Their Lines Are Softening - By Josh Marshall

[DonViejo]

By JOSH MARSHALL Published MAY 10, 2017 2:38 PM

This is just a gut feel. But I have the sense that the White House is losing control of this story.

The explanations are transparently ridiculous. Everyone sees that. But that’s far from a sufficient condition for Republicans to break ranks. To be clear, I don’t think Republicans are breaking ranks. But over the course of the afternoon, the support feels to me like it’s softening.

You’re hearing a small but growing number of Republican senators putting out statements not so much criticizing the President as saying that there needs to be an explanation of why this happened. Basically, this current story is not enough. This isn’t working.

Just a short time ago, Sen. Boozman (R) of Arkansas, not at all a fan of the spotlight, not someone who makes waves, said:”Americans deserve a full explanation as to the circumstances of the decision to immediately remove Mr. Comey.”

There are a substantial number of Republicans who are almost total in their fealty, as expressed in statements today: Grassley, McConnell, Collins, Cornyn and a number of others. But that doesn’t feel to me like the direction this is going. This feels like the way things go when a White House starts losing ground on something very, very big.

###

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/their-lines-are-softening

[CincyDem]

1. At some point in time, hopefully sooner vs. later, I'm hoping for some R's to stand up and scream...

...I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore.


These guys are f'ing US Senators. Do you think it's possible they will wake up and realize they're acting like lapdogs at best, doormats on average and traitors at worst ???

Com'on guys. You're making me feel like even Kasich could do a better job and I wouldn't vote for him for garbageman.

[vlyons]

2. More than anything, I think Republicans are fatigued with

the Trump chaos. Day after day, week after week, the chaos that Trump stirs up and leaves in his wake is fatiguing for even republicans. People, including Republicans, want stability and calm to get on with their agenda (dreadful as it is). They can't be happy with how angry and riled up people are getting. Surely there are private whispers in private offices asking "is Trump really worth all this turmoil and chaos?" They know that Pence is waiting in the wings.

[sinkingfeeling]

3. OMG, John actually said something that a journalist quoted? He

rarely speaks to anyone outside of Arkansas. I don't think he's ever voted against the GOP in almost a decade.

[tavalon]

6. That is what softening looks like. And let us not forget

This is the first 48 hours. It only gets more organized from here on.

It's not if, it's when Trump gets impeached.

[wiggs]

4. Their public statements may not at all reflect their private thoughts and often don't

reflect their vote intent.

Collins and Grassley may sound calm right now but could very well be freaking out inside that this is happening. And on the other hand, McCain often sounds troubled and concerned but won't vote against his party...Sounds like a maverick...isn't.

110 days in.....and making history of the wrong sort every day. Sure...party leaders and gop in congress, to a person, should be terrified of what he might do to the country and to their party. They will each have to figure out if and how they will express it.

[ThoughtCriminal]

5. Putin very likely owns a few of them too

He is their base.