When exactly did Republicans become traitors?

[Cary]

Here they are gleefully collaborating with Putin, a brutal dictator and oligarch who wants to restore the nation which for decades was their arch enemy. Russia was "The Evil Empire." It wasn't that long ago when they were falling all over themselves to alienate and ostracize and even prosecute anyone who had even the slightest hint of sympathy for Ruasians. Now they're inviting Putin into our inner sanctum, with open arms and roses.

"Conservatives" are insane. They are a cult.

[CrispyQ]

1. 11/22/63 -nt

[a kennedy]

27. D*mn, you really have something there. eom

[MineralMan]

29. Hmm...that's a familiar date, isn't it?

[raven mad]

47. Amen.

[NightWatcher]

2. Hillary had emails to that Ben Gazi fellow!!!

Would they destroy the country because a black guy was President? They tried.

Would they sell out the country to our enemy because Hillary was running for office? They did.

All they have is hate. It has replaced everything inside their souls.

They are evil and their voters are ignorant and evil.

[NCjack]

3. The Republicans play on the side that offers the greater financial gain. Today, it's Russia. nt

[Phentex]

23. sums it up

it's always about money for them

[Hortensis]

36. Most conservatives in and out of power are AUTHORITARIANS.

Authoritarians, once they have chosen to follow a leader, put their consciences into that leader's care and basically support him unquestioningly. "I vas just following orders."

So WHEN did this happen? When they accepted the leadership of a disordered buffoon who'd been cultivated by Putin for some years and, as he became the leader in the GOP primary, also became surrounded by agents of Russia. Last winter-spring.

Donald leads/is lead and conservatives, determined to commit to the front-runner in order to defeat the Democrats, are obediently following where he has taken them from there.

[Wounded Bear]

4. 2001....

Up until then, they were just crooks.

After LIHOPing 9/11, they demonstrated they were willing to sell out America for profits. Remember, Dubya let bin Laden get away from Afghanistan because he was more valuable as a boogeyman hiding in the hills.

[uponit7771]

9. +1

[Initech]

45. I think 9/11 was the turning point.

In the 90s, even though as much as they despised Clinton, they were still able to work with the other side. After 9/11 it became about who could wave their flag the highest and all about who embraced patriotic bullshit more. And they did everything they could to demonize us and label us unpatriotic and supporting the terrorists (that they created). Then Obama happened and so did the fucking Tea Party, that's when it started the downward spiral.

[Va Lefty]

5. Bill Clinton's election in '92 blinded them with hatred

any means became acceptable to deny Democrats power

[wishstar]

12. That plus the tax increases on wealthy to balance budget under Bill Clinton

Well off members of my family voted for Bill, but when the federal income tax increase kicked in affecting their mega-salaries and bonuses, they became rapid Repub Fox devotees demonizing Dems to this day.

[csziggy]

32. They have hated Democrats since Nixon resigned

Bill Clinton just gave them an opening to attempt to get revenge on Hillary Rodham Clinton for being involved with the Watergate investigations.

As for the OP's question, I'd say Republicans have been traitors since Nixon negotiated with the North Vietnamese in 1968.

[beachbum bob]

6. about 2 TRILLION in oil reserves Putin can't developed due to US sanctions

conservatives place PROFITS before country...PROFITS before well being of americans

[kentuck]

7. When they chose Rush Limbaugh over the truth?

Would be my guess.

[shraby]

8. It goes as far back as the assassination of JFK.

From there, it went downhill by increments. Witness crooked Nixon, Alzheimers Reagan, Stupid Quayle they wanted to run, Bush the younger, now Devious Donald.

[lapfog_1]

10. When Nixon executed the "southern strategy"

and embraced the southern ignorant racists as well as Lee Atwater and the "win at any cost" tactics.

[Cary]

15. This was a big one

Absolutely

[wiggs]

19. That's exactly right. Thats where the ends started to justify the means. The means came

to be the low road tactics of lying, deceit, polarization, hate, misinformation, smears. Denial of truth, consolidation of media.

Once rare and shocking...now commonplace on the right every day, every hour.

[lapfog_1]

20. Atwater -- Rove -- Roger Stone & Bannon & Conway

[alterfurz]

24. and let's not forget sabotaging the Vietnam peace talks before the '68 election

[AJT]

28. I agree. The threat that "the south shall rise again"

has come to pass.

[Initech]

43. We need to come up with our own strategy.

The Southern Strategy has failed us and got us nowhere. Time to reverse that. But it might take decades to do that.

[DURHAM D]

11. When they bought into the new Northern Hemisphere (white guys) vs

Southern Hemisphere (people with brown skin) world order.

This is Bannon's alliance of white men from North America, Europe, England, etc. vs Africa. Not sure where they see Asia in this new order.

[randr]

13. The Russians probably have embarrassing info on most of them

and a promise to keep them in the millionaire club.

[Cary]

14. Clearly, we are seeing how pure hate corrodes the human brain

You all raise good points.

[NRaleighLiberal]

16. To me, Nixon/Watergate. Been back and forth payback ever since

but that is just my recollection and opinion based on my age and what I've seen. I am sure the seeds were sown long before that.

[world wide wally]

17. When Putin got in and they saw that he could make more money than they could.

They suddenly became his puppy dogs so they could be like him.
After all, what good is power if it doesn't make money for you?

[forjusticethunders]

18. 1861, except this was before the parties switched ideologies.

[Baitball Blogger]

21. The shift began in 1998.

With the Clinton witchhunts. That's when the Republican party began to turn their backs on conventional wisdom.

Examine the definition of conservative:

"Holding to traditional attitudes and values and cautious about change or innovation, typically in relation to politics or religion."

If you analyze how they tried to get at Clinton, you'll see that they broke every rule of conventional wisdom that once stabilized government.

i.e. It was once believed that you couldn't sue a sitting president because private litigation would distract the nation's leader from his duties in protecting our nation. But, they all jumped behind Paula to give her a privilege that never measured up to the litmus test of public good. I'm not saying she shouldn't have sued him. I am saying that they all should have waited until after his second term. but, of course, that wouldn't have served their purpose.

I think the Federalist Society was the one that began breaking away from the traditional concept of conservatism, putting ends ahead of the means.

My surprise is that no erudite has come out and pinned this paradigm shift to provide the dimensions of this important puzzle piece.

[Cary]

22. Great post

That's so true. They went scorched earth against Clinton.

[Baitball Blogger]

25. And they have never stopped.

That's one of the main reasons that supporters of the Democratic party were so frustrated with their own party's leaders. It was like Democratic leaders were reticent about recognizing the paradigm shift. They still continued to play a "gentleman's sport" that held rigidly to Marquess of Queensberry Rules, while Republicans were in full throttle Thunderdome.

[KPN]

33. Exactly!!!

[a kennedy]

26. I think it started to get legs in 2000 when * was selected by the Supreme Court......JMHO. eom

[hollowdweller]

30. When capitalisim and democracy were thought of as the same thing

[kimbutgar]

31. Party over country is the GOP mantra

They are treasonous bastards who care more about their money and power then love of our country.

[leanforward]

34. When they wanted to gain power at any cost

I am a loyal patriotic citizen of these United States of America. Thanks for the date time lines. I doubt the dates are coincidental. Similar to not releasing his tax returns. Russian financing of his projects. After his bankruptcy, no american investors will have anything to do with him. Money laundering, payments back to the russian oligarchs/mob. With Putin as a dividend beneficiary.

I am in opposition to pRezident dRumpf and any member of the GOP opposed an investigation.

[meow2u3]

35. They turned traitor 1/20/2009

The day Barack Obama became the 44th President. They put their racial prejudice above country, even to the point of adhering to a hostile foreign dictator just because he's white.

[marybourg]

37. When Putin assured them he could

get them the House, the Senate and the Presidency.

[Jimbo101]

38. 50's McCarthyism and the Red Scare ?

of course that's when there was a communist hiding under every bed - endless investigations required

- now they're OK with Putin controlling elections - no investigation(s) required - IVAN is our friend

(totally different thing - right ?)

McCarthyism (wiki)

[democratisphere]

39. 1981 when the "iconic" Ronald Reagan took office.

republiCONs refer to Ronnie as if he were a god. Disgusting!

[delisen]

40. Election Year 1980 nt

[Initech]

41. They couldn't take losing two terms to a black guy who was better than them in every way.

[agenasolva]

42. March 20, 1854

Since they were formed

[ChoppinBroccoli]

44. When They Realized They Couldn't Win An Election Fair And Square

And they were going to lose to the biggest RB boogeyman they ever created.

[Johnny2X2X]

46. When they decided their ideas trumped our Democracy

The ends justify the means for these maniacs.