Uncle Don
The trumpist takeover proceeds.
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) is poised this week to become the highest ranking elected Republican woman in the House of Representatives, as the beneficiary of the GOP mutiny against Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.). Cheney, the chair of the House Republican conference, dared to acknowledge reality: Donald Trump lost the election and then incited the seditious attack on the US Capitol. For that sin, the House Republican wing of the Trump cult will give Cheney the boot and replace her with Stefanik, who is in her fourth term representing a district in upstate New York.
Remember when the Republicans were the law and order party? It still seems odd that now they’re the insurrection party.
Stefanik’s Trumpification stands out because only a few years ago—well into Trump’s presidency—she was speaking critically about him on key fronts. In fact, at times Stefanik sounded practically like a Never Trumper, as she called on Trump to recognize that Russia had attacked the 2016 election to help him, urged him to release his tax returns, and assailed him for his comments about women.
What happens to people, that they can make that switch?
When the Access Hollywood video of Trump boasting of sexually assaulting women became public during the 2016 race, Stefanik criticized Trump, saying, “Donald Trump’s inappropriate, offensive comments are just wrong—no matter when he said them or whatever the context. I hope his apology is sincere.” But she wouldn’t break with him.
Two years later, she criticized Trump for his pattern of offensive remarks about women. When Trump in an October 16, 2018, tweet referred to Stormy Daniels—the porn star who he paid hush money to keep quiet regarding the allegation they once had an extramarital affair—as “Horseface,” Stefanik took exception. She told CBS News, “I think it’s unacceptable.” And she went further: “I’ve disagreed with the President’s rhetoric numerous times when it comes to how he addresses women.”
But then [something something something] so all is changed.
The GOP mutiny against Cheney shows the party cannot escape Trump’s Stalinist grip on it. And Stefanik, who once claimed a measure of independence, has happily become the poster child for its accelerating descent into soul-crushing cultism.
And all for…Trump?
It’s not all for Trump, really. The Republican Party lost its soul many many years ago. More and more its actions and motivations have been about gaining and maintaining power. Not about holding true to coherent political and ethical,positions, even when that might hurt their chance of maintaining power, in Trump the see their best immediate chance of regaining power. A lot of them like, maybe even adore Trump, for his ability to spew vile nonsense that they think, but would otherwise be too cowardly to speak. Others just want that moment of power so they can enact unjust laws that solidify their power at the next election and punish their enemies. None of them will mourn Trump in their hearts when he’s gone, they’ll move on to the next rabble rouser.