I have all but decided that Trump has something on almost all of the GOP.

[redstatebluegirl]

Just keeping the dirt in his back pocket in case he needs to bring them back into line. These men and women have no spine and no soul.

[Karadeniz]

1. I had wondered if Russia had hacked all their computers for dirt, because it was hard to imaginable

That so many people would willingly lie for Trump.

[redstatebluegirl]

2. You could be right, they sure fold like cheap suits.

[onecaliberal]

13. When the DNC email was stolen, the RNC email was also stolen.

Of course they are blackmailing them.

[Native]

29. So many people have forgotten about this.

It is so patently clear they've all been compromised.

[renate]

30. I don't know why this isn't shouted from the rooftops--maybe it's our October surprise

RUSSIA HAS THE RNC'S EMAILS! OF COURSE THEY'RE BEING BLACKMAILED!

Not only is it blindingly obvious, it explains just about everything about today's GOP versus the 2016 version. I don't get why people are pretending that this isn't at least worth discussing. Journalists can't, I get it, they can't just throw a supposition out there, but why aren't the opinion people piping up?

[JHB]

33. I think they're stuck between that and the Ahab base

That is, the mere apparatchiks are stuck. Others see this as the opportunity to reshape the government into The Way Things Ought To Be. And the bunch that want that have always been fine with banana republics. After all, they're not going to be picking bananas.

[rzemanfl]

3. I think Putin has it and Drumpf knows what it is, or Putin gave it

to his Puppet Donald.

[Afromania]

7. pretty much this

[Whiskeytide]

32. I really don't think Putin has ...

... trusted Tя☭mp with the compromat. He would blab it - couldn’t help himself since he is essentially an idiot - and it would lose its value. I think Putin’s proxies are handing the GOP directly. But that explains all the late night, secret love chats between Poot and Tя☭mp. “Lindsey said mean things about me”. “Do not worry, Donald. I will have my people make some calls”

Also - I haven’t looked into it, but I wonder if there have been some GOP personalities that have endured scandals in the last few years after they failed to knuckle under in some way? “Examples”, if you will.

[rzemanfl]

36. You may be right. Drumpf is an idiot. n/t

[LonePirate]

4. He doesn't need dirt on any of them as he has the voters securely on his side.

All he needs to do is tell the voters for the Republican’s opponent and that Republican will lose. We’re past primary season so the voter threat is irrelevant. He relies on dirt on a few of them and the others simply fall into line.

[blm]

5. Most hotel owners DO have dirt on other men of wealth and power.

[grumpyduck]

6. Okay, since we're throwing ideas on the table,

I think Putin has the goods and it knows this, but it doesn't know what the goods are.

I'm saying this because Putin is smart enough to know that it can't keep its mouth shut and could fuck it all up.

[rzemanfl]

12. You may be right. Putin and the subject may know what Putin has.

The Orange Anus may only know Putin has kompromat on his fellow Repukes, but only knows its nature as to himself.

[FakeNoose]

31. Most took the NRA money in 2016, and they knew it came from Russia

The middleman was the NRA, not Chump. Even Lindsey Graham who wasn't running in 2016 got a campaign donation from the NRA. They took the money because they believed Chump was going to lose last time. Then he DIDN'T lose, and they all went "Oh, shit!"

Why were there almost no NRA donations to Democratic candidates, and yet practically every GOP candidate got $$ from the NRA?

[BlueTsunami2018]

8. Or they see the opportunity they've been waiting for.

They’ve been planning for this moment for almost fifty years and they finally have it.

The mistake most Democrats always make is in thinking this isn’t an ideological struggle. That everyone is in Congress to try to come together to do what’s best for the People. That there is any sort of integrity involved. It isn’t and there isn’t. It’s a blood sport with the direction of the country on the line. It doesn’t help that we always seem to have some members of the party who are right in line with the Republicans. We rarely stick together the way they do. I’m sure there are a few in the GOP who are aghast at what’s going on but they won’t break the party line.

He may very well have something on individuals but he doesn’t need it here. This is the ultimate end they’ve been working toward.

[JHB]

34. +1

Some of them see their big chance to grab all the marbles.

[intrepidity]

9. I've abandoned this theory

Rs don't face consequences for scandals amymore.

No, its just plain old fashioned cowardice and fear of being bullied.

[blueinredohio]

10. I don't think he has dirt on every one of them.

I think they're all just power grabbing assholes.

[soothsayer]

21. Winner

I don’t understand why they don’t care about actual Americans dying in record numbers though. You’d think they’d draw the line there. But nope.

I guess we’re not making enough of a fuss about it (we, the people) for them to know we care? They should care anyway. I honestly don’t know what goes through their minds on this subject.

[Wellstone ruled]

11. Malcohm Nance has said on several

occasions,when the GRU hacked the Dems as well as Podesta,they also hacked all the Rethug's as well. Will Putin assuring Trump's win,and knowing Trump's pension for Vengeance,which has always been Trump's M O,knew he was the right pick.

We will see the real story about how this is a massive Money and Ponzi scheme involving Putin,major Banks,as well as American Billionaires sees the light of day within 5-6 months.

[cayugafalls]

15. This

Seems obvious to me as well.

[Wellstone ruled]

18. Thanks.

[aidbo]

14. Why would he need to 'have' something on them if he's just doing everything they want?

[Mariana]

16. What he has on them is their voters.

Their voters, for the most part, worship Trump, and I don't use that word lightly - plenty of them believe Trump was sent by God and that anyone who goes against him is evil. They feel no loyalty whatsoever toward their Republican Representatives and Senators. If the R's oppose Trump they can pretty well count on losing their seats. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if it's more extreme than that. They might actually fear for their lives and their families lives, from their constituents, if they dare to oppose Trump.

[Azathoth]

17. Yes, it's called his Twitter feed

and it's a one shot kill to any Republican running in a primary.

[kurtcagle]

19. Trump doesn't have the dirt

Trump likely has been getting support from GRU assets who do. By all indications Cheetoh just doesn't have that broad of an information network, though I wouldn't put it put it past him to use blackmail when he does get a juicy gem. Like others on this list, what Putin has discovered is that IMPOTUS can't keep his mouth shut about anything, so has made sure that Trump knows the absolute bare minimum.

[Midnight Writer]

20. They all serve the same master.

[Ponietz]

22. It's the 1% and their stooges versus the rest of us--in stark relief

They, and the rest of us, know the jig is up and are using force because it’s all they have left.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

27. Agree 100%

But also the battle is about power grabs by dark triad personalities
VS
The people not like them,who do not get off on on others suffering,who care about others and are wanting to help people.

[Grasswire2]

23. of course he does

Remember when Republicans freaked out because they thought Hillary had the FBI files on people?

Turn it around.

Of course he has every bit of intel possible on every person of influence.

[ihas2stinkyfeet]

24. murdoch. hacked the royals' vm.

this has been going on for a long time.
a congressional aide all but told me as much under w.

[Cicada]

25. Yes, if Trump denounces a Republican no Republican will ever vote for them

If I were a Republican politician who wanted to get elected I would also be Trump’s slave.Crossing Trump is almost always political suicide.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

26. Enabler and abuser dynamics

Are what's going on.

They are cowards dealing with a hidiously abusive monster. They do what trumpy pig wants rather than challenge him or each other. They do what trump wants because it's an abuse dynamic at work and they enable and perpetrate abuse at the American people.

Those who are not willing to go along with the abusive cultic relationship are seen as a threat.The republicans are caught up in mindfuckery games with trump and that sucking sound is sucking all the morality out of the room.

People involved in abusive
Relationships can do terrible things to please the tyrant or save thier own ass from him..

Republicans are morally bankrupt fascists. And any relationship with a narcissist,authoritarian or sociopath is an abusive relationship by default.

The rethugs take it out on the Dems and the American people because they have the evil personality type called dark triad just like their worthless "king".

[Generic Brad]

37. They are bullies who coalesced around the bigger bully

The biggest turds rise to the top.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

39. True that!

[tanyev]

28. Don't underestimate how many of them are themselves morally bankrupt,

and now feel freed and emboldened by an amoral president and attorney general.

[SMC22307]

35. That makes them sound like victims, unwitting participants.

They're getting everything they have wanted for decades and are *this* close to destroying the big enchiladas - Social Security and Medicare.

[Keth]

40. Social Security

Living here in southeast Missouri can be a challenge, especially when I hear conversations about how it's the democrats that are trying to do away with social security. People are so encased in the Fox New bubble that I don't think it can be penetrated unless...

Social Security is destroyed. It would be devastating to so many people and would have such a rippling effect on the country. I don't see it happening, although I do see them continuing to weaken the program. Most people don't realize the tax reform act of 2017 passed by the Republicans could have an impact on social security in the future.

[Chiyo-chichi]

38. Would any of us be surprised if, on Day 1, Trump gave Putin full access to the Utah Data Center,

where the NSA stores massive quantities of data from emails, phone calls, Google searches, and other sources?

And if something like this came out, would any Republican summon up a backbone or would any members of the Trump cult care?