Robert Reich
Why hasn’t the Republican Party as a whole tipped against Trump? Why aren’t almost all Republican lawmakers publicly disavowing the former sociopath-in-chief?

Two words: the base. https://robertreich.substack.com/p/when-will-the-gop-reach-the-anti?#details
When will the GOP reach the anti-Trump tipping point?

Listen now (5 min) | When hell freezes over?

Robert Reich
Dec 15, 2022 at 6:02pmWeb
Show threadMonica DePaul, AuthorDec 15, 2022
@rbreich Because they're as bad as him, possibly even worse. He awoke the racism, anti-semitism, queerphobia, and gun-worshipping terrorism that had been festering in the Republican Party for years.
Show threadCartyBostonDec 15, 2022

@rbreich well, also the rest of the party leadership are cowards, "not Trump" is not an actual candidate

another way to say the same thing I suppose

Show threadChris ThomasDec 15, 2022

@rbreich I think it's useful to look at it from the point of view of a GOP congressman.

How are you gonna lose your seat?

Are you going to lose in the general? Probably not. Gerrymandered districts mean there are very few real competitive races. Most Republican Reps are in safe seats.

No, you're gonna lose in a primary. If Trump can mobilize his MAGA movement against you they'll turn out and swamp your low-turnout primary.

You fear the primary so you fear the Deplorables.

Show threadMachielDec 15, 2022
@rbreich seems not impossible for a republican candidate to get more than 40% of the base
Show threadLisaDec 15, 2022
@rbreich because he holds something over their heads as a tool to control them. Ties to Russia, ties to Eppstien, ties to his bank fraud. We all know there are pedophiles in the rank. Just pick one and you can find out how TFG is still in power. Look at his past, he hired investigators, lawyers, and thugs to pull up dirty stuff.
Show threadValerieDec 15, 2022
@rbreich very true. AND…the guy waiting in the wings is far worse. He operates in the dark and springs his cruel stunts when least expected. He knows how to use the levers of government in ways Trump never bothered to learn. It’s a very scarey time to be any type of minority or woman with these types wanting power.
Show threadKen McGrawDec 15, 2022
@rbreich But why the base? Why is the base so loyal to a turd. What makes them embrace a turd so wholehearted?
Show threadWichtawstrawDec 15, 2022
@rbreich Exactly they can't. Same reason they will investigate Hunter Biden and Fauci. There are at least 100 House Republicans who won't survive a primary if they don't. Those safe gerrymandered districts come at price.
Show threadDoc77Dec 15, 2022
@rbreich one word:primaried
Show threadMary M. RedouteyDec 15, 2022
@rbreich
I saw the words it is the base and that old song It is All About That Bass...went into my mind. I smiled. https://youtu.be/7PCkvCPvDXk
But then I thought of the base you are talking about and the fact that some in this base are apparently suckered and that smile faded. https://youtu.be/vGAqYNFQdZ4
Meghan Trainor - All About That Bass (Official Video)

YouTube
Show threadSilentwolfDec 15, 2022

@rbreich

Let's face it: GOP is all about control, power and money.

Show threadJoe HinkleyDec 15, 2022
@rbreich because they are all racist inside, just scratch the surface and it comes pouring out. They won’t ever admit that so they hide behind lies like democrats love crime, Obama’s birth certificate, etc….
Show threadMike B✌🏿Dec 15, 2022
@rbreich let them fight and divide themselves. Makes 2024 all that much easier.
Show threadSmoothJyzzDec 15, 2022
@rbreich they won't...ever
Show threadSTCAZ58Dec 15, 2022
@rbreich two other words: “the money”.
Show threadEight.Fold.PathDec 16, 2022
@rbreich They proved decades ago they don’t mind a sociopath - if there was any doubt, the welcome given to racist Dixiecrats in the 60’s and religious extremists in the 70’s should have done away with that. At this point, the non-sociopathic Republican is the outlier
Show threadAtlantic Canuck 🇨🇦Dec 16, 2022
@rbreich It’s actually because they’re all exactly like him. They’re just pretending they aren’t. They’re all sociopaths, racists, misogynists, fascists, etc.