Steve Schmidt, Strategist and MSNBC Contributor, Announces He's Leaving GOP

[Uncle Joe]

WASHINGTON — Steve Schmidt, who was senior adviser to John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign and later an MSNBC contributor, said on Wednesday that he is leaving the Republican party, citing the Trump administration’s border separation policy as a factor in his decision.

He wrote on Twitter that “29 years and nine months ago I registered to vote and became a member of The Republican Party which was founded in 1854 to oppose slavery and stand for the dignity of human life. Today I renounce my membership in the Republican Party. It is fully the party of Trump.” He wrote that the GOP has “become a danger to our democracy and our values.”

(snip)

“Season of renewal in our land is the absolute and utter repudiation of Trump and his vile enablers in the 2018 election by electing Democratic majorities. I do not say this as an advocate of a progressive agenda,” he wrote. “I say it as someone who retains belief in DEMOCRACY and decency.”

(snip)

Schmidt’s announcement was the latest fallout from the border separation policy. The Associated Press reported that the Homeland Security secretary, Kirstjen Nielsen, was drafting an order to end family separation, but it was not clear whether President Donald Trump would sign it. Democrats and a number of prominent Republicans have urged the president to end the policy.

https://variety.com/2018/politics/news/steve-schmidt-gop-1202852019/

[The River]

1. Screw Him

and the Palin he rode in on.

[Midnight Writer]

3. Strange. He was fine with the million+ killed in our phony Iraq war, fine with VP Palin, fine with

tax cuts for the richest, fine with killing ACA, fine with "reforming" Medicare, Medicaid, and SS. So much so that he devoted his career to working towards those goals.

But NOW he is woke? The scales have fallen from his eyes? Halleluah! Praise to Steve Schmidt for showing us the errors of our ways.

This is positioning. He sees the wind blowing up a shitstorm and he is seeking shelter so he can keep the stink off of himself.

[bettyellen]

2. He seemed on the verge of tears himself last night on the Last Word.

He and MC Kinnon in the Last Word seem like decent guys. But I have to remember how morally flexible they were. And the company they kept with that third prick who was assaulting coworkers. How would HBO think having a political show w three Republicans on it would work is beyond me.

[Judi Lynn]

4. It is good to realize that experience has taught Steve Schmidt to tune into his conscience.

He doesn't leave a shred of doubt any time I see him speaking on cable tv that he is deeply, DEEPLY unhappy, sick, horrified about what has happened every day since Trump stole office.

He puts so much heart into his comments, his entire demeanor indicates he is 100% horrified by how cruel, greedy, dishonest this bogus President is, and how much damage he does every single day he's still in office.

I'd have a hard time suspecting he is just pretending to be enraged. It really does look as if he has been awakened to deeper beliefs than anything we're accustomed to seeing from any Republican, anywhere, ever.

Hope he doesn't get blown off course. He seems to be coming to life morally.

Thank you, Uncle Joe.