Total Control Over The GOP, Still

Dan asked the question last night, “who will stand up?”  As the hours tick by it becomes increasingly obvious from GOP members of Congress that the answer will be no one, at least no one who intends to stick around after November.

An if you’re looking for logic to these acts of courageousness, we offer two theories.  First, longtime GOP strategist Mike Murphy:

• “I’m furious R’s are cowardly about Trump. But here is what they say in private: 1.) Trump is a disgrace. 2.) I give fiery press conf tmmrw saying that. 3.) Nothing changes, Trump remains nuts and remains POTUS. 4.) A nut beats me in next primary. So how does my pol suicide help?”

And Dave Wasserman of Cook Political Report:

• “Most Republican members are willing to admit POTUS doesn’t operate in reality, but know they’re doomed in their next primary if they say so publicly. As long as that’s true, we’re headed for a world w/ zero accountability.”

So perhaps we can surmise that if the Finland fiasco didn’t sway Republicans to speak out, nothing will.  Smart thoughts from Mike Allen at Axios:

Yes, almost every elected Republican we talk to privately thinks President Trump’s warm embrace of Vladimir Putin was unexplainable, unacceptable and un-American.

• Yes, they wish they could say this publicly.
• No, they won’t — not now, and probably never.

The cold, hard reason: They see no upside in speaking out — and fear political suicide if they do, numerous Republican officials tell us.

• Why it matters: This is the mind-control power Trump has, thanks to 90 percent of Republicans approving of his tactics and performance.
• These 90 percent empower and are empowered by Fox News and a pro-Trump social media ecosystem that always comes to the president’s defense, even if they flinch for a moment or two.

We just witnessed this power on full display:

• You had a rare moment where virtually every Republican was aghast at Trump’s words.
• But almost every Republican — except those leaving the stage — softened their direct criticism of Trump and ran from TV or reporters like the plague.