“Two gin-scented tears trickled down the sides of his nose. But it was all right, everything was all right, the struggle was finished. He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother" — Winston Smith, ‘1984’ George Orwell
Non-MAGA conservatives and many liberals fantasize about a sane GOP. It is time to retire that dream. There may have once been a gleam of hope that Northeastern Republicans (for example, ex-MD Gov. Larry Hogan, ex-MA Gov. Charlie Baker, and VT Gov. Phil Scott), along with other ‘sane’ right-wingers (like IA Gov. Kim Reynolds and Sen. Mitt Romney) would provide a seed-bed for disaffected conservatives to grow a pragmatic pro-democracy wing of the party.
It will not happen. The never-Trumpers either retire or embrace the crazy. Chris Sununu is proof of the latter.
Today on ABC’s ‘This Week’, New Hampshire’s Governor told George Stephanopolous to dismiss all his previous anti-Trump rhetoric as “then” — because “now” Sununu has embraced new political polling math. It is sad. But experience shows it was inevitable. Those not seduced by cultism will never understand.
To the outsider, It looks like Sununu made a Faustian bargain. To Sununu, it is just realpolitik, no matter how deep the wounds to democracy.
Stephanopoulos opened with a question.
George Stephanopoulos: “Will your support for Donald Trump continue even if he's convicted in Manhattan.”
Sununu replied with a yes — which he immediately qualified with a blizzard of misdirection about politics, political inconvenience, and positive (for Trump) poll numbers.
Chris Sununu: “Yeah. I. Look. This trial is not going to have major political ramifications that a lot of people think it may have. When it comes to these issues, people see it more as reality TV at this point. They really do. So whether it's a conviction or what that conviction looks like, a lot of folks conflate all four of these different trials that he's in.
I didn't think it's good that he's gonna be in the court, have to be there probably three days a week, for a number of weeks. That takes him off the campaign trail. He will probably go back on the campaign trail and rehash what's going on and try to victimize it. That worked for him, right? This is been going on for over a year and his poll numbers never seem to go down because of the issue.”
Stephanopoulos batted that crap away and returned to the point. He asked Sununu if he would support a convicted criminal for President.
GS: "Well yeah, you're going to politics though. I'm asking you about right and wrong. You're comfortable with the idea of supporting someone who is convicted …
CS: “oh no.”
GS: … of a federal crime as President.”
Note. I will summarize Sununu’s answers, as he is long-winded and repetitive — and time is short. For the complete conversation, the reader can CLICK HERE.
Sununu ignored morality — which is always a losing subject for Republicans — and placed the blame for his embrace of Trump on the voters.
CS: “I don't think any American is comfortable with any of this. Right now this is about an election. Right? This is about politics. The ultimate decision will be on November, to see where people are. But for months, even over a year we've heard these are the things that will bring Donald Trump down. It's not. To think the American public is going to be massively swayed by this, politically or otherwise. That's not going to happen.”
Stephanopoulos again tries to get Sununu back on point.
GS: “I'm asking if you're going to be swayed by this. You're a Governor. You're an elected official. So I'm asking if you're going to be swayed by it.”
Sununu again deflects the conversation back to GOP talking points. And how Biden sucks
CS: “Yeah, nobody should be shocked by a Republican governor supporting the Republican President. You know what the real story is the average American that has gone from Biden back to Trump.
The average American that is feeling inflation … says we want a culture change in Washington DC and will continue to support the former president. Trump is leading the polls across America. No one should be surprised by my support … America is moving away from Biden … You can't ignore inflation. You can't ignore the border ... [they say] these issues in the courthouse are the one thing that will bring Biden back into office ... It's not going to happen.
Stephanopoulos brings up Sununu’s previous condemnation of the wannabe insurrectionist.
GS: “As you mention this is only one of several indictments the former president is facing. Perhaps the most consequential, of course, is related to January 6. Right after that January 6 attack, I'm gonna put this up on the screen, you said:
“It is clear that President Trump's rhetoric and actions contributed to the insurrection. The domestic terrace who attacked the United States capital must be held accountable and prosecuted.”
Do you stand by that statement?"
Sununu agrees he said that.
CS: “100%, of course. They have to be prosecuted. They are being prosecuted. His actions absolutely contributed to that. There is no question about that. I hate the election denialism of 2020. Nobody wants to be talking about that in 2024. I think all of that was absolutely terrible.
Sununu continues with a “So what?”
CS: “But what people are gonna be voting for, the reason I am supporting not just the President, but a Republican administration. They want a culture change in Washington. All the rules and policies that pound down on the American people. The wokeness … liberal elites in Washington … hardworking American families that built this country … they’re angry … culture change … culture change … America back on track.
Stephanopoulos tries again. He asks how Sununu could support an insurrectionist as chief executive.
GS: “But wait a second. Your words were very, very clear. You said Trump’s rhetoric and actions contributed to the insurrection. No other president in American history has contributed to an insurrection. So please explain, given the fact that you believe he contributed to an insurrection, how you can say we should have him back in the Oval Office?”
Again Sununu bobs and weaves. In doing so, he admits the truth. He wants Republicans in office no matter how many crimes they have committed
CS: "Because for me it's not about him, as much it is about having a Republican administration, Republican Secretaries, Republican rules … states’ rights … individual’s rights … parents’ rights … pro-business economy … cancel culture …
It’s not about Trump with me."
Stephanopoulos is in disbelief.
GS: “That doesn't make any sense to me governor. I'm sorry. You're saying it's not about Trump. But he would be the president. And you have said he is someone who has contributed to an insurrection.”
Sununu then dismisses Stephanopoulos’s concerns by pointing to polls — as if math can clean Trump’s political Augean Stables.
CS: “I understand it doesn't make sense to you George. But look at the polls. What you're telling me is that you don't understand why 51% of this country is supporting Donald Trump. They’re not crazy. They’re not MAGA conservatives. They’re not extremists. They want culture change.”
That is not what George asked. He clearly said he does not understand why Chris is supporting Trump. Sununu is also at peace with lying. Polls have consistently had Trump ahead by a point or so. But the average support for Trump is nowhere near 51%. And the 2020 loser’s approval is 42.3%.
GS: “I'm not talking about polls. I am asking you a very simple question. You believe Donald Trump contributed to an insurrection. That's correct. Right?”
Sununu again admits he said that Trump attempted to overthrow the American government.
CS: ”I stand by the statement.”
Stephanopoulos is gobsmacked.
GS: “You believe that a president who contributed to an insurrection should be president again?”
Sununu again retreats to his polling lie.
CS: “As does 51% of Americans, George.”
He then drags in the usual scorned targets of conservative vitriol and dismisses Stephanopoulus as unworthy because he works in the news business.
CS: “I understand you’re part of the media. I understand you're in this New York City bubble, or whatever it is. But you gotta look around what's happening across this country. It's not about just supporting Trump … inflation crushing families … border … elitism … sick and tired … culture change … not relitigating January 6 …
Sununu then dismisses Jan 6 as not a “top five” issue. And he again retreats to his talking points.
CS: “I think it is terrible what he [Trump] has done on the election denial. But again it is not a top issue. What’s happening with inflation … what’s happening with the border … “
Stephanopoulos then points out that, while Sununu thinks election denialism is so 2021, Trump will not let it go.
GS: “You’re against the election denialism which the former president repeated last night.”
George then asks if Chris has changed his mind about Trump bowing out if he is a proven law-breaker.
GS: “You believe he contributed to the insurrection on January 6. You believe it doesn't matter if he's convicted in the Manhattan case — he's also facing another indictment of classified documents. Previously you said these charges are serious. And Trump should drop out of the race if he is convicted. Do you still believe that?”
Sununu waffles. He says Trump is causing chaos and is a distraction - while he ignores Stephanopoulos' question. But George keeps pounding away.
GS: “I’m asking you a different question. Because you said in the past, should drop out if he [Trump] is convicted in the classified documents case. Do you still believe that?"
In response, Sununu dismisses his earlier embrace of candidates who are not criminals by explaining that was his primary position. He says that now the general election has washed away all sins. Besides, as the average American is not paying close attention, Trump is really not a criminal.
CS: “No, no. After being the nominee, of course not. That's not to be expected at all.
All of these cases by the way — the average American — it's all conflated — we watch this stuff, we watch the details. The average American sees it more as reality TV.”
Sununu then repeats the ‘it’s a political witch hunt’ nonsense. He cannot get past his “reality TV” slur. And he will not drop the poll math justification.
CS: “There's clearly politics to bear in some of these cases. That is undeniable. The average American thinks it's more reality TV than prosecution of him at this point. He plays that victim card very, very well. His poll numbers only go up with this stuff. So to think this is some sort of dealbreaker … that's just not going to happen.
Sununu then throws his hands in the air with a ‘what are you gonna are you gonna do’ fatalism. Sununu, who is supposed to be a leader says events compel him to follow. This equivocation is how beta people justify their weakness.
CS: “If we have to have Trump as the standard bearer — and the vote is decided that's what they wanted — not what I wanted — but what the Republican voters wanted — if he's going to be the standard bearer, we'll take it if we have to. That's how badly America wants a culture change.”
Stephanopoulos finally grasps that Sununu is no different from every other MAGA who believes that the GOP should stop worrying about values and focus on winning.
GS: “So, just to sum up. You will support him for president even if he is convicted in the classified documents. You will support him for president, even though you believe he contributed to an insurrection. You support him for president, even though you believe he is lying about the last election. You support him President even if he is convicted in the Manhattan case. I just want to say, the answer to that is ‘Yes.’ Right?"
Sununu closes with the confession he is pro-crime and repeats a lie because he has sold his soul and drowned his shame.
“Yeah. Me and 51% of America.”
