The Republican Party is now the Party of Trump. He owns it.
Republican politicians (except for a few, like Romney) believe they need his blessing to be elected, so they don't criticize him. Even after terrorists acting in his name come into their Capitol workspace, many still voted to support his lies about a stolen election. Those who deviate from the Trump way are called RINOs by right-wing, hate-mongering TV and radio blowhards. The party that once stood for the rule of law now rejects the judgment of courts (even Trump-appointed judges) in favor of Trump's lies about election fraud. The consequent and predictable lynch mob of January 6th (which is also planning mayhem for January 20th) is considered a lamentable few "going overboard," but nothing connected to Trump's hate-speech. Rather than see him for the fascist that he is, they view him as the true champion of democracy. Why? Well, because they have so demonized the other side as socialists and anarchists that they can't recognize the decency of a man like Biden, nor can they accept the fact that an overwhelming majority of Americans want him to be President and so they voted for him. Trump supporters have thus become fascists, too. What Trump wants, they want, and they indulge media that promotes Trump's lies and undermines critical feedback.

Republicans have lost their way, and dare not claim to be in the tradition of Lincoln, Eisenhower and other noble men who have served as their leaders. The Christian leaders who support Trump are lost, too, in their refusal to call out Trump's corruption and lies. So good luck, dear Republican family and friends; you've all got some serious soul-searching to do. Let me let you in on a good place to start: words matter!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Phil,

The shocking stat from this recent poll:
"73 percent of Republicans believe Trump is protecting democracy."

https://www.mediaite.com/trump...emocracy-quinnipiac/

A lot of the American Christian YouTubers I see are very much pro-Trump. But I get the impression their support is not based on a moral assessment of Trump vs. Biden. It's more like they're selecting an applicant for an job. They believe Trump is likely to do a better job.

Right. Cynical pragmatists, I guess, only "better job at what?" is the question.

It's been really disappointing to see how readily so many Christians discount issues of character in political leaders.

The Big Lie about election fraud in 2020 continues.
I posted the following on Facebook on 8-21-21
___________

Never in my wildest dreams did it ever occur to me (in years past) that we had this many delusional people in the U.S.!
- And many of those who believe Trump really won have also refused vaccination for Covid-19, and believe climate changes is a hoax. But those are other topics . . .

Just think how cynical and even un-patriotic you have to be to think that literally thousands of county and state election officials conspired to change vote tallies from Trump to Biden! Basically, those of you who believe this are saying America's election system is corrupt -- except when it elects *your candidate,* as in fact happened with many, many Republican legislators and governors in 2020. You're saying America's court system is corrupt in its rulings in over 80 cases that there was no evidence of election fraud, nor any reason to re-do the election. You're saying you prefer Trump to American democracy . . . so don't even bother to wave a flag around any more, to chant USA, or condemn people who kneel during the National Anthem for protesting police brutality. That's just odious hypocrisy!

Trump's continuing insistence that the 2020 election was rigged is a big part of the problem, but why believe him? He has no evidence to back his claim! Might this be a case of the biggest sore loser in history -- a delusional narcissist who cannot accept defeat and so fabricates an alternative reality where he always "wins"? That's your guy? Seriously?

I've voted Republican more often than not during my life (first vote in 1968 was for Nixon), but I'll never, ever, ever vote again for this delusional, Trumpish cult that now calls itself Republican. This is no longer the Party of Lincoln, Eisenhower, Reagan or the Bushes. The latter family didn't even vote R in the last two elections. This is something else -- decidedly "un-American" . . . akin to an autocratic, fascist movement. We fought wars to oppose that nastiness, you know? Hundreds of thousands gave their lives.