A #SundayMorning thread deep dive with Kaz Weida
Why has the GOP leadership abdicated all leadership and been willing to kowtow to this corrupt President? Is kompromat from when the RNC servers got hacked being used to keep Senators like Lindsey Graham and Mitch McConnell in line?
This is a conspiracy theory that has spawned rampant speculation. And most responsible journalists have steered clear of these rumors because they’re just that. Rumors. But one of the most damning pieces of evidence is Graham’s own bizarre behavior.
It’s difficult to discern why a man who was John McCain’s best friend would stand by and watch Trump not only malign the war hero but undermine everything he stood for. Lindsey Graham’s about-face seems embarrassing, but maybe it serves a purpose.
While Graham’s groveling plays abysmally nationally, he’s still winning in polls in South Carolina. His approval rating is 46% while the average approval rating for Congress is 20%. Lindsey’s approval rating has risen 24% since Trump took office.
When it comes to Lindsey Graham, there’s no big mystery about his embrace of Trump. It’s in the numbers. While we cringe when Graham sprays women and veterans with his vitriol in hearings, South Carolina voters seem to be egging him on.
Let’s take a closer look at Mitch McConnell, whose reasons for quietly supporting Trump are even more transparent and straightforward. He also really really hates being called MoscowMitch so, by all means, please don’t let him see this.
McConnell’s reputation as the “Grim Reaper” is certainly distasteful to most Americans, but it plays well in his home state of Kentucky. Or did until recently. Polls show support slipping back down to an 18% approval rating after peaking in the 30s.
While McConnell might be the Dems boogeyman, he’s seen as a GOP savior for blocking legislation while simultaneously ramming judges through the nomination process. He’s been quietly transforming the courts while Trump has kept our attention elsewhere.
While Lindsey Graham has hitched his wagon to Trump’s star, McConnell is cautious. He’s warned Trump to secure the goodwill of GOP senators as impeachment looms. Trump is deeply unpopular & the GOP may lose the Senate if they don’t oppose him.
Do I think McConnell & Graham have some sort of kompromat being leveraged against them? Perhaps. But I think it’s important to realize that these GOP senators don’t need threats to be willing to sell out Americans.
They’ve been doing it for decades.
Originally posted on Twitter. Re-posted with permission.
