Sen. Joni Ernst can express displeasure with anything President Donald Trump, Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency do is to withhold their votes. In just over two weeks, Congress will have to either approve new government funding or allow the government to shut down. Grassley and Ernst are half of the four Republican votes needed to stymie any Senate action.

[DFW]

38. Grassley and his Republican Senate colleagues voted to confirm Hegseth, Patel, Gabbard, Noem, Bobby Jr., and Bondi

I'd say the people of the United States have a hell of a lot to complain about, and Grassley is a major part of it.

Grassley couldhave done something about it. He chose not to. There is a big difference there.

Remember that "right to choose" that you so smugly denied women, Chuck? You had it, and you chose to approve the nominations of supremely unqualified cabinet secretaries--to the detriment of the people of your own country. And now you want to complain? That's like kicking a wounded dog on the ground and then complaining that your foot hurts.

[bdamomma]

33. They are

kissing the ring, ass and other body parts of this convicted felon. Who cares if they get primaried???? They need to put country first. I'm dreaming huh??

[Kid Berwyn]

35. The GOP are co-conspirators in treason.

They believe that after the fall they will be in charge, the players of the ruling elite:

Triumph of the Swill.

And Putin laughs.

[Hotler]

40. Remember, the orange convict is a reflection of those that voted for him. Their cruelty and hate for those

on the left is what drives them and may not quit until they themselves feel the pain they have brought. Almost half of America hates us.
Stay aware of your surroundings and keep an eye on your six.

[barbtries]

41. i never do.

when this total fuckery ends and the fascists have been defeated, as far as i'm concerned there will be no place for a republican party in the restored democracy of the US.

i'm not saying this will happen in my lifetime. I hope it will but don't anticipate that it will. I'm 69 already. I do believe that it will happen. I just don't know when.

[Jarqui]

43. Republicans enabled Trump every step of the way

In 2016
Through his impeachments
etc
and now

The problem has never been Trump alone.
Trump is in power because Republicans want him to be as do
the oligarchs who put tax breaks before country

[KPN]

44. Or that a lot, if not most, of them actually wanted this.

Whether it is manifested today in the Putin alliance, the immigration atrocities, the federal workforce purge, … whatever; this was their goal all along. A weak federal government aside from defense and now Homeland Security. … And as a party they deliberately strategized a long game — a zero sum game -- to get there decades ago, refining and tweaking it as needed every step along the way including it’s morphing to an essentially one party State as the goal. And if that means sutocracy to get there, do be it. The Kingdom of America.

[liberalla]

45. This is an important point! and needs to made repeatedly!

Never forget that Republicans could stop all this if they wanted to.

Republicans could stop all this if they wanted to

[dchill]

46. A reminder:

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.”

[DENVERPOPS]

47. The Republican Party,

The Republican Oligarchs, and other Republican Politicians have frightened anyone in the party that says anything but praise for Trump, the Republican Party with rapid expulsion from their positions......Ask Cheney, and others that have dared to speak.....

In the future, we will probably see anyone, regardless of which party, who says anything against Emperor Trump, be arrested and sent to a Russian Gulag or Gitmo for treason or sedition......Not any different than in Russia, China, NKorea, etc

[Bluetus]

49. Cowards, of course, but that's the opportunity.

We have all been frustrated that the only members of the Good Old Putin party who will do the right thing are those who are out of office. And we hear stories every day about the ones still in office cowering in the bunkers for fear of Trump. That has been a cruel reality for over a decade now. And let's not forget that Trump's recruitment by the KGB literally goes back to the 1980s when the KGB was still called the KGB, so these GOP fears are not unfounded.

But the latest polling tells us that we have not moved into a completely opposite universe. After 30 days in office, Trump is now underwater in all the polls, and that is before most people learn the details about what the Putin Party people are planning to do to the entitlement programs. Hell, at this point, most of them are still at the "$7 eggs and who the F is Musk?" stage.

Republicans are cowards, but they can read the polls. Right now, Trump has the worst polls ratings of any President 30 days into his term, but it is only 1-3% underwater. We have to work hard to continue to educate the educable. We can get that rating to -15, maybe even -25. And in that range, some Republican cowards will decide to try to save themselves. It won't take many defections to cause major damage to the Putin/Musk/Trump agenda.

So keep working it. If we can move the needle another 5 points, maybe we'll see more Democrats willing to come out in the open.

[et tu]

50. all of this is assuming

there will be future and fair elections~

[milestogo]

51. I'm just assuming that he could be impeached and removed from office

by the end of March.

[et tu]

52. good thought nt

[Walleye]

54. It would only take four of them to completely flip the House. Now is their chance to show courage, and if they did it

Together, it might be less frightening for them

[ScratchCat]

55. What has always bothered me

Is the fact that between the House and the Senate, non-Trumpers outweigh the Magas substantially. If Non-Maga Republicans would just stand with Democrats he could have been kicked to the trash pile of history four years ago, again a year ago and right now as we are speaking as well. It just continues to make no sense that the vast majority of this country does not want Donald Trump holding any elected position and we are being "overruled" by about 15% of the country. His support is no higher than that. Its ludicrous.

[FoggyLake]

57. They're not afraid. They're complicit.

[JCMach1]

58. Even easier math 4 Senators, or just a handful of Congressman

5 I believe.

[nilram]

60. And if you live in an R district, call them up.

They need the pressure.

[Karasu]

61. They spent decades normalizing all this shit. They fucking got us here.

Last edited Fri Feb 21, 2025, 07:13 PM - Edit history (2)

Anyone who still identifies as a Republican after the last decade is too far gone.

Hell, the national party was all-in on Trump's fake electors plot back in 2020. They're a fucking crime syndicate.

[Autumn]

62. They can stop this, they could have prevented this and they chose to sit with

their thumbs up their ases sucking his ass.

[Hassler]

63. And cowards. They're afraid.

[Cirsium]

65. No expectations here

I didn't expect anything different from Republicans than just exactly what they are doing. Why would they stop this? Of course they won't.

The Republicans are doing their jobs, advancing the interests of the super wealthy, as always. We should not be naive about that. Our job, and the job of our representatives, should be to fight just as hard for the interests of the other 90%+. The interests of the two groups are mutually antagonistic. We should not be naive about that, either.

[Trueblue Texan]

66. or too compromised.nt

[Klarkashton]

67. Why is it always up to the Dems to stop the bullshit?

A few votes by Republicans could end this shit.

[betsuni]

68. Yes, and the endless passive-aggressive crybabies sobbing "Why didn't/don't Democrats stop this?"

are so annoying, but ... too beholden to anti-Democratic ideology and stupid.

[seta1950]

69. As a matter of fact

They could have stopped, the criminal in the White House from being elected, the first or second time. All the gop cares about is power, and to empty the United States coffers