Posted on 10/08/2016 11:03:43 AM PDT by Alter Kaker
Reaction to the video of Donald Trump using explicit language and apparently describing himself forcing himself on women continues to roll in. And it is not good for the GOP nominee. Prominent Republicans are calling on him to drop out and elected officials are running from him and fast. See the full list of Republicans calling on Trump to step down at the bottom on this post.
The candidate isn't backing down, telling the Washington Post's Robert Costa in an interview today, "I'd never withdraw. I've never withdrawn in my life."
The Post reports, Trump called from his home in Trump Tower and said, "No, I'm not quitting this race. I have tremendous support."
Trump also tweeted, seemingly downplaying the firestorm that has consumed his campaign.
Just to give a sense of how bad things have gotten in the past 24 hours, he's lost Hugh Hewitt.
The conservative talk show host had been a strong supporter of Trump arguing Republicans must back him to get a conservative justice on the Supreme Court.
Carly Fiorina, who lost to Trump in the GOP primary, called for him to step aside and for the Republican Party to run vice president nominee Mike Pence in his place.
Add senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ), neither of whom endorsed Trump, to the growing list of prominent and elected republicans to get out.
But, this would be significantly easier said than done according to a leading Republican election lawyer.
"People in the GOP are understandably nervous. People are looking for an escape," Ben Ginsberg told NPR. "The rules don't provide a ready-made escape. Nor do ballot rules, nor the electoral college. While people are looking for an out, this die was cast in Cleveland."
Ginsberg, who is a partner at the Jones Day law firm, spoke with the NPR Politics Podcast.
"The RNC rules allow for replacement of a candidate on death or declining the nomination, but no provision for replacing," said Ginsberg. "At this stage, Donald Trump would have to resign. There's no way to stage a coup."
If Trump were to resign, Ginsberg says, the GOP would have to go through a complicated process to nominate a new candidate.
"Under the rules, if there is a vacancy, it doesn't go to the VP candidate. It's a matter of rules. It can be anyone. Part of what the RNC would have to do is figure out the nomination rules to see who would be eligible. It's an all-bets-are-off scenario. There might be a political consensus for Mike Pence, but it is not mandated by the rules," he said.
But it is four weeks from election day. And the idea of a drawn out fight over the top ticket is almost politically unfathomable.
Elected republicans aren't waiting. They are now running away from their party's nominee. Senator Kelly Ayotte who is in a tough race for re-election and never endorsed Trump, now says she won't vote for him either.
Congresswoman Martha Roby in deep red Alabama says she can't support him either.
The reason is simple, as seasoned political analyst Stuart Rothenberg put it on twitter, "This certainly raises the possibility of a down-ballot bloodbath for Republicans."
Trump was initially supposed to attend a rally today in Wisconsin with Speaker of the House Paul Ryan. Then after the video release, it was announced that Pence would attend in Trump's place. Now the Trump campaign confirms Pence won't be attending the rally either.
Sen. John Thune (R-SD), a member of the GOP's leadership, tweeted that Trump should drop out immediately.
For elected Republicans, it is rapidly becoming clear that merely rejecting Trump's remarks isn't enough. Every one of them can expect to be asked whether they are withdrawing their endorsements and whether they will even vote for their party's nominee.
Republicans Calling For Trump To Step Aside
Sen. John Thune (South Dakota): Third highest ranking Republican in the Senate
Sen. Mark Kirk (Illinois): Has run campaign ads distancing himself from Trump.
Sen. Ben Sasse (Nebraska): Prominent "Never Trumper"
Sen. Mike Crapo (Idaho): Rescinds previous endorsement
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (West Virginia): She said the "appropriate next step may be for him to reexamine his candidacy."
Sen. Jeff Flake (Arizona): Did not endorse Trump previously
Sen. Mike Lee (Utah): Did not endorse Trump previously
Rep. Martha Roby (Alabama)
Rep. Jason Chaffetz (Utah)
Rep. Barbara Comstock (Virginia)
Rep. Mike Coffman (Colorado)
Rep. Bradley Byrne (Alabama): Previous Trump supporter
Rep. Charlie Dent (Pennsylvania): Previously said he is not voting for Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton in the general election
Carly Fiorina, former presidential candidate
Hugh Hewitt, conservative radio talk show host, previous Trump backer
Leave it to the Grand Old Party to come up with new and creative ways to throw away an election.
IIRC Mike Barnacle wrote about the promiscuous behavior of many of those in congress. He said women in the elevators got the imprint of Otis pressed into their lower backs.
Including Paul Ryan
I still want to believe that not only will he choke the rats, the scummedia and Hillary with the trump chain when they all find out they have been had but he will also know who the scum is on the GOP side too. If this is it THIS WOULD BE THE MOST BRILLIANT political TACTIC EVER TO DATE! I have my fingers crossed
Ping me when it’s out
If they succeed in stealing it from Mr. Trump, it won’t be time for a new party.
It will be time for a new COUNTRY.
AH-nold? Didn’t he father a love child with a house maid while he was married to the Kennedy woman? He has the nerve to wax indignant about what Trump said almost a dozen years ago.
Let’s send a message to the Globalist RINOs and the rest of the commies:
Let’s BOMBARD THE DONATE button on Mr. Trump’s website and send an AVALANCHE of support!!!!!!!
Not me; I will never vote for a Dim. But I won’t vote for Kirk, either. In all seriousness, I am going to write in my dog’s name. Kirk has zero chance of winning re-election, in any event.
Already did. Donated on his website, sent message of support via Twitter.
I picture some NeverTrumper out there picking his toenails and eating it, gleeful at the idea he will be proven right that Trump couldn’t win.
Meanwhile the nation hangs in the balance between a man who said off-color things and a women people drop dead around.
Here husband raped women. He beat some of them up viciously.
Never the less, the media says the man who only said off color things should drop out, and the wife who covered for the rapist assaulter is just what the nation needs.
Buck up folks.
This nation can’t survive another Clinton, or as others have put it, an Obama third term.
Three minutes ago from Trump.
- - - - -
“Donald J. Trump Verified account
;@realDonaldTrump
The media and establishment want me out of the race so badly - I WILL NEVER DROP OUT OF THE RACE, WILL NEVER LET MY SUPPORTERS DOWN! #MAGA”
That’s because there are no Republicans in NY.
The Repuke elites would infinitely prefer Hitlery to Trump and it is actually a good thing they are revealing themselves so clearly.
If Trump loses by hook or voter fraud crook, changing your party will be absolutely meaningless.
At that point...
- Comrade Hellry will officially declare NO BORDERS.
- 100 MILLION ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS will become new DNC/CPUSA voters and will register
- SCOTUS will have a majority of Socialists/Communists to make Constitution irrelevant
- A permanent leftwing socialist majority
- The overthrow of America will be completed
“Maybe when Trump gets in (and I still believe it is in the cards) he should renounce being a Republican and start a third party, something ballsy that just deals in the blunt truth!”
Oh, I like it!
Especially in light of the fact most of them weren’t supporting him anyway.
This is a drop of sweat in the ocean.
“If Trump goes down I want him to take the Republican establishment with him! I am beyond sick to my stomach I want action!”
Yup.
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