Donald Trump continues to display signs of an authoritarian without any resistance from the Republicans. A few Republicans in Congress are more interested in protecting Trump than the Constitution. The GOP is less about policy and more about Trumpism.
Trump idolizes Vladimir Putin. He expressed anger toward Michael Flynn in the earliest days of his presidency because he had missed Putin’s phone call. He’s very hesitant to place sanctions on Russia. He even congratulated Putin on winning an election where he forbid his strongest opponent from being on the ballot and imprisoned others.
Trump praises dictators, congratulates the Philippines leader on murdering people, and “jokes” about emulating China’s leader who is now in office for life. He attacks the press and describes them as “enemies of the American people.”
What is not a joke is Trump using his office to go after those who oppose him. He calls for prison sentences for people who haven’t been charged with crimes. He has encouraged police brutality and wants death sentences for drug dealers.
He is attacking many in law enforcement and the Republicans are helping him obstruct justice. The Republican National Committee built a website to discredit Comey and his new book.
Congressmen Devin Nunes, Jim Jordan, Bob Goodlatte, and Mark Meadows are attacking Rod Rosenstein. They’re talking about slapping him with contempt of Congress or impeaching him. They screamed at him for Jim Comey’s memos on meetings with Trump, and within an hour of receiving the memos, they leaked them to the press. Who can forget the Nunes Memo which was an attack on the Justice Department and FBI without substance. They even shut down their investigation in Russian collusion.
Nearly a dozen Republicans in Congress sent a criminal referral to the Justice Department and FBI seeking an investigation of Comey, his deputy Andrew McCabe, ex-Attorney General Loretta Lynch and Hillary Clinton in connection with 2016 campaign controversies. They want further investigations into Clinton’s email, the Michael Steele dossier, and Uranium One. The Justice Department declined to prosecute for the emails, and the other two are conspiracies that have been debunked.
Someday, hopefully soon, we will learn the truth about Trump and his connections to Russia. There will probably be further charges for his corruption and obstruction of justice. After Trump is driven from office, each of these Republicans should be recognized as modern-day Vidkun Quislings.
Vidkun Quisling was a Norwegian who established a fascist party in the 1930s. He attacked the left and aligned himself with Adolf Hitler and the Nazis. He served as Prime Minister of Norway after the Nazis invaded and established a puppet government. After the war, he was convicted of several charges including treason.
Putting party over country, especially a fascist party is treason. That’s exactly what these Republicans are guilty of.
Email Clay Jones at [email protected]