The lesser part of valor: Preston Brooks, Greg Gianforte, and the American tradition of disguising cowardice as bravery. The reaction to Greg Gianforte’s attack on a reporter exposes America’s problem with macho talk. A journalist was body slammed, but some conservatives want the news media to apologize. Greg Gianforte proves Trump’s Fifth Avenue principle. Thread: “Gianforte and Hannity, in their different ways, show that Trumpist norms are infecting conservatism and the Republican Party”. Trump’s moral holiday: The permissiveness of Republican leaders who acquiesce to violence, collusion, and corruption is encouraging more of the same. Jennifer Rubin on a week that reveals how rotten today’s Republican Party is.
Some of the GOP’s institutions have more reason to be loyal to Trump than others. The Republicans broke American politics, and media elites are blind to it. Michael Gerson on how the conservative mind has become diseased. The gateway degenerate: Republicans sold their souls to this devil and now are forced to defend as right what they know full well is wrong. Donald Trump and the agony of H.R. McMaster: Will the President dump his second National Security Adviser? Thomas Ricks: General McMaster, step down — and let Trump be Trump. GOP: It’s time to get off the Trump train — you have nothing left to lose.
It’s time to get rid of Donald Trump: Donald Trump has transformed the United States into a laughing stock and he is a danger to the world — he must be removed from the White House before things get even worse. It may be time to disobey the commander in chief: With his assault on the rule of law, President Trump has undermined his legitimacy.
