01-28-2021, 11:22 PM
There are Republicans that know Trump lied repeatedly when he said that Biden won because of massive voter fraud. Of those that know that, some of them openly acknowledge it. And some know that the big lie is a lie but they don't say anything meaningful about that fact. And some that know the big lie is a lie, themselves lie and say that what Trump claims is true. Then there are the delusional who believe the big lie.
All three of the latter groups are functionally what the Republican Party is now. I think the question is if those that know the big lie is a lie and have acknowledged it will stay in the Republican Party. If they do stay in the Republican Party, they may rationalize it as some "for the greater good" BS, but I think their primary purpose will largely be self interest.
Of course, many of those Republicans that know the big lie is a lie and openly acknowledge it will try to take the Party back from the big lie pushers rather than leave the Party right now. But Rand Paul showed how weak their hand is. There probably will be a few people like Romney who will openly say the big lie is a lie and remain in the Party, but I think those will be few and far between. It looks bleak for that group. But maybe a fracturing of the Trump nuts into feuding groups might give them some opportunities to take the Party back?
All three of the latter groups are functionally what the Republican Party is now. I think the question is if those that know the big lie is a lie and have acknowledged it will stay in the Republican Party. If they do stay in the Republican Party, they may rationalize it as some "for the greater good" BS, but I think their primary purpose will largely be self interest.
Of course, many of those Republicans that know the big lie is a lie and openly acknowledge it will try to take the Party back from the big lie pushers rather than leave the Party right now. But Rand Paul showed how weak their hand is. There probably will be a few people like Romney who will openly say the big lie is a lie and remain in the Party, but I think those will be few and far between. It looks bleak for that group. But maybe a fracturing of the Trump nuts into feuding groups might give them some opportunities to take the Party back?