What does doofus have on the party?

[EnergizedLib]

Do they fear his retaliation? Has he threatened a rogue Justice department on him? Is he blackmailing them?

Do they honestly fear him more than they fear their constituents who will undoubtedly fire some of them in 2026?

[ITAL]

1. I think they fear their constituents

The vast majority of them are in ruby red areas that are filled with Trump loyalists.

[EnergizedLib]

2. And you're telling me there are no swing districts

Or people in these districts who will be angry at this?

If we don’t pick up at least one chamber in 2026, I’ve abandoned hope for us as a party.

[ITAL]

6. There are a few of course

Just not very many. Not even that long ago you could say there were probably 60 swing districts out there. Now I'd wager it's less than 20.

[elocs]

12. Why do none of these House Republicans seem concerned about getting reelected next year?

A handful would have been enough to scuttle the budget bill, that is if Democratic reps can stop dying.

[J_William_Ryan]

3. "What does doofus have on the party?"

Nothing.

And he doesn’t need anything.

The myth is that prior to Trump, the GOP was a right of center mainstream party interested in sound governance and responsible public policy.

The truth is that Trump is the product of a Republican party that for the last 50 years has pursued an authoritarian, anti-democratic agenda motivated by fear, ignorance, racism, bigotry, and hate; the same fear, ignorance, racism, bigotry, and hate that put Trump back in the WH and gave control of Congress to Republicans.

[Cosmocat]

13. Correct

nm

[JI7]

4. The constituents support him and that's what they are afraid of

losing in a primary.

[EnergizedLib]

5. You're telling me none of these constituents will crow

About all their stuff being cut?

[SheltieLover]

7. Remember when Hillary's emails were hacked? So were repukes' emails!

Cannot recall source, but I've seen this mentioned a couple of times.

Pukes should try living with integrity for a change. It's incredibly empowering to know nobody has dirt sufficient to end your career.

[SKKY]

8. I don't know, but if this nonsense passes, I'm going to be watching the purple...

...congressional districts in 2026. That will probably be our best indication of a potential Blue Wave.

[essaynnc]

9. The other side of the same coin...

Perhaps he's promised them something too ..rich beyond your wildest dreams, you'll be part of the "baked in" ever continuing Republican administration.

Or maybe a combination of blackmail and buy-off?

I've always wondered the same thing...

[no_hypocrisy]

10. A couple of things:

I believe Trump has an impressive portfolio of secrets on enough Republicans to make the rest bend to his will.

And constituents. Instead of working for The People (including Democrats and Never Trumpers) and the Constitution, Trump's "strategy" is to appeal to the least, a minority, of voters who, when united, can put certain candidates into office (or remove them from office). He feels secure that an insufficient number of voters can overtake the MAGA minority.

[Emile]

11. Republicans ran on term limits, but now are afraid Trump will have them primaried if

they don't toe the party line.

[taxi]

14. He has nothing on them that they don't have on themselves. They love it.

This excerpt is from the movie, Forbidden Planet:

But like you, the Krell
forgot one deadly danger...
...their own subconscious hate
and lust for destruction.
The beast.
The mindless primitive.
Even the Krell must have evolved
from that beginning.
And so those mindless beasts
of the subconscious had access...
...to a machine that could
never be shut down.
The secret devil
of every soul on the planet...
...all set free at once
to loot and maim...
...and take revenge, Morbius, and kill.
My poor Krell.

[Takket]

15. Nothing. They support him willingly and gleefully. Never forget that.

He has systematically eliminated any opposition in his own party to get to the point of total control he has now.

[TnDem]

16. Nothing

He has nothing on them... However, they have a deep dislike, but a grudging respect because they know HE is the face of the party and not them.

[Irish_Dem]

17. They are corrupt as he is. They have taken Russian and billionaire money.

Follow Putin's talking points.
Helped plan and execute J6, etc.

They are not just covering for Trump, they are covering for themselves.

They are also done with democracy. It serves no purpose for them in their quest
for permanent power and unlimited wealth.