I was under the impression that the GOP had a majority in the United States Senate and leadership strong enough to control squishy RINO (Republican In Name Only) aisle-hoppers who were eager to assist the opposition, the progressive socialist democrats, in fulfilling their agenda. You know, Senators who cannot be trusted with the core principles of the GOP, like Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Mitt Romney (R-UT), and others.

What are – I should say were – those core principles?

• Uphold the prime directive in their Oath of Office to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
• To protect the sovereignty, safety, and security of the United States of America and its citizens.
• To advance the cause of liberty, freedom, and inalienable rights.
• To limit the size of the federal government and slow the increasing federalization of powers that belong to the states or “We the People.”
• To limit profligate spending and prioritize spending on those items which benefit the pursuit of constitutional mandates rather than the interests of special interests or self-serving politicians.
• To limit taxation so that individuals can control more of their own destiny and grow the U.S. economy rather that allow political pandering and vote purchasing with “pork” projects.
• To reduce the number of confusing and conflicting rules and regulations which unknowingly criminalize almost every aspect of human life and existence in some way.
• To promote individualism, self-sufficiency, and resiliency over the collective “nanny” state.

At least that is what I thought were the GOP’s core principles. But I was wrong.

It appears that the purpose of the GOP is to legitimize the ideology of the progressive socialist democrats while securing their portion of the pork-barrel spending. In essence, creating and marketing an illusory brand that keeps the professional political class in power. Gone are the days when politicians would put the nation over their own political ambitions. Gone are the days when politicians, on both sides of the aisle, would stand up and yell ENOUGH! Gone are the days when you can trust most politicians with the power of governance and the integrity to ignore the mainstream media.

With the Senate authoring and passage of the $2 TRILLION coronavirus emergency bill – in reality, $6 TRILLION when you consider the Federal Reserve’s creation of more fiat money – the Senate has proven a poor and irresponsible steward of the public treasury as well as a feckless deliberative body that was in thrall to the slim majority of progressive socialist democrats in the House of Representatives.

The GOP, or at least the GOP I voted for, is DEAD.

It appears that the most ardent advocate of the old GOP is one, Donald John Trump, an accidental president who has risen to the demands of his office in spite of the near continual attack by the progressive socialist democrats and the mainstream media. He appears to be guided more by the motto “Do the Right Thing at the Right Time” than a core political ideology. There is nobody, in the modern history of the United States, who has the stamina and courage to face the worst of the opposition – including some members of this own party – and still do right by the American citizen.

Bottom line…

Collegiality be damned. The idea of one Senator referring to an opposition Senator as "My friend or colleague from the Great State of Misery" should be mothballed. There should be no restriction on a Senator rising and calling out the evil son-of-a-bitch from [insert state here].

When I consider that former President Barack Obama and his cadre of socialist/communists betrayed the nation… When I consider that the Democrats have proposed a corrupt liar like Hillary Clinton – and now a corrupt liar like Joe Biden – for the highest office in the land, without significant push-back from the GOP… And, when I see the GOP Senate vote for a massive bill that they have not read and are too scared to fight passage because it hands out goodies to those voting in 2020….  I am sickened and have every reason to believe the GOP is dead.

It appears that the only Republican with the cojones to stand up for the Constitution was Representative Thomas Massie R-KY) who demanded a quorum, which meant the House needed 216 representatives to vote, even by voice -- and a recorded vote on the $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package. His comment "I came here to make sure our republic doesn’t die by unanimous consent in an empty chamber” was spot on. And condemned by virtually every elected Member of Congress for attempting to "delay the vote" even though Nancy Pelosi took her vacation. 

I am disappointed that President Trump called him a "third-rate grandstander" while former Secretary of State John Kerry called him an asshole. Kerry's comment, "Breaking news: Congressman Masse has tested positive for being an asshole,” Kerry tweeted. “He must be quarantined to prevent the spread of his massive stupidity. He’s given new meaning to the term #Masshole." 

Funny, Trump is celebrating this bill as a YUGE success, the biggest spending bill in human history ever passed.

We are so screwed.

-- steve