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ElementaryPenguin

(7,800 posts)
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 04:53 PM Dec 2016

Trump will no longer be useful to the GOP come Jan. 21st!!

They rode with him (and Putin and Comey) back to power in the White House, but I truly expect a drive towards impeachment to begin within months. Trump is a loose cannon that is far too unpredictable, and likely to declare war on the GOP establishment at the drop of a hat. I think the establishment man - President Pence - will likely serve a longer stretch in this term than Trump.

Trump has probably already provided them with a whole host of impeachable acts to choose from - whether it be his collusion (and communication) with the Russian hacking scheme, or one of multiple violations of the emoluments clause.

Seriously, why stick with Trump when he is so unpredictable, unpopular, and untested? He's going to suck, and they know it. The right wing that supported him isn't going anywhere - it's not like they're going to switch to supporting liberal Democrats any time soon.

And not all Republicans on capitol hill are really anxious to take their marching orders from Russia.

Yes, as he is a right-wing homophobe, anti-abortion rights fanatic, who counts Dick Cheney as a mentor - Pence will be bad. But he does know government, he won't be led by Putin, and he's not likely to launch nuclear weapons.

My bet is that Paul Ryan can't wait to get rid of the loudmouthed orange monster (Priebus or no Priebus) at his earliest convenience!

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Trump will no longer be useful to the GOP come Jan. 21st!! (Original Post) ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 OP
They'll stick with Trump because he is more popular with their base than any other Republican. Ace Rothstein Dec 2016 #1
If they commence it early enough... ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #5
I'd agree if Trump was a generic Republican. Ace Rothstein Dec 2016 #8
This, they can't afford to alienate his deplorables Amishman Dec 2016 #12
They'll absorb, they'll aborb ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #26
They will be assimilated..... lastlib Dec 2016 #53
The risks of reading too fast. 3catwoman3 Dec 2016 #67
(they probably will be if they're not assimilated.......) lastlib Dec 2016 #70
Is Sharon Angell available... 3catwoman3 Dec 2016 #80
She may be, um, lining people up as we 'speak'........... lastlib Dec 2016 #81
I tell you one thing, the OP assassinated common sense... dionysus Dec 2016 #94
They'll just have to get over it... ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #13
Well it probably isn't going to happen. Ace Rothstein Dec 2016 #14
I see what your saying, Ace, but i think you're giving the GOP ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #17
They'll threaten to impeach behind closed doors... Blanks Dec 2016 #20
That may be more likely... ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #24
That's what I expect... Blanks Dec 2016 #25
Good point. Many of those hearings are not going to go smoothly. nt ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #27
The thing to keep in mind... Blanks Dec 2016 #34
Another excellent point, Blanks ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #37
Him, or Tom Cotton... Blanks Dec 2016 #74
Tom Cotton! You're right, Blanks! But... ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #89
or more time with his money...... lastlib Dec 2016 #71
More time inappropriately grabbing women... Blanks Dec 2016 #75
If he does a few things to shake the supporters. Chemisse Dec 2016 #102
Agreed. Republicans make a mistake if they underestimate... Garrett78 Jan 2017 #112
He's the most popular person in the party. Ace Rothstein Jan 2017 #113
Wow! Good luck with THAT search!! ElementaryPenguin Jan 2017 #114
Pence would be POTUS and would run in 2020. Garrett78 Jan 2017 #115
I think they will wait until after the midterm election before they Dump Trump. lastlib Dec 2016 #59
They will stick with Trump long enough to get him to sign Dustlawyer Dec 2016 #60
Yep. They're stuck w/ their orange Frankenstein True_Blue Dec 2016 #96
prez pence, VP Ryan nt msongs Dec 2016 #2
Ryan has more power in the House as Speaker than he would have as VP. Ace Rothstein Dec 2016 #4
There are a lot of Republican voters that don't like Trump, though they voted for him... ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #10
OMG, I sincerely hope and meditate and pray and prostate before you that you are correct.. pbmus Dec 2016 #3
President Pence... ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #7
Drumpf is really a liability - and Ryan would probably love to orchestrate it ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #11
i agree comple... uh,... wait. prostate? unblock Dec 2016 #38
Prostate myself at your feet...LOL pbmus Dec 2016 #41
uh, no, please... unblock Dec 2016 #43
He's got them over a barrel. That's his M. O. underpants Dec 2016 #6
Pence may be authoritarian enough... ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #9
I would love to see a war in the Repub party if Congress/Pence go after Trump. LonePirate Dec 2016 #15
The Senate Convicts bpj62 Dec 2016 #16
Oh, I think any Dem Senator would ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #18
If they try to impeach him, Trump would put the 82nd Airborne around the White House... First Speaker Dec 2016 #19
i'm getting tired of the outlandish scenarios. republicans won't impeach a republican unblock Dec 2016 #21
Hello! They'd be replacing him with an ESTABLISHMENT Republican they know much better! ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #23
Then why didn't they use the Electoral College to get rid of him? It would have been so rzemanfl Dec 2016 #28
They hadn't assumed the White House yet ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #29
Not a chance in hell of that and they knew it. n/t rzemanfl Dec 2016 #31
the situation in nixon's case was very different unblock Dec 2016 #30
How about if the CIA ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #33
A lot of Republicans don't like Trump ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #22
Drumpf will only be impeached... davekriss Dec 2016 #32
Or if he gets into a huge spat with GOP leadership - ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #35
All they want from him is to sign whatever legislation Ryan sends him Shrek Dec 2016 #36
But he WILL rock the boat! ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #39
righhhhtttt.... Locrian Dec 2016 #40
The wouldn't be doing it individually as candidates this time. ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #42
I think they will take a wait and see approach Txbluedog Dec 2016 #44
Sounds like their kind of game plan alright ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #49
If this actually turns out to be the case? kcr Dec 2016 #45
They may well never recover from a full Trump term... ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #46
He's turned out to be a very reliably doctrinaire rightwinger in the mold of Paul Ryan & Koch Bros geek tragedy Dec 2016 #47
Thus far - in the transition ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #51
This strikes me as wishful thinking. geek tragedy Dec 2016 #55
That base will buy whatever Fox News, ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #68
Once Republicans seize power - they never consult the people!! ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #88
true; so far he's been a far right-wingers dream. nt TheFrenchRazor Dec 2016 #91
Granted, predictably evil is better than bat shit crazy.... paleotn Dec 2016 #48
If they do it early enough... ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #50
No one likes to be primaried translates... 3catwoman3 Dec 2016 #79
Precisely! ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #82
ISIL will bomb us before the year is out Kolesar Dec 2016 #52
Exacly why they'll have ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #54
Before 2016 or 2017? Doubt Obama's administration would allow 2016. ffr Dec 2016 #56
No, 2017 ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #57
No way. He's just a puppet, a rubber stamp. However. MadamPresident Dec 2016 #58
He's Putin's puppet - just as Hillary said - not the GOP's! ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #106
He is useful because he is disposable. Thor_MN Dec 2016 #61
They've got all that footage of him previously singing Hilliary's praises ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #65
And not a criminal act. There is zero chance of them dumping trump after he did what dionysus Dec 2016 #95
I agree. A loose cannon for the GOP, and they will get rid of him. mackdaddy Dec 2016 #62
Good point. Nor would I. ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #64
And another fantasy to replace all the previous fantasies onenote Dec 2016 #63
Well...whatever gets you through the night... ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #66
Actually, I'd rather be kept up at night by reality than sleep like a baby because I believe that onenote Dec 2016 #83
GOP leaders are not going to put up with this for long: ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #87
If it gets you through the night, keep telling yourself that. onenote Dec 2016 #92
"IF" the GOP wants to get rid of him, they'll just tell their man, Comey to drop a dime on him world wide wally Dec 2016 #69
Comey has proven himself ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #72
Impeaching Trump would require the 'thugs to admit error. Ken Burch Dec 2016 #73
tRump will make some blunders so huuuge ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #77
Don't kid yourself. Now that he's in, Trump is a dream come true for most of them mtnsnake Dec 2016 #76
I agree with you - but the Russia connection ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #78
He'll be a smokescreen Retrograde Dec 2016 #84
From their perspective - that's what he should be. But he's... ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #86
Trump will be useful to distract the idiot horde by the .1%'ers Vinnie From Indy Dec 2016 #85
but he'll sure be useful to Putin; repugs will never impeach him because they hate dems more than th TheFrenchRazor Dec 2016 #90
This is the most ridiculous thing i've heard since the claim we didn't lose the election. dionysus Dec 2016 #93
Funny - because the MOST RIDICULOUS THING I EVER HEARD... ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #97
They hacked emails and released propaganda, they were not dionysus Dec 2016 #99
Dead Wrong. ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #104
If they impeach him before jan 20... Joe941 Dec 2016 #98
One thing that was clear: Rinse Previous could not control Trump. AgadorSparticus Dec 2016 #100
This is EXACTLY what I have been thinking about. Chemisse Dec 2016 #101
Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2016 #103
I don't know about that.. he's their front idiot they Cha Dec 2016 #105
Would the House actually impeach him? Would they get any democrats? madinmaryland Dec 2016 #107
Anything they can get done with loose cannon tRump... ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #108
I don't know about that. There are a lot of looney toons in Congress, and if *Rump is fucking madinmaryland Dec 2016 #109
Dems will take Pence over the orangutan emperor! ElementaryPenguin Dec 2016 #110
After THAT press conference... ElementaryPenguin Jan 2017 #111

Ace Rothstein

(3,152 posts)
1. They'll stick with Trump because he is more popular with their base than any other Republican.
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 04:55 PM
Dec 2016

They'll all get primaried if the impeach him.

ElementaryPenguin

(7,800 posts)
5. If they commence it early enough...
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 04:57 PM
Dec 2016

they may avoid getting "primaried" as the GOP voter attention span is challenged beyond a scant few months.

Ace Rothstein

(3,152 posts)
8. I'd agree if Trump was a generic Republican.
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 05:00 PM
Dec 2016

His strongest supporters who make up the GOP base have built up a cult of personality around him. They'll lose their shit if the Republicans move to impeach.

Amishman

(5,554 posts)
12. This, they can't afford to alienate his deplorables
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 05:06 PM
Dec 2016

They'll try to control and absorb his base, just like they attempted with the teabaggers

ElementaryPenguin

(7,800 posts)
26. They'll absorb, they'll aborb
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 05:39 PM
Dec 2016

Rush and Fox will tell them to obey the new God - President Pence - and they will do just that. A lot of Trump supporters are a lot like Trump - big talk - not much after that. They'll support Pence - if only to beat the evil liberals.

3catwoman3

(23,968 posts)
80. Is Sharon Angell available...
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 11:19 PM
Dec 2016

...to employ her 2nd amendment solutions?

(Gallows humor - don't everybody jump all over me.)

ElementaryPenguin

(7,800 posts)
13. They'll just have to get over it...
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 05:07 PM
Dec 2016

Just as we've had to. The link to Russia will not play well if collusion is exposed. And the emolument clause violations would be very easy to understand.

ElementaryPenguin

(7,800 posts)
17. I see what your saying, Ace, but i think you're giving the GOP
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 05:19 PM
Dec 2016

Too much credit for their concern about the opinions of their voters. First and foremost they care about their own power - and this guy is way too disruptive and hard to get along with for anyone. Just weeks ago people were still talking about how Trump was going dismantle the entire Republican party. I doubt that's something that McConnell & Co. have forgotten - and now it will be time for those weasels to pull a reversal on the biggest weasel who is actually a political novice.

Blanks

(4,835 posts)
20. They'll threaten to impeach behind closed doors...
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 05:28 PM
Dec 2016

And he will resign. They won't have to publicly impeach him.

He'll just say he's going to spend more time with his family or something.

Blanks

(4,835 posts)
25. That's what I expect...
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 05:39 PM
Dec 2016

They'll hold it over his head for a while, but he won't stop being a dumbass, so they'll have to convince him to resign.

Once the hearings on these cabinet positions begin, he will begin to understand what he's up against.

Blanks

(4,835 posts)
34. The thing to keep in mind...
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 05:53 PM
Dec 2016

Is that the senate republicans will start running for president around January 22nd.

It would be a big feather in their cap if they 'stood against the party leadership' to ferret out corruption.

There will be some up and coming senator trying to make a name for 2020. If there really is something that they've unearthed, and it comes out later, they'll sink with the Trump ship.

It's just a matter of time. Just like Iran-Contra.

ElementaryPenguin

(7,800 posts)
37. Another excellent point, Blanks
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 05:55 PM
Dec 2016

Imagine just how much Little Marco Rubio would enjoy sinking the Trump ship!!

Blanks

(4,835 posts)
74. Him, or Tom Cotton...
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 08:56 PM
Dec 2016

I imagine Rubio would love to jump at the chance, but Cotton wrote the letter to Iran demonstrating that he prizes ambition above all else.

ElementaryPenguin

(7,800 posts)
89. Tom Cotton! You're right, Blanks! But...
Wed Dec 21, 2016, 06:35 PM
Dec 2016

My Gawd...what an unlikely source to have to depend upon!! I thought him a traitor with that Iran letter... You're right, though - in addition to being Russia/Putin hater - his ambition is second to none (even Cruz's) in the Senate.

Chemisse

(30,807 posts)
102. If he does a few things to shake the supporters.
Thu Dec 22, 2016, 10:32 PM
Dec 2016

Nuclear proliferation, backing off on popular promises, etc, the Republicans could team up with the media to blast him with bad publicity, followed by a seemingly inevitable impeachment proceeding.

Garrett78

(10,721 posts)
112. Agreed. Republicans make a mistake if they underestimate...
Thu Jan 12, 2017, 02:02 PM
Jan 2017

...how much of their base are true believers in the Trump Cult.

Ace Rothstein

(3,152 posts)
113. He's the most popular person in the party.
Thu Jan 12, 2017, 02:10 PM
Jan 2017

They'll just find someone more insane to run in 2020 if Trump is successfully impeached.

ElementaryPenguin

(7,800 posts)
114. Wow! Good luck with THAT search!!
Thu Jan 12, 2017, 04:37 PM
Jan 2017

Though Charles Manson may be out of prison by then! (And 84, I think - but that might work for them)

Garrett78

(10,721 posts)
115. Pence would be POTUS and would run in 2020.
Thu Jan 12, 2017, 05:27 PM
Jan 2017

But Trump's cult following didn't vote for Pence; they voted for Trump. I suspect many of them would not turn out to vote in 2020 if Republicans lead an effort to impeach Trump.

lastlib

(23,197 posts)
59. I think they will wait until after the midterm election before they Dump Trump.
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 07:25 PM
Dec 2016

Allow Pence to become president, then run for it in 2020 and 2024 (if they dump donny sooner, Pence wouldn't be eligible in 2024.) Plus, Dems may have a Congressional majority that the GOP can blame it all on (remember, even though the GOP would be helping out, facts don't matter to them.) So they'd twelve years of White House control, instead of four with donny, who will likely be un-reelectable after four years.

Dustlawyer

(10,494 posts)
60. They will stick with Trump long enough to get him to sign
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 07:26 PM
Dec 2016

their heartless bills destroying the social safety net. As long as he does what he wants they will keep him. As soon as he is a liability or does something they don't like, then they will cut him.
Impeachment will freeze stuff from being done so they will use him 1st!

Ace Rothstein

(3,152 posts)
4. Ryan has more power in the House as Speaker than he would have as VP.
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 04:57 PM
Dec 2016

It might make sense if he plans on running for President in the future. Though I don't see him being able to get through a Republican Primary if he was behind a Trump impeachment.

ElementaryPenguin

(7,800 posts)
10. There are a lot of Republican voters that don't like Trump, though they voted for him...
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 05:02 PM
Dec 2016

He wasn't Hillary.

pbmus

(12,422 posts)
3. OMG, I sincerely hope and meditate and pray and prostate before you that you are correct..
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 04:56 PM
Dec 2016

Last edited Tue Dec 20, 2016, 07:07 PM - Edit history (1)

Because God help this country and world if not...

ElementaryPenguin

(7,800 posts)
7. President Pence...
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 04:59 PM
Dec 2016

I really believe that's where this is going. Far from great - but the guy is nowhere as crazy as Trump/Bannon/Flynn

ElementaryPenguin

(7,800 posts)
11. Drumpf is really a liability - and Ryan would probably love to orchestrate it
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 05:05 PM
Dec 2016

John McCain, Rand Paul, Little Marco Rubio, Lindsey Graham - and Ted Cruz probably couldn't wait to sink their fangs into this unprepared, ruthless backstabber!

underpants

(182,734 posts)
6. He's got them over a barrel. That's his M. O.
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 04:58 PM
Dec 2016

If they cut him loose they'll be hell to pay with their base who crave authoritarians and love being in an abusive relationship

ElementaryPenguin

(7,800 posts)
9. Pence may be authoritarian enough...
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 05:01 PM
Dec 2016

And Rush and Fox News will tell them to accept it - and in time they'll obey. At least Pence isn't Hillary, they'll think - and he must be good if the orange Fuhrer chose him.

LonePirate

(13,414 posts)
15. I would love to see a war in the Repub party if Congress/Pence go after Trump.
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 05:13 PM
Dec 2016

It would likely destroy the Republican Party or decimate Republican control of Congress at the very least. Dems would be wise to watch quietly from the sidelines if this were to happen.

bpj62

(999 posts)
16. The Senate Convicts
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 05:17 PM
Dec 2016

You are assuming that the Senate will vote to convict Trump. If i was a democratic senator I may not be inclined to convict Trump. This is the Republicans mess and i wouldn't help them clean it up. Can you imagine a pissed off Donald Trump spending his first two years in office going after the people who impeached him.

ElementaryPenguin

(7,800 posts)
18. Oh, I think any Dem Senator would
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 05:21 PM
Dec 2016

LOVE to convict Trump of any crime they could be proved he committed!! I know how much I would.

First Speaker

(4,858 posts)
19. If they try to impeach him, Trump would put the 82nd Airborne around the White House...
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 05:22 PM
Dec 2016

...and dare Congress to do something about it. The GOP trying to eliminate Trump is a fantasy. Nothing he does would make them want to; his supporters would revolt, and the McConnells and Ryans--and Pences--are physically afraid of their wrath; and if push comes to shove, as I said, Trump would just call out the army. And I have no doubt whatever that they'd do what he told them to. Trump would be the President, and Congress is hated by every sector of our society. If a real crisis came along, no one would be on their side. My God--most Dems would support Trump over Ryan and McConnell...

unblock

(52,181 posts)
21. i'm getting tired of the outlandish scenarios. republicans won't impeach a republican
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 05:29 PM
Dec 2016

unless and until they know they'll pay too high a political cost for not doing so. keep in mind that most of the republicans in congress are from very safe republican districts (thanks to gerrymandering) meaning a *lot* of *republicans* are going to have to hate donnie before that happens.

democrats hating donnie is, sadly, almost completely irrelevant to the impeachment process.

either donnie needs to do something salacious and the video goes viral, or he has to do something politically suicidal, like veto a republican tax cut (and even he's not crazy enough to do the latter, at least).


republicans are certainly not going to remove him just because they're worried. in fact, right now, they're thinking he'll rubber stamp everything they've dreamed of, so impeachment is the last thing they're thinking about.

ElementaryPenguin

(7,800 posts)
23. Hello! They'd be replacing him with an ESTABLISHMENT Republican they know much better!
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 05:33 PM
Dec 2016

In the 70's the Republican Congressmen lined up against Richard Nixon.

Just wait until a Trump crime is presented (and it will no doubt be a doozey the way he's begun in transition!)

rzemanfl

(29,556 posts)
28. Then why didn't they use the Electoral College to get rid of him? It would have been so
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 05:43 PM
Dec 2016

easy and dems would have helped them.

unblock

(52,181 posts)
30. the situation in nixon's case was very different
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 05:48 PM
Dec 2016

first, there was a strong democratic majority in the house, and a decent one in the senate. yes, some republicans finally gave up on nixon, but that was in large part because they couldn't stop democrats from impeaching him.

second, the media was relentless in covering the slow trickle of devastating news, to the point where nixon's popularity was impossibly low -- down to 24% right before he resigned. he was politically dead and supporting him in the face of the ongoing scandal was simply untenable.

third, the republican party is way partisan now compared to then, never mind somehow far more powerful. if watergate happened today, they wouldn't blink an eye. in fact, donnie did worse, publically soliciting foreign agents to commit espionage against americans and using the ensuing contraband for his own personal benefit; and their reaction was "meh. shrug. we won. get over it."


so, like i said, donnie's high crime and misdemeanor would have to be something salacious or something politically suicidal. nothing short of that would do it. as long as his popularity is above 40% and he doesn't completely screw over the republican agenda, he's safe.


fundamentally, he's got to piss off a whole lot of *republicans*. the rest of us don't matter.

ElementaryPenguin

(7,800 posts)
33. How about if the CIA
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 05:52 PM
Dec 2016

Produces multiple communications directly from Trump's camp to Putin surrogates from during the campaign - and even direct communications between Trump and Putin (wiretapped, hacked, etc...)

The public could be whipped up into a frenzy about that (and it may well exist)

ElementaryPenguin

(7,800 posts)
22. A lot of Republicans don't like Trump
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 05:30 PM
Dec 2016

He's alienated the CIA and the Secret Service - I don't think the military is going to respect him much either. The Republicans in the 70's voted for Nixon's impeachment - and they will impeach the far less accomplished and more dangerous Trump. McCain, Graham...these guys are not afraid of Trump. Trump is a wannabe nobody that everyone is suddenly treating like he's some invincible entity. He's a fraud, a cheat, and a JOKE!! He doesn't even scare Saturday Night Live (or that former Miss Universe).

davekriss

(4,616 posts)
32. Drumpf will only be impeached...
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 05:52 PM
Dec 2016

...if he vetos bills meant to gut social security, repeal Medicaid, privatize Medicare, defeat net neutrality, destroy the EPA, increase the flow of funds to favored individuals and companies, reduce taxes on the very rich while increasing them on everyone else, and the rest of the Randian program the Rethugs have in store for us. Drumpf will be there every step of the way as long as they allow him to bend foreign policy in a manner that benefits Putin and enriches himself.

Shrek

(3,976 posts)
36. All they want from him is to sign whatever legislation Ryan sends him
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 05:54 PM
Dec 2016

As long as he does that, they won't rock the boat.

ElementaryPenguin

(7,800 posts)
42. The wouldn't be doing it individually as candidates this time.
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 06:05 PM
Dec 2016

And Trump would have to do more than he did the GOP debates - which was basically a succession of one-liner insults meant for comic ridicule. That won't be much of a defense when impeachment is being contemplated - nor will his dim-witted tweets be.

 

Txbluedog

(1,128 posts)
44. I think they will take a wait and see approach
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 06:52 PM
Dec 2016

They want to get through as much of their agenda as they can. They know that the backlash will be horrendous when they gut social security and medicare. So, I think the plan is to blame Trump for gutting SS and Medicare and then impeach him. Then they will tell the base that Trump was the problem and know its too late to fix it even though they want to.

ElementaryPenguin

(7,800 posts)
49. Sounds like their kind of game plan alright
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 07:03 PM
Dec 2016

Your blame the trump game strategy hypothesis does make a lot of sense.

kcr

(15,315 posts)
45. If this actually turns out to be the case?
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 06:53 PM
Dec 2016

And this is easily shown to be on purpose? GOP will never recover from this. I know. People have said this before. But nothing on this scale has ever been done before.

 

geek tragedy

(68,868 posts)
47. He's turned out to be a very reliably doctrinaire rightwinger in the mold of Paul Ryan & Koch Bros
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 07:01 PM
Dec 2016

He still has a lot of judicial and executive appointments to make.

They need him to sell movement conservativism to the dumbass yokels who voted for him.

ElementaryPenguin

(7,800 posts)
51. Thus far - in the transition
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 07:16 PM
Dec 2016

Wait until they have to actually govern and all these idiots he's put in place are as awful as expected! The shit will hit the fan - Don the Con will be pointing the finger at everyone in the party but himself and the other GOP leaders will soon resemble a lynch mob - itching to cut this idiot loose!

 

geek tragedy

(68,868 posts)
55. This strikes me as wishful thinking.
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 07:19 PM
Dec 2016

Republicans need Trump to sell their crap to the base.

He's the most popular Republican alive today, amongst Republicans.

ElementaryPenguin

(7,800 posts)
68. That base will buy whatever Fox News,
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 08:02 PM
Dec 2016

Rush, etc. tells them to buy. Trump is bound to take a fall from grace - a "populist" movement led by an assortment of billionaires, Generals, Goldman Sachs and Oil company executives. What a f--cking joke! The wall has now been downgraded to a fence, no lock her up - it goes on and on. He's going to do almost nothing he promised to do!

ElementaryPenguin

(7,800 posts)
88. Once Republicans seize power - they never consult the people!!
Wed Dec 21, 2016, 11:15 AM
Dec 2016

Not even their own voters. They could give a shit what those serfs think! Representative government is not something they practice, nor do their followers demand. They will do what they're told - and accept the new boss. Jeez - they accepted George W. when it was clear he hadn't a clue about what was going on. They could've dumped him and they would have followed Darth Vader Cheney, who was in control anyway. Pence will be an easy sell - Drumpf picked him!

paleotn

(17,902 posts)
48. Granted, predictably evil is better than bat shit crazy....
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 07:01 PM
Dec 2016

but I doubt they will risk the wrath of the trumpkins. No one likes to get primaried.

ElementaryPenguin

(7,800 posts)
50. If they do it early enough...
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 07:10 PM
Dec 2016

They'll have plenty of time to sell Pence. He's pretty bad himself "tobacco never killed anyone" - "a causing link between smoking and cancer has never been proven"

Those are the kind of deplorable statements the GOP can definitely get excited about campaigning with.

3catwoman3

(23,968 posts)
79. No one likes to be primaried translates...
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 11:16 PM
Dec 2016

...to "No one has any balls," IMO. All they care about is keeping their cushy, too-well-paid, very part-time government jobs. Cuz government sucks so much, dontcha know.

Kolesar

(31,182 posts)
52. ISIL will bomb us before the year is out
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 07:16 PM
Dec 2016

Then it will be time for fealty in his revived cult of personality: just like Shrub.
Or he will blow a cardio blood vessel and go cold.

ElementaryPenguin

(7,800 posts)
54. Exacly why they'll have
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 07:18 PM
Dec 2016

To do it quickly - and he's already providing them with ammunition with his endless conflicts and profiteering schemes.

ffr

(22,665 posts)
56. Before 2016 or 2017? Doubt Obama's administration would allow 2016.
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 07:19 PM
Dec 2016

With our weakened state in 2017 and degraded state after that, we'll be easy pickings for them.

 

MadamPresident

(70 posts)
58. No way. He's just a puppet, a rubber stamp. However.
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 07:23 PM
Dec 2016

But I think he's a lot more dangerous to them than they expect. He truly does have the bully pulpit in a sense that nobody has had it before. He can get his minions to primary anybody in any office if they dare go against him. He's the kind of guy who would have absolutely no problem calling these dudes out by name and siccing his dogs on them.

That's why you have to hope that he has a little bit of an independent streak and actually wants to do at least some of the things he brought up that were good.

But the reality is that he's just a dumb puppet with no knowledge, no experience and no business being in this job. The John Birch society and the neocons are going to run roughshod over this dude and it's going to be painful, extremely painful for us.

ElementaryPenguin

(7,800 posts)
106. He's Putin's puppet - just as Hillary said - not the GOP's!
Tue Dec 27, 2016, 11:58 PM
Dec 2016

Why should they wait for him to strangle them one by one? They're in power now - they couldn't give two shits about what any voters think (even their own). They will tell them what to think - and they will obey - the Repub voters will just be so tickled that liberals have been denied the White House!

 

Thor_MN

(11,843 posts)
61. He is useful because he is disposable.
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 07:28 PM
Dec 2016

They will throw him under the bus in a heartbeat if he screws up enough and claim that he isn't a true rethug, he is liberal.

In the mean time, they will happily watch him wreck the government, because they know that they can claim they are not responsible for him. He is a perfect tool for them.

ElementaryPenguin

(7,800 posts)
65. They've got all that footage of him previously singing Hilliary's praises
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 07:45 PM
Dec 2016

That is an option they have - to portray him as a liberal who posed as a conservative to get elected (isn't that what he did?)

dionysus

(26,467 posts)
95. And not a criminal act. There is zero chance of them dumping trump after he did what
Thu Dec 22, 2016, 05:12 AM
Dec 2016

No republican has ever been able to do in 30 plus years: defeat the mighty hillary.

What happened to all the brilliant political analysis DU was once known for?

mackdaddy

(1,523 posts)
62. I agree. A loose cannon for the GOP, and they will get rid of him.
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 07:32 PM
Dec 2016

Probably impeach and then jail him to shut him up. Certainly enough criminal behavior if they want to go after him.

But I sure would not get on an airplane with him either.

onenote

(42,680 posts)
63. And another fantasy to replace all the previous fantasies
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 07:36 PM
Dec 2016

There have been predictions on DU that Trump would drop out during the primaries, that he would drop out or be forced out before the convention, that he would drop out or be forced out during the convention, that he would drop out or be forced out before election day, that he would drop out or be forced out before inauguration day.

Fantasies. Each and every one of these predictions.

And so too are the predictions that repubs are geared up to impeach Trump. Trump got more votes than all of the House members combined. Any repub that goes after Trump will be certain to face a primary opponent. And if the repubs are good at anything, its party discipline -- they are going to blow apart over an attempt to remove Trump that would only succeed if more than a third of the repub senators joined with every Democratic and independent senator voted to convict after the House voted to impeach. That's simply not going to happen.

onenote

(42,680 posts)
83. Actually, I'd rather be kept up at night by reality than sleep like a baby because I believe that
Wed Dec 21, 2016, 12:20 AM
Dec 2016

magic pony is going to be delivered to me.

onenote

(42,680 posts)
92. If it gets you through the night, keep telling yourself that.
Thu Dec 22, 2016, 01:01 AM
Dec 2016

I guess "long" is a relative term. I'm guessing it's four years.

world wide wally

(21,739 posts)
69. "IF" the GOP wants to get rid of him, they'll just tell their man, Comey to drop a dime on him
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 08:09 PM
Dec 2016

with some charge even his minions will find offensive

ElementaryPenguin

(7,800 posts)
72. Comey has proven himself
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 08:27 PM
Dec 2016

Don't think anyone has to manufacture anything for Don the Con... but investigating him would undoubtedly produce all sorts of creepy crawly illegal/even treasonous things.

ElementaryPenguin

(7,800 posts)
77. tRump will make some blunders so huuuge
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 10:12 PM
Dec 2016

They will be indefensible - and some will greatly offend him by not siding with him... He will go to war with them (as he has before) - and they will realize it's either him or then.

Then they will let the orange man go.

mtnsnake

(22,236 posts)
76. Don't kid yourself. Now that he's in, Trump is a dream come true for most of them
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 09:06 PM
Dec 2016

because being the outrageous windbag that he is, he says all the outlandish things in public that so many republicans can only whisper about behind closed doors. Other than the Russia connection, most of them are creaming their jeans over someone like Trump who talks so openly about all the wrong values, horrible values that most Republicans in Congress abide to.

ElementaryPenguin

(7,800 posts)
78. I agree with you - but the Russia connection
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 10:15 PM
Dec 2016

Is going to prove too obvious and problematic...and they will not be able to get along with him - he is such a loose cannon. They can bask in their victory (stolen) with him now - but once the romance is over they'll soon be at each other's throat again. Pence is one of them - Trump is not.

Retrograde

(10,132 posts)
84. He'll be a smokescreen
Wed Dec 21, 2016, 02:57 AM
Dec 2016

while the MSM will be focusing on his daily twit-storm or other idiocy the Republican-controlled House and Senate will quietly be dismantling all the social and environmental progress of the last 70 or 80 years.

No, they'll keep their Useful Idiot.

ElementaryPenguin

(7,800 posts)
86. From their perspective - that's what he should be. But he's...
Wed Dec 21, 2016, 10:56 AM
Dec 2016

not even up to that! He'll blow it. He's too thin-skinned, undisciplined and ignorant to handle the pressures when things get hot - and, since these idiots CANNOT GOVERN - things are going to be a mess pretty quickly, and orange man cannot take the heat and will not ever take any blame, so he will attack everyone else - Dems and Repukes that oppose any element of what his idiotic "team" is doing.

In a word, King Trump is UNMANAGEABLE.

 

TheFrenchRazor

(2,116 posts)
90. but he'll sure be useful to Putin; repugs will never impeach him because they hate dems more than th
Thu Dec 22, 2016, 12:37 AM
Dec 2016

they love america.

ElementaryPenguin

(7,800 posts)
97. Funny - because the MOST RIDICULOUS THING I EVER HEARD...
Thu Dec 22, 2016, 01:54 PM
Dec 2016

Was you, Dionysus, BELIEVING that Trump just happened to beat the Exit Poll margin of error in 26 out of 28 states (same odds as flipping a coin 28 times and getting heads 26 times!! - 1 in 200,000 - in Presidential election terms - the next such election result should happen 800,000 years from now!! (because - in the swing states only - a bunch of totally unaccounted for white guys crawled out from under their rocks and voted for Trump - funny - not even Trump's internal polls were aware of their existence - could it be called the Bigfoot Trump phenomenon?

You read that Obama became the first President to use the red phone hot-line to Russia - just before election night - threatening Putin if he were to hack our election, that we might respond militarily...

Do you think Obama would have made that call if he didn't know it was possible for them to hack our election - or do think he was worried about one more wikileak email dump??

It's incumbent on YOU - to explain the unadjusted exit polls. They are based on behavioral SCIENCE - Statistics DON'T LIE!!!!

dionysus

(26,467 posts)
99. They hacked emails and released propaganda, they were not
Thu Dec 22, 2016, 06:15 PM
Dec 2016

able to hack hundreds if not more, voting machines. They wouldn't have been able to install the modems without tons of people noticing, or being complicit.

ElementaryPenguin

(7,800 posts)
104. Dead Wrong.
Fri Dec 23, 2016, 12:26 AM
Dec 2016

The vote tabulators - contrary to what Comey said to Congress - ARE online and are hackable. Here's the ES&S software:

http://essvote.com/products/1/1/Tabulators/DS200

Here's a brand new article explaining their vulnerabilities:

https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/recountnow/pages/34/attachments/original/1481829147/DS200_wireless_security-2-2-Jim-March.pdf?1481829147

The first known electronic election hack occurred in Volusia County Florida during the 2000 Presidential race. This vote tabulator hack - known at the "Hursti Hack" allowed George W. Bush to separate enough from Al Gore (by shifting 16,000 votes out of Gore's total, and adding 2,000 to Bush's) to be called (by his first cousin) the President-elect - a status he maintained throughout the recount -always allowing him to act like the victim - with Gore trying to steal something that was his. Hacking is far more sophisticated now than it was 16 years ago, while these machines remain nearly as vulnerable. wikipedia's link:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volusia_error

AgadorSparticus

(7,963 posts)
100. One thing that was clear: Rinse Previous could not control Trump.
Thu Dec 22, 2016, 10:26 PM
Dec 2016

And Trump could care less because he has russian money. So, I agree. They will get rid of him.

Chemisse

(30,807 posts)
101. This is EXACTLY what I have been thinking about.
Thu Dec 22, 2016, 10:30 PM
Dec 2016

In fact, I suspect that they will wind up holding impeachment over his head to get him to do what they want. It should be an interesting power play that will go on behind the scenes.

Response to ElementaryPenguin (Original post)

Cha

(297,047 posts)
105. I don't know about that.. he's their front idiot they
Sat Dec 24, 2016, 05:04 AM
Dec 2016

hide behind to do their dirty work.'

send dump out to tweet while they bring down the Planet.

madinmaryland

(64,931 posts)
107. Would the House actually impeach him? Would they get any democrats?
Wed Dec 28, 2016, 04:48 PM
Dec 2016

Same in the Senate. If there is a trial don't they need 67 votes? I doubt there would be 67 votes. What would the Democrats do? Stay on the sideline and let it play out, I assume.

Short of him launching a nuclear attack after one of his properties gets attacked, I don't see the Repubicans impeaching him.

What you would end up with is a neutered *Rump with a congress that ends up doing nothing. If they impeach him it will make life hell for Congress. He might just petulant and veto every bill that comes out of congress.

Who knows.

ElementaryPenguin

(7,800 posts)
108. Anything they can get done with loose cannon tRump...
Wed Dec 28, 2016, 05:00 PM
Dec 2016

They can accomplish with one of their own - Mike Pence. As far as convicting in the Senate, my guess is there's probably about 99 votes in the Senate that would secretly love dispose of the mad orange man.

madinmaryland

(64,931 posts)
109. I don't know about that. There are a lot of looney toons in Congress, and if *Rump is fucking
Wed Dec 28, 2016, 05:12 PM
Dec 2016

up, the Democrats are not going to help Pence get the Presidency. I think for an impeachment to happen, (not the nuclear attack), for Democrats to support it, the Repubicans would have to accept a dual impeachment of both Trump and Pence AND either a vice president Tim Kaine or Hillary Clinton.

ElementaryPenguin

(7,800 posts)
110. Dems will take Pence over the orangutan emperor!
Wed Dec 28, 2016, 05:15 PM
Dec 2016

Pence will SUCK - but he's not as likely to blow up the planet, or follow Putin's orders.

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