Trump and His Corrupt Old Party - For Republicans, there is no bottom. By Paul Krugman

[applegrove]

Trump and His Corrupt Old Party

For Republicans, there is no bottom.

By Paul Krugman at the NY Times

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/21/opinion/trump-republicans-corruption.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage

"SNIP.....

On the other side, it’s notable that with few exceptions even Republicans who are leaving or have left office still refuse to criticize Trump. There has been a wave of Republicans announcing retirements from the House, and there’s little question that some of these politicians are leaving because they’re disgusted with serving this administration. Yet almost none have said so explicitly, even though they won’t be facing any more primaries. What keeps them in line?

The answer is, follow the money.

What, after all, do retired officials do for a living? Many become lobbyists, and in an era of extreme polarization that means lobbying their own party. Being honest about why you quit would be bad for future business.

Beyond that, the modern U.S. right contains many institutions — Fox News and other media, right-wing think tanks, and others — that offer sinecures to former officials. However, this “wing-nut welfare” — which has no counterpart on the left — is available only to those who continue to toe the line.

....SNIP"

[applegrove]

1. It is a different economy for the 'connected' GOP.

[KPN]

2. Yup, they gladly sell their country down the tubes for enrich themselves with rubles.

[applegrove]

3. And they make being middle class more and more impossible and being

poor with no chance very easy if you opt out of the cult. They are copying Mexico. They had 1/3 rich and 2/3 poor not too long ago. It is not capitalism. It is a command economy mixed with Fascism.

[NCLefty]

4. I've disliked them for so long now, but I keep finding new depths of dislike.

And it's not just Trump that's getting me there. They treated Obama like shit, tried to "other" him into being a foreign-born Muslim while trying to screw his presidency.

[applegrove]

5. Yes. And some people think they are about less government and

states rights. Piety and freedom. They don't get that the leadership have corrupted their own dam selves into the worst kind of people and are bringing them along.

[Karadeniz]

6. I hadn't thought of any of this! Thanks for sharing!

[applegrove]

7. Krugman is a treasure.