GOP In Disarray

The past few days have shown the extent to which the Republican Party is in disarray and deeply divided. Trump is threatening to primary fellow Republicans, top Republican leaders are publicly feuding with top Trump allies in Congress, another Republican senator retired, and Republicans are even censuring members of their own party. Sad.

Trump is threatening to primary Republicans who put the country first and vote to convict Trump for inciting and encouraging an insurrection.

The Hill: “Allies of former President Trump are waging an intense pressure campaign aimed at convincing GOP senators to vote against his conviction in next month’s impeachment trial. The message to wavering GOP senators is that anyone who votes to convict Trump is guaranteeing a tough primary challenge that could end their political career.”

Republicans in Arizona reinstated a Trump ally as state chair and voted to censure fellow Republicans.

Arizona Republic Editorial: “Apparently, the Arizona Republican Party has decided that it no longer wants to be affiliated with … Republicans. There is really no other explanation for the party on Saturday re-electing Donald Trump cultist Kelli Ward as the state chairperson and, then, passing resolutions to censure Gov. Doug Ducey, former Sen. Jeff Flake and Cindy McCain.”

A top Trump ally in Congress and a leading House Republican are feuding, holding a petty public event and attacking the other for wearing makeup.

Fox News: “One of former President Trump’s top supporters in the House of Representatives is targeting one of Trump’s biggest House GOP critics. GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida is heading to House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney’s home state of Wyoming on Thursday, where he’ll hold an event outside the state capitol in Cheyenne.”

HuffPost: “Rep. Liz Cheney’s Office Slams Rep. Matt Gaetz — For Wearing Makeup, Of All Things”

Another Republican has retired over the direction Trump has taken the Republican Party, creating more uncertainty for the party’s future.

Politico: “Portman’s exit signals uncertainty for Senate GOP”

Politico: “Ohio Republican Rob Portman will not seek a third Senate term in 2022, a blow to both Republicans’ hopes of taking back the Senate and the chamber’s dwindling number of centrists… Portman said in an interview in November he was planning on running in 2022. But the GOP is now undergoing a major reckoning after Trump’s attacks on the election inspired an attack on the Capitol by his supporters.”