How much "backbone" would it take to change Party from Republican to Independent?

[kentuck]

If your heart and your gut told you that switching Parties would be the best thing to do for our country? It's not like they are switching to the Democratic Party... But, they can't even go that far? We know that they do not have a lot of respect for Democrats or "liberals".

But how in the world can they all remain in a Republican Party of cowards and sycophants? It would only take a couple of people with a "backbone" that might be able to change the course of history. But they procrastinate. Then, they forget. It is terribly sad that such a great former Party has no one that can now stand up for our country.

I cannot help but think that if the shoe were on the other foot, the Democratic Party would have several profiles in courage. I do believe that.

[Cattledog]

1. It's hard to leave a cult.

You need to be "de-programmed"

[PoliticAverse]

2. You see more Republicans switching to the Democratic party and Democrats switching to the Republican

party than either switching to "Independent". The system is too biased against an independent to make it a viable
option in most cases.

[eleny]

4. But they could caucus with Dems and shut all this madness down so we can regroup as a country

It's the patriotic thing to do.

[eleny]

3. Husband and I were just discussing this

How much guts does it take to be a patriot?

Traitor or patriot - they're making their choices tonight.

[Freethinker65]

5. More than most non-critical thinking Republicans possess

[hatrack]

6. More than any Puke Senator or Representative has . . .

Fucking lampreys, at best.

Nothing but cartilage and protoplasm as far as lobbyist dollars can reach.

[Garrett78]

7. It would be career-ending, for the most part.

It would be career-ending, depending on where they're from. In their next election, they would either split the Republican vote and give up their seat to a Democrat (in those districts and states that aren't stark red), or they would lose to the Republican in the race (in those districts and states where no Democratic candidate has any chance, even with 2 right wingers splitting the right wing vote).

Now, if a few Senators and a couple dozen Representatives did that *and* started caucusing with Democrats, that would have a huge impact. It would open up the door for impeachment. But that simply isn't going to happen.

[kentuck]

8. Does every Republican Senator look at their job as a "career"?

Our FF did not mean for government service to be a career, in my opinion.

[Garrett78]

9. Maybe not every one of them, but probably most. They get rich off these gigs.

Or richer, as many were already wealthy.

For the most part, the only ones speaking out against Trump plan on retiring (and even some of those who are retiring remain pro-Trump).