Seven Senators gave the country the most bipartisan vote to convict a president in the impeachment trial of Donald Trump. Although the Republican exodus from the Trump cult bubble is going slow, it is happening. In a recent analysis of data, the New York Times estimated that since January 6th Trump incited insurrection at the Capitol, 140,000 Republicans across 25 states have left the party. Additionally, today People.com commented on a report by Reuters that 120 Republican officials and former White House staffers held a zoom call to discuss creating a third party. Moderate Republicans are starting to fear the stigma of being branded the party of conspiracy theory wackos led by the worst, most corrupt president in U.S. history.
Despite being censured by their state legislatures, Senator Pat Toomey from Pennsylvania, Senator Bill Cassidy from Louisiana, and Senator Richard Burr from North Carolina voted to convict Trump in his trial. More and more Republicans are taking political risks by voting their conscience and speaking out publicly against the corrupt, fringe ideology of the Trump-wing of the party. Fearful, opportunistic members of Congress like bootlicking Senators Lindsey Graham, Ron Johnson, Rand Paul, and House Representatives Matt Gaetz, Jim Jordan, and Marjorie Taylor Greene continue to fuel the corrupt, racist MAGA vision of America. However, there is a growing presence of career Republicans appearing on cable news denouncing Trump and announcing they are switching parties.
Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois has taken bold moves to stop the continued takeover of the Republican party. Kinzinger, who voted to impeach Trump, sees him as a weakening, destructive and self-interested destroyer of traditional Republican ideologies and values. Kinzinger has made comments regarding the Jan. 6th insurrection like, “he is a man who is attempting to overthrow the will of the people,” and “he is no longer the leader of our party, and we must reject these treasonist acts.” Kinzinger is serious about his commitment to restoring his party’s reputation and commitment to traditional Republican values. He has started the Superpac “Country First” to raise money to support a movement to re-establish the integrity, ideology, and morality of the traditional Republican party.
Despite voting to acquit Trump, Senator Mitch McConnell delivered a scathing rebuke of him, holding him accountable for inciting the Capitol attack against our democracy and foreshadowed the possibility of criminal accountability for Trump through the justice system. Despite McConnell’s willingness to subvert the law in loyalty to Trump over the past four years, his speech yesterday sent a blatant message to his party that Trump is not above the law and he should be held accountable. Trump fired back in statement name-calling and threatening and as is his norm, acting like a whiny, bully. The McConnell vs Trump conflict presents an opportunity for the party to split and faithful, Republican constituents will have to choose between traditional conservatism or a new party akin to a Russian-like disinformation autocracy.
A REMINDER TO TRUMP LOYALISTS, UNDER HIS WATCH;
HE LOST THE WHITE HOUSE
HE LOST THE HOUSE, TWICE
HE LOST THE SENATE
HE WAS IMPEACHED TWICE
HE HAS MORE PENDING LITIGATION FACING HIM THAN ANY OTHER FORMER U.S.PRESIDENT.
MAGA IS A DYING RERUN OF AN OLD CLICHED MOVEMENT LED BY A MAN DESTINED FOR LEGAL, INESCAPABLE RUIN. HOW WILL THAT RESUME WIN AN ELECTION?
