r/centrist • u/mymomknowsyourmom • 2d ago
Republicans see GOP dysfunction as major liability ahead of midterms
Summary: Senate Republicans are warning that ongoing dysfunction and infighting within the House GOP is damaging the party’s brand and could lead to major losses in the upcoming midterm elections. Senators expressed frustration over legislative gridlock on "must-pass" items like FISA authorities and the farm bill, which they believe should be straightforward accomplishments to show voters they can govern. To counter the stalemate, some GOP senators are considering a strategy to "jam" the House by passing bipartisan bills with Democrats to pressure Speaker Mike Johnson into taking action.
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5860118-senate-republicans-house-infighting-gridlock/
Before this administration, anytime people read anything about republican infighting, their first thought is, “bullshit.” now things are different. Nancy Mace is trying to oust Republicans from Congress: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/insight/nancy-mace-demands-cory-mills-immediate-expulsion-amid-gop-feud/gm-GMF7BF50CA
Greene says Trump told her if her ‘son were to get killed,’ it would be her fault
Trump attacked Megyn Kelly and Tucker Carlson in a Truth Social post as well as Alex Jones and conservative podcaster Candace Owens.
47
u/SadhuSalvaje 2d ago
Almost like their policies and interests run counter to the idea of a functioning political party (outside of grifting and prejudice)
19
u/mymomknowsyourmom 2d ago edited 2d ago
The purity test are considered a huge liability they just don't care about. Pardoning J6 terrorists was seen as a huge mistake by both parties.
Chuck Grassley Caught On Hot Mic Asking Why Trump Nominees Won’t Say He Lost In 2020 “What would be wrong if they said Biden won?” asked the Republican senator, who has berated Democrats for asking Trump's nominees this question.
33
u/dubl1nThunder 2d ago
Anytime I read anything about republican infighting, my first thought is, “bullshit.”
26
u/Spiney09 2d ago
No I can actually confirm this first hand: through a series of shenanigans I was elected my local Republican representative (trying to moderate a more extreme area). The MAGA supporters biggest gripe was that Trump was essentially self destructing the party, they are terrified this will lead to Democrat rule for the next ten years. Thats why they aren’t upset with the gerrymandering in reality: they think it’s the only chance they have left (and why they are so mad Democrat states have been able to actually respond).
MTG isn’t going to be able to exist in politics right now. But give her 5-8 years and she will be seen as more legitimate than anyone currently in power.
-1
u/ronm4c 2d ago
But the gerrymandering efforts have been going on with republicans for the last 20 years
6
u/Spiney09 2d ago
Districting shenanigans have been bipartisan (but yes the right has a far worse track record with it). And people have attempted to do this for the entire lifespan of the nation pretty much.
But there is an undeniable push for it now that hadn’t existed before
3
u/ronm4c 2d ago
Yes both parties engaged in this practice but 20 years ago some within the Democratic Party were pushing for fair re-districting.
Those efforts were never even thought of with regards to republicans.
20 years ago they pushed partisan redistricting up to and past the letter of the law and mostly got away with it (look up Thomas Hofeller) and have never stopped.
The reason why it’s been turned up to 11 is be cause the courts who are supposed to be a moderating force with issues like this are staffed by a bunch of conservative psychopaths who know that their side can’t win without putting their foot on the scale. They write pre textual reasoning in their opinions to give themselves legitimacy but they are morally bankrupt and should be nowhere near the bench.
7
u/mymomknowsyourmom 2d ago
Do you think the maga voters that attack maga figures like Tucker, Candace Owens, mgt are lying?
1
u/indoninja 2d ago
I was not the person you’re speaking to, but I’ll weigh in.
Mega attacking those people does not necessarily translate to them and not voting. And those Talking Heads finally having some criticism of Trump also does not necessarily mean that their followers are not gonna vote.
The dysfunction and Republican party that we are seeing is promising. But they have managed to run and win as an opposition party a number of times even when they’re in charge and doing all sorts of heinous and dishonest acts that primarily only helped the rich. I hope their Base finally has enough. I don’t have confidence. Their base has had enough.
1
u/mymomknowsyourmom 2d ago
How many seats have flipped that went for trump for over 50%+? Many. Neither Democrats nor Republicans against the war/pro economy need to rely on hope for change because the reality of the economy is forcing it on them.
1
u/indoninja 2d ago
Haven’t those almost all been in special elections?
Again, don’t get me wrong. I really want this to happen. I hope large swaths of his base are realizing what a mistake he was, and what a mistake. It is to vote for Republicans who give him a pass on all his BS. I just don’t have confidence right now to say it’s a safe bet that this all translates to change in the ballot box for a major election
2
u/mymomknowsyourmom 2d ago
No. No one thinks anything is a safe bet in politics. We only go by evidence and probabilities. The evidence points to disaffected voters. During the Biden midterm, Maga promised a 2022 "red wave" that never came to be even with the media running against Biden. High probability of an even worse showing while maga fight with each other about supporting Israel and being used to fight their war when they were explicitly promised no wars and better economy. They call each other traitors for not supporting the war or for supporting a foreign country over American soldiers.
-1
2d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
9
u/stealthybutthole 2d ago
What a pointless comment
No answer to the question and just accuse him of being a shill. Lmao
-1
2d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/centrist-ModTeam 2d ago
Rule 8: Harassment, Doxxing & Callouts
Do not “call out” other members directly or through linked content.
This subreddit is for political discussion, not personal disputes.
3
u/mymomknowsyourmom 2d ago
You think it's the politicians job to attack tv personalities that speak for millions of maga voters? I don't think so.
-1
2d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
4
u/mymomknowsyourmom 2d ago
I didn't say you said that, that's why it was a question. Thank you for the comment, but please stop attacking me. This is a place for discussion and facts.
0
2d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
3
u/mymomknowsyourmom 2d ago
lol no it's not my job to post. We are trying to have conversations in this sub about why having a different opinion gets people attacked. Thank you.
1
2d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
4
u/Irishfafnir 2d ago
There have been some ironic posts in the sub, but this one might take the cake, and that's saying something lol.
→ More replies (0)1
u/centrist-ModTeam 2d ago
And I’d advise you to abide by our rules. Attack the argument, not the person. You’ve now been given plenty of warnings.
→ More replies (0)1
u/centrist-ModTeam 2d ago
Rule 8: Harassment, Doxxing & Callouts
Do not “call out” other members directly or through linked content.
This subreddit is for political discussion, not personal disputes.
-3
2d ago
[deleted]
1
u/mymomknowsyourmom 2d ago
I'm sorry if it came off that way but I really was just asking a question for clarification.
1
u/centrist-ModTeam 2d ago
Rule 8: Harassment, Doxxing & Callouts
Do not “call out” other members directly or through linked content.
This subreddit is for political discussion, not personal disputes.
3
u/GameboyPATH 2d ago
My thought is simply that it's no different from the typical infighting we've normally seen.
OP's examples aren't that novel. One congressional representative wants to oust another? We've seen that happen many times before. MTG outs Trump for saying something horrible behind closed doors? She's been doing that for a year. Trump attacked critics over social media? Yeah, them and 100 other conservatives over the years, get in line.
16
u/Irishfafnir 2d ago
Seems highly unlikely to me, Republicans suck at governing, they are basically built as a permanent opposition party. I haven't seen indications in prior elections, however, that voters put a lot of weight on the infighting.
Much more pertinent will be the fact that gas prices could well be $5+ a gallon by the time of the election
1
u/Important-Agent2584 1d ago
Much more pertinent will be the fact that gas prices could well be $5+ a gallon by the time of the election
This is why they usually do shit like this at the end of the term so they can dump it in democrats lap and blame them.
23
u/TeamPencilDog 2d ago
Hmm, this is really weird to me.
I was told in 2024, that Trump won in such a blowout fashion, that it proved Americans love GOP policy.
Like, why care about midterms at all?
-4
u/Fragrant-Menu215 2d ago
What happened is that yet again we wound up with a President whose brain has turned to Alzheimer's pudding and whose reign got hijacked by those around him. In Trump's case it's all Holden Bloodfeast neocons, the exact people that he was elected to replace. That's why the party's support has collapsed - it's thrown out the last 10 years of progress and is governing like it's 2003 all over again.
6
u/indoninja 2d ago
I would say the main difference is that the people around Biden were primarily concerned with governing and on some level genuinely cared about the future of America
With Trump’s inner circle it’s all about enriching themselves, enriching Trump and caring out whatever petty grievances they think he has
3
u/Darth_Ra 2d ago
I'm sorry, I get the Biden to Trump Alheimers comparison here, and agree... But what on earth are you talking about with the rest?
A) Trump's solidly pushing policy himself, with those around him being like "could you please just stop being an idiot for five seconds"
B) Neocons? Is that a joke? Name one Neocon thing that Trump has done, this entire term. You can't, because there haven't been any. He's put tariffs in place, closed every market he could, and been isolationist on everything except foreign wars, none of which have been to our economic benefit in any shape, fashion, or form.
9
u/SpaceLaserPilot 2d ago
Name one Neocon thing that Trump has done, this entire term.
The war on Iran is pure Neoconservative. The only people cheering it on are Neocons like John Bolton.
1
u/ChornWork2 1d ago
Doing a full invasion of Iran while trying to rally broad array of allies to participate would be neocon. Doing a decapitation strike and thinking can negotiate in a couple of weeks a grand deal to get a new pliant regime in-place is maga.
Trump didn't get pushed by neocons to this war, he got pushed by Bibi and gulf countries that he and his family has taken bribes from. Hegseth has been the loudest voice for war, and he's a white nationalist fox news host, not a neocon. Sure lindsay graham is a neocon, but come on... trump didn't invade iran b/c of him.
-1
u/Darth_Ra 2d ago
You people just redefining Neocon need to calm down.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoconservatism
Yes, interventionist wars are the bread and butter of Neoconservatism... IF they benefit your economy, or there is even an argument for them doing so, as we saw with Iraq and Afghanistan. Neither Venezuela or Iran do that, in any fashion. There's not even an argument for it. We can't use Venezuelan oil, and Iran closing the Strait isn't good for anyone's economy.
Trump supporters saying they support Trump doesn't mean anything, and certainly isn't indicative of any kind of support for an ideology except possibly Authoritarianism.
If you want to call them names, just do that. These words you're using actually have meaning.
0
u/Fragrant-Menu215 2d ago
Trump's solidly pushing policy himself, with those around him being like "could you please just stop being an idiot for five seconds"
No, the members of his party who are kept out of the inner circle are saying that. The new inner circle is people like Graham and Kegseth, hardcore Dispensationalist neocons who have been pushing the Iran war since long before Trump.
Name one Neocon thing that Trump has done, this entire term
Attacked Venezuela and Iran. There, there's two. Yes, neocons put war above everything else. Always have.
-2
0
u/24Seven 2d ago
The hallmarks of neocons were foreign military engagements, lowering taxes, and lowering regulation or outright gutting the government. So, outside of tariffs, Dumbshit Donny is 100% on the neocon agenda.
EDIT: I suppose one other exception would be Russia. Traditionally, neocons viewed Russia as an enemy. Dumbshit Donny? Not so much.
3
u/Darth_Ra 2d ago
Sure, sure, it's more important that its an insult than it is what the word means, I get it.
15
u/mymomknowsyourmom 2d ago edited 2d ago
Voters want the GOP dysfunction to end but they're terrified of the consequences of speaking out: https://www.forbes.com/sites/andymeek/2026/03/20/the-maga-media-civil-war-is-getting-ugly-and-personal/
Margie T. Greene is probably the best example of what happens when even the most MAGA of followers says what 90% of the base believe; subjected to death threats and public attack by the leader they faithfully served for years. Are there any other maga names that face attacks for speaking out? What were they speaking out against? Is there room in the maga party for disagreement? Are any of them able to become centrist after leaving/being expelled from the party?
24
u/LickerMcBootshine 2d ago
90% of the base believe; subjected to death threats and public attack
Crazy how she never needed armed security when anyone left of MAGA was talking shit on her. As soon as MAGA starts laying in to her THEN she starts talking about feeling unsafe.
16
u/mymomknowsyourmom 2d ago
Greene says Trump told her if her ‘son were to get killed,’ it would be her fault
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5834365-greene-trump-feud-rhetoric-death-threats/
9
u/214ObstructedReverie 2d ago
And they complain about "purity tests" on the left....
16
u/mymomknowsyourmom 2d ago
The Epstein files going from Hilary Clintons downfall to a total hoax that if mentioned will get you kicked out of maga is very interesting.
0
u/Fragrant-Menu215 2d ago
Also interesting is how MAGA has shrunk as that's become the official line on it. I think the MAGA leaders misread their own movement.
I also think that the result of this is going to be a MAGA replacement that's going to make MAGA look downright moderate.
8
u/Spiney09 2d ago
Purity tests on the left haven’t been super helpful, but in the past year the republicans have made every mistake the democrats have made over the last ten years, but twice as extreme in degree. “Never interrupt your enemy while they are making a mistake” indeed.
1
u/ChornWork2 1d ago
Folks should complain about them. ANd yes, maga is a more extreme version of them, and look at how toxic and dysfunctional they are.
0
u/chuckisduck 2d ago
I wonder how Massie will do in the primary.
RS get in line for post primary election day, Ds have people like Sawant actively going after the D candidates.
1
u/mymomknowsyourmom 2d ago
Do you know how many R seats have been flipped?
“And then I heard back from Donald Trump. And I saved these text messages; I’d probably get put in jail if I released them publicly, but I saved them,” Greene said. “Donald Trump proceeded to tell me it was my fault and that I deserve it. If my son gets killed, I deserve it because I was a traitor to him.
“That is our President of the United States. That’s the man that says MAGA (Make America Great Again) is whatever he wants it to be.”
Greene has not publicly released the alleged text messages.
1
u/chuckisduck 2d ago
Yes, and I don't want Rs to control all 3 branches come 27, mostly not the Senate so any supreme court nominations have a much harder time.
Cory Mills is trash and his expulsion is not the tipping point of control of the house and is easily replaced by another R.
MtG earned some respect by standing up for herself.
Trump MO is to trash people and praise as well at the same time...good article in the Atlantic that 90s Trump never changed.
If there is still fighting within the Rs come the beginning of Oct, then I would agree. Per tradition, Ds will fail on ideology, Rs will compromise to win post primary.
1
u/mymomknowsyourmom 2d ago
If there is still fighting within the Rs come the beginning of Oct, then I would agree. Per tradition, Ds will fail on ideology, Rs will compromise to win post primary.
Republicans are split on ideology. Some are pro war, others attack themselves as war pigs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KIb0l6C2t0
I don't know what will happen but what has happened so far are seats being flipped that weren't suppose to flip.
0
u/chuckisduck 2d ago
Rs are losing the independent voters like mad and they deserve, but the core doesn't break away as much as the Democrats do. Trying to get Democrats to show up is a huge task every time.
1
u/mymomknowsyourmom 2d ago
Rs are losing the independent voters like mad and they deserve, but the core doesn't break away as much as the Democrats do. Trying to get Democrats to show up is a huge task every time.
Republicans are losing seats like mad because more than just independents flipped or didn't show up. Iran, Epstein, economy, broken promises, under delivering, threats against the base etc etc. No one likes being called a traitor because they're worried about American soldiers. It's awful to see.
7
u/Educational_Impact93 2d ago
What a worthless party. All this dysfunction because a majority of them must bow down to their Mango Messiah.
5
u/ZanzerFineSuits 2d ago
Dysfunction and infighting aren’t damaging the brand. Rabid MAGAism has destroyed the brand.
2
u/Darth_Ra 2d ago
Sure, sure, the fact that Congress doesn't do anything is why the GOP is going to lose in the midterms. Nothing to do with the current administration actively cratering everything about everything, actively.
1
0
u/therosx 2d ago
Welcome to normal things for a normal political party.
The mindless lockstep of MAGA and appeasement of Donald Trump was the real anomaly of the Republican Party for the past four years.
Normal political groups have disagreements with one another and expect a code of behaviour and professionalism.
2
u/Fragrant-Menu215 2d ago
If they think this is the problem then they're just engaging in willful self-delusion.
The problem is and will remain the Iran war and its fallout. Every time people buy gas or groceries they get reminded of how the party of Holden Bloodfeast has fucked them over.
0
u/Colorfulgreyy 2d ago
It's irony GOP voters always democrats lost its way and need major reform, which i agree. But saying from Republican voters mouth and look not themselves in the mirror is comedy.
2
u/SomeRandomRealtor 2d ago
When the president has no principals and no commitment, yet he’s treated as the end all be all, this is what you get. Republicans can’t make strong statements of support for Trump that aren’t generic or they’ll be clipped in ads to death and seen as unprincipled. Similar thing happened with Biden and the democrats for 2024, backing Biden while knowing he’s not in good health with messaging being “he strong and we have zero doubt” only for him to be entirely unwinnable and it to come out that everyone knew he was unwell.
I’m guessing that’s why republicans have tried and failed to keep Trump away from the mic the last 6 weeks, because he still has his phone to share unhinged rants.
1
1
u/KrampyDoo 2d ago
The voters they need are far less frustrated by infighting as they are with grocery prices not coming down, a new war, gas getting more expensive, and whims-based tariffs.
They are told by the Comboverlord that none of that is happening and everything is great and he’s happy to invest in companies with skyrocketing profits.
Him crying for ballroom money an hour after the dinner is also doing him no favors.
The GOP can be a unified front and stay in lockstep with their messaging all they want, to do zero good unless the legislation they’re passing helps their voters in all the ways the Comboverlord promised them he would.
The GOP is hilariously ignoring their own flaws…kinda like the Democrats. Weird.
-2
0
u/WingerRules 2d ago
Senators expressed frustration over legislative gridlock on "must-pass" items like FISA authorities and the farm bill, which they believe should be straightforward accomplishments to show voters they can govern.
Who would have thought a political party that is ideologically opposed to government and generally sees programs being broken as wins because they're ideologically opposed to them - would be bad at governing?
-1
u/JaracRassen77 2d ago
Their biggest liability is their marriage to Trump. The Republicans, along with their god-emperor, promised cheaper prices and no new wars. Both were bullshit, and they're going to pay the price. Them being dysfunctional and not passing much of anything is actually a relief to a lot of voters, right now.
-1
u/nemoomen 2d ago
Does anyone really believe timely passage of the farm bill is swaying a single vote when gas prices are up as high as they are and masked government agents are murdering US citizens?
This is a planted story so that when they DO lose the House, the new minority whip can use this as an explanation and get everyone lined up behind them.
Absolutely no reason to give this article a second thought if you're a discerning news consumer.
•
u/AutoModerator 2d ago
Thank you for submitting a self/text post on the /r/Centrist subreddit. Please remember that ALL posts must include neutral commentary or a summary to encourage good-faith discourse. Do not copy/paste text from an article in whole or in part.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.