Agree or Disagree? Donald Trump Controls The Republican Party And Republicans Must Yield To Him (1 Viewer)

[Joe Bryant]

The discussion about how much control Donald Trump has over the Republican party today is interesting. 

I've talked to people who have different opinions.

As I've done lately, thought a poll would be helpful. 

Hopefully I did the "not applicable" thing right on this one so people can vote by demographic. 

 

[djmich]

I voted on the fence, but he absolutely has a cultish sort of influence that I am not comfortable with 

 

[squistion]

At the moment Trump owns the Republican Party lock, stock and barrel IMO.

 

[The General]

I mean who else has more control? There are other players for sure but he’s got the most leverage.

 

[dkp993]

I don’t want it to be true as I’d love for a good moderate republican voice to rise in the party but the GOPs actions over the past 3ish years speak otherwise.  The RINO phenomenon is a perfect example.  

 

[RavenFan]

How is this even a question?  Many of the people who supported his 2nd impeachment or had the audacity to say the election wasn't stolen were literally recognized as persona non grata within the Republican party. 

He's also the choice of like three quarters of Republicans to be the candidate in '24. 

For those who vote he isn't, can you tell us why you think he's not.  I'm genuinely curious. 

 

[sho nuff]

At the moment...yes...he is in control of it...and those who don't yield to him find themselves on the outs of committees and leadership and their state party trying to toss them (see Liz Cheney).

 

[IvanKaramazov]

I voted "mostly agree."  It's blindingly obvious that everybody in the Republican party feels a lot of pressure to get on board with Trump.  I'm just not sure how much of that is needing to support Trump specifically or Trumpism more generally.  Probably some of both.

 

[Philo Beddoe]

I voted "mostly agree."  It's blindingly obvious that everybody in the Republican party feels a lot of pressure to get on board with Trump.  I'm just not sure how much of that is needing to support Trump specifically or Trumpism more generally.  Probably some of both.

I think DeSantis beats him 10 out of 10 times. He is going to attract a lot of fence sitters and suburban moms who are disgusted with the authoritarian left. 

 

[Sinn Fein]

I don't know if they "must", but they absolutely "do."

 

[Stoneworker]

Overrated. In here, in the MSM and in real life. He's just in your heads.

If Trump was so omnipotent...then no way would 19 GOP Senators vote and pass a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill.

The 19 Republicans who voted for the bill, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., did so despite pressure from former President Donald Trump to deny Democrats a victory. Trump released a statement that called the bill "the beginning of the Green New Deal."

Republican negotiators, including Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, dismissed that criticism and promoted the agreement as a huge breakthrough for the Senate.

https://www.npr.org/2021/08/10/1026081880/senate-passes-bipartisan-infrastructure-bill

 

[roadkill1292]

I think DeSantis beats him 10 out of 10 times. He is going to attract a lot of fence sitters and suburban moms who are disgusted with the authoritarian left. 

Things could change in two years but right now Trump outpolls DeSantis three to one among Republican voters.

 

[cosjobs]

Results are hard to see, especially with the NA option. 

Could we get overall totals just on the agree parts

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Things could change in two years but right now Trump outpolls DeSantis three to one among Republican voters.

Bovada.com has odds somewhat similar to that.

Trump +100

DeSantis +450

Haley +800

 

[-jb-]

results per affiliation are telling.

 

[AAABatteries]

For me the answer is obvious - considering what the man has done the last five years, there’s no doubt he has total control or else he would have been ostracized by now.

I mean seriously, if I took a time machine back to 2015 and told all of you that the person most likely to be the GOP candidate was a person who did and said all the things Trump has you wouldn’t believe me.

Defrauding a kids cancer charity is disqualifying in and of itself.  Jan. 6th, “grab women”, the nepotism, the yes men he surrounded himself with, porn stars, “stand by”, the impeachment, “some are good people”, his continuous degrading people on social media, still denying he lost.

The idea that he doesn’t have total control is preposterous and anybody willing to cast a vote for him knows exactly what kind of person they are voting for.

 

[roadkill1292]

For me the answer is obvious - considering what the man has done the last five years, there’s no doubt he has total control or else he would have been ostracized by now.

I mean seriously, if I took a time machine back to 2015 and told all of you that the person most likely to be the GOP candidate was a person who did and said all the things Trump has you wouldn’t believe me.

Defrauding a kids cancer charity is disqualifying in and of itself.  Jan. 6th, “grab women”, the nepotism, the yes men he surrounded himself with, porn stars, “stand by”, the impeachment, “some are good people”, his continuous degrading people on social media, still denying he lost.

The idea that he doesn’t have total control is preposterous and anybody willing to cast a vote for him knows exactly what kind of person they are voting for.

Ask the president of Ukraine to launch a smear campaign against your political opponent? No problem, you're still our guy.

Ask the Georgia SOS to make up 11,000 votes out of thin air? No problem, you're still our guy.

 

[Jets05]

Overrated. In here, in the MSM and in real life. He's just in your heads.

If Trump was so omnipotent...then no way would 19 GOP Senators vote and pass a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill.

The 19 Republicans who voted for the bill, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., did so despite pressure from former President Donald Trump to deny Democrats a victory. Trump released a statement that called the bill "the beginning of the Green New Deal."

Republican negotiators, including Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, dismissed that criticism and promoted the agreement as a huge breakthrough for the Senate.

https://www.npr.org/2021/08/10/1026081880/senate-passes-bipartisan-infrastructure-bill

Good take.

I do think there's a difference between a non-election year and an election year though.  

 

[joffer]

For me the answer is obvious - considering what the man has done the last five years, there’s no doubt he has total control or else he would have been ostracized by now.

I mean seriously, if I took a time machine back to 2015 and told all of you that the person most likely to be the GOP candidate was a person who did and said all the things Trump has you wouldn’t believe me.

Defrauding a kids cancer charity is disqualifying in and of itself.  Jan. 6th, “grab women”, the nepotism, the yes men he surrounded himself with, porn stars, “stand by”, the impeachment, “some are good people”, his continuous degrading people on social media, still denying he lost.

The idea that he doesn’t have total control is preposterous and anybody willing to cast a vote for him knows exactly what kind of person they are voting for.

geez when you put it that way

 

[BladeRunner]

As I posted in yet another 1/6 thread:

I think Trump may have some influence, but not near the influence that "the left" thinks he has.  Like the the whole 1/6 fiasco, they are amping it up to level 11 because they can't run on anything else, especially their own records.

The reality is far less than what they are portraying it as, IMO.  Every day, whatever sway Trump has diminishes and by 2024 Trump will be an afterthought and will have as much sway in the GOP as I have.

 

[tymarsas]

When I answered, my response was based on one thing: the fact that anyone Donald Trump endorses in a primary basically wins. I've seen stats like 109-2 or 137-3. It seems like you definitely don't want Trump opposing you in a primary. This article points out that record might not be as impressive as it looks:  https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/almost-everyone-trump-endorses-wins-their-primary-but-is-he-padding-his-record/.

So I might change my vote from absolutely agree to mostly agree. That being said, he has endorsed a lot of candidates going into this year and is trying to take out some people like Liz Cheney, so this might be a good test of his hold on the party.

 

[Stoneworker]

As I posted in the yet another 1/6 thread:

I think Trump may have some influence, but not near the influence that "the left" thinks he has.  Like the the whole 1/6 fiasco, they are amping it up to level 11 because they can't run on anything else, especially their own records.

The reality is far less than what they are portraying it as, IMO.  Every day, whatever sway Trump has diminishes and by 2024 Trump will be an afterthought and will have as much sway in the GOP as I have.

Bingo. 

It's pitiful how much oxygen the Democrats and MSM continue to give Trump that only serves to keeps him alive. But the reality is they need him. He's the focal point that masks their own disorganization and ineptitude clearly demonstrated over the past year.

So let's just sweep all the ineptitude under the rug and distract voters with the same exhausting anti-Trump rhetoric.

 

[joffer]

Bingo. 

It's pitiful how much oxygen the Democrats and MSM continue to give Trump that only serves to keeps him alive. But the reality is they need him. He's the focal point that masks their own disorganization and ineptitude clearly demonstrated over the past year.

So let's just sweep all the ineptitude under the rug and distract voters with the same exhausting anti-Trump rhetoric.

ffs, he’s gonna be the nominee in ‘24

 

[Stoneworker]

ffs, he’s gonna be the nominee in ‘24

If Democrats had their act together and actually accomplished something, they wouldn't give two sh**ts who the GOP nominee was going to be in 2024.  

 

[zoonation]

I don’t know how any reasonably informed person could conclude otherwise.  

 

[joffer]

If Democrats had their act together and actually accomplished something, they wouldn't give two sh**ts who the GOP nominee was going to be in 2024.  

they passed infrastructure.  and the next time any political party doesn’t give two sh**ts about the opposing party’s front-runner will be the first.  That’s not new to Trump.

 

[Stoneworker]

they passed infrastructure.  and the next time any political party doesn’t give two sh**ts about the opposing party’s front-runner will be the first.  That’s not new to Trump.

Get real. Infrastructure was a gift from 19 GOP senators.

ffs, you've got full control of gov't. Where's climate legislation?

 

[zoonation]

Get real. Infrastructure was a gift from 19 GOP senators.

ffs, you've got full control of gov't. Where's climate legislation?

No they don’t.  And you’re being disingenuous by suggesting they do. 

 

[BladeRunner]

they passed infrastructure.  and the next time any political party doesn’t give two sh**ts about the opposing party’s front-runner will be the first.  That’s not new to Trump.

I'm actually starting to think Trump is the front runner for the Democrat Party for as much space and oxygen he takes up with you guys. 

 

[joffer]

Get real. Infrastructure was a gift from 19 GOP senators.

ffs, you've got full control of gov't. Where's climate legislation?

yeah I’m done.  youve got to be kidding at this point.

 

[RavenFan]

Bingo. 

It's pitiful how much oxygen the Democrats and MSM continue to give Trump that only serves to keeps him alive. But the reality is they need him. He's the focal point that masks their own disorganization and ineptitude clearly demonstrated over the past year.

So let's just sweep all the ineptitude under the rug and distract voters with the same exhausting anti-Trump rhetoric.

Trump OWNS the Republican party.  Please tell me the democrat who requires absolute fealty like Trump does.  Tell me the democrat who's gotten other democrats essentially thrown out of the party for not endorsing his lies.

Republicans make special trips to Trump to kiss his ring and make sure he knows they're working for him.

Holy smokes I can't believe anyone thinks Trump doesn't run the Republican party.  But there are also people who think the election was stolen and that January 6th was exactly the same as the summer of 2020 riots.  

It's quite amazing. 

 

[BladeRunner]

yeah I’m done.  youve got to be kidding at this point.

Let's be real here - you're the guy who just posted that trump will be the nominee in 2024.  You probably shouldn't be acting all incredulous at others "kidding" around.

 

[BladeRunner]

Trump OWNS the Republican party.  Please tell me the democrat who requires absolute fealty like Trump does.  Tell me the democrat who's gotten other democrats essentially thrown out of the party for not endorsing his lies.

Republicans make special trips to Trump to kiss his ring and make sure he knows they're working for him.

Holy smokes I can't believe anyone thinks Trump doesn't run the Republican party.  But there are also people who think the election was stolen and that January 6th was exactly the same as the summer of 2020 riots.  

It's quite amazing. 

The only thing Trump OWNS, is the space in your head.  Democrats can't even run on their own record, so instead they have to keep Trump front and center HOPING what they say will either come true or they can get enough people to believe it's true.

 

[RavenFan]

The only thing Trump OWNS, is the space in your head.  Democrats can't even run on their own record, so instead they have to keep Trump front and center HOPING what they say will either come true or they can get enough people to believe it's true.

You sure about that?  3/4 of Rs want him to be the nominee in '24.  Many many Republican leaders have treked to kiss his ring.  Many many republicans have been essentially thrown out of the party for not accepting the Big Lie.

You sure our head space is the only space Trump owns?

lol

 

[BladeRunner]

You sure about that?  3/4 of Rs want him to be the nominee in '24.  Many many Republican leaders have treked to kiss his ring.  Many many republicans have been essentially thrown out of the party for not accepting the Big Lie.

You sure our head space is the only space Trump owns?

lol

You're at the point where you're just making stuff up now so, yeah, I'm sure. 

 

[RavenFan]

You're at the point where you're just making stuff up now so, yeah, I'm sure. 

Let's just agree to disagree and leave it at that.

Thanks for the reasonable discourse. 

 

[Stoneworker]

Trump OWNS the Republican party.  Please tell me the democrat who requires absolute fealty like Trump does.  Tell me the democrat who's gotten other democrats essentially thrown out of the party for not endorsing his lies.

Republicans make special trips to Trump to kiss his ring and make sure he knows they're working for him.

Holy smokes I can't believe anyone thinks Trump doesn't run the Republican party.  But there are also people who think the election was stolen and that January 6th was exactly the same as the summer of 2020 riots.  

It's quite amazing. 

Even if what you claim is true, why do Democrats even care?

Perform and you will be rewarded.

Trump will become an afterthought...and the GOP will also move on knowing they need to raise their game. America wins.

 

[RavenFan]

Even if what you claim is true, why do Democrats even care?

Perform and you will be rewarded.

Trump will become an afterthought...and the GOP will also move on knowing they need to raise their game. America wins.

The question was asked specifically about Trump.  And the GOP has shown ZERO willingness to move on from Trump.

That's the issue we're discussing. 

 

[BladeRunner]

Even if what you claim is true, why do Democrats even care?

Perform and you will be rewarded.

Trump will become an afterthought...and the GOP will also move on knowing they need to raise their game. America wins.

It's so simple.  Run on YOUR record, not the other guy's record.  The other guy who's not even office anymore to boot.

 

[Stoneworker]

The question was asked specifically about Trump.  And the GOP has shown ZERO willingness to move on from Trump.

That's the issue we're discussing. 

Lol. Fine. Then back to my first post.

If Trump controls the GOP 100% as you assert, then how did 19 senators vote to approve the infrastructure bill over his specific objection?

 

[BladeRunner]

The question was asked specifically about Trump.  And the GOP has shown ZERO willingness to move on from Trump.

That's the issue we're discussing. 

See, this is where you're making stuff up again.  Well, maybe it's a gross exaggeration at best.  This is what YOU want to believe, not what's really happening.  @Stoneworker's post above is a prime example of how you are completely wrong on this.

You NEED Trump more than the GOP does.  He'll be an afterthought by 2024.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I voted "mostly agree" after thinking about it.   As worded, I think the question is phrased too strongly.   I don't think he "controls" the party or that people "must" yield to him.   But as another poster stated, the amount of influence he still has is at an uncomfortable level from where I sit.  

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Bovada.com has odds somewhat similar to that.

Trump +100

DeSantis +450

Haley +800

Looks like "free money" for those who laugh at the thought that Trump is a lock to get the GOP nomination.

 

[Alex P Keaton]

I don’t know how any reasonably informed person could conclude otherwise.  

This

 

[Amused to Death]

Mostly agree. Has there ever been another former President who has remained in the public spotlight more than him? He's still holding rallies.

 

[The Commish]

While its clear he absolutely is the tail wagging the dog, it doesnt HAVE to be that way. They seem fine with it that way though.

Guess I need to go with "on the fence"  here given what comes after the AND. 

 

[The Commish]

Im old enough to remember when Trump was allegedly an afterthought by the end of 2020.

 

[ekbeats]

Here's my take - Trump is currently controlling the Republican Party.  But as I've said in other threads, I don't believe he will win the Republican nomination in 2024.  Too many people like me have been turned off by Trump's narcissism.  I think Desantis or Haley gets the nomination in 2024.  I'm leaning towards Haley because I think she would employ the right strategy in beating Trump, which is to not get into food fights with the guy.  Desantis and Trump are going to brawl in my opinion, and it will hurt both candidates.  If Haley takes the high road and stays above the fray she will win the nom.  She is the hope for the Republican Party.

 

[RavenFan]

Here's my take - Trump is currently controlling the Republican Party.  But as I've said in other threads, I don't believe he will win the Republican nomination in 2024.  Too many people like me have been turned off by Trump's narcissism.  I think Desantis or Haley gets the nomination in 2024.  I'm leaning towards Haley because I think she would employ the right strategy in beating Trump, which is to not get into food fights with the guy.  Desantis and Trump are going to brawl in my opinion, and it will hurt both candidates.  If Haley takes the high road and stays above the fray she will win the nom.  She is the hope for the Republican Party.

Disagree.  If Trump wants the nomination no one can stop him.  Hell, he incited people to try to stop the peaceful transition of power last January and Republicans are as subservient to him as ever.

History writers will have a field day with the current state of the Republican party. 

 

[ekbeats]

Disagree.  If Trump wants the nomination no one can stop him.  Hell, he incited people to try to stop the peaceful transition of power last January and Republicans are as subservient to him as ever.

History writers will have a field day with the current state of the Republican party. 

I disagree, though I have to concede that the polls are probably not on my side. Someone said earlier that my "gut feeling" was about as good as one of Tim's gut feelings, and truth be told that comment really bothered me, in part because it is right.  I am all about facts and polls, always have been.  But there are some times where one's gut feel takes precedence.  In 2016 when everyone thought Trump had no chance of winning, I was one of the few people who thought the opposite.  I was pretty much convinced that Trump would win the election, and I told anyone who would listen.  Instincts?  Maybe.  Sometimes instincts are extremely informative.  I really do think that a lot of Republicans view Trump as not fit for office.  1/6 changed things for me, and I have to believe that it also changed things for most people like me - educated voters who really are concerned about the future of the country.

I 100% acknowledge I could be wrong, because as I've said already the polls would indicate that Trump will win the nom.  But I don't believe the polls. Just like I didn't believe the polls in 2016.  That and $2.50 will get you a cup of soup.  Here's what I am holding onto... Throughout history whenever America has been in crisis there has been a leader to emerge that has saved the Republic.  I believe that leader is Nikki Haley.  Maybe it's because I want to believe it.  Who knows.  But Nikki Haley has always struck me as someone who has potential to be a transformational leader.  I've been following her pretty closely for the last 10 years, and if she plays he cards right she has a legitimate chance to be the type of person that changes the course of history.