163 Comments

As someone older than you are, Charlie, I have to say I have been watching the steady degradation of the Republican Party for at least 25 years. When Karl Rove decided to have Bush run-on wedge issues like same-sex marriage, the dangers of stem cell research, restrictions to end-of-life decisions (think Terry Schiavo) and by vigorously courting religious conservatives and evangelicals, Rove changed the trajectory of the party forever. It was Trump who added that deadly dash of racism, and now old-time Republicans, educated and contemplative Republicans, can no longer stomach what's left of their old party. What will become of the remainder of the GOP? That's the question on everyone's mind. And will they manage, as they realign themselves, to destroy our Democracy? Or will the voters finally wise up? Ben Sasse is one of many who have decided not to wait around and see.

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I’ve always called them despicable. And that Trump grew the swamp into a cesspool.

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Ummm, we need a monitor on this board, please. Thank you.

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A Herschel perspective. How important is the R vs D next to a candidates name?

Hypothetically, what do we think the GOP narrative would be if Herschel had a D next to his name. A black man who fathered at least 4 kids from 4 different women, and held a gun to the head of his wife?

I'd venture to bet phrases like "welfare moms", "infidelity", "unChristian", "dead beat dad", "unfaithful", "fatherless homes", and racial phrases I can't even imagine.

Sad that we evaluate one's "character" by the R vs D.

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founding

I am not holding my breath for Sasse’s courage. I remember first hearing of him in 2016 and thought he would be a strong and decent leader within the conservative movement. Instead, he just hides when the country needs him. Shouldn’t he learn from Liz and Adam Kinzinger (who has a barely 1 year old and is constantly threatened)?

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Perhaps Mr Sasse, who I also liked and had hoped for, will redeem himself. Great look forward, wonder if DeSantis' spite will backfire.

Here's to hoping for a truer conservatism. Hear hear for the Bulwark.

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Ben Sasse is so overrated. He expresses piety where compassion and curiosity would be the actual adult response.

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Ben Sasse, who had the capacity to become a statesman, decided instead to be an occasional fly on the ointment of anti-democratic antics of the GOP.

Will he confront Wannabe Dictator DiSantis?? A bigly NO!!!!

He will grovel at the behest of multi-million donors and angry alums.

Basically...he'll revel in being in the aura of academia, and continue his spineless adherence to his capitalistic lords, per usual.

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Credit to you for your kindness, Charlie, but Ben Sasse isn't worth it. He's been a disappointment from the start, now he's letting down his constituents only two years after being reelected, and his replacement will undoubtedly be worse. He should just take his thirty pieces of silver and go, unpraised and unlamented. And if you think that he'll find any more spine facing De Santis than he did in the Senate, I regret that you're in for yet another disappointment.

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Sasse looking for a DeSantis-Sasse 2024 ticket and all it will take is being the enforcer of the governor’s killing of targeted free speech on Florida campuses.

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Shade me skeptical but Sasse was selected because he will submit because Desantis would never have allowed him to be selected to begin with. To disagree with the Governor on policies is a conflict of interest impermissible for a State employee.

Further apart from slight differences on Trump Sasse is pretty much on board with the Christian nationalist agenda and will be an ally in the culture war... especially in Forida's preeminent academic institution.

At least Sasse has come to terms that there is no place for him the Republican Party and that returning to academic administration (he was president of a small Lutheran college in Nebraska) is the best option.

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Let me get this straight. Evangelicals have renounced the teachings of Jesus and formed a pact with Satan to gain political power so that they can impose on Americans a religion they no longer follow?

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Welcome Senator Ricketts!!

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Sasse stand up to DeSantis??? LOL!!! He'll cave!

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I love it that Fox is giving so much air time to Herschel - no one is a worse spokesperson for Herschel than Herschel. Every day he steps in it in over and over again. And he keeps going back for more and Fox keeps giving him more air time. He lies, he contradicts his previous statements, his former turns out to be a mother of his child, his son denounces him as a person and a father in the most vitriolic manner. And like the self righting punching bag back he stands to face the cameras and the ever fawning slime Hugh Hewitt. It all reminds me of the old adage. The higher the linked climbs up the tree the more of his ass you see! Keep climbing Herschel.

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founding
Oct 7, 2022·edited Oct 7, 2022

So, on the one hand today we have Judge Mark Walker attempting to pull Florida back from the "upside down", while in Georgia we have Herschel Walker et al doubling down on the "upside down".

Where the hell's Walker, Texas Ranger when you need him? Surely he could help the Good Guys straighten this upside down mess out. But then again, maybe not. A "one upside down, one Ranger" model probably won't work, since the upside down is virtually everywhere one looks these days and is only continuing to spread. And then there's the 'Texas' part to consider.

As to Sasse being tested, will he be getting a straight-up grade on his job performance, or will he insist on a curve to account for any nettlesome political expediencies he may have to deal with?

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