back when GOP voices told the truth about Trump

[davesaddiction]

...before they sold their souls to the devil for their own political futures.

[dtg11]

While I think what happened at the capital is an atrocity, I think one silver lining from it is the ability for politicians to be less divided, even if over just one area. It's a start and is hopefully signaling the end of this era of Trumpism.

[davesaddiction]

@dtg11 But will they? Will Republicans actually join Democrats in impeaching him this time, or will they bow to pressure from him and his base once again, and leave open the door for him to run again in 2024?

Seems doubtful that they'll grow a spine, especially after so many in the House continued to contest the election results, as Trump bid they do.

[MidEngine]

@davesaddiction Honestly, given Trump's mental decline and morbid obesity, it's highly unlikely he'll be around in 2024 mentally or physically. I'd argue that train left the station already. However, I'm sure there's plenty of GOP hopefuls that'll do damned near anything to gain the favor of his base, evil dressed up in a different suit (and presumably better hair).

[dtg11]

@davesaddiction It's hard to say. I know it's hopeful, but not necessarily unrealistic. The number of House Members who objected is certainly disheartening, but many Senators conceded. Additionally, Mitch McConnell is supportive of the efforts to impeach Trump, which definitely helps.

[davesaddiction]

@midengine said in back when GOP voices told the truth about Trump:

that'll do damned near anything to gain the favor of his base

Disgusting...

[aremmes]

They've long known what they've been cooking. Any attempt to feign surprise is disingenuous at best.

If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed.......and we will deserve it.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) May 3, 2016

[davesaddiction]

@aremmes I LOVE that quote.

[fintail]

@davesaddiction And indeed, they deserve the destruction.

Just goes to show that many indeed will sell their souls for the promise of a little profit and power.

[MidEngine]

@fintail Springsteen warned us years ago "Poor man wanna be rich, rich man wanna be king
And a king ain't satisfied till he rules everything". I always thought he was referring to the likes of Putin, but the notion seems to have bled over and become unapologetically mainstream in America.

[davesaddiction]

@midengine Has he really declined any more in the past 5 years? Sure seems like exactly the same guy who came down the escalator 5 1/2 years ago...

[MidEngine]

@davesaddiction yeah, with power things get a lot worse, he was a blowhard that was barely tolerable riding down that escalator (no justice, the damned thing shoulda ate him up). Since being elected his erratic behavior has run unchecked, this is what happens when you take the guardrails off a sociopath.

[facw]

@davesaddiction Sounds like they'll get some GOP votes in the House. Doesn't sound like McConnell is going to call the Senate back from recess to vote, so there's the question as to whether the Senate can actually even convict Trump after his term ends, and then beyond that, the question as to whether they can get the votes they need. Sounds like Romney won't be alone this time, but there needs to be more than a few moderate Republicans voting to convict to make it happen.

[aremmes]

@facw Even if the Senate fails to convict, those who vote against conviction will remain on record as accepting Trump's actions against democracy.

[davesaddiction]

@facw Yup - 2/3rds supermajority. McConnell still has power, but I'm not sure if he has that much.

[davesaddiction]

And... House Rs put Medal of Freedom recipient Jim Jordan up first after Pelosi.

There you go.

And he's somehow ends up talking about the Wright Brothers, Chuck Yeager, and the moon landing?

[benn454]

@davesaddiction PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE ORANGE GOBLIN BEHIND THE CURTAIN

[CivicWagonEngineer]

@midengine I think Ted Cruz will try to take over Trumps base by acting like a more "sane" version of him...won't surprise me if that happens in 2024

[facw]

@civicwagonengineer He's in for a bit of a surprise I think. A significant portion of Trump's base is going to have a problem with a guy named 'Rafael'.

Also Trump's political career was jumpstarted by arguing that Obama wasn't born in the US (which of course he was). Ted Cruz was definitely born in Calgary though. Of course there are reasonable arguments that being a US citizen by birth (regardless of where you were born) is sufficient, but that would have applied to Obama as well, even had he been born in Kenya (and of course also applied to McCain, who was born in Panama).

[benn454]

@facw That only matters if you're not white.

[facw]

@benn454 Do we think Trump's followers see Cruz as white?

[CivicWagonEngineer]

@facw Only time will tell but they've proven time and time again that logic doesn't matter, so either way I won't be very surprised

[Chariotoflove]

@davesaddiction said in back when GOP voices told the truth about Trump:

@dtg11 But will they? Will Republicans actually join Democrats in impeaching him this time, or will they bow to pressure from him and his base once again, and leave open the door for him to run again in 2024?

Seems doubtful that they'll grow a spine, especially after so many in the House continued to contest the election results, as Trump bid they do.

Dave, this is the only thing I'm worried about in this impeachment thing. Do it if it brings closure or unity or whatever to make it worth the time it takes away from governing, but don't do it if it's going to widen the divide. If Ds point at the Rs who didn't vote to impeach and hold it against them, or if Rs hold it against the Ds for trying to cause a circus, or whatever. I don't care about the Donald. I really don't. I only care about my Congress not picking at a scab.

I sincerely hope they can balance this all.

[davesaddiction]

@chariotoflove

Honestly don't know what the right call is, but like so many said, "if this is not impeachable, what is?"

10 in the House voted with the Ds. If 13 in the Senate do, he can never run again, and the Rs can move forward and attempt to pick up the pieces of their party.

[ZHP Sparky - the 5th]

@davesaddiction Just look at Graham. Last week he was all "Me and Trump have had a hell of a ride! Count me out!".

And yet here he is this week touring the border wall with him and rallying Republican senators to vote against impeachment.