[rlmorel]

I have long accepted there are five categories of Republicans depending on how they vote on issues:

1. Those who are in it for conservative principles and love of the nation.
   • They vote their conscience regardless of the consequences. These are rare, but I have always felt that there are a few. I have felt someone like Rand Paul was close to one of these types, but even he isn't perfect and votes the wrong way on various things. Trump has appeared to me to be one of the rarer examples and doesn't fit neatly into the categories below. Obviously, he is imperfect as well, but this should be no surprise to anyone.
   
   
   
2. Those who are in it for the power and prestige of being an elected official.
   • They vote whatever way they can to stay in power. They keep their heads down. They don't take stances. They seem to value anonymity and do whatever they have to do to stay in office, even if they aren't corrupt. They are the same people you have never heard of, whose names on any legislation can be on one side or the other, depending on what stirs up the least silt in the water and draws the least attention to them.
   
   
   
3. Those who are in it for the money
   • These types are beholden to various monied interests. If they aren't taking bribes and kickbacks, they are engaging in illegality like insider trading, sweetheart deals, selling influence to get money. Mich McConnell is one of these.
   
   
   
4. Those who are actually in league with Leftists
   • These are Deep Staters who are more ideologically aligned with the Left and other enemies of our nation. We may call them RINOs. Liz Cheney is foremost in my mind here.
   
   
   
5. Those who are compromised
   • Lindsey Graham was always a prime example to me, I believe Kinzinger is in this category too, and Chief Justice Roberts has long been in this category in my estimation. It is the only rational explanation for his widely varying stances. Note that those in office for the prestige, those in it for the money, and those who are actually working with Leftists, may all fall into the compromised category. These are people who are compelled to vote a certain way or risk exposure. Obviously, it cannot be done on every vote, or the mechanism becomes exposed.

[rlmorel]

"...Obviously, it cannot be done on every vote, or the mechanism becomes exposed..."

Similar to the way the allies in WWII had to pick and choose which Enigma decrypts they could respond to with action. If they responded on all decrypts, the Nazis would figure out pretty quick they were compromised.

[Albion Wilde]

Excellent observation, sir!