Quote:
Originally Posted by Noodle Wazlib
No, there's still a small handful of patriotic republicans who care about our country and are worth listening to. None of them in power, sadly.
I'd like to think that they're all true disbelievers, but unfortunately I think that a lot of the reason why they may have the viewpoints that they do is precisely because they are not in power.
I'm sure every GOP congresscritter is smart enough to see that Trump is an idiot. However, Trump is very popular with the base, so to speak out against them may well cost them an election. That potential personal loss seems to outweigh any patriotic sentiments they may have, so they support Trump despite knowing he is a potentially dangerous moron.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chippa58
Evan McMullin and David Jolly come to mind. Even Jeb Bush and Mitt Romney are respectable. Maybe Kasich in some ways.
The reason it is difficult to evaluate guys like these is that they have nothing to lose by being anti-Trump. They aren't up for re-election for anything. If they were, it might be a different story.
Jeb is probably butthurt he lost the nom to Trump and that alone may be enough for him to be anti-Trump for life. In addition he doesn't need to win an election and is not very likely to run for anything else again. Even if he was in office right now, he is already rich as ****, so if he were to lose a hypothetical re-election bid, it doesn't really matter.
Romney is like Jeb without the direct butthurt. Not in office, rich as ****. He can say what he wants.
McMullin sure seems earnest. But once again, if he were a sitting congressman, it would not surprise me in the least if became one of these constantly concerned/disturbed reps that nevertheless votes for what Trump wants.
Don't really know much about Jolly or what he has specifically said wrt Trump, but as he's not in office right now he doesn't really have any skin in the game.
Are these guys patriots? Maybe. But I'd consider them a whole lot more patriotic if they demonstrated a tendency to put country before their own interests (you know, like actual patriots). In each case, their stances cost them basically nothing.