A generation of GOP stars stands diminished: ‘Everything Trump touches dies’

[HonestJohn]

By Philip Rucker
October 9 at 2:29 PM

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/a-generation-of-gop-stars-may-be-diminished-everything-trump-touches-dies/2016/10/09/890a5074-8e2c-11e6-9c85-ac42097b8cc0_story.html

ST. LOUIS — Donald Trump trashed Ted Cruz’s wife and suggested his father was involved in John F. Kennedy’s assassination, but the senator from Texas still endorsed him. Trump mocked Marco Rubio’s cotton mouth and slight stature, but the senator from Florida still got in line. Trump turned Paul D. Ryan’s mentor and former running mate Mitt Romney into a personal whipping post, but the House speaker from Wisconsin still hopped aboard the Trump train.

These were not the only Republican luminaries to link arms with Trump. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker testified to his leadership strength. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and party chairman ­Reince Priebus, who once committed themselves to diversifying the GOP coalition, flew around on Trump’s luxury jet and defended his racially charged, nationalistic rhetoric. And the special guest celebrated by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) at her “Hogs and Harleys” political festival? Yes, it was Trump.

Trump’s turbulent campaign, on display here at Sunday night’s second presidential debate with Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, has damaged far more than his own White House prospects. It threatens to diminish an entire generation of Republican leaders who stood by him and excused his behavior after attacks against women, the disabled, Latino immigrants, Muslim Americans, Syrian refugees, prisoners of war, Gold Star parents and others.

“There is nobody who holds any position of responsibility who in private conversations views Donald Trump as equipped mentally, morally and intellectually to be the president of the United States,” said Steve Schmidt, a veteran GOP strategist. “But scores of Republican leaders have failed a fundamental test of moral courage and political leadership in not speaking truth to the American people about what is so obvious.”

When this election season began nearly two years ago, Republicans were as excited as they had ever been by the diverse galaxy of stars that rose to prominence in the Obama era. Most of them hitched their wagons to Trump’s, out of loyalty to their party and fear of alienating his fervent supporters.

Although some withdrew their endorsements and disavowed Trump over the weekend after The Washington Post obtained video of Trump making lewd comments about sexual assault, they nevertheless are tainted by their associations with him. The question being asked Sunday was how long the stench would last.

“Everything Trump touches dies,” said Republican consultant Rick Wilson, who is advising independent candidate Evan McMullin.

(more at link)

[geronl]

100% true

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

I blame one man for Trump, more than any other: Rush Limbaugh.


And I'll never listen to that fraud again.

[geronl]

I blame one man for Trump, more than any other: Rush Limbaugh.


And I'll never listen to that fraud again.

 

[DB]

Not much to argue with there. Trump is and has been poison to all he comes into contact with. A billionaire child-man is a dangerous thing to hand power to. I have doubts the Republican party will survive him in the coming years. The Trump stain runs deep and has exposed many fissures.

[Frank Cannon]

“There is nobody who holds any position of responsibility who in private conversations views Donald Trump as equipped mentally, morally and intellectually to be the president of the United States,”

This is a reality and would put trump as totally unelectable if it were not for those who put partisanship above country.

I find it entertaining that you quote as some sort of authority Steve Schmidt, one of the losingest campaign managers in history. Worse than Bob Schrum. He lives on PMSLSD and Bill Mahars shows. He is to the Left of most moderate Rats.

If anyone has culpability in the state of the GOP today and the rise of Donny, it is fat Steve and his whore sidekick Nicole Wallace.

[INVAR]

I blame one man for Trump, more than any other: Rush Limbaugh.


And I'll never listen to that fraud again.

Amen to that and

 

Turned him off some months ago, cancelled my 24/7 and don't miss him a bit given the garbage I've read of his pimping for Trump.  He's become the very thing he railed against all these years.

It would seem that indeed, anyone who dared to be touched by Trump - is going to be wiped out, diminished and irrelevant.

All according to plan.

[Norm Lenhart]

Amen to that and

 

Turned him off some months ago, cancelled my 24/7 and don't miss him a bit given the garbage I've read of his pimping for Trump.  He's become the very thing he railed against all these years.

It would seem that indeed, anyone who dared to be touched by Trump - is going to be wiped out, diminished and irrelevant.

All according to plan.

He traded the freedom of his country for the security of his bank account.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

“There is nobody who holds any position of responsibility who in private conversations views Donald Trump as equipped mentally, morally and intellectually to be the president of the United States,”

This is a reality and would put trump as totally unelectable if it were not for those who put partisanship above country.

Do you consider it mere "partisanship" to believe that Hillary Clinton would do more long-term harm to the cluntry?

Trump is a low-life, and i certainly wish we'd have nominated someone else.  But 3 months after the election, what Trump said in 2005 would be utterly irrelevant.  Holillary's Supreme Court appointments and executive orders will not be.

[debrawiest]

I blame one man for Trump, more than any other: Rush Limbaugh.


And I'll never listen to that fraud again.

I will listen to him one day a year - the day he does the cure-a-thon for leukemia and lymphoma .  It's a personal thing for me and I appreciate him drawing attention to these cancers.
But that's it.

[goatprairie]

Do you consider it mere "partisanship" to believe that Hillary Clinton would do more long-term harm to the cluntry?

Trump is a low-life, and i certainly wish we'd have nominated someone else.  But 3 months after the election, what Trump said in 2005 would be utterly irrelevant.  Holillary's Supreme Court appointments and executive orders will not be.

Yes, Trump might not do as much damage as Hillary. The problem is we will have elected a moral cretin. That says a lot about the ethics of a party to place such a character-challenged sex fiend in the White House. The days of Republicans trying to hold a moral high ground are gone forever.
We can try to rationalize a Trump presidency as staving off outright socialism for four or more years, but the fact is we will have helped stain the office with this crud. We will have effectively said the end justifies the means...character doesn't matter.  That will not and should not be forgotten.

[GrouchoTex]

I find myself arguing with friends over this election.
2 equally bad candidates, roughly 1/2 of them will vote Trump, 1/2 will vote neither, and 2 will vote Hillary (oddly enough).
We have 4 more weeks of things that will come out.
I'll be interested to see if any of them change their minds.

[Jazzhead]

We will have effectively said the end justifies the means...character doesn't matter.  That will not and should not be forgotten.

Bingo.  The GOP has shown itself to be a bunch of political hacks and thugs same as the Democrats.   Trump's defeat will provide an opportunity for those honest few who stood up and rejected Trumpism.

I'm glad that I voted for one of them.     

[jmyrlefuller]

Do you consider it mere "partisanship" to believe that Hillary Clinton would do more long-term harm to the cluntry?

Yes, because that assumption is—almost always—based on the premise that Hillary Clinton is a Democrat and Donald Trump is a Republican. In other words, partisanship.

I understand that after eight years of Obama we want so badly to get rid of the progressive Democratic Party machine, and how daunting it seems. But just because Donald Trump is a Republican, and managed to get a plurality of primary voters to vote for him, does not mean he is better. Self-interest without self-control is extremely dangerous, especially when combined with power.

[Norm Lenhart]

Yes, because that assumption is—almost always—based on the premise that Hillary Clinton is a Democrat and Donald Trump is a Republican. In other words, partisanship.

I understand that after eight years of Obama we want so badly to get rid of the progressive Democratic Party machine, and how daunting it seems. But just because Donald Trump is a Republican, and managed to get a plurality of primary voters to vote for him, does not mean he is better. Self-interest without self-control is extremely dangerous, especially when combined with power.

There's no point at this juncture in trying to rationally discuss anything with irrational people. When you strip away their considerable verbiage, excuses, rationalizations and justifications, you are still left with people trying to justify electing a liberal while being called conservative.

The best we can do is point out what it is and hope lurkers understand whats actually going on.Namely, people trying to empower a liberal. Donald Trump. Thats the ultimate result.

[musiclady]

3 months after the election trump's morals that he exhibited in not only 2005 but through his entire lifetime including the past 12 months would indeed be utterly relevant. His only concern is and has always been for himself. Add to that the complete lack of intellectual abilities and no desire to bother himself with the complexities that come with the issues facing our country topped off with absolutely no moral compass and serious psychological problems including narcissism, issues with being a sexual predatory and his view that as president he would govern with presidential edicts as our king and then I would argue that yes he would do much more long-term harm to the country than anyone else. The damage he would do to our alliances around the world would be long term. Nor should the dangers of a man with his temperament as CIC be treated lightly.

I have never bought into the Supreme Court appointments argument because trump has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that his word is not to be believed and there is no doubt in my mind that he could care less about Christian values. He cares about what will get him elected.

Hillary as president is not something I desire and is also something I fear. I thank the original cheerleaders of trump for the position we are in. I will be voting third party. But, again, trump would no doubt do greater long term harm to our country. Finally, when people go into a booth and vote, if they pull the lever or fill in the screen choosing trump they are choosing to support a man who is evil and capable of anything to further himself along with satisfying his own personal perversions. trumpism is a stain upon our country and trumpism deals with opponents as something to be destroyed by any and all means. That is a grave danger for our country.

You are exactly right here, cuky.  Thank you!

Anyone voting for Trump because he's "not as bad" as Hillary is completely ignoring his pathological lying, and his gross character flaws, and pretending they won't make a difference.

I have said it here from the beginning.  Trump's complete lack of integrity, and his narcissism guarantee that he will be a dangerous President..... not only to this country, but to the world.

I too, will be voting third party because no matter what lies Trump has told about SC Justices (he lies about everything), he cannot be trusted with anything.

In addition, does anyone remember how Bill Clinton's sexual dalliances put America in danger?  How he was distracted from national security issues and subject to extortion because of his puerile self gratification?

What thinking person believes it will be different with Trump.  Donald IS Bill.  He is the same lecherous beast.

He will put America in grave danger if he is elected, and I will not support that any more than I will support putting Bill himself back in the WH.

[musiclady]

Yes, because that assumption is—almost always—based on the premise that Hillary Clinton is a Democrat and Donald Trump is a Republican. In other words, partisanship.

I understand that after eight years of Obama we want so badly to get rid of the progressive Democratic Party machine, and how daunting it seems. But just because Donald Trump is a Republican, and managed to get a plurality of primary voters to vote for him, does not mean he is better. Self-interest without self-control is extremely dangerous, especially when combined with power.

Well said, myrle!  A powerful truth that many choose to ignore.

The idea that Trump will be less dangerous than Clinton is an empty hope that ignores the reality of who Trump is.

He IS dangerous.

[DiogenesLamp]

Trump is so unacceptable to me that I can't even get very riled up about Hillary's liberalism.  Oh I'm riled up.  But Trump must be stopped no matter what.  He is the most hideous candidate ever.

You have thrown off the bounds of rationality.   It is not Hillary's "Liberalism"  which should worry you,  it is her criminal and dictatorial predilections demonstrated by a long history of such behavior that should worry you.   

[musiclady]

You have thrown off the bounds of rationality.   It is not Hillary's "Liberalism"  which should worry you,  it is her criminal and dictatorial predilections demonstrated by a long history of such behavior that should worry you.   

It does, as does Trump's deep dishonesty, corruption, desire for absolutely power, and debauchery.

That is why I will always hold responsible the people who forced this lecherous, liberal beast on us and destroyed our golden opportunity to defeat Hillary soundly.

It is the Trump lovers who are giving us Hillary, not those of us who stood up against his corrupt liberalism.

Edited to add: there is nothing "irrational" about opposing corrupt liberals.  I would argue that you have thrown off the bounds of irrationality if you expect anything other than liberalism and corruption from Donald Trump.

[DiogenesLamp]

Not much to argue with there. Trump is and has been poison to all he comes into contact with. A billionaire child-man is a dangerous thing to hand power to. I have doubts the Republican party will survive him in the coming years. The Trump stain runs deep and has exposed many fissures.

I have doubts that the Republican party will survive so many in it's leadership backstabbing the candidate who was the choice of their primary voters.   


I wanted Ted Cruz,  and I think Ted Cruz got a raw deal,   but the majority of Republican primary voters picked Trump,   and by refusing to honor their decision,   the Republican Party leadership has shown themselves to be untrustworthy and traitorous.   

[skeeter]

I blame one man for Trump, more than any other: Rush Limbaugh.


And I'll never listen to that fraud again.

I've always suspected he whole 'conservative' thing was just a very lucrative schtick for some of these characters but this past year has been an epiphany, for certain.

You just don't play around with peoples' most deeply held beliefs like that. It will be interesting to see how this plays out for Limbaugh, Hannity, etc over the long run.

[DiogenesLamp]

I find it entertaining that you quote as some sort of authority Steve Schmidt, one of the losingest campaign managers in history. Worse than Bob Schrum. He lives on PMSLSD and Bill Mahars shows. He is to the Left of most moderate Rats.

If anyone has culpability in the state of the GOP today and the rise of Donny, it is fat Steve and his whore sidekick Nicole Wallace.

Agree,   but do not discount the impact of that @$$hole  Karl Rove who undermined conservatives at every opportunity all throughout the Bush administration.     


Yes,   a lot of our party's  political consultants are just horrible people and their advice is garbage. 

[Jazzhead]

You have thrown off the bounds of rationality.   It is not Hillary's "Liberalism"  which should worry you,  it is her criminal and dictatorial predilections demonstrated by a long history of such behavior that should worry you.   

They both worry me.   And there's nothing I can do so stop either one of these moral cretins with "dictatorial predilections"  from attaining the White House.   It's the system that's rigged, denying those with a moral compass from having an effective choice in this election.  Hence I will "throw my vote away" and sleep well.   

[DiogenesLamp]

Do you consider it mere "partisanship" to believe that Hillary Clinton would do more long-term harm to the cluntry?

Trump is a low-life, and i certainly wish we'd have nominated someone else.  But 3 months after the election, what Trump said in 2005 would be utterly irrelevant.  Holillary's Supreme Court appointments and executive orders will not be.

Sir,  you are a voice of sanity.   You understand priorities.   You recognize that foul language spoken years ago and a possible nuclear war with Russia are not issues of equal concern. 



Unfortunately we have many people on this website who simply cannot grasp this concept of "Priorities."   


They elevate the trivial to an equal level with the serious,    and I simply do not grasp how people can be so irrational.   


Yes,  Hillary Clinton will not only rule as a dictator,   she will appoint Judges who will force more liberalism down our throats for the rest of their lives.    The problems created by a Hillary Presidency will out live her by decades.   

[Jazzhead]

I wanted Ted Cruz,  and I think Ted Cruz got a raw deal,   but the majority of Republican primary voters picked Trump,   and by refusing to honor their decision,   the Republican Party leadership has shown themselves to be untrustworthy and traitorous.

Untrustworthy and traitorous for refusing to bend over for an amoral demagogue?   Mark me guilty as charged -  this is 1933 redux and the only Republicans I will henceforth support are those who stood up against Trumpism.