Republicans against Trump

[Orphia Nay]

"One by one, in public statements and private conversations, Republican lawmakers are beginning to speak up to protect home-state interests, industries and jobs that are endangered by President Donald Trump’s executive actions and the slash-and-burn tactics erupting across the federal government by billionaire Elon Musk ‘s DOGE. "


"Republican Sen. Katie Britt has been working to make sure the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency doesn’t hit what she called “life-saving, groundbreaking research at high-achieving institutions,” including her state’s beloved University of Alabama.

"Kansas GOP Sen. Jerry Moran is worried that food from heartland farmers would spoil rather than be sent around the world as the U.S. Agency for International Development shutters.

"And Idaho GOP Rep. Mike Simpson warns national parks could be impaired by cutbacks at the start of summer hiring in preparation for the onslaught of visitors.

"“We need to have a conversation with DOGE and the administration about exactly what they’ve done here,” said Simpson, a seasoned lawmaker who sits on the powerful Appropriations Committee. “It’s a concern to all of us.”"

As DOGE hammers away at the US government, Republicans stir with quiet objections

While Democrats have been speaking out against President Donald Trump's federal cuts, Republicans are just beginning to stir.

apnews.com

And yesterday, when Trump was ranting about the US taking Gaza and building hotels and saying Palestinians wouldn't be allowed back, Marco Rubio contradicted him and said yes, they would, as did Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

After meeting with Trump, Jordan's king says his country opposes displacing Palestinians in Gaza

President Donald Trump has hosted Jordan’s King Abdullah II at the White House and has renewed his insistence that Gaza could somehow be emptied of all residents, controlled by the U.S. and redeveloped as a tourist area.

apnews.com

 

[kookbreaker]

Yeah. They'll be falling into line soon enough. They are there to rule, not represent.

 

[Donal]

It seems almost daily we get a "Republicans starting to rebel against Trump" story.

 

[The Great Zaganza]

Sure you can have a conversation with us - as long as you do it somewhere far away.

 

[arthwollipot]

Those leopards are hungrily eyeing some faces right now.

 

[Planigale]

"One by one, in public statements and private conversations, Republican lawmakers are beginning to speak up to protect home-state interests, industries and jobs that are endangered by President Donald Trump’s executive actions and the slash-and-burn tactics erupting across the federal government by billionaire Elon Musk ‘s DOGE. "


"Republican Sen. Katie Britt has been working to make sure the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency doesn’t hit what she called “life-saving, groundbreaking research at high-achieving institutions,” including her state’s beloved University of Alabama.

"Kansas GOP Sen. Jerry Moran is worried that food from heartland farmers would spoil rather than be sent around the world as the U.S. Agency for International Development shutters.

"And Idaho GOP Rep. Mike Simpson warns national parks could be impaired by cutbacks at the start of summer hiring in preparation for the onslaught of visitors.

"“We need to have a conversation with DOGE and the administration about exactly what they’ve done here,” said Simpson, a seasoned lawmaker who sits on the powerful Appropriations Committee. “It’s a concern to all of us.”"

As DOGE hammers away at the US government, Republicans stir with quiet objections

While Democrats have been speaking out against President Donald Trump's federal cuts, Republicans are just beginning to stir.

apnews.com

And yesterday, when Trump was ranting about the US taking Gaza and building hotels and saying Palestinians wouldn't be allowed back, Marco Rubio contradicted him and said yes, they would, as did Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

After meeting with Trump, Jordan's king says his country opposes displacing Palestinians in Gaza

President Donald Trump has hosted Jordan’s King Abdullah II at the White House and has renewed his insistence that Gaza could somehow be emptied of all residents, controlled by the U.S. and redeveloped as a tourist area.

apnews.com

Doesn't this show what an excellent negotiator Trump is? All these senators and congressmen will have to agree to support Trump just to keep what they previously had.

 

[The Don]

Doesn't this show what an excellent negotiator Trump is? All these senators and congressmen will have to agree to support Trump just to keep what they previously had.

I always thought that a sizeable proportion of the congresscritters on both sides of the aisle were there not because they had an overwhelming desire to make life better for their fellow Americans (though there no doubt are some for whom that is a motivation) but to revel in the power that they have.

I think that the GOP has caused me to change my view and now only Democrats are in it for the power - the Republicans have willingly ceded all of their power to Elon Musk. They are now just powerless rubber stampers with absolutely no power or influence whatsoever.

Every day is a school day.

 

[dirtywick]

I always thought that a sizeable proportion of the congresscritters on both sides of the aisle were there not because they had an overwhelming desire to make life better for their fellow Americans (though there no doubt are some for whom that is a motivation) but to revel in the power that they have.

I think that the GOP has caused me to change my view and now only Democrats are in it for the power - the Republicans have willingly ceded all of their power to Elon Musk. They are now just powerless rubber stampers with absolutely no power or influence whatsoever.

Every day is a school day.

it's an endless march towards more money. even elon musk isn't immune to that, he has so much and still wants more and more. it's the only thing they seem to use all this power they've accumulated to do. and while i realize that there's no such thing as some kind of karmic or cosmic justice, and the bad guys usually just get away with it, i hope it's their undoing.

 

[The Great Zaganza]

Too late for Republicans.
What matters is whether Trump alienates big donors

 

[Norman Alexander]

"Kansas GOP Sen. Jerry Moran is worried that food from heartland farmers would spoil rather than be sent around the world as the U.S. Agency for International Development shutters.

The farmers are not the least bit concerned that the food they grew is not being sent overseas as aid, or even used locally. They are outraged that they will not be paid for growing it in the first place.

 

[Safe-Keeper]

Too late for Republicans.
What matters is whether Trump alienates big donors

He won't need the donors either if he manages to sabotage the elections sufficiently.

 

[Tero]

The rounds of approving the Trump cabinet were the oath of loyalty. Trump will have a hard time removing them next election based on that. But the GOP can claim feedback from constituents on their other votes. Medicare cutting will be the big one in red states.

 

[The Great Zaganza]

He won't need the donors either if he manages to sabotage the elections sufficiently.

everyone in US politics need Big Donors not to be opposed to them.
Thiel can crush Trump whenever he wants.

 

[dudalb]

The rounds of approving the Trump cabinet were the oath of loyalty. Trump will have a hard time removing them next election based on that. But the GOP can claim feedback from constituents on their other votes. Medicare cutting will be the big one in red states.

I disagree about the Cabinet,Most Presidents have one or two cabinent members who leave before the midterms.

Appointing an unqualified person serves 3 useful purposes:
1) they will be unable to act independently since they won't know what they are doing;
2) they will have no loyalty to the organization that they are managing, so they won't fight against efforts to shrink or eliminate the organization;
3) they will owe their position to the person who appointed them, so they will be loyal to that person because they know that no else would ever appoint them to such a position.

 

[Tero]

I disagree about the Cabinet,Most Presidents have one or two cabinent members who leave before the midterms.

No not the cabinet, removing the Republicans in the senate. If they don't approve every single Trump appointement.

 

[dudalb]

Yeah. They'll be falling into line soon enough. They are there to rule, not represent.

They won't be there, period, if thier voters in their dictraicts don;t like what the government is doing.
True particularly for those in "Swing dictricts".

 

[kookbreaker]

They won't be there, period, if thier voters in their dictraicts don;t like what the government is doing.
True particularly for those in "Swing dictricts".

I'll believe it when it happens. Yes they may lose some purple areas. But they've still got enough gerrymandering to keep up. Plus The GOP has two years and the media to figure out how to blame this on the Dems.

And no, I'm not giving up before you start in on that. I'm just realistic about "opposition" to Trump by the GOP.

 

[Orphia Nay]

Mike Pence emerges as one of the few Republicans willing to challenge Trump 2.0

His group spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on ads opposing Robert F. Kennedy Jr., one of Donald Trump’s top Cabinet picks.

apnews.com

"Pence and those who work with him at Advancing American Freedom, his political advocacy group, stress they are not looking to take on the “Never Trump” mantle. They intend to praise the administration when they agree with it, while raising concerns when they don’t, advocating for longtime conservative principles that have fallen out of favor as Trump’s “Make America Great Again” brand of populism has taken hold. "

Leopards, faces? Or is Pence a "reasonable republican"?

 

[Norman Alexander]

When Mike "Thank you Mother may I have another" Pence becomes the face of Reasonable Republicans then the Overton window is now shoved so far to the right that we are now limited to discussion on who is going to rule Gilead, not if it will happen.

 

[Orphia Nay]

Yeah. One reason Pence campaigned against RFK Jr's health appointment is that Kennedy said some pro-choice things.

 

[Segnosaur]

everyone in US politics need Big Donors not to be opposed to them.
Thiel can crush Trump whenever he wants.

How will that work?

Trump cannot run for re-election in 2028, so its not like Thiel can threaten to withhold funding for Trump's re-election campaign. He could (in theory) donate to Democrats running for congress (with the idea that they could block Trump's actions if the Democrats control congress), but then Thiel would be bankrolling politicians pushing policies he disagrees with. He could try to pressure republicans currently in congress, but given the influence of the MAGAchud, I suspect even the most reluctant republican politician will stick with Trump simply because the risk of being primaried after opposing Trump is too great.

 

[The Great Zaganza]

Thiel can fund primary challenges against Trump supporters all over the US on all levels of government.
He can fund Super PACs running 24/7 smear campaigns. And if Trump says anything, he can start civil litigations.

 

[dudalb]

Interesting that Trump turning on Ukraine has gotten more GOP pushback in COngress then anything else Trump has done.

 

[dudalb]

I'll believe it when it happens. Yes they may lose some purple areas. But they've still got enough gerrymandering to keep up. Plus The GOP has two years and the media to figure out how to blame this on the Dems.

And no, I'm not giving up before you start in on that. I'm just realistic about "opposition" to Trump by the GOP.

You don't get what a swing district is. One that swings back and forth between the parties.
And just the normal losses to the party in power you get in midterm elections would give the Dems the House.

 

[arthwollipot]

If you're feeling a bit schadenfreudey, this might amuse you:

https://www.reddit.com/r/LeopardsAteMyFace/

 

[The Great Zaganza]

Interesting that Trump turning on Ukraine has gotten more GOP pushback in COngress then anything else Trump has done.

Ukraine is a huge gift for US defense contractors which have factories in all key States. Without Ukraine, and (God forbid) actual budget cuts, those might go away.

 

[The Don]

Interesting that Trump turning on Ukraine has gotten more GOP pushback in COngress then anything else Trump has done.

We haven't heard of any pushback here in the UK apart from Pence's comments. Could you please cheer me up by providing some links. Thanks

 

[The Great Zaganza]

Senior Republican senator ‘puzzled’ and ‘disturbed’ by Hegseth’s Ukraine remarks

Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker is breaking with the line from the Trump White House.

www.politico.eu

 

[The Don]

Senior Republican senator ‘puzzled’ and ‘disturbed’ by Hegseth’s Ukraine remarks

Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker is breaking with the line from the Trump White House.

www.politico.eu

Didn't stop him voting for Hesgeth's confirmation when Hesgeth's views were clearly telegraphed.

Won't stop him backing Trump at every single opportunity when it actually comes to a vote.

edited to add......

FFS he's already started walking back his criticism:

Speaking to Jonathan Martin at the POLITICO Pub in the Munich conference, Wicker — a staunch Ukraine supporter — said he was “surprised” by Hegseth’s original comments and “heartened” that the new defense secretary had reversed course. Wicker said he favors a firm posture with Moscow.

Hesgeth hasn't reversed course, Martin has.

 

[The Great Zaganza]

Yeah, Republicans have no spine.

The next battle seems to be about Musk/Trump wanting to buy popularity by passing on the DODGE "savings" to Americans directly instead of reducing deficit.

 

[The Don]

Yeah, Republicans have no spine.

The next battle seems to be about Musk/Trump wanting to buy popularity by passing on the DODGE "savings" to Americans directly instead of reducing deficit.

I suppose the "savings" will be passed onto the most deserving Americans, the billionaires.

 

[The Great Zaganza]

Well, there will be a photo-op with an oversized cheque, so what more could Americans want?

 

[Norman Alexander]

Well, there will be a photo-op with an oversized cheque, so what more could Americans want?

Not having their country ◊◊◊◊◊◊ over?

 

[Segnosaur]

Thiel can fund primary challenges against Trump supporters all over the US on all levels of government.

Problem is those mid-terms won't happen for another 2 years. Plus, even if he manages to "primary" some of Trump's supporters, the republicans were likely to lose support in congress to the Democrats anyways (as usually happens in midterms), so whether they are a minority party with all trump supporters or a minority party with all anti-trumpers, either way they (probably) won't have political sway anyways.

He can fund Super PACs running 24/7 smear campaigns.

Smear campaigns against who?

And if Trump says anything, he can start civil litigations.

If there is one thing Trump is an expert at, it is delaying legal cases. Thiel could sue Trump, but Trump would tie it up in the courts, with endless appeals, for years.

 

[Trebuchet]

I suppose the "savings" will be passed onto the most deserving Americans, the billionaires.

Hey, that's not fair at all. Mere multi-millionaires will benefit too!

 

[AmyStrange]

Mike Pence emerges as one of the few Republicans willing to challenge Trump 2.0

His group spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on ads opposing Robert F. Kennedy Jr., one of Donald Trump’s top Cabinet picks.

apnews.com

"Pence and those who work with him at Advancing American Freedom, his political advocacy group, stress they are not looking to take on the “Never Trump” mantle. They intend to praise the administration when they agree with it, while raising concerns when they don’t, advocating for longtime conservative principles that have fallen out of favor as Trump’s “Make America Great Again” brand of populism has taken hold. "

Leopards, faces? Or is Pence a "reasonable republican"?

Well, he is speaking out which is more than the rest of the stupid republicans are doing.


-

 

[The Great Zaganza]

Why didn't Pence start his campaign the moment he escaped the gallows at the hand of the Trump crowd and secret service?

 

[ponderingturtle]

How will that work?

Trump cannot run for re-election in 2028,

That remains to be seen, there are those proposing expanding the number of terms a president can serve so we can get yet another Trump presidency.

 

[Segnosaur]

Trump cannot run for re-election in 2028,

That remains to be seen, there are those proposing expanding the number of terms a president can serve so we can get yet another Trump presidency.

Not sure if you are serious or not....

But, the number of terms a president can serve (two) is specified in the 22nd amendment to the constitution. For that to change you would either have to:

- Get another constitutional amendment, which I am sure would be rejected by both congress (they need 2/3rds majorities in house/senate, and I am pretty sure democrats would reject it.), and the states (3/4ths of the states would have to agree, and I am pretty sure solidly blue states would vote against it.)

- Go outside the law, in which case they could just do away with elections all together (which is probably the ultimate plan but they aren't quite there yet.)

 

[JayUtah]

Not sure if you are serious or not....

But, the number of terms a president can serve (two) is specified in the 22nd amendment to the constitution. For that to change you would either have to:

In addition to the two you mention, there is also the possibility that the U.S. Supreme Court could pull a ruling out of their orifices that says the 22nd amendment secretly meant only two consecutive terms. I agree that's a long shot, but I thought the immunity case was a long shot.