The Republican Party is dead & gone. Donald Trump gleefully killed the party with the assistance of his duplicitous sycophants.

The GOP has made their choice. They chose Trump. They choose lawlessness. They choose a deranged-demigod. The GOP is the party that endorsed & condones Domestic Terrorist and Insurrection. Full Stop

It is time to have a brutal and long discussion of Trump and the Republican Party…

After taking the time to do some serious reflection and engaging in varying intellectually challenging dialogue. Setting aside the fact that I was intentionally asking very difficult and at times uncomfortable questions. As I listened intently to the various answers from several intellectual heavyweights. Of which nearly all of whom are highly respected individuals within my industry. I wonder to myself is this really the last stand at the final sunset of the Republican Party?

Candidly I have had the good fortune of knowing a majority of these individuals (for better or worse, but mainly for the better) for most of my career. In my industry some of the most outstanding litigants are the ones who seek input from varying points of view. Invariably by utilizing this best practice the answers to questions posed, often provided a more thoughtful, thorough and informed opinion.

The cancerous spread of Trump’s disinformation…

While most applauded the categorical banning of Donald Trump from nearly all social media platforms. In many respects this move by Facebook, YouTube, Twitter et al, came entirely too late. The damage was done and had a permanent effect and affect on the general electorate. The social media companies not only profited off of Trump’s Hate-Agenda but were loathe to minimally fact check the disinformation and misinformation that spewed from Trump’s social media accounts. 

This reluctance and inaction from the various social media companies, resulted in Trump and his propaganda spread like a cancerous tumor. Its tentacles would suffocate the facts and the truth. Unsurprisingly the reach of Trump’s hate-filled disinformation had the ability divide American families. As the enduring lyrics of America the Beautiful… serves as a reminder of how vast our Country really is, it also reflects the totality of Trump’s reach.

O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain For purple mountain majesties above thy fruited plain America, America, God shed His grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea

The Republican Party of; Lincoln, Roosevelt, Eisenhower and Reagan is dead. And Donald Trump gleefully killed it

During the entirety of Trump’s presidency, many expected that he would rise to the dignity of the Office of the President of the United States. Sadly every time Trump would resoundingly debase the office he temporarily held and himself. Moreover the capitulation, the enabling, the dismissiveness “he’s just blowing off steam”and the gas lighting further forged the iron fist of control Trump would use to “pay <insert name here back for being disloyal” to Trump. As it relates to loyalty, this is an asymmetrical “relationship”. When it comes to Donald J Trump, loyalty is not a two way street and he will always put himself above all, even above his own family.

Defy King Trump’s wishes -meet his iron fist of abuse that will beat you into total and absolute submission.

As previously noted, there were only seven Senate Republicans that voted to convict Trump, thus leaving forty three who are inwardly cowardly Those who truly know Washington DC also know that the colloquialism of; “welcome to the thunderdome” is an apt parlance, “losers fighting to their (political) death” except in the case of Donald Trump. For know and varying unknown reasons, Trump never pays a political price for his vulgar thirst of power. This thirst can never be satiated. The thirst craves power and more power and even more power.

Trump, like any successful mob-boss surrounds himself with a circle of obsequious sycophants. Many of whom will gladly do Trump’s dirty work because Trump holds the key to their political and personal futures. Trump gives them orders and his supplicants carry out these orders, no questions asked.

Trump’s reach and the price paid by those who in defied him.

On January 6, 2021 millions of Americans watched in near real time Trump’s violent mob descend and swarm our Capitol. The building that is the living and breathing heart and embodiment of American Democracy. Millions were traumatized by what was broadcast on live TV. Nearly 140 law enforcement officers sustained injuries, some of which are permanent. Then on January 7, 2021 news broke that US Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick had collapsed US at Capitol Police Office, and was taken to the hospital and sadly died. Days later two additional police officers died by suicide. Hundreds if not thousands of Hill staffers were traumatized as they quietly hid from Trump’s violent mob. We later found out Trump’s violent mob was “hunting” for lawmakers and (then) Vice President Pence.

Those Republicans who spoke out about Trump’s violent mob and Trump’s incitement of his insurrection then faced repudiation and/or censure by their State Republican Committee. By way of background you might want to read my multipart thoughts on the Republican Party, Part One found here and Part Two can be found here. For the record part three and four will be published in the coming weeks. Due to my limited bandwidth during the work week, I typically reserve the weekends for the heavy research files…

♦️Arizona Republicans Party goes full on Trump

Chem-Trial Kelli goes full on Trump, in her January 7, 2021 address to Arizona Republicans, she once again amplified Trump’s “Big Lie” in her two plus minute long video the premeditated plan to blame shift to Antifa and BLM

On January 9, 2021 the Arizona GOP tweeted the following

On January 10, 2021 the Arizona GOP tweeted this follow up

As reported by CNN, on January 24, 2021 the Arizona GOP censures Flake, Ducey and McCain, “signaling a fractured party in a key swing state”;

The party censured Ducey for imposing emergency rules as Covid-19 gripped Arizona, saying those emergency orders to contain the virus violated the Constitution and amounted to the governor enacting "dictatorial powers."

McCain, the widow of the late Sen. John McCain, who endorsed Biden during the election, was censured for supporting "leftist causes" and failing to support Trump. 

Flake, a CNN contributor, was also condemned for supporting Biden in the election.

♦️Louisiana Republican Party and Senator Cassidy

Literally within hours of Senator Bill Cassidy voting to convict Donald J Trump on the Article of Impeachment “incitement of insurrection” Sen Cassidy’s own party (the executive board) voted unanimously to censure him:

If you’re inclined I would suggest that you read the comments on the Louisiana Republican Party’s website. Of the hundreds of comments there are only a few voices that offer support for Senator Cassidy’s vote. Leaving the vast majority of comments railing at Senator Cassidy. The Trump rot truly runs deep/

♦️North Carolina Republican Party and Senator Burr

In a rather humorous twist of irony the North Carolina Republican Party. Who has its own history of actual voter fraud vis-a-vis Republican Operative Leslie McCrae Dowless. Nearly two years to the date, Dowless was indicted and let’s not forget about Rep Madison Cawthrone “you can lightly threaten them”

The February 15, 2021 NC GOP Press Release - in the very first sentence there is a blatant lie. The NC GOP stated that the second impeachment of Donald Trump who in fact incited an insurrection, and sadly resulted in the deaths of seven Americans (two of whom were law enforcement officers who died by suicide) speciously asserting the second impeachment was “unconstitutional” and that lie became the bases for an unanimously voted to censure Senator Richard Burr for his February 13, 2021 vote to convict Trump.

♦️Pennsylvania Republican Party and Senator Toomey

While the State Republican Party is “thinking” about censuring Senator Toomey, the York County Republicans voted, also within hours of Senator Toomey’s vote to convict Donald Trump; February 13th “York County Republican committee voted to censure U.S. Senator Pat Toomey for his voting record which is replete with positions that are counter to the principles of the Republican party and being out of touch with the core…beliefs of the People of Pennsylvania”

Dave Ball, the chairman of the Washington County, Penned GOP actually said this following Sen Pat Toomey’s Vote. The Trump-ism is the most cancerous form of self destruction and is not at all compatible with our Republic or our Democracy... because this direct quote is Trump-ism in a rancid nutshell

‘We did not send him there to vote his conscience. We did not send him there to ‘do the right thing’ or whatever”

…but then again

♦️Maine Republican Party and Senator Collins

Unlike her male Republicans Senate colleagues, Senator Collins State party appears to be on the brink of voting to censure her:

Shortly after the February 13, 2021 Impeachment vote, Maine GOP Chair Demi Kouzounas told party members in an email;

Maine GOP Chair Demi Kouzounas told party members in a Saturday email;

“many of you are upset after what happened today as are we…to be prepared for an emergency state committee meeting in the near future” to discuss the Collins matter”

And on February 16, 2021 local Maine news outlets reported that the Maine Republican Party would convene an “emergency meeting” via Zoom.

♦️Utah Republican Party &nthe duality of Senators Romney & Lee

In a bit of a surprising move the Utah Republican Party appears to be defending both Sens Romney and Lee. State Party Board member Bob McEntee, told KUTV

“I’ve gotten phone calls and emails, and I’m seeing a lot of chat on Facebook that people want to do a measure of censure against Sen. Romney, like we’ve seen against Liz Cheney in Wyoming, and the senator down in Louisiana,“ 

This was after the following online petition, a motion to censure Senator Romney started circling among Utah Republicans, it included hundreds of signatories. The censure motion which reads in part:

“represent the average conservative Utah Republican voter," "embarrassed the state of Utah," and “misrepresented himself as a Republican” when he ran for office.

Read the full Statement from the Utah Republican Party:

“….The differences between our own Utah Republicans showcase a diversity of thought, in contrast to the danger of a party fixated on “unanimity of thought.” There is power in our differences as a political party, and we look forward to each senator explaining their votes to the people of Utah…”

♦️Alaska Republican Party and Senator Murkowski

Unlike other State Republican Parties, Alaska appears to be both geographically and ideologically fractured. Based on local reporting in Alaska several districts have commenced the process of censuring Senator Murkowsky, read more here

The Alaska GOP State Central Committee meets in mid-March in Anchorage. Word is that the districts leading the censures of Murkowski will bring their efforts to the State Central Committee for a statewide vote.

♦️Nebraska Republican Party and Senator Sasse

On February 4, 2021 the Nebraska Republican Party announced their "Resolution of Censure" against Senator Sasse. The draft resolution of censure was first reported by News Channel Nebraska - the text of the nearly 1,200 word long resolution is a laundry list of perceived grievances. In short the Nebraska Republican Party believes Sen Sasse is “disloyal to Trump” you can read the full text of the resolution here

Senator Sasse’s rebuttal is worth watching too:

Republicans are FLEEING their state Republican parties:

As Trump’s second impeachment trial loomed large, reporters across the Country published reports that analyzed publicly available vote data. According to CalMatter’s February 2, 2021 Report an astonishing 33,448 voters had left the California Republican Party.

Data compiled by the California Secretary of State’s office shows 33,448 voters have left the state GOP since the day of the Capitol riot. That exodus reached its zenith the following day, when 3,243 former Republicans called it quits on the party of Donald Trump.

With nearly 4,700 Left Republican Party in San Diego County in January alone. Wonder how House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (Q-CA)

This isn’t a “one-off” or a random anomaly. After the deadly January 6, 2021 Insurrection, States across the County started reporting tens of thousands of American voters, decided to either switch their party affiliation or simply leave the Republican Party. For example;

• Arizona, as of February 12, 2021; 10,621 Republicans changed their party affiliation v. Democrats 2,270¹

• Pennsylvania 12,484 left the Republican Party

• Oklahoma data shows 2,042 Oklahoma Republicans have changed their political party affiliation.

• North Carolina over 11,230 Republicans² changed their party affiliation, according to the NC State Board of Elections Data

• Florida shows an 11,000+ gain in “unaffiliated party regulations” -given the data is through January 31, 2021.

• In Maryland the current State Board of Elections indicates that nearly 3,100 registered Republican changed their party affiliation

• Colorado nearly 4,576 Republicans changed their party affiliation

On February 10, 2021 the New York Times published the following article, which detailed more than 140,000 Republicans have either left the party, entirely or have switched party affiliation.

“There’s Nothing Left’: Why Thousands of Republicans Are Leaving the Party

Voting registration data indicates a stronger-than-usual flight from the G.O.P. since the Capitol riot, with an intensely fluid period in American politics now underway.

Apparently for most sane Americans, a deadly insurrection is a bridge too far- yet somehow forty-three Senate Republicans are fine with Trump’s violent mob murdering law enforcement and some of their own MAGA-QAnon supporters.

1. Data Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer tweet

2. NC State Board of Elections Data 2021-02-15 vr_list_maint_removed.zip (updated on 2/15/2021, 5:47:23 PM)