Patriotism, religion no longer dominate American culture. Republicans ruined them

Daily Kos Staff

Monday March 27, 2023 · 2:20 PM PDT

2023/03/27 · 14:20

no image description available — Donald Trump spoke during a campaign event at Sioux Gateway Airport on November 3, 2022 in Sioux City, Iowa.

The Wall Street Journal won't say it, but a new poll the outlet released Monday gives a pretty strong indication that Republicans have managed to sully values most Americans once held dear, such as patriotism and religiosity.

The poll, conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago, found cliff-like declines over the past couple of decades in how many Americans describe patriotism and religion as "very important" to them.

While 70% of adults viewed patriotism that way in 1998 and 62% said the same about religion, today, just 38% of respondents called patriotism very important, while 39% said the same about religion.

Kerry Eleveld for Daily Kos

Daily Kos Staff

Friday March 24, 2023 · 2:20 PM PDT

2023/03/24 · 14:20

DAVENPORT, IOWA - MARCH 13: Merchandise is displayed for sale as guests wait in line outside of the Adler Theatre for an event with former President Donald Trump on March 13, 2023 in Davenport, Iowa. Trump's visit comes after other potential challengers for the GOP presidential nomination, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, hosted events in the state last week. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) — Merchandise is displayed for sale as people wait in line outside the Adler Theatre for an event with Donald Trump on March 13, 2023, in Davenport, Iowa.

After Donald Trump jammed the midterm red wave and doomed a Senate GOP takeover with his abysmal candidate picks, he predictably went on the war path to find a scapegoat. Eventually, he settled on one.

“It wasn’t my fault that the Republicans didn’t live up to expectations in the MidTerms," Trump posted on Truth Social in early January, a couple of months after the Republican face plant.

“It was the ‘abortion issue,’" Trump offered, "poorly handled by many Republicans, especially those that firmly insisted on No Exceptions, even in the case of Rape, Incest, or Life of the Mother, that lost large numbers of Voters."

Just a couple of short weeks after the GOP's midterm drubbing, Trump had announced his third bid for the White House. By January, he was actively nursing grievances that many evangelical leaders hadn't endorsed him on the spot.

Kerry Eleveld for Daily Kos

Daily Kos Staff

Friday March 24, 2023 · 8:00 AM PDT

2023/03/24 · 08:00

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 29: Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), joined by Sen. John Thune (R-SD) (L) and Sen. Steve Daines (R-ID) speaks about the Senate Democrats at the U.S. Capitol on September 29, 2021 in Washington, DC. The Republican's accused the Democrats of failing to pass legislation to solve government spending and security issues. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) — Sen. John Cornyn of Texas joined by Sen. John Thune of South Dakota (L) and Sen. Steve Daines of Montana.

The nearly two-week absence of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell since he fell at a fundraiser has been so shrouded in mystery that something as basic as a sudden round of phone calls with his top deputies prompted headlines in several outlets.

Longtime McConnell confidante Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, who received one of the calls, assured reporters that McConnell "sounded very sharp" and was "champing at the bit" to get back.

One might have imagined an imminent return for the 81-year-old based on Cornyn's characterization, except, Cornyn added, McConnell "didn't give me any timetable.”

Kerry Eleveld

Daily Kos Staff

Thursday March 23, 2023 · 4:17 PM PDT

2023/03/23 · 16:17

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 22: Sen. John Thune (R-SD) speaks during a news conference following a closed-door lunch meeting with Senate Republicans at the U.S. Capitol March 22, 2023 in Washington, DC. Also pictured, L-R, Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) and Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA). Thune fielded questions about the debt limit negotiations, a potential indictment of former President Donald Trump and the health of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) — GOP Sen. John Thune of South Dakota speaks during a news conference following a closed-door lunch meeting with Senate Republicans at the U.S. Capitol March 22, 2023 in Washington, DC. Thune is flanked by Sen. Steve Daines of Montana and Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa.

Months of headlines suggested that a sizable portion of Republican donors, lawmakers, and activists were hungry to leave de facto GOP standard-bearer Donald Trump in the rearview mirror.

In February, for instance, Politico Magazine reported on a supposed "plot" to stop Trump that largely amounted to a lot of wishful thinking.

Axios highlighted a 'big-money effort' mounted by Americans for Prosperity and the Club for Growth to bury Trump.

Some basic level of delusion is also circulating among top Republicans with a more old-guard establishment bent. In the past week, former House Speaker Paul Ryan and New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, for instance, have told various outlets that Trump won't win the primary.

That's just not going to happen," Sununu said two weeks ago on NBC's Meet The Press.

Kerry Eleveld for Daily Kos

Daily Kos Staff

Thursday March 23, 2023 · 6:04 AM PDT

2023/03/23 · 06:04

DES MOINES, IOWA - MARCH 10: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to Iowa voters gathered at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on March 10, 2023 in Des Moines, Iowa. DeSantis, who is widely expected to seek the 2024 Republican nomination for president, is one of several Republican leaders visiting the state this month. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

It's been over a week since Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis reshuffled his presidential fortunes by providing a flimsy, pro-Russia statement about Ukraine to Fox News Putin lover Tucker Carlson.

DeSantis—who talks almost exclusively to right-wing Rupert Murdoch properties—probably didn't realize just how explosive his dismissive characterization of the Ukraine-Russian war as a "territorial dispute" that wasn't a "vital" U.S. interest would be. But he clearly gets it now.

Thus, Ukraine, take two.

Kerry Eleveld for Daily Kos

Daily Kos Staff

Wednesday March 22, 2023 · 3:00 PM PDT

2023/03/22 · 15:00

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during a "Unite and Win" event as he campaigns for re-electionon the eve of the US midterm elections, at Hialeah Park Clubhouse, in Hialeah, Florida, on November 7, 2022. (Photo by Eva Marie UZCATEGUI / AFP) (Photo by EVA MARIE UZCATEGUI/AFP via Getty Images)

Over the past week, the trend lines showing the steady erosion of support for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in a head-to-head matchup against Donald Trump have become undeniable. Last week, The New York Times' Nate Cohn noted that a dozen polls over the past several months demonstrated DeSantis' declining fortunes. A Morning Consult poll this week showed a similar progression.

Now Monmouth University polling finds that over the past three months, Trump has gained 15 points while DeSantis has lost 12 points. So while DeSantis held a solid edge over Trump in Dec. at 39%-26%, the reverse is now true with Trump dominating at 41%-27%. Just last month, the two were tied at 33% each.

Kerry Eleveld for Daily Kos

Daily Kos Staff

Wednesday March 22, 2023 · 11:29 AM PDT

2023/03/22 · 11:29

SIOUX CITY, IA - NOVEMBER 03: Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event at Sioux Gateway Airport on November 3, 2022 in Sioux City, Iowa. Trump held the rally to support for Iowa GOP candidates ahead of the state's midterm election on November 8th. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) — Donald Trump speaks during a midterm campaign event at Sioux Gateway Airport on November 3, 2022 in Sioux City, Iowa.

If Donald Trump were trying to capitalize on what was arguably the most impactful policy win of his tenure, Iowa would be the perfect place to do it.

Republicans' first primary will take place in the state, which has grown increasingly red throughout the Trump era and consistently favors candidates with evangelical appeal. Indeed, Iowa Republicans are known for delivering early victories to Christian zealots who have considerably less sway in New Hampshire and ultimately flame out in the GOP primary. In 2008, Iowa Republicans elevated former pastor and Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee; in 2012, they chose rock-ribbed Christian conservative and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum; and in 2016, they favored Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who had fashioned himself as the second coming.

But Trump, who swept the New Hampshire primary in 2016, could easily play up his wildly successful effort to dismantle legalized abortion nationwide as a way to woo Iowa Republicans, potentially racking up two early wins.

Kerry Eleveld for Daily Kos

Daily Kos Staff

Tuesday March 21, 2023 · 2:15 PM PDT

2023/03/21 · 14:15

Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis waves to supporters at the Republican Jewish Coalition Annual Leadership Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, on November 19, 2022. (Photo by Wade Vandervort / AFP) (Photo by WADE VANDERVORT/AFP via Getty Images)

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who hasn't officially announced 2024 presidential bid yet, finally stepped into the campaign fray Monday with a jab about Donald Trump "paying hush money to a porn star."

"I can't speak to that," DeSantis told reporters, feigning naïveté about such a sordid topic.

It was DeSantis' first real swipe at Trump after he had been absorbing body blows for over a month, but did it come too late?

Kerry Eleveld for Daily Kos

Daily Kos Staff

Tuesday March 21, 2023 · 11:23 AM PDT

2023/03/21 · 11:23

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 12: U.S. Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) speaks at a news conference in Statuary Hall of the U.S. Capitol Building on January 12, 2023 in Washington, DC. During his news conference, McCarthy discussed a range of topics including recent classified documents found inside an office used by U.S. President Joe Biden after his time as vice president and committee assignments for Rep. George Santos (R-NY). (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) — House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

From the moment they arrived in Florida Sunday for an annual retreat, House Republicans have been knocked on their heels by Trump's claim Saturday that he would be arrested on Tuesday in the probe related to hush money payments he made to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

During House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's first press conference, he spent roughly half of his time responding to Trump-related questions, many of them indictment-centric, according to Politico.

While McCarthy blasted the Manhattan district attorney's hush money probe as a political ploy, he ultimately tried to steer the MAGA masses away from the widespread protests Trump had tried to incite.

In other words, McCarthy, acutely aware of the Jan. 6 insurrection that undoubtedly cost GOP candidates dearly in the midterms, was trying to avert another Trump-inspired electoral disaster.

Kerry Eleveld for Daily Kos

Daily Kos Staff

Monday March 20, 2023 · 1:49 PM PDT

2023/03/20 · 13:49

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 20: NYPD drop off metal barricades in front of Manhattan Criminal Court on March 20, 2023 in New York City. The barricades were set up as Michael Cohen was asked to appear as a rebuttal witness at the district attorney's office. The grand jury is expected to hear testimony from Robert J. Costello, a lawyer and former legal advisor to Cohen. He has been a key witness in DA Alvin Bragg's investigation into former President Donald Trump's involvement in a hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election. Costello is appearing at the request of Trump's lawyers with the grand jury expecting to vote soon on whether to indict the former president. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) — NYPD drop off metal barricades in front of Manhattan Criminal Court on March 20, 2023 in New York City.

Donald Trump's initial reaction to a potentially imminent indictment was to issue a call to arms.

"PROTEST, TAKE OUR NATION BACK!" Trump implored his followers on Saturday.

But incitement by Trump—who's still under investigation for inspiring the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol—appears to have fallen flat. Why? In large part because it's getting eaten alive by right-wing conspiracy culture.

Kerry Eleveld for Daily Kos

Daily Kos Staff

Monday March 20, 2023 · 11:51 AM PDT

2023/03/20 · 11:51

ROBSTOWN, TEXAS - OCTOBER 22: Former U.S President Donald Trump speaks at a 'Save America' rally on October 22, 2022 in Robstown, Texas. The former president, alongside other Republican nominees and leaders held a rally where they energized supporters and voters ahead of the midterm election. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

When Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was given the chance to defend Donald Trump Monday against an impending indictment, the choice he made was as subtle as a hammer to the head.

Amid spewing some GOP talking points about a “Soros-funded prosecutor,” DeSantis hit the theme of porn star hush money payments several times in his remarks. His dig at Trump was so flaming obvious, press conference attendees erupted in a round of laughter.

Then DeSantis committed a cardinal sin—suggesting Trump's fate just isn't that important.

Kerry Eleveld for Daily Kos

Daily Kos Staff

Saturday March 18, 2023 · 8:00 AM PDT

2023/03/18 · 08:00

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 13: Florida Governor-elect Ron DeSantis (R) sits next to U.S. President Donald Trump during a meeting with Governors elects in the Cabinet Room at the White House on December 13, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump

If there's one thing the Floridan Republican congressional delegation doesn't want to weigh in on, it's the escalating GOP primary between their two home-state honchos, Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Just how fraught is the topic of who to back? Politico granted one Florida Republican anonymity so they could say this: “Do you think I want to talk about that? You think I’m crazy?”

So far, just two Florida House Republicans of the 20-member delegation have weighed in on behalf of a candidate, and both went with Trump: Reps. Matt Gaetz and Anna Paulina Luna.

Apparently, once one seeks a presidential pardon from someone, they’re inclined to stick with them moving forward.

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