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My theory on all the Republicans stepping down from the seats in Congress? (Original Post) imanamerican63 Jan 2018 OP
surest sign democrats will win the house. unblock Jan 2018 #1
Yup zipplewrath Jan 2018 #5
true, we won't be able to accomplish much positive without the white house, but unblock Jan 2018 #7
Jumping before they're pushed (n/t) Spider Jerusalem Jan 2018 #2
I have the same theories .... Dem_4_Life Jan 2018 #3
Something I've noticed gibraltar72 Jan 2018 #4
Maybe a hint of conscience? loyalsister Jan 2018 #6
Nope, they don't have time for fundraising when they have to protect their loot. haele Jan 2018 #9
It shows they don't think they've hacked the election well enough to survive it. lagomorph777 Jan 2018 #8
It's deeper than that.... dixiegrrrrl Jan 2018 #10

unblock

(52,181 posts)
1. surest sign democrats will win the house.
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 03:28 PM
Jan 2018

nothing triggers a wave of people stepping down from the majority party like knowing you're about to lose majority status.

especially for committee chairpeople. it's hard to go from top banana to minority party back-bencher.


i'm definitely encouraged about the house and have hopes for the senate, though it's hardly a lock (astounding that it isn't given the disaster republicans are).

zipplewrath

(16,646 posts)
5. Yup
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 03:57 PM
Jan 2018

Not so much win, as it will become impossible either way to push extreme right wing legislation.
Win or lose, their majority would be so slim as to prevent any significant legislation unless it is moderate enough to attract conservative democratic support. They'll actually have to work with some democrats, and on frequent occasions, they'll find themselves in the effective "minority" of opposition to otherwise moderately right of center legislation.

Don't be surprised, even if the democrats gain majority status, mostly they'll just slow down the Trump train. They won't be able to pass much, and they'll only be able to block the worst of Trump's appointments. But it will be vastly better than the current fiasco.

unblock

(52,181 posts)
7. true, we won't be able to accomplish much positive without the white house, but
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 04:00 PM
Jan 2018

beyond stopping the trump trainwreck, we can start *real* investigations, and if we have the senate, we can slow the avalanche of horrible judicial appointments.

gibraltar72

(7,501 posts)
4. Something I've noticed
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 03:34 PM
Jan 2018

many of those who made that decision have zero fucks left to give.They challenge Trump, I thought Gowdeys about face on Mueller the other day was head scratching. I think they are also really pissed that Trump has used the bullhorn when they have perfectly good dogwhistles.

loyalsister

(13,390 posts)
6. Maybe a hint of conscience?
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 04:00 PM
Jan 2018

Or self preservation, like not wanting their kids and grandkids to remember them as having any part in the fallout to come?

haele

(12,645 posts)
9. Nope, they don't have time for fundraising when they have to protect their loot.
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 04:10 PM
Jan 2018

They've got to have some serious meetings with reliable accountants, ones who specialize in avoiding federal investigations, and start moving money and investments. They also have to start unloading some of those luxuries they don't always use, so there's a lot less in the records concerning what they've got and what they're doing.

Honestly, with the emotional intelligence level of most of the GOP, I'm inclined to believe that they feel that if they're not in office when the shit goes down, they'll be able to either avoid jail time or cut deals with the feds.
Sort of like a gaggle of kids playing stickball in the back alley and breaking a neighbor's window. They think if they can scatter before the owner comes out to see who is responsible, they dodged a bullet.

Haele

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)
10. It's deeper than that....
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 04:12 PM
Jan 2018

We know that Ryan, McConnell, Nunes, Rorbacher, and a few others are complicate. Some of them got VERY large pass-thru "contributions", Ryan most recently got $500,000 from Russia affiliated source.
When you do not campaign again, that PAC money can be re-directed into your wallet.

Mueller is not ignoring these guys. He's following the money, and has people on his team who are experts at that.

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