I'm not going to hold my breath in hopes that Republican lawmakers finally grow a moral spine. But we the people can put so much pressure on them that they have no choice but respect our demands through voting and organizing!
I'm not holding my breath, either. It would be a welcome change if these people did grow a moral spine. But they've been acting against their constituent's best interests since the time of Reagan, and leopards don't change their spots.
This is my single biggest orientation currently. If the citizens of this country remain silent and inactive, why WOULDN'T our elected representatives prioritize their donors and power? A groundswell of civic action is the only way out of this at this point.
"I'm not going to hold my breath in hopes that Republican lawmakers finally grow a moral spine."
Neither political party will ever grow a moral spine simply because their love of power trumps everything else. Democrats are not immune from that. The same goes for the media, whether they be reporters or the "all-knowing" pundit class. The Republicans do Trump's bidding or incur his wrath. The Democrats and the media had their chance to show extraordinary moral courage with Biden's cognitive decline but kept silent.
There will always be individuals within parties who will do their best to stay above the fray, but they typically don't stay around long enough to make a difference. Such is the effect of the swamp...no, make that sewer, that is our nation's capital.
For what it's worth, I agree. My perspective is that some of the dems genuinely care about their constituents, but most are more invested in their oligarch overlords. I think that the only way we change that is through mass political action. Politicians throughout history have a habit of changing their tune quickly when there are tens of thousands of protesters meeting them at their doorstep every day.
"I think that the only way we change that is through mass political action."
Noah Webster once said, "In selecting men for office, let principle be your guide. Regard not the particular sect or denomination of the candidate-look to his character." And that, in a nutshell, is the problem. In order to select people of good moral character to represent us, it presupposes that the electorate is full of people with good moral character who can make those choices. We are nowhere close to that...most voters primarily care whether there is a (D) or an (R) after the name.
We're the ones who keep sending these same clowns to office every election cycle because of the goodies they promise us. We have gone from the Founders' vision of a small, limited federal government to the view that Washington is an all-encompassing piggy bank. That might be a bit cynical but it's closer to the truth than the one-sided views of both parties and their media sycophants.
What's most interesting about the Republicans who are being "defeated" in primaries by Trump are: at least as far as I can tell, they are going down sniveling, not swinging.
By that, I mean, they're mostly (Massie may be the exception?) running their primaries trying to convince the voters that they're as loyal to Trump as anyone - just, you know, pissed him off once-upon-a-time.
I'd like to see them-- like Liz Cheney did-- stand up and say: look, I'm a principled Conservative. I believe in X, Y, and Z. He doesn't. He's a corrupt, unprincipled, immoral, democracy-destroying demagogue.
I'd like to see someone, with credibility (which leaves Massie out) make a Republican case against Trump. Especially given his low polling due to Iran, Inflation, and his Insanity, I'd like to see if that message could find a market in the Republican party.
if it can't, then we may have exactly zero hope of regaining a functional democracy.
The problem is that the majority of "Republican" voters are in the MAGA camp. It is such a pathetic reflection of society. Let's hope many of them lose to democrats.
Not if the rethugs remain googly eyed and drooling in front of Faux Snooze. Of note there seem to be more registered Dems than rethugs in TX... If someone can just arouse them and get them to the polls Talarico may have a real chance. Edit: corrected spelling error
In time it will come back to bite these cowards in the ass. I am unlikely to live long enough to see that but I am confident that it will. Their names will go down in history as those who attempted to destroy our democracy. They will be known as among the worst of the worst. They do not care as they see only today and not into the future. Trump will be listed as the worst president in the history of our country.
The GOP of previous principle is dead and can never be resurrected. A new party will have to be given birth without the MAGA infection. Hopefully it will be inoculated against it ever rising again.
I could never vote Republican. They're too weak and cowardly. It's hard to see grown men behave like scared children because some old man in a girdle with a ferret on his head might say mean things about them. Just unbelievable cowardice.
Me too. I'm originally from New York and I can remember voting for some Republicans, who were fiscally conservative but did not kowtow to Wall Street or the wealthy class over those of the middle and working classes. Senator Jacob Javits comes to mind.
I live in NC, and Tillis has, for his career, supported destruction of public schools, voter suppression and policies that hurt the people of our state. He's voted with McConnell and Trump over and over and over.
Despite making a few feeble attempts to take a stand based on 'principal' he basically wants the death dealing that's going on.
Sadly--for the whole world-- the repentance and further, the amends that would be needed are beyond what most of these people are willing to take on.
I would point out that despite Liz Cheney's "principled" stance, she, too, supported 90% of the Felon's agenda. She was pushed out because of ONE "principled" act.
Such a somber reflection for such a depressing, sorry national moment. With the DOJ's latest move, we are now officially serfs living in Trump's fiefdom. As Lord of the Manor, he tithes us to fill his coffers, enjoy his splendiferous life, and enrich his family.
Perhaps this is what Republicans actually wanted. if not, too bad. They're now serfs as well.
Cassidy, a doctor voting to put RFK Jr. in charge of DHS is truly a shame. Helping people see how these votes impact them and their families personally is useful in getting more people to vote and get organized. I use maps and infographics in daily blogs at Democracy Labs with this goal in mind. Yesterday's map shows how gutting USAID and the CDC endangers the lives of Americans from diseases starting overseas.
Ebola Emergency: Mapping the deadly cost of Elon Musk killing USAID and RFK Jr. firing CDC medical experts
This is so sad. Profiles in cowardice ending in defeat. Some, no doubt, otherwise decent people, now part of the hordes of those who bowed to the tyrant but were cruelly thrown to the garbage heap, nonetheless. It's not like they didn't understand what he is capable of. He has no sense of loyalty or courage or decency. Everything and everyone he touches turns to ash.
Rule #1 for these contemptible, cowardly creatures of the orange narcissist-felon:
"Cauterize the conscience."
Once this has been accomplished, the servile sycophant role is assured.
The voters' final judgment: character, and the oath they made to the Constitution.
There is no point in trying to appeal to their better natures. They abandoned all the concomitant values long ago. By their 'fruits' (actions and inactions) they shall be known.
Try this quatrain, in antiquated iambic pentameter:
Oh my, I only wish each of these Republicans would read this article. Surely they have to know the betrayal, but it is doubtful they will ever admit it. I hope it plagues them - the realization that they could have made a difference and chose not to!
Those in the MAGA party that I know would rather die than vote for a Democrat. It seems that what used to be moderate Republicans are now full fledged MAGA, so no, not a chance that they would even read the article, let alone use it to better the situation.
The handful of republicans who are retiring or have faced defeat in primaries already knew that what they were doing to preserve their careers was wrong, immoral, and in many cases unconstitutional. They knew they weren't serving their constituents' interests, but instead, their own. They knew it - whether they ever admit it out loud. Their constituents know it, too, as they live with the high cost of their senators' refusal to claw back congressional authority over tariffs, spending, and war powers. They're not blind. They see that despite all the promises in 2024, the only thing Trump cares about now is raking in as much cash as possible from his perch in the White House, and erecting what he thinks will be permanent monuments to his grandiosity. While their senators do nothing to stop him. They see it. And they're starting to act on it.
We need to make sure the other 2/3rds of senators not up for reelection this cycle start sweating over their prospects. Waiting for them to change after the Great Capitulation is a fool's errand. We need to make them lose sleep wondering if the sword over their heads is going to fall, too. And then make sure it does - because not a single republican can be trusted. Not. One.
When you hear and read about some of what the mental health professionals say about the current “state of mind” of this administration, cruelty is part of the dynamic. Malignant narcissists ( Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin) enjoy hurting, killing as they like being feared, need to fill that black hole of insecurity. Cornyn, who was a respected judge became a Senator and has now discarded his principles and ethics for someone who has none. No one on their death bed wishes they had another 6 yrs as an obsequious Senator rather than having done some good.
I really wouldn’t count on the Republicans to do anything different than they already do. Thomas Massie may have been defeated by the Trump acolyte, but at least his concession speech reflected his convictions concerning the felon Trump. We in Alabama elected Doug Jones as our Democratic nominee for governor. At the last minute, the felon endorsed Tommy T. So he will be here especially if Tuberville gets in trouble electorally will be coming to campaign for him. I hope I don’t have to see his ugly disgusting face.
Tuberville is such a dunce. It's one thing to be a Senator, where you have a staff of aides to do all the work, but as a Governor? That's a real job, one where only he will be making end decisions. It's hard to imagine him in the role.
I think the strategy for 2028 is to create sufficient election chaos to throw the decision to the House.
1. They now have MAGA loyalists on state elections commissions in key states.
2. They now have a private army that can show up at polling stations and detain Democrats without a warrant until the election is over.
3. They now have a $1.776B slush fund that tRump can use to sponsor his White Supremacist troops – equipment, recruitment and immunity via full pardon.
4. They have full access to both Palantir and Muck’s AI tools to plan the whole thing.
Where is Dr. Who when we need him? Remember the End of Time episode? The End of Time (Doctor Who) - Wikipedia The entire “Republican” party congress is now a clone of tRump. The congressional representatives no longer represent the voters; they represent tRump.
Indeed, I am not getting my hopes up. However, because of the peculiar nature of primaries, in which only the most zealous exercise their right to vote, this could open up opportunities to turn all those seats away from the fascist-enabling minions who have their heads firmly up the Felon's fundament. If only the Democratic Party leadership stops staring at their food bowls and starts acting like true representatives of We the People. They really need to stop carping about the activism of AOC and Bernie and the success of Mamdani and get on the train to pushing the m*therf*ckers out of Congress.
I'm not going to hold my breath in hopes that Republican lawmakers finally grow a moral spine. But we the people can put so much pressure on them that they have no choice but respect our demands through voting and organizing!
I'm not holding my breath, either. It would be a welcome change if these people did grow a moral spine. But they've been acting against their constituent's best interests since the time of Reagan, and leopards don't change their spots.
If we don't pressure them, nothing will happen.
This is my single biggest orientation currently. If the citizens of this country remain silent and inactive, why WOULDN'T our elected representatives prioritize their donors and power? A groundswell of civic action is the only way out of this at this point.
Most of these people are too cultified to come in out of the rain. And rain it will, with thunder, lightning and hail. You can count on it.
Exactly.
And don't forget that these discarded Republicans will still have the nasty MAGAt threats of violence to contend with.
"I'm not going to hold my breath in hopes that Republican lawmakers finally grow a moral spine."
Neither political party will ever grow a moral spine simply because their love of power trumps everything else. Democrats are not immune from that. The same goes for the media, whether they be reporters or the "all-knowing" pundit class. The Republicans do Trump's bidding or incur his wrath. The Democrats and the media had their chance to show extraordinary moral courage with Biden's cognitive decline but kept silent.
There will always be individuals within parties who will do their best to stay above the fray, but they typically don't stay around long enough to make a difference. Such is the effect of the swamp...no, make that sewer, that is our nation's capital.
For what it's worth, I agree. My perspective is that some of the dems genuinely care about their constituents, but most are more invested in their oligarch overlords. I think that the only way we change that is through mass political action. Politicians throughout history have a habit of changing their tune quickly when there are tens of thousands of protesters meeting them at their doorstep every day.
"I think that the only way we change that is through mass political action."
Noah Webster once said, "In selecting men for office, let principle be your guide. Regard not the particular sect or denomination of the candidate-look to his character." And that, in a nutshell, is the problem. In order to select people of good moral character to represent us, it presupposes that the electorate is full of people with good moral character who can make those choices. We are nowhere close to that...most voters primarily care whether there is a (D) or an (R) after the name.
We're the ones who keep sending these same clowns to office every election cycle because of the goodies they promise us. We have gone from the Founders' vision of a small, limited federal government to the view that Washington is an all-encompassing piggy bank. That might be a bit cynical but it's closer to the truth than the one-sided views of both parties and their media sycophants.
What's most interesting about the Republicans who are being "defeated" in primaries by Trump are: at least as far as I can tell, they are going down sniveling, not swinging.
By that, I mean, they're mostly (Massie may be the exception?) running their primaries trying to convince the voters that they're as loyal to Trump as anyone - just, you know, pissed him off once-upon-a-time.
I'd like to see them-- like Liz Cheney did-- stand up and say: look, I'm a principled Conservative. I believe in X, Y, and Z. He doesn't. He's a corrupt, unprincipled, immoral, democracy-destroying demagogue.
I'd like to see someone, with credibility (which leaves Massie out) make a Republican case against Trump. Especially given his low polling due to Iran, Inflation, and his Insanity, I'd like to see if that message could find a market in the Republican party.
if it can't, then we may have exactly zero hope of regaining a functional democracy.
The list of honorable, courageous Republicans is short, but I'd like to add Adam Kinzinger.
Agreed. I disagree with a lot of his politics but he has a conscience and stood up for what was right even at the cost of his career in politics.
Yes, and Cheney and Kinzinger are out, defeated and retired respectively. Not a great recommendation for success on the R side.
"The Last Republican" documentary on Adam Kinzinger is worth watching (again). Available on YouTube, I believe.
The problem is that the majority of "Republican" voters are in the MAGA camp. It is such a pathetic reflection of society. Let's hope many of them lose to democrats.
My concern is that you are correct. That means we may never be able to get back to a normally functioning republic.
Not if the rethugs remain googly eyed and drooling in front of Faux Snooze. Of note there seem to be more registered Dems than rethugs in TX... If someone can just arouse them and get them to the polls Talarico may have a real chance. Edit: corrected spelling error
“Never” is a very long word. Perhaps “not in our lifetimes”?
In time it will come back to bite these cowards in the ass. I am unlikely to live long enough to see that but I am confident that it will. Their names will go down in history as those who attempted to destroy our democracy. They will be known as among the worst of the worst. They do not care as they see only today and not into the future. Trump will be listed as the worst president in the history of our country.
The GOP of previous principle is dead and can never be resurrected. A new party will have to be given birth without the MAGA infection. Hopefully it will be inoculated against it ever rising again.
it won't be without the removal of the elec college
I could never vote Republican. They're too weak and cowardly. It's hard to see grown men behave like scared children because some old man in a girdle with a ferret on his head might say mean things about them. Just unbelievable cowardice.
I think the MAGA crew issues threats to families, too. Even so, we’re all in that boat now.
There were a few Republicans I could have vote for, many years ago. Not so now.
Me too. I'm originally from New York and I can remember voting for some Republicans, who were fiscally conservative but did not kowtow to Wall Street or the wealthy class over those of the middle and working classes. Senator Jacob Javits comes to mind.
They are looking at their MAGA constituents. They are the problem.
I live in NC, and Tillis has, for his career, supported destruction of public schools, voter suppression and policies that hurt the people of our state. He's voted with McConnell and Trump over and over and over.
Despite making a few feeble attempts to take a stand based on 'principal' he basically wants the death dealing that's going on.
Sadly--for the whole world-- the repentance and further, the amends that would be needed are beyond what most of these people are willing to take on.
I would point out that despite Liz Cheney's "principled" stance, she, too, supported 90% of the Felon's agenda. She was pushed out because of ONE "principled" act.
Such a somber reflection for such a depressing, sorry national moment. With the DOJ's latest move, we are now officially serfs living in Trump's fiefdom. As Lord of the Manor, he tithes us to fill his coffers, enjoy his splendiferous life, and enrich his family.
Perhaps this is what Republicans actually wanted. if not, too bad. They're now serfs as well.
Serfs had nothing, these guys will leave with plenty in their pockets.
Cassidy, a doctor voting to put RFK Jr. in charge of DHS is truly a shame. Helping people see how these votes impact them and their families personally is useful in getting more people to vote and get organized. I use maps and infographics in daily blogs at Democracy Labs with this goal in mind. Yesterday's map shows how gutting USAID and the CDC endangers the lives of Americans from diseases starting overseas.
Ebola Emergency: Mapping the deadly cost of Elon Musk killing USAID and RFK Jr. firing CDC medical experts
Map: https://arcg.is/aOTKn0
Blog: https://thedemlabs.org/2026/05/19/mapping-global-health-cuts-ebola-risk/
This is so sad. Profiles in cowardice ending in defeat. Some, no doubt, otherwise decent people, now part of the hordes of those who bowed to the tyrant but were cruelly thrown to the garbage heap, nonetheless. It's not like they didn't understand what he is capable of. He has no sense of loyalty or courage or decency. Everything and everyone he touches turns to ash.
Rule #1 for these contemptible, cowardly creatures of the orange narcissist-felon:
"Cauterize the conscience."
Once this has been accomplished, the servile sycophant role is assured.
The voters' final judgment: character, and the oath they made to the Constitution.
There is no point in trying to appeal to their better natures. They abandoned all the concomitant values long ago. By their 'fruits' (actions and inactions) they shall be known.
Try this quatrain, in antiquated iambic pentameter:
Integrity's the inmost core of life.
There is no substitute that you can find.
Without it, all must end in sullen strife.
And if you fool yourself, then you are blind.
One must first have a conscience to cauterize. Those who have bowed to the service of Trump never had one or they would not have gone there.
Too true, Steve. Power corrupts. j2
Oh my, I only wish each of these Republicans would read this article. Surely they have to know the betrayal, but it is doubtful they will ever admit it. I hope it plagues them - the realization that they could have made a difference and chose not to!
That would require a viable conscience, which died with their selling of their souls.
Those in the MAGA party that I know would rather die than vote for a Democrat. It seems that what used to be moderate Republicans are now full fledged MAGA, so no, not a chance that they would even read the article, let alone use it to better the situation.
The handful of republicans who are retiring or have faced defeat in primaries already knew that what they were doing to preserve their careers was wrong, immoral, and in many cases unconstitutional. They knew they weren't serving their constituents' interests, but instead, their own. They knew it - whether they ever admit it out loud. Their constituents know it, too, as they live with the high cost of their senators' refusal to claw back congressional authority over tariffs, spending, and war powers. They're not blind. They see that despite all the promises in 2024, the only thing Trump cares about now is raking in as much cash as possible from his perch in the White House, and erecting what he thinks will be permanent monuments to his grandiosity. While their senators do nothing to stop him. They see it. And they're starting to act on it.
We need to make sure the other 2/3rds of senators not up for reelection this cycle start sweating over their prospects. Waiting for them to change after the Great Capitulation is a fool's errand. We need to make them lose sleep wondering if the sword over their heads is going to fall, too. And then make sure it does - because not a single republican can be trusted. Not. One.
When you hear and read about some of what the mental health professionals say about the current “state of mind” of this administration, cruelty is part of the dynamic. Malignant narcissists ( Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin) enjoy hurting, killing as they like being feared, need to fill that black hole of insecurity. Cornyn, who was a respected judge became a Senator and has now discarded his principles and ethics for someone who has none. No one on their death bed wishes they had another 6 yrs as an obsequious Senator rather than having done some good.
Could they just do what is right?? It is so obvious that there are no morals at all in the GOP.
I’ve decided we should not call them GOP anymore. They are full bore MAGA.
I really wouldn’t count on the Republicans to do anything different than they already do. Thomas Massie may have been defeated by the Trump acolyte, but at least his concession speech reflected his convictions concerning the felon Trump. We in Alabama elected Doug Jones as our Democratic nominee for governor. At the last minute, the felon endorsed Tommy T. So he will be here especially if Tuberville gets in trouble electorally will be coming to campaign for him. I hope I don’t have to see his ugly disgusting face.
Tuberville is such a dunce. It's one thing to be a Senator, where you have a staff of aides to do all the work, but as a Governor? That's a real job, one where only he will be making end decisions. It's hard to imagine him in the role.
Hopefully Tommy T will be soundly defeated and we won't have to hear his stupid shit anymore.
forget it...he's a football coach, the ONLY thing better down there is Jesus Himself !!
Sad
but true
I think the strategy for 2028 is to create sufficient election chaos to throw the decision to the House.
1. They now have MAGA loyalists on state elections commissions in key states.
2. They now have a private army that can show up at polling stations and detain Democrats without a warrant until the election is over.
3. They now have a $1.776B slush fund that tRump can use to sponsor his White Supremacist troops – equipment, recruitment and immunity via full pardon.
4. They have full access to both Palantir and Muck’s AI tools to plan the whole thing.
Where is Dr. Who when we need him? Remember the End of Time episode? The End of Time (Doctor Who) - Wikipedia The entire “Republican” party congress is now a clone of tRump. The congressional representatives no longer represent the voters; they represent tRump.
Indeed, I am not getting my hopes up. However, because of the peculiar nature of primaries, in which only the most zealous exercise their right to vote, this could open up opportunities to turn all those seats away from the fascist-enabling minions who have their heads firmly up the Felon's fundament. If only the Democratic Party leadership stops staring at their food bowls and starts acting like true representatives of We the People. They really need to stop carping about the activism of AOC and Bernie and the success of Mamdani and get on the train to pushing the m*therf*ckers out of Congress.
Read their beads!