The Republican Party must choose between Donald Trump and the party's fundamental values

[Formerly Once-Ler]

Charles Sykes
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2019/11/01/donald-trump-impeachment-hope-republicans-do-right-column/4121989002/

<snip>
For the time being, Republicans have decided that sticking with Trump is the safe move, given his solid support among the base. But history’s verdict is unlikely to be kind, and what is about to happen is anything but safe.  A party line vote to exonerate the president irretrievably bonds the GOP to Trump’s conduct, character and ethics,  and risks toxifying conservatism for a generation.  Republicans have already abandoned the notion that character matters, jettisoned fiscal conservativism and free markets, and accepted lying as simply the price of doing business with this president. They have watched as constitutional norms have been battered and the rule of law bent to partisan advantage.  Time and again, they have convinced themselves that it was all worth it. But the stakes are about to rise dramatically.

The problem facing the GOP is both the facts and the man. There will be more evidence — perhaps more whistleblowers and smoking guns; the hearings will be televised; and Trump himself will up the ante.  Republicans also need to keep in mind that poll numbers actually can move. Despite strong support for Trump among Republican voters, there are already discernible cracks. A new AP poll finds that only 53% of Republican voters think that the word “honest” describes Trump “very well.”  Fully a third say Trump does not make them feel proud.  And it is likely to become even more embarrassing.

The impeachment process is among the gravest responsibilities granted to Congress, by the Constitution. But Trump will demand, in effect, that the process be turned into a farce.  Just this last week, we’ve gotten a taste of what Trump will insist upon: the clownish storming of the SCIF by a few dozen House Republicans and attempts to smear Lt. Colonel Alexander Vindman. Both backfired badly.  Still, the point was clear: Trump aims to discredit and delegitimize the process by turning it into a circus. But circuses need clowns. Is the GOP up for that?  The Constitution envisions senators acting like jurors. Trump will insist they behave like political hacks. 

Republicans must face the facts.
Then there is the evidence. Republicans won’t be able to continue hide behind process complaints. Longtime Republican consultant Stuart Stevens notes: “When Republicans are asked in years to come why they opposed impeaching a president who tried to bribe a foreign government for political help with military aid, not sure the ‘I didn’t approve of the subcommittee process' will be very compelling.”

much more at link
It's a great piece.  Well worth reading it all.

[skeeter]

Foremost among those values being the utility in being conservative at election time only.

[PeteS in CA]

Like I posted in the previous thread with an article by Bill ... I mean Charles Sykes, hopefully a good number of Rs understand it is stooooopid to follow the "advice" of people who hate them.

[Cyber Liberty]

The GOPe has "fundamental values?"  Who knew?  It's certainly news to me.

[sneakypete]

The Republican Party of Bush and Bush,had values?

Who knew?

[Absalom]

The GOPe has "fundamental values?"  Who knew?  It's certainly news to me.

-----------------------------
On the mark.
The usual suspects assert the GOP is the party of Principled Conservatism; a claim beyond ridiculous.
It was founded in New England, nominating Fremont of California in 1856, and was the errand boy
for their Mercantile Class.
Since then, little has changed other than the replacement of the Merchants w/Industrialists and other
crony capitalists.
Since day one it has been a supporter of judicial activism, trade protectionism and big government. 

[Right_in_Virginia]

Donald J. Trump Retweeted

Kevin McCarthy‏
Verified account @GOPLeader

Strong show of unity among Republicans today. 💯% voted AGAINST impeachment sham. 

https://twitter.com/GOPLeader/status/1189980106724446208

[truth_seeker]

Bob Dole, John McCain, Mitt Romney

Dignified. But lost

Ronald Reagan

Donald Trump

Played hard to win, and did win.



GW> Bush, started pretty strong, finished pretty weak.

"Party's fundamental values" as in Eisenhower's deportation of 1 million illegal immigrants, and Reagan's amnesty?

[Cyber Liberty]

-----------------------------
On the mark.
The usual suspects assert the GOP is the party of Principled Conservatism; a claim beyond ridiculous.
It was founded in New England, nominating Fremont of California in 1856, and was the errand boy
for their Mercantile Class.
Since then, little has changed other than the replacement of the Merchants w/Industrialists and other
crony capitalists.
Since day one it has been a supporter of judicial activism, trade protectionism and big government.

The GOP was not founded in New England.

[sneakypete]

Strong show of unity among Republicans today. 💯% voted AGAINST impeachment sham. 

@Right_in_Virginia

They may be greedy and power mad,but even they understand there is an election coming up,and their seats at the power table ain't as secure as it used to be. They are hearing footsteps coming up behind them,or they would be voting with the Dims.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

The real option to take is to remain faithful to the Constitution.

[sneakypete]

The real option to take is to remain faithful to the Constitution.

@IsailedawayfromFR

THAT,more than anything else,defines what being a conservative means.

[DCPatriot]

This is but another example of "backyard/squirrel/tennis racket" going on here.

Great posts, but whistling past the graveyard, IMO.

Until the media is exposed and some players actually charged as 'conspirators', they will continue this until Election Night.

I'm convinced some high-profile progressive socialists are actually PAID 'contractors'...off the books of course.  A Black Op.

They're out there convinced they are doing The Lord's work....that they are Players.

[Absalom]

The GOP was not founded in New England.

------------------------------
It was birthed in 1854 by northern abolitionists/progressives opposed to the extension of slavery
by the Kansas-Nebraska Act. You pick its geographic location. 

[OfTheCross]

The real option to take is to remain faithful to the Constitution.

Yessir. And this is why this impeachment is needed.

[aligncare]

Yessir. And this is why this impeachment is needed.

January 20, 2017. Nineteen minutes after Donald Trump is inaugurated the headline at Washington Post read: The campaign to impeach President Trump has begun.

The article’s lead began with: The effort to impeach President Donald John Trump is already underway...

Now, let me get this straight. You actually believe it’s coincidence that—after many futile attempts to set Trump up for impeachment on phony baloney charges—just now President Trump, all by his lonesome, committed an impeachable offense while making a phone call?

 

So, tell me, how long have you been struggling with reality?

[aligncare]

Link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/01/20/the-campaign-to-impeach-president-trump-has-begun/

[OfTheCross]

January 20, 2017. Nineteen minutes after Donald Trump is inaugurated the headline at Washington Post read: The campaign to impeach President Trump has begun.

The article’s lead began with: The effort to impeach President Donald John Trump is already underway...

Now, let me get this straight. You actually believe it’s coincidence that—after many futile attempts to set Trump up for impeachment on phony baloney charges—just now President Trump, all by his lonesome, committed an impeachable offense while making a phone call?

 

So, tell me, how long have you been struggling with reality?

Like I said in the other thread, anyone with sense could forsee that he might have an emoluments issue.

As a matter of fact, the article to which you're referring specifically references that.

"The effort to impeach President Donald John Trump is already underway.

At the moment the new commander in chief was sworn in, a campaign to build public support for his impeachment went live at ImpeachDonaldTrumpNow.org, spearheaded by two liberal advocacy groups aiming to lay the groundwork for his eventual ejection from the White House.

The organizers behind the campaign, Free Speech for People and RootsAction, are hinging their case on Trump’s insistence on maintaining ownership of his luxury hotel and golf course business while in office.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/01/20/the-campaign-to-impeach-president-trump-has-begun/"

And, if you respect the Constitution, you should've been in favor of investigating the possibility of a conflict of interest with Trump, his properties, and foreign governments.

[skeeter]

January 20, 2017. Nineteen minutes after Donald Trump is inaugurated the headline at Washington Post read: The campaign to impeach President Trump has begun *snip*

So, tell me, how long have you been struggling with reality?

Fundamental dishonesty.

[OfTheCross]

Fundamental dishonesty.

On behalf of his supporters. Emoluments was very obviously going to be an issue for him.

[mountaineer]

The GOPe has "fundamental values?"  Who knew?  It's certainly news to me.

I have fundamental ethical values, based on my Christian faith, and fundamental political values based on my understanding of the U.S. Constitution. I don't look to a political party or a candidate to define my values.

[skeeter]

On behalf of his supporters. Emoluments was very obviously going to be an issue for him.

Your kind are trying to gain by other means that which you could not win honestly.

That is all.

[OfTheCross]

Your kind are trying to gain by other means that which you could not win honestly.

That is all.

Only someone in Trump's cult would say that.

Any one else would know that even if Trump is impeached and removed(long shot), Republicans will still be in control of the WH and Senate. And it guarantees nothing to the Democrats in the election.

So what are the Dems trying to gain? Certainly not the White House...

[Mod1]

Stop calling other TBR members "cultists." 
Now.

[skeeter]

Only someone in Trump's cult would say that.

Any one else would know that even if Trump is impeached and removed(long shot), Republicans will still be in control of the WH and Senate. And it guarantees nothing to the Democrats in the election.

So what are the Dems trying to gain? Certainly not the White House...

How does one respond to such an obvious falsehood?

BTW your Trump Cult slam is silly. You should stop.