Our expectations for Republican senators are so low it's astonishing

[dajoki]

Our expectations for Republican senators are so low it’s astonishing
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-are-we-counting-on-four-gop-senators-they-all-should-do-their-jobs/2020/01/27/4f6b72f8-414d-11ea-b5fc-eefa848cde99_story.html

For President Trump’s impeachment hearings to be anything other than a show trial at this point, four brave Republican senators need to break ranks and vote to hear new evidence and witnesses.

After former national security adviser John Bolton’s manuscript leaked, three GOP lawmakers now appear willing to do so: On Monday, Republican Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) suggested their votes were in play. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said more definitively that he wants to hear from Bolton and that it’s “increasingly likely” other colleagues will support calling witnesses as well.

That juicy prediction has every pundit asking who else might join these three martyrs. Maybe Sen. Patrick J. Toomey (Pa.), Lamar Alexander (Tenn.) or some other dark horse? Who could that elusive fourth Republican senator possibly be?

To be honest, I don’t know the answer to that question. But I know what the answer should be: All of them.

Every. Single. One.

Every single one of the 53 GOP senators swore an oath to the Constitution. Every single one of them is supposed to be exercising oversight of the executive branch. Every single senator is receiving a taxpayer-funded salary to serve the public and ensure that the president, whatever his party, does the same.

The default assumption should therefore be that they all perform the jobs they were sent to Washington to do. The idea that we expect (or hope) just four Republicans to rise to the occasion — and that the burden is on Democrats to coax these four into doing so — is astonishing.

<<snip>>

[Freddie]

1. Toomey's making noises

But in the end he’s PA’s own Susan Collins, never missing a chance to do the wrong thing.

[uponit7771]

2. Republican party was implementing voter supresion BEFORE Red Don so of course we're

... not expecting much from them seeing they've indicated via actions they've given up on liberal democracy

[Ohiogal]

3. I love the last line of that piece.

“Republican lawmakers should heed their own advice and remember the dignity of work.“

Spot on, Ms. Rampell.

[lostnfound]

4. Great, great column. TV dialog about this is self-fulfilling and counterproductive.

Talking heads should not be saying “oh, they probably can’t get the fourth vote..” or “this won’t really change anyone’s mind”.

They should be saying, “how can any of these Republican senators defend the president after all of this?” Or “what GOP senators are going to violate their oath and pretend that trump is not guilty??” Or “isn’t it inevitable that Trump will lose the senate now that Bolton has offered to testify?” Etc., etc.

“Will all of this evidence, how can the president expect GOP congressman to go out on such thin and illegal limb?”

[crickets]

6. Truth. nt

[Proud Liberal Dem]

5. There seems to be a perception/belief

that Democrats have to MAKE Republicans behave and do their jobs and it's so f**king annoying.

[Duppers]

7. Been trying for awhile to get thru to Alexander's office.

I get only busy signals at the 3 I've tried.

[JHB]

8. Across the board, expectations for Republicans are so low...

...it seems like they are hailed for simply being able to suck their thumbs, or lauded for being successful scamsters. Just look at Paul Ryan for the latter.