Fearing a 'Blood Bath,' Republican Senators Begin to Edge Away From Trump

[brooklynite]

[link:https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/16/us/politics/republican-senators-trump.html|Political Wire

WASHINGTON — For nearly four years, congressional Republicans have ducked and dodged an unending cascade of offensive statements and norm-shattering behavior from President Trump, ignoring his caustic and scattershot Twitter feed and penchant for flouting party orthodoxy, and standing quietly by as he abandoned military allies, attacked American institutions and stirred up racist and nativist fears.

But now, facing grim polling numbers and a flood of Democratic money and enthusiasm that has imperiled their majority in the Senate, Republicans on Capitol Hill are beginning to publicly distance themselves from the president. The shift, less than three weeks before the election, indicates that many Republicans have concluded that Mr. Trump is heading for a loss in November. And they are grasping to save themselves and rushing to re-establish their reputations for a coming struggle for their party’s identity.

Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska unleashed on Mr. Trump in a telephone town hall event with constituents on Wednesday, eviscerating the president’s response to the coronavirus pandemic and accusing him of “flirting” with dictators and white supremacists and alienating voters so broadly that he might cause a “Republican blood bath” in the Senate. He was echoing a phrase from Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, who warned of a “Republican blood bath of Watergate proportions.” Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, one of the president’s most vocal allies, predicted the president could very well lose the White House.

Even the normally taciturn Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the majority leader, has been more outspoken than usual in recent days about his differences with the president, rejecting his calls to “go big” on a stimulus bill. That was a reflection of the fact that Senate Republicans — who have rarely broken with the president on any major legislative initiative in four years — are unwilling to vote for the kind of multitrillion-dollar federal aid plan that Mr. Trump has suddenly decided would be in his interest to embrace.

[Hugin]

1. Y'know it's kind of cute...

When the family dog rips a window rattler and it cranes it's neck around to look at it's own anus as surprised as anyone in the room at what just happened. Until, the stench of day old kibble blowing over a waste treatment plant hits your nostrils.

However, these are human beings and they not only knew exactly what was going to and has happened, but, actively participated in it's happening and could have stopped it at any time.

They should grow up and take responsibility for what they've done. Apologize and step out of the way for someone who's at least going to try and restore what sanity they can at this point.

It's the decent thing to do and the only way any of them will have any shred of dignity left.

[GusBob]

2. Someone should post Sasses quote verbatim He didn't hold back

I heard it on the radio. He went after him from COVID to coddling dictators

I guess he wants to be president

[GoCubsGo]

3. Too late.

Y'all had your chance with the Impeachment. May you all pay mightily for your dereliction of duty and outright corruption over the past four years. Go fuck yourselves. Bunch of goddamn unAmerican cowards.

[RazzleCat]

4. I agree

They went all in at the Trump casino, placed all their chips on him and spun the wheel. Everyone saw them place the bet, and now the wheel is not paying out.

[llmart]

6. +100,000

Couldn't have said it better myself. They must think we're all fools and won't remember how they sucked up to his orange ass thinking it would get them somewhere (I'm looking at you, Mitt Romney). Ole' Mitt is all in for their Supreme Court nominee.

This is why it's not only imperative that we oust the criminal/conman, but all the Senators who had no spine to stand up to him.

[dalton99a]

5. Kick