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Now youre about to see everything. I have been a Democrat from the time I played hooky at school at age 6 to volunteer for Hubert Humphreys 1968 Presidential campaign. I have been a delegate to the last three Democratic National Conventions and served on the National Platform Committee at the 2016 DNC. I currently serve as Deputy Vice Chair of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee.

But somehow Im about to give heartfelt political advice to New Jersey Republicans.

Consider this column is to be a self-styled strand of The Lincoln Project. Surely you know The Lincoln Project. Its the national PAC of establishment Republicans who, having retained their brains and integrity, are repulsed by Donald Trump and are working for Joe Bidens victory. If youre a Democrat as I am, you watch The Lincoln Projects scorched-earth commercials with amazement mixed with envy.

For the good of the country, The Lincoln Party has put partisanship aside. For the good of New Jersey, I will do the same to present this invaluable tip to the Republican leaders among you. It is this:

Stop acting as if you have lost your minds.

Exhibit A is the Republican leader in New Jersey whom I usually consider to be one of the more rational Republicans remaining in the United States: Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield). I adore Jon. Smart, empathetic and funny, hell probably contact me with a warm hello after his reads this critical column.

Remember when Lindsey Graham, before repositioning himself from Trump critic to sycophant to preempt a primary challenge among South Carolina Republicans, said theres something wrong with you if you dont like Joe Biden personally? Same with Jon Bramnick. Hes New Jersey Republican version of Uncle Joe.

But somethings gotten into Jon. Its called COVID-19 politically and not medically, thank God and it has made him go haywire. Gone is public servant with the DNA of the old-time moderate New Jersey Republicanism of Ray Bateman, Tom Kean Sr. and Christie Whitman. Its not that Jon has always been moderate in his voting; its more in his temperament.

When I ran Garden State Equality and lobbied him on marriage equality, Jon made clear he was personally for it and found the arguments of marriage equality opponents to be ridiculous. He also said he would not vote our way because he felt he could not not as a leader of an anti-marriage equality Republican caucus, at least as it was then. At the same time, he gave me helpful insights into colleagues that didnt need to much straining to read the between the lines.

These days, Jons views on COVID-19 echo the Trumpism of Americas basket of deplorable Governors: Ron DeSantis of Florida, Brian Kemp of Georgia and Greg Abbott of Texas. Those three gubernatorial dolts ignored the scientific evidence and pandemic trends right before their very eyes in fact, before all our eyes by reopening their states prematurely in the name of economic growth. Now their states are paying the price with thousands of lives collectively lost that didnt need to be lost.

As those of us with half a brain had anticipated, the red states are shutting down all over again. The temporary uptick in employment will soon give way to an economic tailspin equal to, or worse than, what we saw at the outset of the pandemic a lose-lose for all.

Nationally, Trump Republicans are scurrying to revise their bravado. Mitch McConnell and Foxs Sean Hannity have suddenly found the true religion of wearing masks. Their Governors are slowing down or reversing their reopenings outright. They are eating cardinal-red crow.

But not Jon Bramnick.

This week, Jon assailed Governor Murphy for delaying the opening of indoor restaurants, insisted the Governor should have simply discouraged patrons from dining inside.

Jon, on what planet are you living? Under Governor Murphy, New Jersey has ranked among the handful of states with a downward trend in COVID-19 cases as most the country trends dramatically up. Last week, the number of cases across the United States reached 55,000 in a single day more than all the cases in the first two weeks of the epidemic.

In red states that opened too early, Americans telling the mere suggestion of social distancing to go to hell. Patrons are packing reopened venues like sardines. Youd have to be blind not to see the news coverage. Can you imagine the dangers to New Jersey during this 4th of July weekend?

Of course I believe Americans should have the freedom to be stupid. I dont believe Americans should have the freedom to be homicidally stupid. Freedom of Assembly is not an E-ZPass to the road of murder.

To make matters worse, Bramnick is introducing legislation to force state legislature to meet in person during COVID-19 instead of by Zoom, as most workplaces now do. Thats a recipe for disaster I take personally. My second mom, Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, is 85. Shes at high risk for COVID. But Lorettas being Loretta, indefatigably devoted to serving the public and as vigorous as ever, she went to Trenton this week. Thats when I turned the tables and became her Jewish mother, scolding her out of love.

Jon, you are in the throes of cognitive political dissonance. For whatever reasons, you dont see that Trumps support has sunk to the point of no return and is now eroding even his Make America Great Again base. But there never was much of his base anyway in New Jersey. Meanwhile, prominent New Jersey Republicans, normally more sane than Trump, continue to host, sponsor or attend fundraisers for him. It baffles the mind.

What New Jersey Republicans ought to be doing is what Minnesota Republicans did years ago to appeal to moderates: They changed the official name of the state party to Independent Republican and didnt give a damn what the national party thought. Today Minnesota Republicans, though having jettisoned the independent part of their name, are at rough parity in power with the states legendary Democratic Party, the DFL.

This much we know: Assuming Governor Murphy doesnt wind up in the Biden cabinet, he will win reelection next year in a landslide, deservedly so. But theres more at stake for New Jersey Republicans the state partys long-term viability. On the national political scene, New Jersey is cobalt blue in Presidential elections and U.S. Senate races, with a 10 to 2 Democratic advantage in our House delegation. Democrats have also mastered control of the state legislature. In gubernatorial elections, however, New Jersey remains stubbornly purple.

But if Republican leaders, including a decent man in Jon Bramnick, keep acting as if they have lost their minds and should be Republicans for Mississippi, New Jersey voters will obliterate their state party into extinction.

And it will be too late to Make the Whigs Great Again.

http://www.stevengoldstein.com

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NJ Republicans, You're in the Throes of Cognitive Political Dissonance - InsiderNJ

That's why it's perhaps surprising that Republican voters and lawmakers have been disagreeing with Trump quite a bit lately.

This follows what happened in North Carolina a little more than a week ago. Trump (and Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows) endorsed Lynda Bennett, but she didn't come close to winning. Instead, it was political newcomer Madison Cawthorn who earned the Republican nomination.

Any of these losses on their own wouldn't be noteworthy, and none of the winning candidates were anti-Trump. Still, it's quite unusual for an incumbent president to support three primary losers in about a three-week period. Just being pro-Trump is not enough to survive.

If nothing else, these defeats show a President who is perhaps not as in touch with his constituents as we might have believed.

Republican lawmakers, too, have shown a willingness to buck Trump a number of times over the past few weeks.

These rebukes of the President should not be seen as campaign-altering events for 2020. Trump still enjoys a lot of support from Republicans in and out of Washington.

For a President who will need to squeeze every bit possible out of the Republican base, any defections are damaging. There seems to be more of a willingness for Republicans to do that lately.

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Trump's on a losing streak with Republicans - CNN

A Kansas newspaper whose publisher is a county Republican chairman posted a cartoon on its Facebook page likening an order from the states governor requiring people to wear masks in public to the round-up and murder of millions of Jews during the Holocaust.

The cartoon on the Anderson County Reviews Facebook page depicts Democratic governor Laura Kelly wearing a mask with a Jewish Star of David on it, next to people being loaded on to train cars. Its caption is: Lockdown Laura says: Put on your mask ... and step on to the cattle car.

The newspaper posted the cartoon on Friday, the day Kellys mask order took effect. It drew several hundred comments, many strongly critical.

Publisher Dane Hicks, who is also Anderson countys Republican party chairman, said he would answer questions once he could reach a computer. His newspaper is based in the county seat of Garnett, about 65 miles south-west of Kansas City. It has a circulation of about 2,100, according to the Kansas Press Association.

Kelly, who is Catholic, issued a statement saying: Mr Hicks decision to publish antisemitic imagery is deeply offensive and he should remove it immediately.

Kansas Senate minority leader Anthony Hensley, a Democrat, called the cartoon appalling and disgusting and said anyone connected to its posting should be fired.

Rabbi Moti Rieber, executive director of Kansas Interfaith Action, said most if not all comparisons of current events to the Holocaust are odious and said it was incoherent to equate the masks order, an action designed to save lives, with mass murder.

Finally, he said, putting the Star of David on Kellys mask was antisemitic because it implies nefarious Jews are behind her actions.

This thing is like the trifecta of garbage, Rieber said, calling on Republican leaders to repudiate the cartoon and Hicks.

Some Republicans have criticized Kellys order for infringing on personal liberties, though Kansas law allows counties to opt out and Anderson county has done so.

The governor issued the order because of a resurgence in coronavirus cases that increased the states total to nearly 16,000 as of Friday, when Kansas finished its worst two-week rise since the pandemic began. The state has reported 277 Covid-19-related deaths.

The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected without feeling sick.

State Republican chairman Mike Kuckelman was spending the Fourth of July in the Missouri Ozarks and did not immediately respond to a text seeking comment.

Hicks previously criticized Kelly in a blogpost for taking a one-size-fits-all approach to reopening what he called the states bureaucracy-hammered economy.

Kelly lifted statewide restrictions on businesses and public gatherings on 26 May, after weeks of criticism from the Republican-controlled state legislature. Some conservative lawmakers have accused her of being heavy handed and dictatorial.

Anderson county, with about 7,900 residents, is part of a conservative swath of eastern Kansas. Republicans outnumber Democrats two to one and Donald Trump carried it with nearly 73% of the vote in 2016.

The state health department has reported four coronavirus cases for Anderson county, all since 8 May. There have been no reported deaths there.

County commission chairman Jerry Howarter said of the more than 70 people who showed up to its meeting on the mask mandate on Friday, all but one opposed it. He said he had not seen the cartoon.

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Kansas paper published by Republican posts cartoon likening masks order to Holocaust - The Guardian

To the editor: Why might Republicans have abided weakening their party by ceding its control to President Trump? Its not just that he excels at manipulating the GOPs core constituency. (Sick of Trump? Blame our weak political parties, Opinion, June 30)

More important is Trumps unmatched ability to keep the Democrats befuddled and off-balance so much so as to preclude them from settling on a nominee until deep into the primaries, or even crafting a convincing campaign message.

Privately, most of my GOP friends readily concede that Trump is the antithesis of the capable, composed and prudent leader needed to guide our country to a sustainable future beyond the next election day. But while he so adroitly antagonizes and weakens the opposition party, Republicans will indulge him as the antidote to their own partys weaknesses.

Strange, since 2016 I havent heard anyone braying about American exceptionalism.

P. Jane Weil, Sacramento

..

To the editor: As a longtime reader, I pay particular attention to your conservative columnists and never miss one of Jonah Goldbergs columns. Recently, he unloaded a whopper that Vice President Hubert Humphrey obtained the 1968 Democratic nomination over Sen. Eugene McCarthy, despite the latters substantially better showing in the primaries, because the party mattered.

Methinks that in addition to failing to mention how limited the primary system was in 1968, Goldberg conveniently forgot about another event which abruptly ended in Los Angeles that year, one that made it clear a large swath of Democrats were hungry for an alternative to McCarthy.

Blaise Jackson, Escondido

..

To the editor: With all the unpresidential behavior, name-calling and worst of all, lack of competence for the job, I wonder if even very loyal Trump supports like Vice President Mike Pence, Atty. Gen. William Barr and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are tired of lying and making excuses for him.

Matthew D. Kerster, Gardena

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Trump freaks out Democrats. That's why Republicans love him - Los Angeles Times

Senate Republicans fear President TrumpDonald John TrumpProtesters tear down statue of Christopher Columbus in Baltimore 'Independence Day' star Bill Pullman urges Americans to wear a 'freedom mask' in July 4 PSA Protesters burn American flag outside White House after Trump's July Fourth address MORE is putting them into a political no-win situation by threatening to veto a popular defense policy bill over bipartisan language to rename military bases named after Confederate generals.

GOP lawmakers are trying to wave the president off his veto threat and may end up delaying the bill to avoid a political disaster before Election Day.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellPublic awareness campaigns will protect the public during COVID-19 Democrats: A moment in history, use it wisely 'Comrade' Trump gets 'endorsement' from Putin in new mock ad by Lincoln Project MORE (R-Ky.) on Wednesday urged Trump not to veto the $740.5 billion bill over a provision sponsored by Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenThe Hill's Campaign Report: Biden chips away at Trump's fundraising advantage Warnock raises almost M in Georgia Senate race in second quarter The Hill's Morning Report - Trump lays low as approval hits 18-month low MORE (D-Mass.) mandating the secretary of Defense rename military installations named after Confederate generals.

I would hope the president really wouldn't veto the bill over this issue, McConnell told Fox News. I hope the president will reconsider vetoing the entire defense bill,which includes pay raises for our troops, over a provision in there that could lead to changing the names.

With Trump and several Senate GOP incumbents down in the polls to Democratic opponents, Republican lawmakers are not looking forward to a racially charged debate in Congress over preserving the memories of Confederate generals.

We are now in an era of live grenades lying around. Nobody wants to jump on them, said Sen. Pat RobertsCharles (Pat) Patrick RobertsPeter Thiel sours on Trump's reelection chances: report Republicans fear backlash over Trump's threatened veto on Confederate names Cook Political Report shifts Montana Senate race to 'toss up' MORE (R-Kan.).

A messy partisan fight over bases named after Confederate generals could also further drive away swing suburban voters, who are already dropping away from Trump, according to recent polls.

Trump on Sunday tweeted and then deleted a video of a support at a retirement community in Florida chanting white power, further exacerbating the fears of GOP lawmakers that his style is too divisive.

If Trump doesnt relent on the threatened veto, its likely Republicans will not let the defense policy bill go to the presidents desk before the Nov. 3 general election.

It will probably be November by the time it would be coming to his desk anyway. A lot can happen between now and then, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman James InhofeJames (Jim) Mountain InhofeRepublicans fear backlash over Trump's threatened veto on Confederate names Senate rejects Paul proposal on withdrawing troops from Afghanistan Liberal veterans group urges Biden to name Duckworth VP MORE (R-Okla.) told reporters Wednesday. He said of course it would be a mistake to veto the defense bill and expressed hope the base-naming provision could somehow be removed from the bill, asserting theres lots of pathways to do so.

Sen. Josh HawleyJoshua (Josh) David HawleyRepublicans fear backlash over Trump's threatened veto on Confederate names McConnell: Trump shouldn't veto defense bill over renaming Confederate bases Trump warns of defense bill veto over military base renaming amendment MORE (R-Mo.), a rising conservative star, for example, has an amendment to remove the mandate for the Defense secretary to change the base names.

But others in the GOP, including SenateRepublican Whip John ThuneJohn Randolph ThuneRepublicans fear backlash over Trump's threatened veto on Confederate names McConnell: Trump shouldn't veto defense bill over renaming Confederate bases Senate Republicans defend Trump's response on Russian bounties MORE (S.D.), warn it will be extremely difficult to remove the base-naming language. Doing so on the Senate floor would require 60 votes, and the entire Democratic conference and several Republicans support the provision.

The prospects of taking it out in a Senate-House conference negotiation is also unlikely because the House is expected to add similar, if not stronger, language to its version of the bill.

That means the surest way to avoid a veto before Election Day is to keep the bill off Trumps desk until after Nov. 3 unless the president changes his mind.

Republicans view the defense bill, formally known as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), as must-passlegislation. It has been passed annually for 59 consecutive years and is seen as a crucial benchmark of governance.

Republicans are leery about a battle with Democrats over preserving the legacies of Confederate generals at a time when the Black Lives Matter movement and social justice are dominating the national political conversation.

Three Republicans on the Armed Services Committee supported changing the names of military bases during the panel's voice vote last month.The trio included two Republicans in tough reelection races, Sens. Martha McSallyMartha Elizabeth McSallyACLU calls on Congress to approve COVID-19 testing for immigrants Republicans fear backlash over Trump's threatened veto on Confederate names Political establishment takes a hit as chaos reigns supreme MORE (Ariz.) and Joni ErnstJoni Kay ErnstSunday shows preview: Lawmakers to address alarming spike in coronavirus cases Republicans fear backlash over Trump's threatened veto on Confederate names Senate Republicans defend Trump's response on Russian bounties MORE (Iowa), along with Sen. Mike RoundsMarion (Mike) Michael RoundsRepublicans fear backlash over Trump's threatened veto on Confederate names Republican rift opens up over qualified immunity for police GOP divided in fight over renaming bases MORE (S.D.).

Other Republicans such as Sen. Mitt RomneyWillard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyQAnon scores wins, creating GOP problem Republicans fear backlash over Trump's threatened veto on Confederate names Overnight Defense: Lawmakers demand answers on reported Russian bounties for US troops deaths in Afghanistan | Defense bill amendments target Germany withdrawal, Pentagon program giving weapons to police MORE (Utah) also support changing base names.

I would support changing the names of bases that were named in honor of Confederate generals. Those individuals fought against the United States of American and we should instead be honoring people who fought for the United States of America, he told reporters Wednesday.

Senate Minority Leader CharlesSchumer (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday dared Trump to give Democrats a big gift before the election.

I dare President Trump to veto the bill over Confederate base naming. Its in the bill, it has bipartisan support, it will stay in the bill, he said.

Democrats say that Trump would look completely out of step with changing sentiments on race if he vetoed the defense bill, especially after Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) signed legislation this week to take down the Mississippi state flag, which has the Confederate battle flag embedded within it.

I just think it would be a mistake. I think hes out of sync with the opinion all across the country, said Sen. Jack ReedJohn (Jack) Francis ReedSunday shows preview: Lawmakers to address alarming spike in coronavirus cases Republicans fear backlash over Trump's threatened veto on Confederate names Senate Dems request briefing on Russian bounty wire transfers MORE (R.I.), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee. He noted that the state of Mississippi is moving to change its flag and NASCAR has banned the Confederate battle flag at races.

Other Republicans agree with McConnell that vetoing the massive defense bill would be a mistake.

I plan on voting for the bill if that provision is in there or if its modified, said Sen. Shelley Moore CapitoShelley Wellons Moore CapitoRepublicans fear backlash over Trump's threatened veto on Confederate names McConnell makes strong call for masks, saying there should be no stigma Ernst sinks vote on Trump EPA nominee MORE (R-W.Va.). I would hope the president wouldnt veto it."

Its a bipartisan effort to arm our military and arm our defenses, she said.

Sen. Marco RubioMarco Antonio RubioCongress eyes tighter restrictions on next round of small business help Trump administration eyes new strategy on COVID-19 tests ACLU calls on Congress to approve COVID-19 testing for immigrants MORE (R-Fla.) said he has some concerns with the details of the Warren provision because it mandates an outcome but told reporters that he "wouldnt vote against the bill because of that provision.

Ultimately, I dont think the name of a facility should be something thats divisive or offensive to people especially if there are better alternatives to it, he said. But it has to be through a process, a considered process.

The Warren amendment, which was adopted during a closed-door committee markup, would require military bases and other property commemorating the Confederate States of America to be renamed after an implementing commission reviews the issue for three years.

I personally dont have any problem with renaming bases. We have plenty of American military heroes that we can rename these things after, Rubio said.

The NDAA is so important and [has] so many important elements in it that I dont believe that alone should be enough reason to either vote against it or veto it, he added.

Sen. Ron JohnsonRonald (Ron) Harold JohnsonCongress eyes tighter restrictions on next round of small business help Republicans fear backlash over Trump's threatened veto on Confederate names GOP senators debate replacing Columbus Day with Juneteenth as a federal holiday MORE (R-Wis.) said hopefully we can get by that.

We obviously need to pass NDAA. It needs to be signed into law, he added.

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Republicans fear backlash over Trump's threatened veto on Confederate names | TheHill - The Hill