Republicans

Talking Points Memo reports: So much for blood is thicker than water. Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel dodged when asked to respond to the GOP backlash her uncle Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) has faced since being one of two Republicans who voted in favor of witnesses in the Senate impeachment trial Friday. During an interview on CBS’ “Face the …

Bloomberg News reports: Iowa Senator Joni Ernst warned Sunday that Republicans would immediately push to impeach Joe Biden over his work in Ukraine as vice president if he win the White House. “I think this door of impeachable whatever has been opened,” Ernst said in an interview with Bloomberg News. “Joe Biden should be very careful what he’s asking for …

The Billings Gazette reports: A Billings Republican legislator said Saturday he believes the U.S. Constitution calls for the shooting or jailing of those who identify as socialists. State Rep. Rodney Garcia, from House District 52 on the South Side, first made a statement in the form of an unprompted question at a state party gathering in Helena Friday meant to …

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports: It was Young Republicans against old Republicans this weekend in Austin. As always, old Republicans won. With state Sen. Bob Hall [photo], 77, saying LGBT groups promote “unnatural sex,” party officials once again turned away the predominantly gay and lesbian Log Cabin Republicans. The Log Cabin groups were asking to become an official party affiliate, …

Once upon a time, the annual CPAC event was a cornucopia of the right – libertarians, teabaggers, hate groups, far-right groups, and yes, even some moderate Republicans would attend and be given prominent speaking slots. Not so anymore now that the entire Republican party has gone full Trump cultist. Evidence can be seen below by their reaction to Mitt Romney’s …

Sioux Falls’ CBS News affiliate reports: Rep. Tony Randolph, a Republican from Rapid City, introduced a bill Thursday that would prohibit the state from enforcing, endorsing or favoring policies that cover a range of activities that involve members of the LGBTQ community. In short, the bill wants the state to not enforce, endorse and favor policies that allow same-sex marriage, …

From the Facebook page of Mississippi Rep. Jill Ford: Yesterday, January 27, 2020, was a historic day for not only Governor Tate Reeves as he presented his State of the State address to the people of Mississippi – favorite line: “we’ve been singing the Blues long enough, it’s time to sing Gospel now – the Good News”. It was also …

Politico reports: The conservative Club for Growth plans to air a massive ad campaign attacking Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), adding fuel to the intraparty battle that kicked off after the GOP congressman launched a Senate campaign this week. Collins announced Wednesday he is challenging Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.), who was sworn in this month to replace Sen. Johnny Isakson after …

CNBC reports: Libertarian and conservative donors who attended the annual Koch network summit over the weekend discussed the need to defend the GOP majority in the Senate as a backstop in case a Democrat defeats President Donald Trump in November. People at the meeting in Palm Springs, California, didn’t just fret about progressive candidates Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren …

He’s springboarding his impeachment showboating. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports: Congressman Doug Collins launched a bid Wednesday for U.S. Senate on Fox News, saying he’d center his campaign on support for President Donald Trump as he dismissed concerns about opening a bitter Republican rift in Georgia. “We’re in for the Georgia Senate race. I’ve still got a lot of work left …

The New York Times reports: Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, told a closed-door meeting of Republicans that he does not currently have the votes to block Democrats from calling witnesses at the trial because some Republicans remain uncommitted, according to people familiar with the meeting. In making the statement, Mr. McConnell — who had with him a “whip count” …

“I think it’s increasingly likely that other Republicans will join those of us who think we should hear from John Bolton. I think with the story that came out yesterday, it’s increasingly apparent it would be important to hear from John Bolton. “I, of course will make a final decision on witnesses after we’ve heard from not only the prosecution …

NBC News reports: Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, indicated Saturday that he is “likely” to vote to call witnesses in Trump’s impeachment trial, but would not commit to doing so just yet. “I think it’s very likely I’ll be in favor of witnesses but I haven’t made a decision finally yet and I won’t until” arguments on both sides are done, …

The Hill reports: Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) says he will vote against a motion to subpoena Hunter Biden if a majority of colleagues agree next week that additional witnesses and documents need to be summoned for President Trump’s impeachment trial. If Republican colleagues introduce a motion to subpoena former Vice President Joe Biden’s son, Graham said “I’ll …

Raw Story reports: Republican senators received a violently metaphorical threat before the impeachment vote. One of President Donald Trump’s confidantes said GOP senators were warned not to vote for impeachment — or else, reported CBS News. “Vote against the president and your head will be on a pike,” senators were told, according to the confidante. It’s not clear who delivered …

Mediaite reports: Senator Ted Cruz took a page from President Donald Trump’s “the best defense is a good offense” playbook in a Friday tweet that took a shot at CNN Capitol Hill reporter Manu Raju, and also, quite curiously, played the victim card against one of the more respected reporters inside the beltway. While covering the ongoing impeachment trial of …

The Hill reports: Republicans are using the threat of a protracted executive privilege battle as a cudgel to dissuade their colleagues from calling former national security adviser John Bolton to testify at President Trump’s impeachment trial. As the Senate barrels toward a make-or-break moment on witnesses next week, Trump allies and members of leadership are warning that calling Bolton, or …

The Oklahoman reports: Gov. Kevin Stitt is giving California a taste of its own medicine. Citing “Oklahoma’s pro-life stance,” Stitt on Thursday signed an executive order banning all nonessential state-funded travel to California. The move comes after the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in October banned city-funded travel to 22 states, including Oklahoma, that city officials say have “restrictive abortion …

The Christian Post reports: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz explained that his Christian faith was instrumental for his ability to forgive President Donald Trump for the hurtful things he said and tweeted during the 2016 presidential election. Cruz, 49, spoke with ABC News’ Paula Faris for her “Journeys of Faith” podcast this week. For example in March 2016, Trump tweeted a …

Is a book by a Trump cultist better than a fidget spinner? Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) said she read a book during the third day of proceedings of President Trump’s impeachment trial in the upper chamber on Thursday. “First – I’m reading Resistance (At All Costs) by Kim Strassel. Read the chapter on obstruction. It provides good insights into today’s …