GOP signals unwillingness to part with Trump

[Stevicus]

GOP signals unwillingness to part with Trump after riot (apnews.com)

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Donald Trump has lost his social media megaphone, the power of government and the unequivocal support of his party’s elected leaders. But a week after leaving the White House in disgrace, a large-scale Republican defection that would ultimately purge him from the party appears unlikely.

Many Republicans refuse to publicly defend Trump’s role in sparking the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. But as the Senate prepares for an impeachment trial for Trump’s incitement of the riot, few seem willing to hold the former president accountable.

After House Republicans who backed his impeachment found themselves facing intense backlash — and Trump’s lieutenants signaled the same fate would meet others who joined them — Senate Republicans voted overwhelmingly Tuesday for an attempt to dismiss his second impeachment trial. Only five Republican senators rejected the challenge to the trial.

So, the impeachment trial will still go on, but it doesn't appear there will be enough votes to get a conviction.

Trump’s conviction was considered a real possibility just days ago after lawmakers whose lives were threatened by the mob weighed the appropriate consequences — and the future of their party. But the Senate vote on Tuesday is a sign that while Trump may be held in low regard in Washington following the riots, a large swath of Republicans is leery of crossing his supporters, who remain the majority of the party’s voters.

“The political winds within the Republican Party have blown in the opposite direction,” said Ralph Reed, chair of the Faith and Freedom Coalition and a Trump ally. “Republicans have decided that even if one believes he made mistakes after the November election and on Jan. 6, the policies Trump championed and victories he won from judges to regulatory rollback to life to tax cuts were too great to allow the party to leave him on the battlefield.”

The vote came after Trump, who decamped last week to his private Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, began wading back into politics between rounds of golf. He took an early step into the Arkansas governor’s race by endorsing former White House aide Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and backed Kelli Ward, an ally who won reelection as chair of Arizona’s Republican Party after his endorsement.

At the same time, Trump’s team has given allies an informal blessing to campaign against the 10 House Republicans who voted in favor of impeachment.

Trump has a boatload of money and appears focused on supporting Republican representatives and senators in the 2022 elections.

Trump, who craves the media spotlight, was never expected to burrow out of public view.

“We will be back in some form,” he told supporters at a farewell event before he left for Florida. But exactly what form that will take is a work in progress.

Trump remains deeply popular among Republican voters and is sitting on a huge pot of cash — well over $50 million — that he could use to prop up primary challenges against Republicans who backed his impeachment or refused to support his failed efforts to challenge the election results using bogus allegations of mass voter fraud in states like Georgia.

“POTUS told me after the election that he’s going to be very involved,” said Matt Schlapp, the chair of the American Conservative Union. “I think he’s going to stay engaged. He’s going to keep communicating. He’s going to keep expressing his opinions. I, for one, think that’s great, and I encouraged him to do that.”

"We will be back in some form."

His aides indicated that Trump is not currently planning to launch a third party.

Trump aides have also spent recent days trying to assure Republicans that he is not currently planning to launch a third party — an idea he has floated — and will instead focus on using his clout in the Republican Party.

Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., said he received a call from Brian Jack, the former White House political director, on Saturday at home to assure him that Trump had no plans for defection.

“The main reason for the call was to make sure I knew from him that he’s not starting a third party and if I would be helpful in squashing any rumors that he was starting a third party. And that his political activism or whatever role he would play going forward would be with the Republican Party, not as a third party,” Cramer said.

The calls were first reported by Politico.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Did you expect the GOP to be better than the seventy-four million Americans who endorsed Trump?

 

[Brickjectivity]

So, the impeachment trial will still go on, but it doesn't appear there will be enough votes to get a conviction.

Conviction was never a possibility. Everyone knew that I think. The second impeachment was significant in itself. Resulting investigations may be productive or not. I have zero expectations of a conviction, yet I feel the impeachment is important.

 

[Twilight Hue]

GOP signals unwillingness to part with Trump after riot (apnews.com)



So, the impeachment trial will still go on, but it doesn't appear there will be enough votes to get a conviction.



Trump has a boatload of money and appears focused on supporting Republican representatives and senators in the 2022 elections.



"We will be back in some form."

His aides indicated that Trump is not currently planning to launch a third party.

Shows how much distrust there is directed towards the Democrat party.

Instead of this constant pathological fixation on Trump, maybe it would be better advised to see how that division could be remedied to bring back the bipartisanship this country used to have.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Conviction was never a possibility. Everyone knew that I think. The second impeachment was significant in itself. Resulting investigations may be productive or not. I have zero expectations of a conviction, yet I feel the impeachment is important.

I think impeachment is pointless now.

There are more important priorities I think.

 

[The Hammer]

I think impeachment is pointless now.

There are more important priorities I think.

So when Trump was president, he didn't have to face the consequences because that would hamper his governing ability. Now he can't face consequences because he is a private citizen. So when is it proper for him to be called to task?

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Instead of this constant pathological fixation on Trump, maybe it would be better advised to see how that division could be remedied to bring back the bipartisanship this country used to have.

That's an easy one: don't mess with a society defined by white and gender privilege as long as demographics allow us to get away with it.

 

[Kenny]

Shows how much distrust there is directed towards the Democrat party.

Instead of this constant pathological fixation on Trump, maybe it would be better advised to see how that division could be remedied to bring back the bipartisanship this country used to have.

This is so true. This has been going on for 4 years and continues. It only pushed 50+% of the people further away.

I say 50%+ because those who didn't vote are upset at both parties and this just cements their position.

So, the impeachment trial will still go on, but it doesn't appear there will be enough votes to get a conviction.

IMV, and rightfully so.

Maybe if they would put just as much effort into helping people, it would be better?

 

[Quetzal]

It is interesting to see those right of center blaming Democrats when most bi-partisan legislation was stonewalled by... ~checks notes~ a Republican Senate Majority Leader.

 

[Brickjectivity]

I think impeachment is pointless now.

There are more important priorities I think.

That's pretty much what I think, and the impeachment is over. He's been impeached, and the trial is a no-go.

 

[Wandering Monk]

Yet half of GOP voters think Trump should still play a part in Republican politics:

Senate Republicans Signal Acquittal for Trump as His Standing Improves Among GOP Voters - Morning Consult

 

[sun rise]

Conviction was never a possibility. Everyone knew that I think. The second impeachment was significant in itself. Resulting investigations may be productive or not. I have zero expectations of a conviction, yet I feel the impeachment is important.

The fact that there are 45 accomplices to Trump's crimes in the Senate does not deter me from wanting a trial. Throwing the actions of cowards, enablers, sycophants and accomplices of his into sharp relief is worthwhile.

 

[Brickjectivity]

The fact that there are 45 accomplices to Trump's crimes in the Senate does not deter me from wanting a trial. Throwing the actions of cowards, enablers, sycophants and accomplices of his into sharp relief is worthwhile.

I am neutral on the trial. Its a political gamble, so if you feel that it moves justice forward then fine. I don't think it does. If you could convict, sure.

***adding***
To clarify: How much justice came from the questioning of Ollie North? What was the benefit of the Trial of Bill Clinton? There was no conviction in either case. Each person received instead a political boost.

 

[The Hammer]

It is interesting to see those right of center blaming Democrats when most bi-partisan legislation was stonewalled by... ~checks notes~ a Republican Senate Majority Leader.

Mitch the *****

 

[Brickjectivity]

You have a bird in your hand, but you're going to risk dropping it if you try to walk into the bush to grab two more. Don't undervalue and perhaps squander what has been accomplished by the second impeachment. It is a conviction on its own if you use it properly.

 

[metis]

Shows how much distrust there is directed towards the Democrat party.

Instead of this constant pathological fixation on Trump, maybe it would be better advised to see how that division could be remedied to bring back the bipartisanship this country used to have.

Apparently you must think that the Pubs can't do anything wrong, so just blame the Dems on this and many other things, right?

 

[Audie]

GOP signals unwillingness to part with Trump after riot (apnews.com)



So, the impeachment trial will still go on, but it doesn't appear there will be enough votes to get a conviction.



Trump has a boatload of money and appears focused on supporting Republican representatives and senators in the 2022 elections.



"We will be back in some form."

His aides indicated that Trump is not currently planning to launch a third party.

Third party ruined Theodore Roosevelt's
political career.

 

[PureX]

I think impeachment is pointless now.

There are more important priorities I think.

What priorities are more important, do you think, than seeing to it that the rule of law is being applied to everyone fairly and equally?

 

[Twilight Hue]

What priorities are more important, do you think, than seeing to it that the rule of law is being applied to everyone fairly and equally?

The rule of law never was fair nor equal.

Biden or Trump or any high profile elite.

The system is made so each of these people are well above the law by design.

In reality, its a waste of time.

 

[Brickjectivity]

Did you expect the GOP to be better than the seventy-four million Americans who endorsed Trump?

Third party ruined Theodore Roosevelt's
political career.

What priorities are more important, do you think, than seeing to it that the rule of law is being applied to everyone fairly and equally?