Posted on 10/20/2016 8:51:19 PM PDT by upchuck
A wave of apprehension and anguish swept the Republican Party on Thursday, with many GOP leaders alarmed by Donald Trump’s refusal to accept the outcome of the election and concluding that it is probably too late to salvage his flailing presidential campaign.
As the Republican nominee reeled from a turbulent performance in the final debate here in Las Vegas, his party’s embattled senators and House members scrambled to protect their seats and preserve the GOP’s congressional majorities against what Republicans privately acknowledge could be a landslide victory for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
With 19 days until the election, the Republican Party is in a state of historic turmoil, encapsulated by Trump’s extraordinary debate declaration that he would leave the nation in “suspense” about whether he would recognize the results from an election he has claimed will be “rigged” or even “stolen.”
The immediate responses from GOP officials were divergent and vague, with no clear strategy on how to handle Trump’s threat. The candidate was defiant and would not back away from his position, telling a roaring crowd Thursday in Ohio that he would accept the results “if I win” — and reserving his right to legally challenge the results should he fall short.
For seasoned Republicans who have watched Trump warily as a general-election candidate, the aftermath of Wednesday’s debate brought a feeling of finality.
“The campaign is over,” said Steve Schmidt, a Trump critic and former senior strategist on George W. Bush’s and John McCain’s presidential campaigns.
Calling a refusal to accept the election results “disqualifying,” Schmidt added: “The question is, how close will Clinton get to 400 electoral votes? She’ll be north of 350, and she’s trending towards 400 — and the trend line is taking place in very red states like Georgia, Texas and Arizona.”
How do they even write this drek?
Pure fiction, especially the parts where the “reporter “ can read the minds of the collective GOP.
Gee, why would Trump be a little reluctant to throw his right to challenge suspicious election results away two days after O’Keefe’s videos drop?
I can’t vote for Marco Rubio.
Honestly, I have no use or respect for this person.
If other people in my state want him to represent them, that’s up to them.
I might vote for Matt Gaetz for congress, I’m not sure yet, I probably will, but there is just no way I can take the precious time our of my life to ink in a bubble on a ballot for Marco Rubio.
Thank you kindly, and I sure hope that I am wrong.
But it seems to me that we are on a collision course with the ruling class, because there isn’t room for Us and Them in this country.
Because the Presidency matters a lot more than Congress.
Look what Obama did with a GOP House and Senate.
My feeling is RINOs need to be flushed down the toilet.
They are part of the problem, not part of the solution.
Honestly, I have no use or respect for this person.
You don't have to respect him to vote for him. You just have to recognize that it is better for President Trump if the seat is in Republican hands than if it goes Democrat.
I might vote for Matt Gaetz for congress, I’m not sure yet, I probably will, but there is just no way I can take the precious time our of my life to ink in a bubble on a ballot for Marco Rubio.
I see Gaetz won in a field of seven in your district's primary. He may not have been your favorite, but the same analysis applies ... better for President Trump if FL01 is in GOP hands than the opposite!
Traitorous maggots.
What have they done for us lately?
Trey Gowdy? A globalist, cheap labor toady whom I will not be voting for in futile protest on November 8th.
Trey Gowdy? A globalist, cheap labor toady whom I will not be voting for in futile protest on November 8th.
The country is going in the wrong direction. Without Congress, a President can't change the direction of the country. Electing a President without also electing a supportive Congress will be an exercise in frustration.
Look what Obama did with a GOP House and Senate.
True. Especially, since the GOP lacked a filibuster-proof Senate majority, much less an impeachment-capable two thirds majority.
My feeling is RINOs need to be flushed down the toilet.
RINOs are basically weak-kneed wishy-washy types. With a Democrat president (backed up by the MSM), they go wobbly.
But there is hope if there is a President Trump, who can talk over the media to the American people directly, as Reagan did. It's better if he has Republicans to deal with, even if they are RINOs. The time to weed out RINOs is the primaries, not the general.
I just took a huge Rodham.
Steve Schmidt, the same guy who strategized McCain into a defeat?
It’s amazing to me how he and Karl Rove have even remained employed, let alone are taken seriously as Republican strategists.
....Or is taken out via a revolt.
I don’t know why this is such a big deal. Has anyone asked Hillary this? Who cares if she doesn’t accept the results? Why does either candidate have to?
Hugh Hewitt is a PUNK...an Elite PUNK!! His show is BORING....BRING BACK BILL BENNETT!!!
I did a search and evidently, THIS is what the media is referencing when it warns Donald against ANY poll watching or ballot examination.
Bringing suit afterwards doesn’t seem to be enjoined. Actions at any polling place or prior to any actual election that *appear* to target racial minorities for anything that might be construed as *intimidation* are covered.
So, contesting election results due to fraudulent practices is allowed (or at least, not specifically prohibited), but gathering the evidence is a minefield dependent upon location, ethnic/racial distribution in the disputed precincts and perception of voters. *Normal* poll-watching is allowed, but RNC is evidently held to higher standards than Ds. Seems very easy to successfully claim disenfranchisement, which is why the Dems claim it constantly, as in the case of Voter ID.
The fraud exposed by Veritas, Anonymous and WikiLeaks so far does not seem to me to be of the old “Jim Crow” sort. The current batch of thugs are not claiming racial harassment, but rather seem to simply be out to deprive any and all Americans who do not vote Democrat of their right to rally, vote via absentee or be assured that all votes are cast by legitimate voters.
The lawyers here can correct my understanding if it’s wrong.
I wonder if consent decrees, by implication, require innocence on the part of the protected class? If one party agrees to refrain from a set of actions, is there any expectation that the other party will also abide by the terms? Today, Trump supporters are the targets of intimidation and everyone is robbed of a vote when non-citizens and people from outside a jurisdiction are purposely brought in to sway results. Does a prohibition against the Republicans give the Democrats carte blanche to commit fraud?
If you're talking congressional investigations, they are a joke. Worthless. If you're talking special prosecutors, Clinton won't appoint any against herself. Plus special prosecutors are even more worthless than congressional investigations.
I pray the polls are wrong, but they aren't looking good. If Clinton does win, this country is finished in every possible way that matters. At this point, me and mine are all voting Trump and hoping America doesn't put the incredibly corrupt Clintons back in the WH. It's all I can do at this point.
What B.S. Liberals just can’t believe that they are running against a republican candidate who will actually fight to win and call them out on their corruption.
They are used to freely committing voter fraud and having the entire justice department ignore it as well as their buddies the GOPe.
The opposition will go down fighting to the last minute trying to dissuade people for voting for Trump because it would be futile - that he is going to lose for sure.
Horseshit.
We will win, and I suspect “bigly.” :0)
That Palin hating Putz can go get bent.
This isn't over, not by a long shot.
Compare Trump to Ubama in 2008 if you will and I think you will see some parallels.
The same thing was said about Reagan. Reagan won 49 states.
Trump insist on National Anthem being played when told it’s to late.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dfe1s4HpJQ
Ronald Reagan speech: ‘Man is not free unless government is limited’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dC3x7fvUGwo
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.