Republicans Are Calculating, not Cowards

[DonViejo]

November 23, 2020 at 8:09 am EST By Taegan Goddard

Dan Pffeiffer: “The leading theory in Washington is cowardice. Most political observers believe that for the last four years Republicans remained silent about Trump’s chaotic incompetence and crass corruption out of trepidation. Whenever a Republican enables another Trump transgression, every liberal blue checkmark tweets ‘COWARD.’ The sense among reporters is that Republicans don’t like what Trump says or does, but if they speak up they will be tweeted out of the party.”

“This narrative is comforting because it implies that the Republican Party is not beyond repair — they are just cowards, not bad people. Here’s the problem: the events of the last few weeks make it crystal clear that this narrative is wrong. It is way too generous to the Republicans.”

“Cowards want to to do the right thing but are too afraid to do it. I do not believe the Republicans want to do the right thing and I do not believe they are concerned about the damage Trump is doing to our democracy. Ultimately what bothers them about Trump is not that he is a racist authoritarian. It’s that he is a clumsy, incompetent racist authoritarian. The Republican supplication to Trump’s whims — before and after the election — is not cowardice, it’s calculation.”

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https://politicalwire.com/2020/11/23/republicans-calculating-not-cowards/

[CrispyQ]

1. Disagree. They are mostly cowards with a few ruthless leaders.

McConnell is calculating & ruthless. Graham is a coward. Romney is a coward. Collins is a coward. Way more cowards than schemers.

[relayerbob]

2. I disagree. Cowardice has nothing to do with wanting to do the right thing

A braver Pence could have taken the Presidency months ago, for example, based on 25A. ONe can want to do the wrong thing and still be too much of a coward to act on it.

[DEbluedude]

3. I would call them calculating cowards.

[Mme. Defarge]

4. Oui!

C’est ça.

[crickets]

5. +1000000

[Martin Eden]

7. Yes. They are cowards who have made an accurate calculation.

With Trump having overwhelming support among Republican voters, openly opposing him means almost certain defeat in the next Republican primary.

That's a very straightforward calculation which I believe to be true in the majority of Republican primaries.

That raises a couple of questions about each Republican in Congress:
1. Does he or she approve of most or all of Trump's actions?
2. Does he or she despise Trump and wish he would go away?

The answer to both those questions can be YES.
1: Republicans favor tax breaks for the rich, deregulation, and appointment of rightwingers to the courts.
2: They can approve the agenda cited above but also despise Trump for being a toxic ignoramus who is staining the GOP brand for large segments of voters. Some may actually care about the damage Trump is doing to American institutions and to the NATO alliance.

They don't forcefully speak out against Trump's damaging actions and behavior because they know it would likely end their political careers. That is an accurate calculation as well as cowardice.

[Cosmocat]

9. Winner, chicken dinner

Its both ...

[peggysue2]

6. However we label them

Republicans have exposed themselves as having given up on the quaint notion of democracy. Their behavior is unAmerican in every way, going so far as ignoring the openly seditious nonsense of Dear Leader.

Treason weasels, the lot of them!

[abqtommy]

8. For the last 50 years the reTHUGS have made their choice to deny WE THE PEOPLE a

voice. Their corruption was complete when they chose tRUMP as their figurehead. Now
they've met a serious defeat but unless we complete the job and grind them into the dust
it'll be just more of the same. Cowards? Calculating? I say they're both and they have no
socially redeeming qualities.

[uponit7771]

10. K&R, if rMoney or Murkowski went to Trump & said they're voting with dems for 6 moths if he doesnt

... stop the bullshit the bullshit would stop quick fast and in a hurry.

No, they're not willing to do that because they're mostly mouth