Donald Trump has “apologized” for the things he said on a hot mic on the above video in 2005 — before launching into an attack on the Clintons and saying there was no way he was going to drop out of the race, despite calls from some Republicans that he do so.
So, he’s determined to weather yet another storm that would end the political career of anyone else. Because, you know, he has no shame.
Fortunately, a lot of mainstream Republicans do, which is why Speaker Paul Ryan, regaining his pride and courage, refused to let Trump appear on a stage with him yesterday.
Oh, wait: Did I say Ryan had regained his pride and courage? Well, sorta, kinda. We don’t need to hold a ticker-tape parade for him or anything:
But Mr. Ryan did not go so far as to withdraw his support for Mr. Trump, which for now keeps him in the political purgatory of endorsing the Republican nominee for president while continually having to say why he finds his remarks and policy positions despicable….
On one level, I’m thinking, why is this even a news story? We all know this is what Trump is like. What’s new here? But for some, this has been the last straw, and the pressure on him actually went to the point that he had to issue a statement refusing to resign.
The shock and horror that some Republican supporters, or former supporters, are expressing is reminiscent of Captain Renault’s “shocked!” in “Casablanca.” Really? They didn’t know he was like this? Riiiigghhttt…
And do you think this will affect Trump’s support out among the hoi polloi? No, of course not. It never did before when things arose that should have caused his support to evaporate. Why would it happen now?
I wish this would have an effect on the polls; it would raise my estimation of the electorate somewhat from the depths to which it has sunk.
But I fear not.
So, as Trump said in his “apology” (below), on to Sunday night’s debate…
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Another example of why I hate parties:
In other words, Mr. Speaker, don’t bother doing the right thing, because we’ll make sure you don’t get an iota of credit for doing so.
So why WOULD he do the right thing, in such a poisonous environment?
And here’s why I hate the parties equally: Why doesn’t Ryan do the right thing? Because he’s so afraid of losing his majority. As if it mattered at all which of these two destructive, conscienceless factions had the majority — which it most assuredly does not.
All that matters is doing the right thing — which people who put party first simply will not do…
Why are you making this about PARTIES??? This is about one particular party that entrusted their POTUS nomination to a man completely unfit for the job. Let’s not make this an indictment of PARTIES.
Um, yeah!
Um, “this” — the whole Trump farce — is about an individual, most assuredly not about parties. In fact, we should all resist very strenuously anyone trying to make it about parties.
Which is exactly what I was doing in those two comments.
That person at the DCCC wants to make it about parties, promising to damn Ryan if he does the right thing about Trump.
Ryan also wants to make it about parties, putting keeping his majority above doing the right thing.
And that’s inexcusable.
That’s what I said, and that’s what I meant.
Of course, even if the GOP found a way to oust Trump and replace him with someone else, they’d split the party anyway because it would be someone who had not been nominated by vote. I think the Republicans have gotten themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place because they were so busy wanting to win that they ignored their own principles to cash in on his popularity.
Karen, I don’t think this is quite fair: “I think the Republicans have gotten themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place because they were so busy wanting to win that they ignored their own principles to cash in on his popularity.”
The real Republicans were never enchanted with Trump. They never wanted him, and didn’t want to “cash in on” anything about him. They wanted to stop him. But they lacked the opportunity, or gumption, or something to do so….
If the “real” Republicans can’t choose their nominee, it ts no longer their party. Those rare event enough to resist may have hurt their political careers, but those who value their political careers so much that they would accept the possibility of a Trump presidency are no patriots.
Really Brad??????? Real Republicans???? That’s ridiculous. The GOP created this man. The REAL Republicans are the voters not some fantasy people Brad Warthen deems worthy of the mantel. No this what the REAL Republican Party is. You’re in denial Mr. Warthen. Don’t keep defending this craven outfit.
There are no “real Republicans” left. At best there’s a scattered remnant of barely sane folks struggling with the mass of complete loonies — “movement conservatives” and others — who’ve taken over the asylum.
[Ugarte/Trump Gets Nomination]
Ugarte/Trump: You despise me, don’t you?
Rick/Me: If I gave you any thought I probably would.
On MSNBC, David Gregory said Trump had lost all moral authority to lead, had bragged about an assault, and cannot be a topic of conversation in front of Gregory’s own family.
Didn’t everyone already know all this before they did all the telephone interviews with Trump getting his opinion on the economy and foreign policy?
And why aren’t we hearing from Sen. Scott and our Republican congressmen and leaders? Sen. Graham has already made a statement.
All hypocrisy aside, this lady gets it absolutely correct:
“Maybe Trump should have made his comments a rap instead. Then he would get a pass for “creative license” I bet he wishes he was still a Democrat. All would be forgiven!” – Christine Meyer · California State University, Long Beach
I should have said Chuck Todd instead of David Gregory.
Maybe it will be the end of him having any credible chance even though he won’t quit. It is shocking and bazaar to watch people try to rationalize this. What makes people so invested in something emotionally that they are completely blind to all reason on the subject? It makes them see Hillary as evil incarnate far beyond anything facts would support and it makes them rationalize even the most abhorrent thing this man does. I just don’t get it at all.
But in spite of these dug in irrationals, I feel like more people that don’t usually comment are noticing this one. Maybe it’s enough.
Poor Donald Trump is a victim. Overwhelmingly chosen by Republicans to represent them. It’s all their fault.
Actually, a minority of partisan Republicans – those easily swayed by red meat pandering – propelled Trump into the general election.
The real issue here is what is the real will of the Republican Party? To elect a candidate capable of winning the Presidency, or to follow the “will” of the fringe primary voters?
Next election cycle the Republican Party is going to be forced to put up a thoughtful, inclusive and moderate leader as their candidate. The end of this ignorant, no-nothing populism is at hand.
At least we can hope.
Since Trump considers himself beholden to no one – especially not the party leadership — the only person who may have a chance of getting him to withdraw is his own running mate. But Pence cannot step in as the alternative, since that would be self-serving. Besides, he’s Trump’s pick, nobody else’s. So the only thing he can do is withdraw from the race himself. (No one – save maybe Howard Stern – would be willing to step in to replace him on a ticket led by Trump.) There are no nice, neat choices left, not at this late stage.