To be sure, I am not a fan of George W. Bush, no matter how many candies he hands Michelle Obama. But if Bush was a big, jagged kidney stone that took eight years to pass, Donald Trump is a large cache of unexploded Korean War ordnance lodged in my urethra. And he needs to get out. Preferably without exploding.
So it’s heartening to see so many high-profile Republicans — ostensibly members of the dastardly “deep state” — backing away from the monster they helped create.
The New York Times:
Former President George W. Bush won’t support the re-election of Mr. Trump, and Jeb Bush isn’t sure how he’ll vote, say people familiar with their thinking. Senator Mitt Romney of Utah won’t back Mr. Trump and is deliberating whether to again write in his wife, Ann, or cast another ballot this November. Cindy McCain, the widow of Senator John McCain, is almost certain to support Mr. Biden but is unsure how public to be about it because one of her sons is eying a run for office.
...
Former Republican leaders like the former Speakers Paul D. Ryan and John A. Boehner won’t say how they will vote, and some Republicans who are already disinclined to support Mr. Trump are weighing whether to go beyond backing a third-party contender to openly endorse Mr. Biden. Retired military leaders, who have guarded their private political views, are increasingly voicing their unease about the president’s leadership but are unsure whether to embrace his opponent.
The paper also reports that Biden plans to launch a “Republicans for Biden” coalition later in the campaign. Shouldn’t be tough to get some of these old-guard GOPsters on board. Just offer some crullers and coffee and point out the tweet where Trump viciously attacked them.
Why are these folks finally starting to grow cartilaginous proto-spines? The events of the past two weeks may have something to do with it. Seems Republicans at the very least want to avoid the appearance of fascism.
The public expressions of opposition to Mr. Trump from parts of the Republican and military establishment have accelerated in recent days over his repeated calls for protesters to be physically constrained, “dominated,” as he put it, and his administration’s order to forcefully clear the streets outside the White House so he could walk out for a photo opportunity. His conduct has convinced some leaders that they can no longer remain silent.
It would be nice if these folks were as loud and forceful as possible in their pronouncements. After all, the GOP foisted this heap of adipose and bad ideas on the country. It wouldn’t convince Trump’s base, but loyal old-guard Republicans might still be willing to listen.
"This guy is a natural. Sometimes I laugh so hard I cry." — Bette Midler on Aldous J. Pennyfarthing, via Twitter. Find out what made dear Bette break up. Dear F*cking Lunatic: 101 Obscenely Rude Letters to Donald Trump and its boffo sequels Dear Pr*sident A**clown: 101 More Rude Letters to Donald Trump and Dear F*cking Moron: 101 More Letters to Donald Trump by Aldous J. Pennyfarthing are now available for a song! Click those links, yo!