Donald is now going to go to war against the GOP

[Saboburns]

Firing Priebus, and hiring some General to be Chief of Staff. Look at all the people who have already left the White House: Priebus, Sean Spicer, Sally Yates, Michael Dubke, KT MacFarland, Katie Walsh, Walter Shaub, and Michael Short. All of whom are long time GOP part folk with career long ties to the RNC.

Contrast those who left the White House to those Donald is now bringing in, Mooch and General Kelly. As of this morning there very, very little RNC in the White House, very, very little RNC left in the cabinet.

Toady's tweets about Democrats laughing at Republicans "who look like fools." are a sign of whats coming as Donald throws everybody under the bus in his rage at failure.

It's going to become the rich white Wall Streeters plus Those sad little Evangelicals VS Trump's Mouth breathing Idiot Legion.

As his shit show slides further into the abyss he will lash out and try to blame it on Republicans. Now I am not saying he will try and switch sides and join the Democrats, oh hell no. He will simply lash out at EVERYBODY. We will see more and more tweets blaming Republicans for his mess.

I already see cracks between the Republican Congress and the White House. Those cracks will fissure substantially in the weeks to come. It started with GOP push back in the Jeff Sessions soap opera.as we have watched, mouth agape, these six months wondering and wishing for some sane Republicans to simply admit the truth and help join us in ending the horrible National disgrace that is Donald Trump. Well, it has happened. John McCain's thumbs down will be a catalyst. Obamacare repeal failure the turning point.

I watched MSNBC and CNN the past 24 hours and was happy to see the upcoming Trump vs GOP War talked about openly by numerous people.

Donald Trump's Days are numbered.

[Guilded Lilly]

1. The "numbered days" can't be low enough!

[elehhhhna]

2. Anybody who's been paying attention saw this coming about 20 miles away

and it will be his undoing. I give him 90 days.

They shall reap what they sow.

[Kleveland]

19. Wishful thinking, and a very nice wish at that....

But you know what they say about filling one hand with wishes.... and the other...

[elehhhhna]

45. I've been paying attention to trunk since the early 80s and none of this

Is out of character. The thing with narcissists is that they're very very predictable if you observe them for a while.

As a lifelong political junkie whose fam member directly "fixed" Chicago, most notably during the Kennedy Nixon years, I know my stuff. Grew up with it. Trump is biting the hand that stupidly let him on the ticket (and not for then first time), he's become a huge threat to the Reeps and they will bail on his ass.

Except for those that require pardons, who are surely kissing Pences arse now.

This Presiduncy has run its course. Putin's going to hit reset soon. The reeps are jacked. He has no friends left.

[sharedvalues]

67. Yes.

You got it.
Biting the hand that put him on the ticket. The only way he survives is with GOP support. The only way.

[cilla4progress]

34. But will it be THEIRS?

I want to see the entire GOP in shards!!

[politicat]

56. Go look at the history of religious movements.

The Shakers were pretty much predestined to die out, since they believe in life-long celibacy. There are a handful left -- like 3 or 4. But those few elderly women control the legacies of hundreds and thousands of their late coreligionists, and thus the land, wealth and power that comes with those. (The Shakers held all property in common.)

Part of the LDS schism fights have always been about money and wealth and who controls it. Same with Catholicism and the Anglican/Episcopal organization: schismatic can leave, but it's always a leaving on the bad divorce model: the leaver escapes the abuse, but with no division of property or right to assets.

A 3rd party leaves the GoOP with all of its wealth and property intact, plus the legacy and intellectual capital. Which, ironically, makes the GoOP a bit stronger -- they've gotten rid of their dissidents, but kept the stuff. It strengthens their unity of message and gives them a more hated target against which to fire, because the splinter party is the most recent betrayal. While the 3rd party is trying to establish their independence and 180 from all of the "mistakes" the parent party made, so that's gonna be chaos for a few years until they implode.

They're both going to be fighting for the same few bodies, and a lot of the same dollars -- that's the bad divorce part. They'll have to support two households on the same income. So... I can't say I'd hate the idea.

[Johnny2X2X]

3. This is a threat

There is no guarantee our Democracy survives. If Trump goes to war with the GOP they will try to remove him and he will try to become a strongman and a dictator to stay in power. This is what happens next, Trump orders the military to keep him in power.

[DBoon]

6. His supporters are armed and not rational

I would expect violence by armed groups if attempts are made to remove Trump.

[no_hypocrisy]

11. Even if Trump were removed one way or the other, he'd still be a threat.

I can see him going around the country, inciting riots, advocating for the overthrow of federal government. And I fear, with his followers armed to the teeth, something like a vigilante putsch could be attempted. You'd have the US Military and National Guard shooting at revolting citizens. Not good either way.

[Eliot Rosewater]

29. Great point, had KGB agents not flipped votes on election day in those 4 days and HRC

had been allowed to win the election that she did win, Trump would have demanded his deplorables shoot all of us.

And many of them would have, and will if he is impeached.

Pence, as big a criminal as trump in some ways, will not handle it well and we will have big problems.

[cilla4progress]

36. But the cool thing will be

if it is internecine, you know? Rethug v Rethug, while we progressives wait in the wings to swoop in and gain our rightful due: single payer, overturned Citizens United, untie redistricting from politics, Truth and Reconciliation for all oppressed Americans...

Ahhh..wish list...

[lastlib]

65. I don't think it will be well-contained.....

I expect spillover into the rest of the Republic, and many innocents and progressives will get hurt or killed. It could be VERY, very UGLY!

[LiberalLovinLug]

47. This is what I think and fear as well

If he had lost the election, he would have gone on a cross country adoration rally tour. He would have gone with his threat of declaring the election fraudulent. (Despite all the cheating and Russian trolls helping him). Meanwhile the GOP would be initiating impeachment hearings on Hillary in Washington, and the still sleepy MSM would be covering it ad nauseum, giving the whole thing legitimacy. And thus riling up the deplorables even more. It would have been very ugly.

But that would not compare to what the reaction would be if now, after Trump actually "won", to be forced out of office. The reaction of his deplorables, but also Trump himself. He would wrap himself in the flag and declare that the only patriotic thing to do was armed insurrection to 'take back the country'.

[WinstonSmith4740]

50. That's why my hopes lie with the intelligence community.

This is a tough post to write because NO, I'm NOT advocating for the assassination of the POTUS. Just posing an academic scenario. You can decide for yourself which option would be best for our country, because we all know if we want to see America as we know it in the future, this guy has to go. If we ever want to be respected in the world again, this guy has to go. That can only happen in one of 4 ways. He's impeached, he quits, he is "fired" by Congress under the 25th amendment, or he dies.

In any of the first 3, his rabid and armed-to-the-teeth followers will burn this country down. There will be open revolt because they're, well, crazy. A lot of people, especially Democratic leaders, will die before it is brought under control. But if he dies in office, the worst they can do is turn him into a martyr. They can beat their breasts and wail for the cameras, but they won't have anyone or anything to "blame", so no one to get pissed off at.

He's a 71 year old, obese, fast-food loving, slug, with absolutely no filters or anger management skills. Would a heart attack be that difficult to believe?

[ck4829]

7. *We* have to counteract this threat.

The "demo" in democracy means people, you and me.

Congress won't be our savior, 2020 may not be, 2018 is still too far away. It's up to us here, now, today.

We have to crack the bully pulpit and fight against executive power from the bottom up.

[pangaia]

17. I have been expecting a police state for many weeks...

Sometimes I think we can get out of this whole nightmare.
The longer it goes on, the less I think so.

[Johnny2X2X]

18. This group in power is truly mad

He cares nothing for the GOP and he hates the Dems. I could envision him ordering the military to surround the White House to protect him from removal.

Our Democracy hasn't been tested like it's about to be since th Civil War.

[csziggy]

25. Afterm seeing the military reaction to Dolt45's trans ban I'm not worried

About the military supporting him. I think they regard his tweet as an unlawful order and that is why they have publicly come out against him.

Fortunately there are enough sane military people in the leadership of all the armed forces that they will NOT support this madman.

[3catwoman3]

38. I hope to hell...

...you are right.

[bluevoter4life]

40. Even the military is coming out against him

I highly doubt they will kowtow to draft-dodger-in-chief if he tells them "by any means necessary"

[hedda_foil]

68. I've been saying that Trump would not allow himself to be removed for over a year now.

[global1]

4. Given Trump's Latest Tweets RE; Changing Filibuster Rule....

The only way Repugs know how to win is to change the rules or stack the deck somehow (i.e., voter suppression, etc). I envision in the next few days for Trump to turn his tweets toward Mitch McConnell. I see him beginning to attack the Turtle.

I believe he will force the Turtle to step down as majority leader in order for Trump to get someone in place that will change the rules for him. In the next few weeks - I think the pressure on McConnell will be immense and then watch for pressure to be exerted on Ryan on the House side.

This will be part of Trump's war on the Repug Party.

We're in the eye of the hurricane now with respect to the Russian investigation(s). Too much else happened this past week that overshadowed the news coming out on Russia. That will change to in the coming weeks. Trump will be further backed into a corner and he's going to strike back against the Repugs for not protecting him.

It's going to be some interesting political wrangling and watching over the next few weeks. Get the popcorn ready.

[blaze]

24. If McConnell is forced out... who replaces him? nt

[global1]

28. Trump Will Lobby For Someone That He Can Blackmail....

someone that will do as Trump says. If we look at the Repug Senators - there are probably a number of them that can be coerced. Either by primarying them out of a job. Holding their State hostage like his attempt in Alaska with Murkowski. Or worse yet - someone that may have helped him collude with the Russians.

I'm open for suggestions here. Do you think any Repug Senator fits that description?

[elehhhhna]

46. Rohrabacher?

[AgadorSparticus]

49. Just bc they do what he says doesn't mean they will be successful getting anything done.

Look at McConnell. He is an ineffective leader whose caucus hates him

[global1]

51. How Come Just A Week Ago He Was Hailed As A Brilliant Political Tactician That....

had tricks up his sleeve to get the job done? He became ineffective just the other night because there were sane people in his Party that were willing to stand up to the bullying by McConnell and Trump.

People in his caucus might hate him because all of the double dealing he was doing - saying different things to different Senators in order to get them to vote. This was found out - and I'm sure that this is some of the reason that he might have generated some hatred in his caucus.

One thing that I can be certain of - is not - Trump hates him more than his caucus members hates him.

Trump is seething now - because he lost. Trump doesn't like to lose and he will somehow create a situation to assure a future win for himself - even if it's at the expense of the Repug Party.

[AgadorSparticus]

55. Thank god all the brilliant tactical shenanigans did was bite him in the ass.

It is hard to do business with people you don't trust. That is why you don't. Turtle is a really horrible person and sucks as a leader. He clearly proves that to be a good leader, you have to bring more than ruthlessness to the table.

[SummerSnow]

63. Scaramucci. lol

[COLGATE4]

27. I don't see where he has any leverage to force Turtle

out. Remember that the Senate is a very exclusive club - just look at how they all rallied around Jeff "KKK" Sessions - and they don't take kindly to being told what to do. He may want it but I don't believe he's got a chance in hell of getting it. Now Ryan with the contingent of Tea Baggers and assorted just plain Crazies like Louie Gohmert is a different story. I wouldn't be sleeping too well these days if I were Ryan.

[global1]

32. I'm Sure That Trump Is Privy To All Sorts Of Info On McConnell That The Turtle Would Not Want Public

It is not beyond Trump to embarrass the Turtle to step down from his position as Majority Leader. Don't forget - isn't McConnell's wife in the cabinet. Perhaps Trump can use McConnell's wife to get at him.

McConnell has been diminished in this whole healthcare fiasco. McConnell tried to pass the ball back to the House and even failed on that. McConnell's status as a bulldog in the Senate is weakened.

Trump is good at lying and concocting stories to take down who he thinks won't cooperate with him. I'm going to sit back and watch what plays out over the next few weeks. McConnell might be lucky and survive in that Congress is going into recess and he can lay low for the next few weeks.

But when Congress comes back in full session - that's when the real fireworks will begin.

Again - get your popcorn ready folks. Buttered or salted - it's going to be quite a show.

[smirkymonkey]

5. He's such an ass.

It still hasn't occurred to him that he is not a dictator. He does not play well with others.

[Auntie Bush]

10. I wish he'd take his ball and go home.🤗

[Kleveland]

20. That is assuming that he has any balls really.... n/t

[meow2u3]

23. Pun intended?

[Kleveland]

35. Maybe.... it's all about perception! n/t

[Thrill]

8. Good. Maybe they'll stop protecting him on Russia

[Gabi Hayes]

13. Bill Browder testified the other day. His testimony

should be the linchpin in both economic and espionage investigations by congress, even if mueller is stifled

Dems really need to push this, cause MSM is not. Surprised? Me either

[Eliot Rosewater]

30. And you, me and a couple other folks know about it, otherwise

but Mueller knows, and that testimony alone will assure trump will fire or have fired Mueller.

Bad days ahead, real bad.

But at least we dont have a president who ... ... ... oops, I cant talk about that

[Saboburns]

9. I feel that the game is decided, the outcome known

All that is left is the playing of parts.

Donald Trump is done, finished. His days are numbered. GOP-RNC Republicans have turned on him.

It is simply a matter of time.

[flamingdem]

12. I only disagree about McCain

He has hated Trump for a long time. That doesn't signal the beginning of anything.

It's pathetic that the repubs keep covering for their maniac. They will continue this until A. Mueller begins proceedings or B. they get the tax cuts for their uber wealthy donors via "tax reform"

[dalton99a]

14. Yep. They still have a task to do for their masters

[Saboburns]

16. I do not view McCain as a hero, nor even as a Maverick

McCain had numerous reasons for giving the thumbs down on Skinny repeal, none of which are that he wants to keep ACA. He doesn't.

But the result of his vote, for whatever his own reasons for giving it, will be the catalyst that, in the end, concludes with Donald Trump's downfall as POTUS.

As Winston Churchill said in 1943 after the Allies whipped Rommel and kicked the Axis out of Africa, "Its not the beginning of the end, but perhaps it is the end of the beginning."

Donald can not help himself. You know this, I know this, everyone knows this. He can not help himself. He will lash out at the GOP, he will blame them and attack them more and more. It has begun, it will get worse. The GOP Congress will be forced to defend themselves, WHICH BEGAN THIS WEEK.

The flame is lit, it will grow and consume Donald Trump.

[flamingdem]

21. True, though the McCain hate was historical

the impact in the now is the unraveling of the loooser in the WH

[tblue37]

15. He seems not to realize that the GOP can intensify the investigations, as well as

impeach him and remove him. He thinks he is the boss and that everyone has to obey him and fear his displeasure. He also thinks his cult will always be sufficient protection against the GOP.

He has absolutely no clue about how the government works or about the constitutional limits on presidential power.

[spooky3]

26. Sally Yates isn't a republican, is she?

[JDC]

41. No. She is a Democrat. She isn't "in" with the RNC at all

[Iliyah]

31. The GOP knownly put the USA and her people in harms way.

Fuck them.

[ananda]

33. Agree.

45 wants to rule by fiat. He always did.

Once he has the courts packed, he will
no longer need a legislative branch.

[cilla4progress]

37. I am feeling less intimidated by

any power tRump may have.

He's losing on every legislative policy; poll numbers diving; pissing off Republican leaders with his tweets and bullying of one of their own (Sessions). Even the military is ignoring and subverting him. Will he try to lash out and invoke authoritarian rule? We know the answer. Will he succeed? I think its becomig ever less likely.

[mr_liberal]

39. Trump should govern as an independent because that's what he really is.

Trump is not really a republican and he's never been a conservative.

Instead of continuing the hate on Trump maybe Democrats should try to forge an alliance with him against conservatives. I could see a Trump, Democrat, moderate Republican coalition forming. I think he would be open to it. It'd be a way to influence legislation and supreme court picks. The other way of just hating on him just keeps him in control of the far right.

[standingtall]

43. Trump is the most republican republican I've ever seen period!

All he cares about making himself and his rich buddies richer. This stuff about him not being a republican is nonsense. Trump ought to be hated by decent people everywhere. The hell with trying to form an alliance with traitors.

[mr_liberal]

48. Its a fact. He only registered as a Republican to run for president.

He has given money to both parties and supported Democrats in New York. He also had fairly liberal views only a couple years ago, he said he was very pro choice etc.... He has changed back and forth many times and he could do it again.

[Saboburns]

52. a year from now there will be a growing %age of GOP who accuse Trump of being a Democrat

Wait and see. The Conservatice part or the Republicans will be the first to do it. And it will spread to the rest of the GOP as this White House falls into the abyss.

[mr_liberal]

60. Thats probably true. They'll say he wasn't a real conservative or Republican, thats why he failed.nm

[AlexSFCA]

59. worst advise

I've seen. Dems should resist trump 100% and not associate themseves with this pile of human waste at all costs. He changes his positions daily, he is not an ideologue but he is extremely reckless with no regard for human lives whatsoever. Reagan was also once a registered democrat, this doesn't make him any less republican. Trump is transitioning our country from liberal democracy to oligarchy by breaking down our democratic institutions and norms; and he is moving fast.

[mr_liberal]

62. Reagan was really a conservative though, Trump isn't.

This is the same kind of reaction people had to Bush and now the same people say he wasn't that bad. Im not saying its what will happen with Trump, but I think people are overreacting a little.

I dont see him doing anything like you suggest, he just seems incompetent to me which is actually a good thing because if he was competent he'd get conservative policies passed.

[PatSeg]

42. Trump has to have enemies and lots of drama

He will end up alienating everyone on the planet in his quest for attention, even family members. He treats everyone like a contestant in a reality TV show. He is a very disturbed person.

[Initech]

53. After the election, I predicted that he was going full on Howard Hughes.

And it looks like he may get there sooner than expected.

[PatSeg]

57. Ah yes

That is a good comparison. I can see that - Trump wandering around in his bathrobe or naked, muttering to himself, not allowing anyone enter his rooms, and only talking to people remotely. He would go full paranoid and probably very quickly.

[Initech]

58. Only a matter of time before he starts saving the urine jars and finger nail clippings.

[PatSeg]

61. And goes full blown germ-a-phobe

It is a slippery slope he is on and madness awaits him at the bottom.

[Mc Mike]

44. I think the sad li'l evangelicals are on dRumpf's side, sabo.

Just an opinion, though.

[AlexSFCA]

54. this was the plan from the beginning

The whole alt right movement is a strategy of gop takeover and pushing out those who don't adhere to this ideology like McCain.

Failing to repeal ACA, is actually not a bad thing for trump because it now gives him a reason to launch a full blown war on GOP; basically GOP is all talk and no action = swamp.

Going after Sessions is a desperate move because trump knows that the mueller investigation needs to be shut down by all costs. However, Sessions is unanimously 'loved' by virtually all lf trump supporters because he has been consistently racist and hardline throughout his entire career. Remember, even fox news, limbaugh, breibart, etc. turned against trump on this one. Still, I imagine Sessions can be reappointed as a head of DHS where he'll fit right in.

New sanctions on Russia passed near unanimously are going to hurt Putin and his loyalists. They are so severe economically that even EU opposes them. Trump has no choice but to sign them. One question remains is whether the new sanctions will be properly enforced under trump.

Regardless, Putin has absolutey no interest in having any partnership with USA. While he would like to have sanctions lifted, the whole purpose of trump election was to destroy US governemnt and end its influence on the world. What that means is that those sanctions may not be effective after US gets further destabilized, especially after wikileaks starts releasing shocking details on trump that will ridicule our country beyond repair.

People like trump never give up power once gained, they can only be forcefully removed. My bet he will continue staffing his WH with military personell for protection.

IMO, to win in 2018 election, we will need massive, all record breaking turnout in order to counter all kinds of fraud and hacking that will undoubtetly is heading our way. We are now on the defensive with no margins to spare.

[Jake Stern]

64. Figured that congressional GOP would eventually smash head on into Trump's Russia sized ego

The only unknown was when it would happen.

[Skittles]

66. Donald Fucking Trump fails to determine the root cause: HIMSELF