The tragic and disastrous mistake by the Republicans...

[kentuck]

...was when they chose to ignore our Constitution.

They knew that Donald Trump, the candidate, had not made public any income tax returns. Perhaps he had paid no taxes at all? They were willing to overlook that.

Also, they knew that he had businesses around the world that might conflict with him being the President of the United States. Yet, they were willing to look the other way.

They knew that the Constitution contained language that clearly prohibited emoluments from foreign governments. Yet, Mitch McConnell and the Republican leaders pushed on. They persisted.

This was the mistake that beget all the others, in my opinion.

They are not deserving of the opportunity to lead our country.

[hlthe2b]

1. Where is the "disaster" to the REPUBLICANS in all this? Where is the accountability?

Even if Norm Eisen et al win the Emolument lawsuit, who is going to enforce whatever court-ordered remedies are ordered?

Of course they (RW) aren't deserving of any future leadership opportunities. They have proven themselves to be loyal to exactly none of our constitutional principles.

Elections are our only hope but that means overwhelming their own attempts to block legitimate opposing votes and the constant drumbeat of lies and propaganda from Fox and other RW media. And if we fail, what then? Eric Holder is right. We can not fight their sociopathic tactics with mere principled, rational, benefit-of-the doubt civil argument.

[kentuck]

2. I hear you.

This is a very strong enemy that America is fighting.

I try to recall what Gandhi said about tyrants? In the end, they always lose.

I would agree that "We can not fight their sociopathic tactics with mere principled, rational, benefit-of-the doubt civil argument." However, I think we should try to continue to communicate with everyone.

Politics is the art of persuasion.

There are not a lot of suitable alternatives.

[empedocles]

3. 'The tragic and disastrous mistakeS by the Republicans'

have been - in getting 'INVOLVED WITH AND SUPPORTING' traitortrump no matter what.

[watoos]

4. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,

the Trump story is becoming more and more apparent every day. Trump's daddy took care of Trump, when daddy died Trump hitched his wagon to the Russian mob and to the mafia. Trump is more than just a person who violates the Constitution, he is a 2 bit criminal deserving of spending his life in jail, along with Jared and Ivanka.

[KPN]

13. THIS!

[3Hotdogs]

5. -- ain't nothin' disastrous about this to the Republicans.

Many House races are still favored R. As for the Senate, we're fucked as far as any gains are concerned.

[kentuck]

6. Democrats have no leverage if they do not take back some power from the Republicans.

Simple as that?

[watoos]

7. Wrong Groucho,

We are going to win the Senate also. Don't fall for those fake polls in Tennessee and Missouri. Those polls are for likely voters, the blue wave is going to be full of unlikely voters who didn't show up in the polling.

[3Hotdogs]

8. I can't think of anything I'd like to be more wrong on.

[gordianot]

9. This Fascist turn like all Fascism was on purpose.

If it had not been Trump it would have been someone else the Republicans had plenty to choose from. The reason they do not reject Trump this is who they are and what they really want. I include all Trump supporters who may not be Republicans. None of them see a mistake.

[kentuck]

10. What are we going to do about it?

After we vote.

[gordianot]

12. Beyond recognizing what they are I am not sure.

This form of Fascism weaponizes Citizenship even though there is still some outright racism. This country is putting children in concentration camps while still profiting off of cheap foreign labor. Those doing this know who they are, it is virtual slavery and is apparently allowed. All of this is being done by a country of immigrants.

As far as relatives who take up the MAGA hat I call them what they are, when asked by non relatives I make my views known.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

11. Not only are we up against hundreds of billionaires funding right-wing politics...

we're also up against millions of Americans that think cheating on taxes, dismantling our government, and grifting while in office....

IS A BADGE OF HONOR.......

Thanks for the good rant, Kentuk.......

[kentuck]

14. It's truly depressing that so many Americans feel like that...

...that proclaim to be patriots but hate our government. That if they can steal anything from the government, then it is all for the best. They admire a cheater, especially if he cheats on his taxes.

It is sad.

[mountain grammy]

15. Well, so far this "mistake" hasn't seemed to hurt them at all..

in fact they were looking at a Constitutional Convention to mold a new Constitution to suit them, but now, with the Supreme Court, the Constitution means what they say it means.

Give it up. The GOP doesn't care and for some reason, be it apathy or outright election fraud, we can't get the numbers to stop them.. Germany violated it's Constitution thousands of times in their march to death and depravity. I imagine the same will happen here as people put their heads down and ignore everything around them.

[kentuck]

16. They have profited politically...

But the majority of America has been hurt.

That doesn't mean it wasn't a tragic mistake.

America is on the wrong track.

[mountain grammy]

18. Of course America is on the wrong track

anyone with the slightest bit of knowlege should know that, but where are they?

There's not enough opposition to stop this madman. Yes, the majority of America will be hurt and yes, the majority of Americans don't "approve," but that appears to be stopping nothing because the GOP will stop at nothing.

[kentuck]

22. If they "know that"...?

..then why would they not vote ??

Trump is a master bullshitter. He makes shit up. He manipulates the media. He manipulates everyone with whom he comes into contact with.

But he has complicity from his fellow Republicans. They are Machiavellian in every respect.

If the Democrats cannot defeat them, then who can??

[mountain grammy]

23. It sure won't be anyone who's tuned out.

I don’t know. Maybe no one can stop them. If this election doesn’t America is finished.

[kentuck]

24. You don't sound very optimistic, mountain grammy?

Do you think there is not going to be a blue wave with Democrats taking the House?

I would say that if the Democrats do not take the House, we are in some serious trouble as a political Party.

[mountain grammy]

25. I'm trying as hard as I can..

just got a message from our former Republican cousins in Texas asking for my support for Beto O'Rourke. That's been my brightest hope, our cousins in Texas determined to turn Texas blue, while the brother and family are praying to trump.

Yes, I have hope, but yes, I'm having a hard time being optimistic, kentuck.

As for Beto, I love him and have donated, but need to spread it around and don't have a whole lot to spread.

[Garrett78]

17. The Constitution is pretty weak. Republicans violate "the spirit of the Constitution":

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vox.com/platform/amp/2018/5/1/17258866/democratic-party-supreme-court-republicans-trump-election

[mountain grammy]

19. Some excellent points and solutions in this article.. thanks for posting.

They essentially stole a seat on the Supreme Court — a swing seat, no less. But they correctly argued that they had no clear constitutional obligation to consider the president’s nominee for the seat. They didn’t violate the Constitution. They violated the spirit of the Constitution. They violated the norms that have allowed these institutions to function normally for years and years.

This is the sort of maneuvering and procedural warfare I’m talking about, and the Republicans have been escalating it for two decades. And they’ve managed to entrench their power through these dubious procedures.

The result is that the structural environment is biased against Democrats and the Republicans have engineered it that way.

[Garrett78]

20. I typically post that excerpt, so thanks. Tougher to do on my phone.

I've probably posted that article a dozen times now. Of all the articles I've read since 2016, that may be the one I would most want Democrats in Congress to take to heart. If Democrats keep thinking they can win on policy positions alone, or by taking the high road and reaching across the aisle, we are all going to continue to suffer to the point of no return.

We aren't dealing with people who merely have a different opinion about the role of government or taxes. We're dealing with evil. I don't think that's hyperbole. We're dealing with some of the worst humanity has to offer.

[mountain grammy]

21. No thank you for the article..

Basically why I stay with DU, stuff like this.

[The_jackalope]

26. Is America still a nation under the rule of law?

If it is, there is a disaster waiting in the wings for Republicans.
If it is not, there is a disaster waiting in the wings for America.