# Republicans today are a danger to the US and the world **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 18, 2018, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-today-are-a-danger-to-the-us-and-the-world/819848 "2018-08-18T21:42:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2018, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-today-are-a-danger-to-the-us-and-the-world/819848/1 "2018-08-18T21:42:29Z")
As a Dutch Canadian immigrant child of the 50s, having been much exposed to the post war atmosphere where talk of the war was still a very regular experience, I came to wonder how Germany could allow itself to commit atrocity on such a massive scale. What made the Germans so different? Especially since being Dutch, I knew I had a hereditary (genetic),geographic, and religious connection. I really don’t have to wonder about that anymore. Recently, having watched this con man, Donald Trump stirring up our worst instincts, he now has a worshiping party that can defend and support each and every decision he makes to ruin and terminate lives, while he enriches himself and stretches his power. I just want to leave it on the record. I spoke out against the Republican party as completely morally bankrupt. ---
**Author:** ![pohjonen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pohjonen/32/423_2.png) [@pohjonen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pohjonen)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2018, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-today-are-a-danger-to-the-us-and-the-world/819848/2 "2018-08-18T21:48:39Z")
I second your post. ---
**Author:** ![mind\_the\_gap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@mind\_the\_gap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mind_the_gap)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2018, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-today-are-a-danger-to-the-us-and-the-world/819848/3 "2018-08-18T22:25:51Z")
I whole heartedly concure. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2018, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-today-are-a-danger-to-the-us-and-the-world/819848/4 "2018-08-18T22:58:24Z")
Yup. Hitler won his election, too. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2018, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-today-are-a-danger-to-the-us-and-the-world/819848/5 "2018-08-18T23:14:57Z")
I was a Republican up until the 2000 election. It is possible to leave. At this point, given the Republican party’s continued support of Trump and the evil he does, I don’t see how any moral person can stay in the party. That doesn’t mean becoming a Democrat or even voting for Democrats. More than one well known Republican has left, and good for them. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2018, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-today-are-a-danger-to-the-us-and-the-world/819848/6 "2018-08-19T00:59:04Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I was a Republican up until the 2000 election. It is possible to leave. At this point, given the Republican party’s continued support of Trump and the evil he does, I don’t see how any moral person can stay in the party. No moral person HAS stayed in the Republican party. Not one. Because if they haven’t already left it, they are actively immoral. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2018, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-today-are-a-danger-to-the-us-and-the-world/819848/7 "2018-08-19T01:35:41Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > At this point, given the Republican party’s continued support of Trump and the evil he does, I don’t see how any moral person can stay in the party. This makes it sound like it’s Trump who’s the head or the heart of the evil in the party, and everyone else is just following him. I believe it’s more likely that the evil in the party predates Trump and is using him. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2018, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-today-are-a-danger-to-the-us-and-the-world/819848/8 "2018-08-19T01:54:43Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > This makes it sound like it’s Trump who’s the head or the heart of the evil in the party, and everyone else is just following him. I believe it’s more likely that the evil in the party predates Trump and is using him. While true (the rot in the Republican Party dates back to Goldwater, also the modern incarnation was kicked off by Newt Gingrich and his “Contract With America”) but Donald Trump is emblematic of the ethical and moral compromise that the GOP has embraced so they can “win”. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2018, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-today-are-a-danger-to-the-us-and-the-world/819848/9 "2018-08-19T02:09:24Z")
I’ve been saying this for years. The GOP’s anti-intellectualism, rejection of established science, contempt for the poor and middle class, animosity towards anyone who isn’t a straight white Christian cisgender man, and willingless to ignore democratic norms to get what they want makes them a greater existential threat to American democracy, and for that matter the human race, that has ever existed. The entire organization needs to be dismantled, its leaders imprisoned, and its philosophies cast into the dustbin of history. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2018, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-today-are-a-danger-to-the-us-and-the-world/819848/10 "2018-08-19T02:18:59Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I’ve been saying this for years. The GOP’s anti-intellectualism, rejection of established science, contempt for the poor and middle class, animosity towards anyone who isn’t a straight white Christian cisgender man, and willingless to ignore democratic norms to get what they want makes them a greater existential threat to American democracy, and for that matter the human race, that has ever existed. > > The entire organization needs to be dismantled, its leaders imprisoned, and its philosophies cast into the dustbin of history. The problem is that its leaders are elected by its members. You think jails are crowded now. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2018, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-today-are-a-danger-to-the-us-and-the-world/819848/11 "2018-08-19T03:15:02Z")
There’s a spinoff of crying wolf, which is that even if a wolf is, in fact, there, and always has been there along, if you cry wolf enough times, the villagers will not heed the wolf. If a side is in fact fascist, but you cry “fascist” for years and years, people will tune you out. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2018, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-today-are-a-danger-to-the-us-and-the-world/819848/12 "2018-08-19T03:16:56Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I’ve been saying this for years. The GOP’s anti-intellectualism, rejection of established science, contempt for the poor and middle class, animosity towards anyone who isn’t a straight white Christian cisgender man, and willingless to ignore democratic norms to get what they want makes them a greater existential threat to American democracy, and for that matter the human race, that has ever existed. > > The entire organization needs to be dismantled, its leaders imprisoned, and its philosophies cast into the dustbin of history. …Uh, I think that the opinion that “the leaders of the political party I disagree with need to be imprisoned” is also “a threat to American democracy” as well. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2018, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-today-are-a-danger-to-the-us-and-the-world/819848/13 "2018-08-19T03:21:46Z")
This thread is nonsensical. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2018, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-today-are-a-danger-to-the-us-and-the-world/819848/14 "2018-08-19T03:31:28Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > …Uh, I think that the opinion that “the leaders of the political party I disagree with need to be imprisoned” is also “a threat to American democracy” as well. Was imprisoning the Nazis a threat to German democracy? Because that’s the point we’re at. The Republican party is not a party that values democracy or the good of the American people. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2018, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-today-are-a-danger-to-the-us-and-the-world/819848/15 "2018-08-19T03:41:18Z")
And, this article just showed up on my Facebook feed: [Trump warnings grow from forgotten Republicans](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-warnings-grow-from-forgotten-republicans/ar-BBM4y7K?ocid=sf) > [@](#): > > The expanding list of marginalized GOP leaders underscores how thoroughly Trump has dominated — and changed — the Republican Party in the nearly two years since he seized the presidency. The overwhelming majority of elected officials, candidates and rank-and-file voters now follow the president with extraordinary loyalty, even if he strays far from the values and traditions many know and love. > > The Republicans left behind are warning their party with increasing urgency, though it’s unclear whether anyone’s listening. > > “I hope this is a very temporary place for the Republican Party,” said Corker. “I hope that very soon we will return to our roots as a party that’s very different, especially in tone, from what we’ve seen coming out of the White House.” > > The forgotten Republicans — people like former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake, South Carolina Rep. Mark Sanford and Ohio Gov. John Kasich — have been unwilling to sit quietly as Trump steers the GOP away from free trade, fiscal responsibility, consistent foreign policy and civility. > > Isolation and political exile have been their rewards. > > Their diminished roles leave fewer Republican leaders willing to challenge Trump under any circumstances, even in his darkest moments. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2018, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-today-are-a-danger-to-the-us-and-the-world/819848/16 "2018-08-19T04:59:08Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Was imprisoning the Nazis a threat to German democracy? Because that’s the point we’re at. The Republican party is not a party that values democracy or the good of the American people. Utter galloping paranoia. That’s what the Communists said about “fascists”/the Nazis. And the Communists killed far more people than Hitler ever did. But it isn’t an either/or. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2018, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-today-are-a-danger-to-the-us-and-the-world/819848/17 "2018-08-19T06:04:09Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > That’s what the Communists said about “fascists”/the Nazis. They weren’t wrong, you know. ---
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2018, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-today-are-a-danger-to-the-us-and-the-world/819848/18 "2018-08-19T06:19:14Z")
[Noam Chomsky](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UNDuAPMAuw) claims that the Republican party is the most dangerous organization in human history. I fear that he’s right. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2018, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-today-are-a-danger-to-the-us-and-the-world/819848/19 "2018-08-19T07:26:25Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > This makes it sound like it’s Trump who’s the head or the heart of the evil in the party, and everyone else is just following him. I believe it’s more likely that the evil in the party predates Trump and is using him. Before Trump there were evil people in the party, and reasonably moral people, like McCain. But today anyone in the party who is moral had better be actively resisting (like voting with the Democrats most of the time) or should quit. My number one example of abandoning America for fear of the tea party being mad at you is McConnell. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2018, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-today-are-a-danger-to-the-us-and-the-world/819848/20 "2018-08-19T07:29:29Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > There’s a spinoff of crying wolf, which is that even if a wolf is, in fact, there, and always has been there along, if you cry wolf enough times, the villagers will not heed the wolf. > > If a side is in fact fascist, but you cry “fascist” for years and years, people will tune you out. No one said “fascist” here before you did. Do you agree with Trump that a free press is an enemy? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-today-are-a-danger-to-the-us-and-the-world/819848.md?page=2)