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 Trumps 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 partys embattled senators and House members scrambled to protect their seats and preserve the GOPs 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 Trumps 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 Trumps 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 Wednesdays debate brought a feeling of finality.
The campaign is over, said Steve Schmidt, a Trump critic and former senior strategist on George W. Bushs and John McCains 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? Shell be north of 350, and shes trending towards 400 and the trend line is taking place in very red states like Georgia, Texas and Arizona.
Why?
As Rush asked pointedly last week, you don’t consider it important enough to elect Trump to keep Hillary out of the White House.
Why must we vote GOP to check Hillary? It will rubber stamp her agenda.
We can get the same deal from the Democrats but they won’t say one thing when they’re running for office and then do the opposite when they’re in.
The GOP is dead.
>> Who is that guy?
Walter Thomas Franklin.
Exactly WHY is the GOP preparing for a Trump loss?!!!!!!!
We are in the middle of election season and they should be supporting their nominee, rather than give up way before election day.
This defeatist attitude hurts all Republicans’ chances.
No wonder they are called the stupid party.
I just hope that the people will be smarter, not listen to them, but be sure to get out the vote for Trump. Then they can eat their words and all move to China.
Evidence of the last two years is conclusive, a Republican majority in Congress is meaningless.
I don’t think anyone is more roiled than the Democrats at the moment.
Big frigging lie from the MSM. (Another one)
Why is this not common knowledge? If true, it needs to be brought to SCOTUS under one of the Civil Rights Acts. How does a consent decree in a single state cover a Federal election?
It happened over 30 years ago and was never publicized?
Sounds like the recourse is to rename the GOP or have a candidate challenge in their own name. Alternatively, thumb their nose at the decree and bring suit, anyway. If this was reversed, the DNC would have long ago found ways around it.
DemRATs must be really furious Trump raised the issue of election fraud prior to the election because had it been charged afterwards it would just be called “sour grapes” as usual. More people will be going to the polls now with eyes and ears wide open.
The thumb-sucking GOPe need to go see Grandma Hillary for a Snickers bar. Do tired of these atherosclerotic has-beens who have ruined the party.
Individual Republican state AGs in the states where conspiracies were hatched and violence was incited can bring their own felony prosecutions. Then they can squeeze the criminals to give up info on higher ups in the illegal network/enterprise.
Even in California, I’ve seen more than a few times folks on the corners with Trump signs, caravans of trucks with Trump banners.
I have yet to see a similar effort for Hillary.
Here’s a really strange idea, GOP, how about you go talk to those really excited people who are standing on corners and MAYBE sensibly help them, maybe even consider bringing the campaign signs for other REPUBLICANS?
Oh, right, Trump is toxic, that’s what the NY Times said, and therefore can’t join such efforts.
Morons.
Hillary braces for a medical fall. “Help! I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!”
Then why bother voting for Trump?
Trump is going to need a Republican congress if he is to get anything done.
These 2 faggot scumbags are on the list.
NO MERCY
This. By allowing the Dems to win down ballot you give Trump no one to work with.
Ever read East of Eden? Hillary reminds me of Cathy...your ending for Hillary reminds me of how Steinbeck killed her off.
“A wave of apprehension and anguish swept the Republican Party on Thursday”
Republican capons clutching their pearls again: heaven forbid that they dont get re-elected and that they can no longer belly-up to the taxpayer-funded all-you-can-scarf caviar and shrimp bars at all of those posh D.C. parties.
Because thats all Republican capons are good for: scarfing free caviar and shrimp. They are the opposition party in name only as they’ve not lifted a finger to stop one iota of obama’s agenda. Getting re-elected for the free shrimps and caviar is MUCH more important! But that’s all going to end one way or the other in a couple of weeks, and I say good riddance to these frauds.
However,what those capons don’t know is that if Trump does lose, the Republican party is dead as millions of us will never vote for any of them ever again. Why should we? Why should we put yet another bunch of useless shrimp-scarfers in office to pretend that they have any principles other than being re-elected to scarf more shrimp?
She put another justice on the court and they will rule the 22nd null and void.
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