Republican pundit Steve Schmidt on 'Meet the Press'

[yallerdawg]

Schmidt was the senior campaign strategist and advisor to the 2008 presidential campaign of Senator John McCain. He knows "unqualified" now, after regretfully giving us Sarah Palin.

http://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/meet-press-october-9-2016-n662746

CHUCK TODD:

Steve, what happens tonight?

STEVE SCHMIDT:

Well, this debate will be like the last debate. You'll see someone who's manifestly unprepared for the duties of the office of President of the United States, who has no idea what he's talking about from a policy perspective, who lacks the requisite dignity required of someone who wishes to be the Head of State of the government of the United States, and someone who lacks the capacity to be the Commander-in-Chief of the most powerful military and the world's most potent nuclear arsenal, that's what you'll see tonight.

*****

When we, when we look at this-- When we look at where this race is today, the Presidential race is effectively over.

*****

Hillary Rodham Clinton will be the 45th President of the United States. Chuck Schumer will be the Majority Leader of the United States Senate.

CHUCK TODD:

You're that confident?

STEVE SCHMIDT:

And the only question that's still up in the air is how close the Democrats will come to retaking the House Majority. What this exposes, though, is much deeper and it goes to the Republican Party as an institution. This, this candidacy, the magnitude of its disgrace to the country is almost impossible, I think, to articulate. But it has exposed the intellectual rot in the Republican Party. It has exposed at a massive level the hypocrisy, the modern day money changers in the temple like Jerry Falwell Jr. And so, this party, to go forward and to represent a conservative vision for America, has great soul searching to do. And what we've seen and the danger for all of these candidates is over the course of the last year, these, these candidates who have repeatedly put their party ahead of their country, denying what is so obviously clear to anybody who's watching about his complete and total manifest unfitness for this office.

[Achilleaze]

1. "...exposes the intellectual rot in the Republican Party..."

Don't forget the moral rot in the Republican Party.

That's even worse.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

13. Yup. Schmidt gets it. Very few in the GOP are calling for the massive reform he is. . . . nt

[Roy Rolling]

56. Ditto

Steve Schmidt has impressed me in the past as having the courage to buck the party line. If the GOP had more like him they wouldn't be in the miserable shape that are in now. Ironically, someone smart enough to "get it" disqualifies him from being influential the current Republican Party.

[ErikJ]

17. "..... the modern day money changers in the temple like Jerry Falwell Jr. "

I agree!

It has exposed at a massive level the hypocrisy, the modern day money changers in the temple like Jerry Falwell Jr.

[Rose Siding]

2. Maybe he should have thought through his work for the McCain/PALIN ticket

He's one to talk about intellectual rot.

[emulatorloo]

7. He's an outspoken truth teller now. I think he learned his lesson.

[NewJeffCT]

33. If the move "Game Change" was accurate at all

it seems like Schmidt knew from close to the start that Palin was in over her head and he gamely tried to do the best he could. However, like Trump, Palin was difficult to contain/rein in. (Trump is Palin on steroids.)

[Beartracks]

58. That's precisely why he *is* one to talk about it.

He was part of it.

======================

[Rose Siding]

59. Oh, I'm glad he's saying it. -Just missing his complicity in the remarks.

[Beartracks]

64. I suppose it could be argued that...

... admitting his complicity in previous years would only serve to muddy the very important point he's trying to make today.

=================

[underpants]

3. Damn that's some schmidt

[sheshe2]

4. May the GOP all rot in hell.

They built this, they own this, lock stock and barrel!

[ProudProgressiveNow]

9. +1000

[meadowlark5]

5. Isn't it odd that only after getting caught talking like a pervert about women

does the GOP think he's unqualified. But his lack of foreign policy experience wasn't a reason to abandon their support. It wasn't his campaign manager being paid by the Russian govt that did it. It wasn't his encouraging political assassination. It wasn't his threats of using nuclear weapons or allowing other countries to have nuclear weapons that did it. Or destroying world trade and possibly our economy. No.

There were sooo many things that should have had these republicans denouncing him long ago and for far more egregious things to our country. But it's smut talk that gets them. Don't get me wrong, it should be a disqualifier, but so many more things should have been before this.

[napi21]

11. Tshey don't really care if their REPUG is qualified or not, and long as THEY control the WH.

They're turning against him for this most recent scandal because they think THEIR supporters might abandon THEM! Total control of all three divisions of Gov't is their only goal, not the best interest in the country or it's people.

[Bigredhunk]

24. This!

x's 1000!

[bettyellen]

19. Only after "bragging about assaulting many women" - he had long ago talked like a perv...

And a lot of men didn't think it was that big of a deal. It was being discussed as "entertainment " just last week.

[Achilleaze]

22. + 1,000

[PearliePoo2]

6. This possibility makes me so happy I'm getting chills down my leg!

The White House? The Senate? The House too? OMG!
Be STILL my beating heart!

[0rganism]

60. don't forget....

... the Courts

[PearliePoo2]

63. Absolutely! SCOTUS!

Major factor for me!!

[redstatebluegirl]

8. While we are all giddy at the prospect of cleaning house, literally

we still have to make SURE Democrats and like minded Independents show up to vote! GOTV!

[gaspee]

10. Wow

Finally, a republican telling the truth. And I don't even like the guy, but I respect him for this.

[Cha]

12. I cannot wait! Thank you, yallerdawg. Hope Schmidt is dead on about

trump hoisting himself again only exponentially worse.

[yallerdawg]

14. When a Democrat says this, it's not news.

When a conservative Republican says it - it's "Man bites dog!"

[safeinOhio]

15. Same ones that were upset

about their daughters being groped in a restroom by a trans person a couple of months ago.

[AllyCat]

23. No joke

[volstork]

34. Excellent point.

n/t

[Spew]

16. Just like the 'autopsy'

"And so, this party, to go forward and to represent a conservative vision for America, has great soul searching to do."

404 not found

[Malbrownluna8708]

18. Yes he knows about intellectuall rot

He helped bring Satana(Sarah Palin) into our lives.

[cilla4progress]

20. It will be interesting to see what resurfaces out of this

as the conservative party.

My projection of 4-6 months ago was wrong: I thought the GOP establishment, realizing what a fraud, danger, and flim-flam man (Music Man, anyone?) Trump is, would back away from him and, even if meant losing the Presidency, refuse to stand by him, even re-branding as the New Conservative Party. I was too generous. I couldn't be more gleeful about the angst and ulcers I hope are inflamed there now.

As many, including responsible Dems, will say, it is really important for the health of our Democracy going forward to have more than one view predominate. I think we NEED a conservative (whatever that now means) contribution to the discussion, as we do a Socialist one. Better ideas come out of the mix.

[Generic Brad]

21. The Republican party has no intellectual rot

You need an actual intellect in order for one to be rotted.

[usaf-vet]

53. What about Paul Ryan.....

..... he is their token intellect. Right? He will lead them out of the darkness? Right? Mr. I've got a better way. Don't worry Ayn Rand's latest misinformed errand boy has got it covered.

[tblue37]

25. And you did your part to create the rot at the core of the GOP and to

put party and power over the good of the country, didn't you, Stevie boy?

FFS, you gave us Sarah Palin!

[yallerdawg]

27. Steve Schmidt commenting on Sarah Palin

Steve Schmidt’s brutally honest assessment of Sarah Palin

March 12, 2012 publication.

“For me and the experience I had on this campaign is that there are worse things than losing,” Schmidt said. When he was asked to spell that out, he said, “When a result happens that puts someone who’s not prepared to be president on the ticket, that’s a bad result. I think the notion of Sarah Palin being president of the United States is something that frightens me, frankly. And I played a part in that. And I played a part in that because we were fueled by ambition to win.

“I think there are important lessons to learn. The reality is that both parties have nominated people in the last decade who are not prepared to be anywhere near the Oval Office. John Edwards in the Democratic Party. Sarah Palin in the Republican Party. And we ought to take a pause and understand how that happened, why it happened and hopefully it’ll never happen again in our lifetimes.”

[asiliveandbreathe]

32. I have no empathy for schmidt - party before country guy

he knew and continued to march forward...he knew she was unfit...win at all cost..nope..here we are at the last hour and he wants to say trump is unfit, doesn't have the capacity or dignity for CIC..nope..too late Schmidt, you were too late in 2012...

[stopwastingmymoney]

62. No way in hell John Edwards deserves being lumped in with Palin nt

[asiliveandbreathe]

26. Schmidt - Party before country - can you say palin?

Schmidt is just setting the standard..low for drumpf and high for Hillary -

Schmidt - "Well, this debate will be like the last debate. You'll see someone who's manifestly unprepared for the duties of the office of President of the United States, who has no idea what he's talking about from a policy perspective, who lacks the requisite dignity required of someone who wishes to be the Head of State of the government of the United States, and someone who lacks the capacity to be the Commander-in-Chief of the most powerful military and the world's most potent nuclear arsenal, that's what you'll see tonight."

1. This debate like last debate...drumpf unprepared - drumpf having a coherent talking point of 3 words or more - will be seen as prepared...

2.lacks the requisite dignity - drumpf would say that he has regret about his youthful transgressions, and all will be forgiven

3.Lacks capacity to be CIC - drumpf will regain capacity with just a sliver, again, of a more than 3 word sentence

The bar is so low - he will look like a genius....

I do not trust ANY republican, least of all a palinista..they will do and say anything to stay relevant and hold the mic...

[anamandujano]

29. "the magnitude of its disgrace to the country"

You missed one.

[asiliveandbreathe]

30. Yup - perhaps Schmidt "party before country" guy - would like to address

the disgrace to country...maybe -I think as a palinista that is a bridge too far..HE KNEW palin was unfit, yet he marched forward..too bad for them - I have NO respect for any republican - they allowed it then, and they are allowing it now..

I'm a Hillary gal...who loves our President Obama..so, I should thank Schmidt...

(maybe I missed him addressing it, I didn't watch) -

[anamandujano]

35. That was then, this is now. Trump is a whole other level of unfit, as you know.

I took my quote out of Schmidt's statement in the original post.

[asiliveandbreathe]

41. Ah, I see it..tks..

This, this candidacy, the magnitude of its disgrace to the country is almost impossible, I think, to articulate. But it has exposed the intellectual rot in the Republican Party. It has exposed at a massive level the hypocrisy, the modern day money changers in the temple like Jerry Falwell Jr. King of family values..yep - great money maker - phony -

the magnitude of its disgrace to the country is almost impossible, I think, to articulate - just say it scmidt....almost, impossible to articulate - here let me help you Schmidt -

Our children will one day be the standard bearers for our country..is it too much to ask ALL republicans to completely disavow drumpf? (Okay, so he is trying) - I remember my mom explaining how not to be through this song -

Maybe these republicans took the words from"South Pacific" to heart - You've got to be carefully taught - or is it their twisted interpretation of scripture..

You've got to be taught
To hate and fear,
You've got to be taught
From year to year,
It's got to be drummed
In your dear little ear
You've got to be carefully taught.

You've got to be taught to be afraid
Of people whose eyes are oddly made,
And people whose skin is a diff'rent shade,
You've got to be carefully taught.

You've got to be taught before it's too late,
Before you are six or seven or eight,
To hate all the people your relatives hate,
You've got to be carefully taught!

I cannot get passed ALL their racist, bigotry and misogyny..just can't..I guess they were carefully taught..

Be well ana (ana is my wonderful filipina daughter in law's name, we call her Miss Ana)

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

44. I agree with you. I'm glad he's speaking against Trump, but

it's hard to forgive and trust a guy who was partly responsible for putting Caribou Barbie on the national stage.

Palin had a major hand in making it cool to be a racist xenophobe again. People who had, rightly, become embarrassed to show their true colors in public began to band together, to march carrying misspelled signs to proclaim their rejection of human decency and logical thinking skills.

She whipped their mobs up into an increasingly virulent frenzy every chance she got, and will continue to do so as long as she has breath to propel her severely shrill and screechy voice out into the world.

[njcpa1978]

28. An honest Republican

I have seen Steve at various times on MSNBC. I believe that he is a person who cares about his party, who understands there can be two opinions and when discussed intelligently gets you to a better place than just one. He is practical and tells it how his years of experience tells him the right answer should be. Clearly Republican, and I can live with that. Compare him to a Hugh Hewitt and you would think he is left wing. What makes Steve unique, is he answers the question and does not immediately go off on an 'Emails, Benghazi, Foundation' rant that provides no insight into a valid question.

[Gothmog]

31. K&R

[ailsagirl]

36. Shows Schmidt has no illusions about the repukes

I'm surprised, however, that he's still officially one

[ProudProgressiveNow]

37. Wow! nt

[AlbertCat]

38. to go forward and to represent a conservative vision for America, has great soul searching to do.

IOW...

How can we keep getting the Fundie nuts' and bigots' money but appear not to argee with them....?

[Oldem]

39. About the "great soul searching":

I'm not holding my breath. These are the same people who claimed they'd learned a big lesson when McCain only got white votes. Latin Americans, African Americans, and Asian Americans turned their backs on the repugs in droves. The repugs came out of that election promising a soul searching, and now we have this creep-in-chief. Schmidt may have grown a brain and a conscience, or he may simply be positioning himself to be a guru for the next repug reboot. In other words, it could be a career move.

[yallerdawg]

40. Watch him on 'Meet the Press'

[Spitfire of ATJ]

42. The Trump response - Schmidt #Loser lies on MTP #LowRatings #NobodyCares

[Hamlette]

43. you can't change the party and stop this

th gop didn't want trump, the people did. i know the gop has encouraged some of that hatred but even if it were possible to make the leaders of the gop reasonable, this mass with pitchforks is not going away any time soon.

not unless you could tell them they will not soon be a minority or that whitrs will always have privledge over minorities. good luck with that.

[Cary]

48. Which is more incompetent and despicable?

1. Putting Donald J. Trump in a position where he could be our president?

2. Lying, smearing, obstructing, and being completely assholes in order to seize power?

3. Undermining our government and our system?

4. The Southern strategy and their racialism, sexism, religionism, and other bullshit that they use to distract instead of serve WE, THE PEOPLE.

[Chimichurri]

45. this coming from the prince of douches

[mountain grammy]

46. Yeah, didn't the GOP just reinvent themselves?

Trump is their answer.

[Nitram]

69. They considered it briefly right after Romney lost his election. But, like Trump, they have...

short attention spans.

[LittleGirl]

47. Yes, but he had a come to Jesus moment

somewhere between 2008 and now. I respect him for speaking the truth.

How many republicans have done that?

He's the ONLY one I've seen.

Gotta give him credit for that.

[JNelson6563]

49. Wow. Talk about clear vision.

Someone has had an epiphany.

[oasis]

50. And I thought Republican, Ana Navarro was tough on GOP Trumpism. nt

[yallerdawg]

52. Tough, yes.

[BeyondGeography]

51. Strong words...I am grateful

I don't care that Schmidt held his nose and worked for Palin. His language puts everyone who has gone along with this farce, including Todd, btw, in their proper place. Trump's candidacy is nothing short of a near-death experience for the Republic. Schmidt will be in our faces again someday, but he is to be commended here.

[yellowcanine]

54. "modern day money changers in the temple like Jerry Falwell Jr."

Spot on, Steve.

[catbyte]

55. I think Steve Schmidt is one of the few Republicans left who still has a conscience. I really

believe that he was horrified when he found out how incompetent and unstable Palin really was, and, he probably would never admit to it, but I suspect that he didn't vote in 2008 either. He seems to have been doing penance ever since. I agree with him on nothing politically, but he seems like a decent guy. YMMV.

[yallerdawg]

57. The story is...

Schmidt was so freaked out by Sarah Palin and her ignorant behavior and inability to competently prepare for the debate with Biden - kept calling him O'Biden 'cause names - like newspapers is hard - he told her to address Biden as Joe.

[radius777]

61. Schmidt has been speaking out for awhile now,

let's not play purity police (this is politics, after all) about what he may or may not have done in the past regarding Palin, who was/is as a mayor and governor much more qualified for VP (and most never become president anyway) than TRump is for president, the most powerful position in the world.

Schmidt (like Nicole Wallace) like many mainstream or moderate Repubs wanted to think that their party stood for something better than what they're realizing it actually does. They're speaking out about it now, and should get credit for it.

We need to hope that these sensible Repubs are the ones who take over the party and move it to the center, the way the Clinton/Gore ticket did for Democrats in 1992, which had devolved into a bunch of bickering left-wing interest groups during the 70's and 80's.

[AgadorSparticus]

65. Wow! Nt

[Sunny05]

66. Yea! nt

[Nitram]

68. Right on!