Trump is blackmailing each and every Republican Senator.

[kentuck]

He has sent his special envoy, Mitch McConnell, to inform them of the ultimatum. He wants every Repub to vote to protect him from witnesses, otherwise he will see them defeated in the next election.

It became apparent with the many 53-47 votes the other night. They proved they have no backbone or courage to stand up for the truth or their country. Then, they pretend they are offended because Nadler accused them of a cover-up.

So far, not one of them has proven himself or herself worthy of re-election. They are not deserving of the office they hold.

They are prohibited from voting for witnesses or documents. They are fearful of the truth. They are engaged in a cover-up, just as Rep. Nadler said.

They cannot defend their votes. They are cowards.

[dewsgirl]

1. That's how the mob rolls.

In the past that could have been dismissed as satire.

[FoxNewsSucks]

58. Yep.

We're seeing why the so-called "moderate" and "normal" republicons, even scumbags like Flake & Lyin' Ryan, got out. They may actually have been the only non-criminal R's, and didn't want to go down with all those whose kompromat is now in the possession of not only Putin, but tRump and Barr.



**note to the army of alert-happy trolls, the evidence seized from Cohen, and Epstein, is now under the control of the corrupt tRump-protecting Bill Barr. Do you really think Barr is NOT using that evidence to blackmail who-knows-how-many complicit politicians?? It's not "kooky theory".

[dewsgirl]

59. So much of what used to be brushed off as "kooky" theories in the past,

is panning out these days, it's unbelievable.

[Botany]

2. Trump also has many of the gop senators because they took so much Russian/NRA money in 2016

Once they took that money they were owned by Trump/Russia.

https://www.ajc.com/news/national/senators-house-members-who-offered-condolences-after-shooting-called-out-for-donations-from-nra/tpitHXUY9jDH3pr4f7f7cM/

A list of Russian/NRA owned senators.

[Wellstone ruled]

7. You might be spot on.

There seems to be a common connection. Still suspect a ton of self protection working within this story.

McConnell is the lynch pin in this whole story. Every story about Russian Campaign funds seems to touch this POS. Or brush up against him. Graham seems to be another wannabe player who may have been another conduit as per several investigative reports .

[fierywoman]

15. And let's not forget Donny Dimwit's "friendship" with Pecker of the National

Enquirer-- imagine the dirt thet have on certain R's!

[Botany]

18. And don't forget on how Lindsey Graham flipped after that Columbus Day golf outing w/Trump?

No doubt that Putin/Trump have dirt and or dirty money on so many of them that
they have to play ball. This might be just an old school mob operation in which the GOP
Senators and Congress Critters have been turned by Russia and are afraid of being
outed.

[cyclonefence]

27. To quote Deep Throat

Follow the money. I think you're exactly right. I think they used the NRA and now I think they're using superpaks.

[calimary]

37. Indeed. Wouldn't surprise me a bit.

He’s running this country like a mob boss would.

[atreides1]

64. Well

I believe that some of them have been taking Russian money since the SCOTUS Citizen United decision...while others have connections to less then savory businesses mainly located overseas!

Just a theory...

[greymattermom]

3. It must be worse than re-election because some of them are ready to retire.

Can Trump prevent them from becoming lobbyists? Are there death threats too? At some point they will be forced to say things that are obviously ridiculous, not just the usual lies. When Trump can no longer walk, will they say he's in great shape?

[Jakes Progress]

60. Simple greed.

What corporate and institution boards with $500K salaries and perks will they nest in if they don't have donnie's says?

It's about having privilege and being rich. That is all that matters. After all, they are republicans.

[Watchfoxheadexplodes]

4. I pray for a republican attack tweet from him

Of all the stupid shit he has tweeted I pray for one directed at the four republican senators.

[kentuck]

5. There are no four Republican Senators at this time.

He has control of each and every one.

[Arthur_Frain]

19. I'm praying for that "you can't handle the truth" tweet.

Pretty convinced it’s the only way we’re going to get him.

[C_U_L8R]

6. Trump is nothing but Putin's bag man.

[blakstoneranger]

8. TRUMP DOES NOT HAVE THAT POWER!!

Many of these republicans have been in the senate for years if not decades. They didn't need trump, they may have had some of his money, but they didn't need him. And guess what, THEY DON'T NEED HIM NOW!! It's mearly a fear tactic. Trump has put up this illusion of greatness for so long even he's starting to believe it. Believe me if these republican senators turned on trump, nothing, i mean nothing will happen to them in the next election. If they lose in the next election, it will be because they failed their state constituency, not because of trump!!! SAVE AMERICA, DUMP TRUMP 2020!!

[Jimbo S]

12. Better check in with Cantor or Flake

Trump will just take it to them lemmings in whoever's district and that person is soon out.

[Amimnoch]

20. Don't forget even McCain.

Although he passed before his term was up, even he had declared he was throwing in the towel and retiring in May before his health took the spiral and he passed away.

There are no options for Republicans, they are 100% hostages of Trump now.

That 30%ish that Trump holds, he holds solidly, and will follow anything he wants them to do blindly.

As a result, Republicans in purplish states may not be able to get re-elected if they stay lock-step with Trump, but they absolutely cannot get elected if they go against him. 2020 is the single most critical election cycle in many decades. Even the Nixon crisis pales in comparison.

[sandensea]

23. Not legally anyway

Big caveat when it comes to the Orange Oaf.

[wiggs]

24. Right. I believe that the threat is not to individual congresspersons worried about re-election.

I believe the threat by trump is to their party.

The gop has gotten into bed with trump...and they own him and he owns them. Trump knows who money came to from foreign countries...knows who cut deals to benefit themselves...knows who he gave plum jobs to....knows who knows about 2016 and did nothing to stop it.... He has threatened to tank it all if he goes down by exposing everything and everyone. Further, he threatens the party because he knows he can peel off the hard core cultists to form the Trump party, dooming the gop.

If Trump goes down, not only will party leaders/individuals get investigated, but the party is done. I believe that's what they are fighting for and based on their commitment they must see a pathway through the scandal(s) to survival.

[Pepsidog]

29. I agree. If they stuck together, Trump is toothless.

[Mr.Bill]

44. Exactly. This stuff was going on

long before Trump arrived on the scene. Actually, it's Trump the screwed it all up by shooting his mouth off. They have hitched their wagon to the wrong horse.

[dalton99a]

9. They are traitors to the United States.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212900503

[Mersky]

10. And he's jerking their leashes on twitter

By retweeting republican senators anti-impeachment comments.

In ‘promoting’ them, he’s threatening them. A defendant shouldn’t be singling out jurors. Period.

[sandensea]

25. That must be just the tip of the iceberg

You can bet he's using all the toadies he's installed in the intelligence community over the past 3 years to dig up personal dirt on all these senators.

Not that they needed to dig for long, when it comes to some of them.

[Chipper Chat]

11. It's all about abortion and judges.

And gays and guns
They will go down with the King while drinking Jones Koolaid.

[quarbis]

13. Putin

Owns the soul of the Republican Party.

[matt819]

14. Shamed and shunned

Every one of them should resign.

And if they don't resign, they should not run for re-election.

And if they run for re-election, their votes and comments this week should be front and center.

Not one of them should be hired for anything, not even dog walker. So, no sinecures at university or so-called non-partisan think tanks.

No road to Damascus moments (a la Jeff Flake). No op-eds accepted in the MSM.

No guest spots on TV.

Not one of them.

Let their world be fox and rw extremist radio and publications. They should not be allowed back into polite society.

Ever.

[ancianita]

16. Are you speculating or do you have sources to back this up? We know what Trump's capable of,

but no backbone on TABLED amendments doesn't mean they can't get one.

Just sayin'.

Your claim is premature.

Let's not succumb to despair, apathy until this plays out further.

[Baked Potato]

17. The safest path for them is to acquit Trump.

They are afraid of their constituents. Their personal safety would be in jeopardy by going against Trump.

[KPN]

21. I don't know Kentuck. I've come to the

conclusion that the entire GOP wants to destroy the Democratic Party and especially progressives. They see it as a battle for survival and bring a “survival of the fittest” mentality to the exercise. They see us as the enemy, not Russia, not tRump. In their minds, it’s us or them and they will and are doing everything in their power to defeat and render harmless the entire population of Democrats and progressives.

The mentality has its roots in the Southern aristocracy and make white supremacy. It’s win at all costs for them. Ergo, it must be for us as well.

[kentuck]

22. It's a war, there is no doubt.

We can fight with bullets or...

We can fight with ballots.

We should not be naive about that, you are right.

[lagomorph777]

34. They're not trying to destroy Democrats. They're trying to destroy the country.

That is what Putin has ordered them to do.

[bdamomma]

56. Watch

Active Measures if those haven't seen it, it will make shake your head, to those who saw it already, watch again.

[Eliot Rosewater]

26. And law abiding liberals cant do anything, at all.

If the KGB hacks the election, and I for one am certain they already have, we have no recourse.

We just lose and the fascists win.

[NoMoreRepugs]

28. Old white conservatives KNOW this is their

all or nothing moment. I expect them to fight, cheat and do more than we can imagine to try and hold onto power.

[dubyadiprecession]

30. With his strong showing of 44% in national polls!

How can they possibly win re-election if they don’t ride his “CoatTails” ???

[lagomorph777]

33. Worst I've seen is 43%, and the source of that poll is rather right-leaning.

[usaf-vet]

31. The truth will eventually come out and every GOP member that votes to dismiss will be co-conspirator

with tRump when he destroys the next piece of our traditional hard-won way of life. Whether it's tearing down Social Security, Medicare, Obamacare, or changing tax policy for the poor and middle class, or selling off our national parks, or starting a war in Iran, or starting a global nuclear war, or just declares himself a dictator for life.

There is no way to judge just how vengeful he will become when he feels Article II will let him do "whatever" he wants.

Senator Ron Johnson in Wisconsin is a coward and will be this state's co-conspirator with the tyrannical dictator in the WH.

[lagomorph777]

32. I think the blackmail is a physical death threat.

Trump's sponsor is known for exotic poison attacks and defenestrations.
Trump also has friends with axes and hacksaws.

[bdamomma]

57. Whose

to say "his friends with axes and hacksaws" won't throw him under the bus. He is rubbing shoulders with notorious people like himself.

Don't they end up eating their own??

[duforsure]

35. I suspect Putin is also involved

And bribing and threatening them by helping those with money that would be funneled to their campaign and into their pockets , and had them compromised for election crimes they've been involved in discovered when they were hacked earlier, if they protect trump finding him not guilty. I also think this will get exposed , especially trump and Moscow Mitch. This is also a Putin tactic he used elsewhere before, and trump has used bribes for a long time .

[bucolic_frolic]

36. Republicans obviously think they can sell it as something other than what it is

They have such incest, such elitism that they are tone deaf to understand how the majority thinks in America

[pansypoo53219]

38. the un-loyal opposition.

make 2020 a midnight blue tidal wave.

[Texin]

39. I think everyone is missing the more obvious objective: their own brand of authoritarianism.

The kGOP want to be create a minority-ruled authoritarian kleptocracy in the United States, with each and every one of them in the seat(s) of power for the rest of their lives. We're witnessing the implementation of totalitarian rule by this party, make no mistake. Moscow Mitch and his willing bitches want nothing more than to keep filling those federal judge slots and change the rules - ALL of them - to benefit the minority kleptocrats, corporations, etc. tRump was so emboldened last week that he was promising in one of his rallies to cut Social Security and Medicare. This has been the wet dream of rethugs since Franklin Delano Roosevelt and, more recently, Lyndon Johnson. They want to completely eviscerate the federal government - everything except the DOD. They can create their made up wars and fuel the fire of their cannon fodder with the blood, sweat and tears of the minorities and the poor and the undereducated. They plan to dismantle every fucking thing that enables the protections of citizens' right to vote through every mechanism they have at their disposal. They've been actively engaged in this since before 2000 (and likely before that). They intend for this country to be only for the wealthy, and while some of them may not have been wealthy to begin with, they plan to become as wealthy as Croesus on the backs of the working poor - any and everyone who has to get to a job in this country from here on out (those not in the professional classes), is going to be those working poor.

I'm not optimistic. I've thrown that all out because the evidence in front of my horrified eyes is too big and too powerful to ignore.

[tinrobot]

40. Many of them are in a no-win situation

If they don't go along with Trump, they'll face a primary challenge by Republicans.

If they do go along with Trump, they'll get clobbered in the general by Democrats.

[rurallib]

46. I think you are right - I hope you are right

and I hope their gutless, cowardly performance is being captured to be brought up over and over during the election.

[MarianJack]

41. Hello from Winthrop, Maine.

I've known for years that Susan Collins has a spine of oatmeal. Her 2014 opponent Shenna Bellows is my current state senator and more importantly, my friend.

I think that this year Sara Gideon has a legitimate shot. Her yes vote for Brett Kavanaugh did her no good.

RESIST!

[dlk]

42. Russian kompromat is unsurpassed...

[Skittles]

43. and if they agree to this, instead of going public

they are no better than him

fuck them all

[kentuck]

45. The only other option:

They are complicit.

[rurallib]

47. whether they wanted to be or not, they are complicit now

Should be hard to explain out on the campaign trail.

[jimlup]

48. That is interesting because their behavior right now is going to have a lot to do with the 2020

elections.

Just say'n

[Ferrets are Cool]

49. Oh, it's much darker than re-election threats

he has the keys to their closet skeletons. And they all know it. Why do you think cheney set up wiretaps on every person of importance in Washington?

[Sluggy77]

50. 2020 must be in the bag

I’m just a dumb-ass Canuck but from what I see so far from the Senate Republicans, not a single one of them is worried about their conduct during the trial coming back to haunt them... Despite the overwhelming majority of public opinion calling for a fair trial with witnesses.

Leads you to think they all know something the general public doesn’t...

McConnell is a corrupt cardboard cut-out of a man, but he’s not dumb. If he thought for one minute that the senate majority would be in jeopardy by propping up the Turnip, I think you’d see Trump being thrown under the bus in a heartbeat.

No-one on the right has exactly subtle about their ambition of maintaining a permanent Republican majority... Somewhere between the brain-washed 30% of the US public, the gerrymandering, the black-box no-paper voting machines, the Fox and Facebook Lie Machines, muck-raking DINO candidates, the voter suppression and the one-sided Russian interference the Right has developed a confidence that the 2020 election is already in the bag.

Damn.

[rockfordfile]

51. No. The Senators that get voted out think they will have something like lobbyist job

This will comeback down the road.

[H2O Man]

52. Recommended.

We must rub their faces in it in November.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

53. Thing is, if Trump goes down, who do we get? Pence.

And I’m sure any good ideological Republican would be fine with Pence under any normal circumstance.

He’s super right wing but without the crazy Trump sideshow; a veritable moldable lump of pale boring gray clay fit for their purposes.

So what stops Republicans from jettisoning Trump for Pence?

I don’t think Trump is blackmailing everyone in the party, mind you.

But I’m sure there are a good few who are being put under the gun.

[Divad123]

54. He's only blackmailing about 5 of them

He's only blackmailing about 5 of them--the handful with a slight conscious. The rest are full speed ahead, maga hat waving, GREATFULL power hoooors--he's shown them the way--give their corporate owner everything they want and still get reelected by the poor white trash that are getting completely screwed into debt slavery by their new God, Trump.

[Newest Reality]

55. I don't understand...

I don't understand how people come to the opinion that they are cowards.

It appears to me that they are fully complicit with Trump's agenda and are doing so with full knowledge of what that is. To me, this is about wresting power at time when the GOP realizes it has a ensuing problem with relevance and demographics. Trump has simply created a useful context in which they can execute a major and unprecedented power grab. They are in this together. This is a bold, brazen move and that does not seem like cowardice to me.

Other speculations about the reasons for their behavior, if the above is true, tend to present ideas that obscure what seem to be the crucial points concerning their motivations and intentions.

[Upthevibe]

61. What is he blackmailing them with????

There's no question we're all in some kind of alternate reality that's a nightmare, but doesn't blackmail mean that he would have to have something very damaging on each one?

[kentuck]

62. He is blackmailing them with fear and lies mostly.

They believe he has powers that he does not have.

[paparush]

63. There are no "moderate" Republicans.

They are all co-conspirators and collaborators.