Republicans are key to resolving the Trump dilemma

by | May 12, 2017 | Editor's Blog, Politics | 9 comments

The more Donald Trump talks, the more difficult it is to believe that his administration will survive for four years. However, the solution to the problem requires bipartisan work. If it becomes a partisan fight, Trump will remain in office until Democrats take control of Congress or the 2020 election. Democrats should be looking for Republicans seeking truth and justice. Republicans need to find Democrats who want answers, not foregone conclusions.

Yesterday, Trump contradicted every explanation that his staff gave for firing FBI Director James Comey. His press office and leading Republicans spent Wednesday insisting that Comey’s firing came at the insistence of Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Assistant Attorney General Rod Rosenstein because the FBI man mishandled the Clinton email investigation. Trump debunked that line of reasoning and said the decision was all his, telling NBC’s Lester Holt, “…When I decided to just do it I said to myself, I said, “You know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made up story.” In other words, the firing was all about Russia and might be obstruction of justice since there is an ongoing investigation of the Trump campaign’s ties to Russia.

Trump also said that he had asked Comey three separate times whether he was under investigation. That, in itself, is meddling in an investigation. Remember the uproar over Bill Clinton meeting with then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch? They got blasted when both sides say they didn’t discuss the investigation into Hillary’s emails. Trump admitted asking Comey directly about a possible  investigation.

The New York Times reported that Trump had asked Comey for his “loyalty” at dinner back in January. Since the FBI owes its loyalty to the United States and not any one individual, Comey demurred and, instead, pledged his honesty.

This morning, Trump began the day by threatening Comey if he “leaked.” And he did it on twitter. Trump implied that he recorded his conversations with the former FBI director and would release those tapes. If it’s true, that’s behavior that’s been prohibited since Nixon.

Republican political consultant John Weaver says the GOP needs a Howard Baker, the Republican Senator who held Nixon accountable. The conservative journal, The Weekly Standard, is calling for Republicans to “lead, even if it’s politically risky, rather than circle the wagons.” Jennifer Rubin, the Washington Post’s conservative blogger, is calling out Jeff Session and Trump for possible obstruction of justice.

These voices from the right will have a bigger impact on resolving the Trump dilemma than progressives who want a partisan fight. If Trump is to be held accountable, it’s going to take Republicans to do it. They control both Houses of Congress and the executive branch. They can thwart investigations or they can protect democracy and our government.

Democrats and progressives need to put country before party, too. They need to applaud Republicans for standing up to their partisan base and, sometimes, their own leadership. Instead of cheering for impeachment, they should be urging truth. Without leaders from both parties, we can drag this drama out for years and that’s bad for the country.

9 Comments

  1. Norma Munn

    Thomas, you are correct inasmuch as Trump cannot be impeached without GOP legislators in both the House and the Senate voting for that option. Even if one supports that, which I have not in the past given what Pence represents, I do not see in either body the potential for the bipartisanship you write about — on much of anything. It appears that John McCain voted against the methane legislation yesterday because he was furious at Trump for the past week’s insanity. Nothing I read in past 24 hours suggests that he is ready to call for an independent inquiry into the Russian involvement in our election. Same posture from Lindsay Graham and Susan Collins. I see even less bipartisan or even moderate positions in the House. Where is one supposed to find these possible GOP partners about which you write? Citing a political consultant and two press people who oppose Trump is not sufficient.

    I think the only hope is to win at the polls in 2018, unless someone in the GOP suddenly grows a conscience (highly unlikely), or decides their seat is in serious jeopardy. Unfortunately 2018 is a long way off, and the damage being done now from Trump and his cabinet picks is enormous. (AG Sessions in his instructions yesterday to the US Attorneys around the country about drug sentences is just the latest example.)

    Trump rules by lies and chaos, both of which destroy people and institutions far more quickly than we may believe.

  2. Troy

    Those acts you elude to are crimes. As well as his tweet this morning about Comey hoping that no “tapes” exist of his conversations with Trump. Veiled intimidation of a potential witness in a criminal prosecution is another along with the secret taping itself. Ask Linda Tripp.

    The most bizarre thing of all though, is that despite all of what has transpired thus far and what is currently transpiring during this Reign of Terror, Republicans still support Donald Trump. So expecting anything in the form of leadership from them is very forward thinking.

    In that regard, an interesting dilemma raises its head. What’s it going to take? How far down this path will Republicans travel before they realize the direction they are going is down and the path back will be entirely uphill. I personally don’t have a problem with their plight but the problem is, the nation is being carried along by them on their descent. We won’t be carried by them back up the path either.

    • Troy

      I remember Nixon well. I remember the hearings lead by Sam Ervin being broadcast live daily.

      At the end of the day Dis, I think we could get Nixon canonized as a Saint in comparison to the guy now occupying the White House.

  3. Rick Gunter

    Today’s Republicans simply are not the Republicans of the Watergate period. At its best, the GOP in the 1970s believed in the rule of law and viewed Russia as a menace. There was some character in Republican leaders such as Baker and even Congressman James Mann of South Carolina.
    Today, I do not see a single Repblican leader in the mold of Baker or Mann. Today’s leaders are afraid of their shadow, which is their base.
    If a Democrat, say Hillary Clinton, were POTUS and had done the things Trump has done, the GOP alraedy would be in the midst of impeachment proceedings in the House.
    I simply see no resolution to this mess without more shoes dropping is for a Democratic wave in 2018.
    I truly belive, however, that Trump is a train wreck headed for the ravine and Republicans have a split second to jump off the wreck or be smashed along with him. The news remains the republic’s best hope of getting Trump tossed from office. Don’t count on the morally bankrupt party led by McConnell and Ryan.

  4. Peter Harkins

    Thomas,

    Judging from three of the four comments so far – 2:35PM, it seems these days that among my progressive friends, pragmatism is ’bout as rare as comity. And we know comity began packing its bags to leave the building in ’94 when Newt arrived.

    Ms. Rorie may be right. Or he may simply be certifiably unbalanced and simply flips from one reality to another – in and out of different universes.

    From a numbers perspective, it will take Republican courage to lessen the damage being done in Washington. Hard to generate that courage when we stick collective fingers in our right-leaning colleagues’ eyes. Shouting at horses just tends to turn them ’round, and one then deals with rear ends; I’ve found whispers work better. Perhaps not as emotionally satisfying, but more successful getting ’em to drink.

    Yes, we need to keep up our intensity through the next Congressional cycle. Although that’ll require a lot of fuel for the fire, there’s no sign the White House will cease to provide it. Net of three in the Senate – doable. Or fewer if the nascent signs of bi-partisanship (vote on methane this week) have any substance. Even the brass ring of the House may be within reach.

    I think our bigger damage remediation issue is Raleigh. I’ve been politically active here since ’64. Fundamentally, NC remains “moderate”. Stridency in arguments doesn’t convert folks to “our way” of thinking. Without “moderation” (dirty word), given the reality of gerrymandering, there is only a slim hope of reducing majorities below a veto-proof level in ’18. And reversing both majorities by 2020 – re: the Census – well, buy a lottery ticket, higher likelihood of success. ‘Course at 1 out of 3 for the $20 Mega Cash game, it’s sure worth the try!

    Frustrating? Certainly. But I, myself, still have a fondness for large rocks, and hillsides 😉

    Uncle Grumpy

  5. Thomas Hill

    Disagree completely. It is only when the people who put the Repugnants in charge of government are forced to pay the price that they will even consider a change of heart. Not one Republican Congressman or Senator voted for the ACA, even though the Democrats bent over backwards to accommodate their objections, watering down what was actually needed. Now many of the same Repugnant enablers are vehemently protesting proposals to modify the ACA’s provisions. It is only when these people have been bankrupted by medical expenses, forced to rely on private charities, and in some cases doing without essential care that they might see things differently. But even then, many of those who were hurt will maintain the righteousness of the Republican agenda and bemoan the fact that “it just didn’t work out” this time; “it’s just the Democrats fault.” We always compromise and give in “for the good of the nation”, and we wind up with Trump and McConnell running the country and a young Scalia clone sitting on the Supreme Court.

    • MyTurnNC

      Mr. Hill – I completely agree. The Congressional Republicans will continue to support Trump until polling shows him in the under 30% bracket.

  6. willard cottrell

    Thomas,
    time for you to take a break!
    Republican is synonymous with liar, cheat, pseudo christian, bullshit artist, moron, mental midget etc. I am done trying to placate them. We’ve tried to be nice and look what we got. Racists in congress and senate and the wh.

    Somehow, you seem to think we should turn that cheek, that they are ‘saved’ or have gone to confession. They’re simply doing what they do best – try to cover their squirrelly little asses. Not one of those fuckers has ‘seen the light’. Four 4 decades these POS have lied and now you think they deserve compassion – be my guest. My time for compassion left on the last train.

    WE ARE THE MAJORITY – let’s spend this time and energy w/ reasonable people.

  7. Nancy Rorie

    There is no other way to say this: We have a lying fool for a president.

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