How Trump’s intimidation tactics have reshaped the Republican Party

[Timber Rattler]

https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-election-trump-purge/

When U.S. congressman Tom Rice voted to impeach Donald Trump for inciting the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol in January 2021, it was the beginning of the end of his political career.

Angry calls and emails – including three death threats – flooded the South Carolina Republican’s office. The next year, as Rice ran for a sixth term, a sheriff’s deputy often guarded him at public events. Trump backed Rice’s foe in the party’s primary election. At a rally, the ex-president warned voters that the congressman “partnered with the Democrats to stab the Republican Party and, frankly, to stab our country in the back.”

Rice got crushed in the primary. Today, the one-time conservative darling, a small-government fiscal hawk, is shunned by former allies and some old friends, he told Reuters. He feels betrayed by fellow Republicans who, “rather than upholding their oath and defending the Constitution, decided their position and their power was worth more.”

In cementing his third-straight Republican presidential nomination, Donald Trump and his staunchest followers have used menace and harassment to fundamentally reshape the party of Reagan, purging officials and activists seen as insufficiently loyal to Trump and his Make America Great Again agenda. Trump has imposed this fealty at every level of the party, from minor state and local officials to members of Congress, cabinet secretaries and rivals for the presidency, calling for revenge on those who resist his demands, vote against his interests or cross his allies.

(snip)

Rice said he doesn’t regret the impeachment vote: “If you are conservative and support the Constitution, you cannot support what Donald Trump has done.”

EXCERPT

[LMAO]

If the tables were turned, Trump was the one who flubbed that June debate, would the GOP be able to replace him as easily as the Democrats did with Joe Biden?

No

The GOP now exists as nothing more than a party that serves Donald Trump, despite election loss after election loss.

Prediction:Harris gets over 50% of the popular vote this Nov. Enthusiasm and demographics favor her along with Trump's out of this world negatives with the public at large

[cato potatoe]

Many of the best candidates have declined to run for office because they refused to kiss Trump’s behind.  The GOP should gain several senate seats with this map.  Not happening. 

In addition to his reckless attacks on Brian Kemp (is it any wonder Atlanta is east coast HQ of nevertrump) Donald made terrible endorsements in NC and AZ which are liable to cost him those states.  There have to be consequences if Donald saddles us with 4 years of progressivism - the party cannot go on like this.

[Smokin Joe]

Many of the best candidates have declined to run for office because they refused to kiss Trump’s behind.  The GOP should gain several senate seats with this map.  Not happening. 

In addition to his reckless attacks on Brian Kemp (is it any wonder Atlanta is east coast HQ of nevertrump) Donald made terrible endorsements in NC and AZ which are liable to cost him those states.  There have to be consequences if Donald saddles us with 4 years of progressivism - the party cannot go on like this.

Trump is the best thing for the Uniparty. They all have someone to blame.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

Many of the best candidates have declined to run for office because they refused to kiss Trump’s behind.  The GOP should gain several senate seats with this map.  Not happening. 

In addition to his reckless attacks on Brian Kemp (is it any wonder Atlanta is east coast HQ of nevertrump) Donald made terrible endorsements in NC and AZ which are liable to cost him those states.  There have to be consequences if Donald saddles us with 4 years of progressivism - the party cannot go on like this.

MAGA believes right to their core that they are an absolute majority in this country.  They think destroying/alienating any Republicans who aren't committed MAGA doesn't hurt them because they are a majority anyway.   Dovetails with their "the only way Trump can lose is by cheating" fantasy.

They really need to get out more and discover that yes, there actually are a great many voters who detest him.

[the OlLine Rebel]

MAGA believes right to their core that they are an absolute majority in this country.  They think destroying/alienating any Republicans who aren't committed MAGA doesn't hurt them because they are a majority anyway.   Dovetails with their "the only way Trump can lose is by cheating" fantasy.

They really need to get out more and discover that yes, there actually are a great many voters who detest him.

They live in a fantasy world because they think dozens of “rallies” and filled beyond capacity means the whole population is behind him.  Instead of the fact that even 50k out of a state of even 3mil is nothing, nevermind many of these are “foreigners” not even local.

[LMAO]

MAGA believes right to their core that they are an absolute majority in this country.  They think destroying/alienating any Republicans who aren't committed MAGA doesn't hurt them because they are a majority anyway.   Dovetails with their "the only way Trump can lose is by cheating" fantasy.

They really need to get out more and discover that yes, there actually are a great many voters who detest him.

 

It's the bubble mindset. And it's part of our nature to think people see things the way we do.

You see off the charts denial here. Remember the 2022 red wave? Democrat groups helped promote Trump backed election deniers in their primaries that went to go on to lose the general election. The GOP talked about inflation, crime, the border, ect.  Democrats... Jan 6th. GOP lost

 Trump is repeating 2022. And so are the Democrats. And, despite the denial, Jan 6th hurt Trump alot more with voters than people are willing to admit. That's why you see it in the ads Democrats are running

[collins]

voting with Nancy Pelosi for impeachment is a bit more than not being a committed MAGA Republican. Glad SC threw his backstabbing ass out.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

MAGA believes right to their core that they are an absolute majority in this country.  They think destroying/alienating any Republicans who aren't committed MAGA doesn't hurt them because they are a majority anyway.   Dovetails with their "the only way Trump can lose is by cheating" fantasy.

They really need to get out more and discover that yes, there actually are a great many voters who detest him.

 

[LMAO]

voting with Nancy Pelosi for impeachment is a bit more than not being a committed MAGA Republican. Glad SC threw his backstabbing ass out.

And this post nicely illustrates the point the article was making

Good job!!

A Party whose only purpose is   preventing the butthurt of one man does not win elections

Forget impeachment votes. He has a history of going after anyone in the party who doesn't pay homage to his ego

[roamer_1]

MAGA believes right to their core that they are an absolute majority in this country.  They think destroying/alienating any Republicans who aren't committed MAGA doesn't hurt them because they are a majority anyway.   Dovetails with their "the only way Trump can lose is by cheating" fantasy.

They really need to get out more and discover that yes, there actually are a great many voters who detest him.

Betting on 'where else are they going to go?' has always been a bad idea. Always.

[collins]

then vote for Kamala and the other communist if you feel that way. NeverTrumpers are as loud and as vocal as any Democrat, I think it's dawned on MAGA that  many voters do detest Trump, they never shut up about orange man bad.

[roamer_1]

then vote for Kamala and the other communist if you feel that way.

Nah. No Democrat will get my vote.
Only a Conservative. That's what I want - That's what I'll vote for.
Which means, not Tumpy.

NOPE. If you want to fight big government, if you want to demand fiscal conservatism and libertarianism, THEN I will help you. With all four feet.
Not until.

[LMAO]

then vote for Kamala and the other communist if you feel that way. NeverTrumpers are as loud and as vocal as any Democrat, I think it's dawned on MAGA that  many voters do detest Trump, they never shut up about orange man bad.

"neverTrumpers"

Have you noticed Democrats never refer to people who didn't want to vote for Biden as "NeverBiden"  or "NeverHarris?"   Why? Because the cause is more important than the candidate. Again, if that in June debate roles were switched and it was Trump that displayed the severe decline, I guarantee the GOP wouldn't replace him. 

You need to expand your sources of information. Trump has a history of  punishing anyone who doesn't show loyalty to himself. Kim Reynolds,Brian Kemp, Thomas Massie, Bob Good.  None of those voted to impeach him if that's what's upsetting you

[jmyrlefuller]

then vote for Kamala and the other communist if you feel that way. NeverTrumpers are as loud and as vocal as any Democrat, I think it's dawned on MAGA that  many voters do detest Trump, they never shut up about orange man bad.

Because he is, objectively, bad. And we're sick of being a tiny minority of people trying to get this country off its wayward path and back to something healthy and sustainable while one side is trying to turn us into Europe and the other the Kingdom of Grabembythe...you know.

[kevindavis007]

then vote for Kamala and the other communist if you feel that way. NeverTrumpers are as loud and as vocal as any Democrat, I think it's dawned on MAGA that  many voters do detest Trump, they never shut up about orange man bad.

Telling people not to vote for your candidate is a surefire way that your candidate is going to lose.

[collins]

not really, that's why they're called neverTrumpers. I actually think the odds are that Trump will win, all this hype about Kamala is crazy, it is all purely politically driven. She has never been a good candidate or especially likeable, she barely won in CA with the entire Democratic machine behind her. The way to beat her is to let the American people see her as much as possible, there is no substance there. I know all about her from her days as SF's D. A., she was immensely disliked by her staff. I can't see those people voting for Trump but there's no way they'll vote for her either.

And they should stay home or write in someone else as well - all I'm saying is that it's too late in the game for the neverTrumpers - if not him, her. And whoever said that the GOP wouldn't have replaced Trump like they did Biden is right, but the MSM would have been pounding away about senility, and he would have never made it out of the primaries in all likelihood,. Even then he would've withdrawn his name at the convention and released his delegates - installing say, JD, or anyone else as the nominee would've been hell to pay.

But the Democrats are different, they follow their leader. And neverTrumpism, Trumpism are ideologically based and they're nothing new - it's the old establishment v. populism, this century's Goldwater/Rockefeller split. What's disturbing to me is some of the establishment actually endorsing and voting for Biden and now Harris. And most of those people Trump bitched about wanted DeSantis as the nominee, as did I. Too late.

[roamer_1]

if not him, her.

Same thing. 

[Maj. Bill Martin]

not really, that's why they're called neverTrumpers.

How do you define a "NeverTrumper"?  Is it limited to those who will vote for a Democrat just to keep Trump out of office, or do you also include those who simply refuse to vote for Trump but won't vote for Kamala either? Because if you're including the latter group, then you could just as fairly refer to them as "NeverKamala."

And neverTrumpism, Trumpism are ideologically based and they're nothing new - it's the old establishment v. populism, this century's Goldwater/Rockefeller split.

I take issue with characterizing populism versus establishment as an ideological disagreement. Both of those terms are neutral with respect to ideology and policy. You can have right-wing populists or left-wing populists, and everything in the middle. Likewise, you can have a right-wing establishment, left-wing establishment, and everything in the middle.

If I thought Trump was a conservative populist, I'd be much more likely to vote for him. But as it is, I see him as being to the left of Nelson Rockefeller, and that's the problem.

[kevindavis007]

"neverTrumpers"

Have you noticed Democrats never refer to people who didn't want to vote for Biden as "NeverBiden"  or "NeverHarris?"   Why? Because the cause is more important than the candidate. Again, if that in June debate roles were switched and it was Trump that displayed the severe decline, I guarantee the GOP wouldn't replace him. 

You need to expand your sources of information. Trump has a history of  punishing anyone who doesn't show loyalty to himself. Kim Reynolds,Brian Kemp, Thomas Massie, Bob Good.  None of those voted to impeach him if that's what's upsetting you

Also, they need to expand their news beyond Fox News, The Blaze, and Talk Radio.

[bilo]

then vote for Kamala and the other communist if you feel that way. NeverTrumpers are as loud and as vocal as any Democrat, I think it's dawned on MAGA that  many voters do detest Trump, they never shut up about orange man bad.

What you call Never Trumpers I call Establishment Loyalists because they really don't want any real change. They are very happy being able to pretend to be against the Rats while in reality being comfortable with the slow destruction of the republic. Trump pulled the curtain away and revealed how corrupt they all are and because of that the establishment has been trying to destroy him.

Don't buy into the silly arguments about how the Establishment Loyalists can't vote for Trump because he's too abrasive, or his supporters are too insulting. If the Establishment Loyalists wanted to save the Republic they would support Trump over the radical leftists of the Rat party no matter what. It's all a big act.

[LMAO]

How do you define a "NeverTrumper"?  Is it limited to those who will vote for a Democrat just to keep Trump out of office, or do you also include those who simply refuse to vote for Trump but won't vote for Kamala either? Because if you're including the latter group, then you could just as fairly refer to them as "NeverKamala."

Right

For those of us who are not voting for Trump this November being lectured about how it will help Kamala get elected, the other side could just as easily say to us that not voting for Kamala means we’re helping Trump get elected

I anticipate the attacks to ramp up as Donald Trump’s campaign sinks further

[catfish1957]

Reshaped?

You mean a party's candidate who has a 47% hard ceiling, and the other 53% think you are Hitler?

Cruz and / or RDS sure sound really good right now. 

[LMAO]

Reshaped?

You mean a party's candidate who has a 47% hard ceiling, and the other 53% think you are Hitler?

Cruz and / or RDS sure sound really good right now.

I can’t guarantee that either one of those two would win today. But it would put us in a much better position than a guy who is recycling his same arguments from 2020


The Republican Party is going to have to figure out what kind of party it wants to be after November. A Trump loss should not be an excuse to go back to the Bush era.


DeSantis‘s win in the blue parts  of Florida does show that Republicans can be at least competitive in the blue areas

[roamer_1]

What you call Never Trumpers I call Establishment Loyalists because they really don't want any real change. They are very happy being able to pretend to be against the Rats while in reality being comfortable with the slow destruction of the republic. Trump pulled the curtain away and revealed how corrupt they all are and because of that the establishment has been trying to destroy him.

Don't buy into the silly arguments about how the Establishment Loyalists can't vote for Trump because he's too abrasive, or his supporters are too insulting. If the Establishment Loyalists wanted to save the Republic they would support Trump over the radical leftists of the Rat party no matter what. It's all a big act.

That's utterly ridiculous.
In the first place, most here who will *not* vote for Tumpy are standing upon principle. There is a direct and substantive difference that cannot be surmounted.

You say you want to change big government by using big government - One way or the other - big government.

I say no. Small government. Change is LESS government. Not more.
If Tumpy was making that kind of change, I would be his champion.
But he is the opposite of that.
You are changing nothing.

That is a position diametrically opposed to yours, and yet you expect fealty. To me it is a critical error, whether you think it is or not.

Can't you accept that difference and understand it? You are offering what I don't want. And I will not be a party to it. That does not mean I don't want change. That means the change YOU want stands against my every principle and against my very nature.

The Conservative cause is mine. That is what I want. That is what I will fight for. And for that I will fight with all four feet, tooth and nail. THAT is change.

There is nothing Conservative in Tumpy. Nothing.
To me he is the same thing as the left.

By what wild metric should I vote for that? Why should I vote for the opposite of my beliefs in service of my beliefs? That makes no sense at all.