What Do Republicans Say to Each Other in Private? – The Daily Beast
Fake-News "Exclusive"**: Over the weekend, I obtained a tape of a conversation between two Republican senators, one an obscure back-bencher and the other a prominent defender of the president and a regular TV presence. I transcribed it yesterday.
I dont know, ol buddy. Im really starting to waver.
Waver? Why?
Wellthat Times story last Friday. I saw what you said publicly. But you and I both know there wasnt a single false word in that whole story. We sat next to each other in that briefing.
So? What of it?
And now this DJ IG report isnt gonna say what we wanted. Strzok was telling the truth.
Ive known that all along. But one more time: What of it?
Well were lying! And were helping Russia!
Look at me while I say this to you, and I will speak slowly: The president is a reformer. He was only interested in Ukraine reforming its judicial system, and once that was accomplished to his satisfaction, he released
Oh, come on, you can say that on Fox, but weve known each other 30 years. Dont blow that smoke up my ass, pal.
the aid to the government, now run by a true reformer who happens to be an ally of the President of the United States, the greatest reformer of them all.
Oh come off it. Were helping Russia. Were helping goddamn Putin! Im starting to get spooked by it. The other night I had one of those dreams where youre back in college and its finals week and you havent gone to class all semester and you show up for the final totally unprepared and wearing your underpants, you know the one?
Have it all the time.
Well, in this one, Putin was the professor! And he was laughing at me hysterically, maniacally! I have your balls in a sack, he kept saying. Except he was speaking Russian, so I dont know how I knew thats what he was saying, but somehow I did, cuz, you know, dreams.
Theyre weird that way. But look. Shake it off. We need you to be strong.
Im trying. But the guy is indefensible. You know that. We all know that. Hes a fucking criminal. Hes guilty. Hes guilty of it all.
I know that.
What? You know that? You say the opposite every day on TV.
Thats correct. And if television bothered to ask you, you would say exactly the same thing. You know why?
Why?
Here are some things Donald Trump is not guilty of. Hes not guilty of raising taxes. Hes not guilty of socialism. Hes not guilty of wanting to give health care to people who havent earned it.
Cuz here are some things Donald Trump is not guilty of. Hes not guilty of raising taxes. Hes not guilty of socialism. Hes not guilty of wanting to give health care to people who havent earned it. Hes not guilty of putting liberal judges on the federal bench wholl rule that everybody and their brother can vote and that David Koch cant buy Congress. Hes not guilty of trying to kill coal and oil. Need me to go on?
I get you, I get you. But I dont know. There has to be a limit, doesnt there?
Let me explain something to you. Ask yourself this. If he loses, who wins?
Well, if its Biden, Joes not so bad. At least we know hes an honest guy. Even Elizabeth Im against everything she wants. Ideologically she scares the hell out of me. But shes a nice enough person, a non-horrible human being. And well block everything she wants to do anyway, I mean well just steamroll the shit out of her, and shell get nothing done and the left will be demoralized and well take back the House in 22 and the White House in 24, so whats so bad about that?
Im not even talking about the presidency. Thats important, sure. But youve gotta think bigger. Nancy Pelosi wins. Abortionists win. The gays win. The New York Times wins. CNN wins. MSNBC wins. Rachel Maddow wins.
I know, but
And who loses? You know who loses. You lose. I lose. Good patriotic Americans lose. The military loses.
The military! Mr. Fucking Bone Spurs!
Irrelevant. Jesus Christ loses.
Jesus Christ? Jesus Christ!
Yes. Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christs fortunes depend on a guy who fucks porn stars and lies about it?
Exactly! Now youre starting to get it! Lookit. Were at war. And in war, the ends justify the means. And the best mean of all is propaganda. Indoctrination. Works every time. I mean, how we got those dumbass evangelicals to buy into this guyso much easier than I thought it would be!
Im just telling you. My conscience is getting to me. I might vote to convict, if Mitch releases me.
Uh-huh. Let me ask you a question. You just started your fourth term. Thinkin about retiring, I hear.
Thinking about it.
Talking to some K Street folks, as I understand it.
You have some big ears there.
There aint no secrets in this town.
Apparently not.
Yes, thats a nice life. Nice life. What, six, seven hundred thousand to start, before distributions?
Bout that.
Id hate to see something disrupt that. I mean, Id hate to see you exposed as being a puppet of... George Soros.
George Soros? I wouldnt know him if he walked in this room!
And thats exactly how sneaky people like Soros want it.
But you wouldnt
No. I wouldnt. Im your friend. But not everybodys as nice as I am
**Obviously, this is not a real dialogue. Two senators wouldnt talk this way. But the reason they wouldnt talk this way is not that the above doesnt contain truth. No, the reason they wouldnt talk this way is that they dont need to. Its all understood.
Theres a quote from an old Boston ward-heeler named Martin Lomasney that is the greatest political quote ever: Never write if you can speak; never speak if you can nod; never nod if you can wink. I doubt Republicans speak to one another very much about Trump. They nod and they wink. And theyre nodding and winking democracy into oblivion.
Follow this link:
What Do Republicans Say to Each Other in Private? - The Daily Beast
- Republicans, not Democrats, hold fate of Trump nominees in their hands - The Washington Post - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- Joy Reid sends message to Republicans ahead of Thanksgiving: 'Make your own dinner, MAGA' - Fox News - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- Clean Energy Advocates and Businesses Wrestle With an Uncertain Future as Republicans Target IRA Funds - InsideClimate News - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- In WA state Legislature, Democrats and Republicans are sticking with their leaders - Washington State Standard - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- Trump promised to boost oil and gas. But what do other Republicans think? - WWNO - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- Iowa Republicans form House higher education committee for long overdue review - Higher Ed Dive - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- Republicans to file contest lawsuit over 21 missing ballots in Scott County - ABC 6 News KAAL TV - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- Republicans push back against Democrats' claims that Trump intelligence pick Gabbard is compromised - The Associated Press - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- Republicans Ponder: What if the Trump Tax Cuts Cost Nothing? - The New York Times - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- Why Republicans think their Senate majority could last the decade: From the Politics Desk - NBC News - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- Republicans Big Tax Challenge Is Fitting All Their Priorities in One Bill - The Wall Street Journal - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- Vying to be next governor, Republicans wrangle over Trump - NJ Spotlight News - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- Sarah McBride on bathroom issues: It is an attempt to distract by Republicans - POLITICO - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- Republicans suddenly think the economys great and the election wasnt rigged - POLITICO - November 17th, 2024 [November 17th, 2024]
- Big voter turnout this year benefited Republicans, contradicting conventional political wisdom - The Associated Press - November 17th, 2024 [November 17th, 2024]
- A study found that Xs algorithm now loves two things: Republicans and Elon Musk - The Verge - November 17th, 2024 [November 17th, 2024]
- Cole says Republicans should be working with Trump to try and achieve his objectives - The Hill - November 17th, 2024 [November 17th, 2024]
- What They Are Saying: Republicans Disgusted by Trumps Ultra-MAGA Gut Punch With Gaetz Pick - Democrats.org - November 17th, 2024 [November 17th, 2024]
- The Disturbing Reason Senate Republicans Might Greenlight All of Trumps Nominees - Slate - November 16th, 2024 [November 16th, 2024]
- House elections produced a stalemate. Can Republicans figure out how to work with a thin majority? - The Associated Press - November 16th, 2024 [November 16th, 2024]
- House Republicans applaud Trump's picking Kennedy to lead HHS -- with a few concerns - ABC News - November 16th, 2024 [November 16th, 2024]
- Trump is already testing Congress and daring Republicans to oppose him - The Associated Press - November 16th, 2024 [November 16th, 2024]
- Republicans Are Leaving Office for Trump Posts. How Will the Vacancies Be Filled? - The New York Times - November 16th, 2024 [November 16th, 2024]
- Republicans retain their hold of the House, clinching full control of Congress - NPR - November 16th, 2024 [November 16th, 2024]
- NY Republicans may kill congestion pricing in Congress if Trump can't nix the tolls - Gothamist - November 16th, 2024 [November 16th, 2024]
- Trump is already testing Republicans, and some seem unwilling to defy him - The Washington Post - November 16th, 2024 [November 16th, 2024]
- Election 2024 highlights: Republicans win House majority of 218 seats - The Associated Press - November 16th, 2024 [November 16th, 2024]
- What Republicans could do with their power as they secure control of House and Senate - PBS NewsHour - November 16th, 2024 [November 16th, 2024]
- Republicans win the House and cement party trifecta for Trump - BBC.com - November 16th, 2024 [November 16th, 2024]
- New York Republicans now have an Elise Stefanik-sized void to fill - POLITICO - November 16th, 2024 [November 16th, 2024]
- Schumer to Republicans: Please dont do to us what we were going to do to you - Washington Examiner - November 16th, 2024 [November 16th, 2024]
- Republicans finally win the coveted trifecta - The Economist - November 16th, 2024 [November 16th, 2024]
- Republicans will retain House majority, CNN projects, completing GOPs dominance of Washington - CNN - November 16th, 2024 [November 16th, 2024]
- What Republicans are saying about Matt Gaetzs nomination for attorney general - The Associated Press - November 16th, 2024 [November 16th, 2024]
- Republicans Maintain House Majority, Clinching Trifecta of Government Control - TIME - November 16th, 2024 [November 16th, 2024]
- WATCH: House Republicans ready to deliver, Johnson says as GOP readies for new Trump era - PBS NewsHour - November 16th, 2024 [November 16th, 2024]
- House Republicans strike deal on motion to vacate, making it harder to oust speaker - ABC News - November 16th, 2024 [November 16th, 2024]
- Republicans Ran a Dysfunctional House. Voters Shrugged and Re-elected Them. - The New York Times - November 16th, 2024 [November 16th, 2024]
- Republicans begin picking their next leaders in Congress - NPR - November 16th, 2024 [November 16th, 2024]
- Republicans Try to Block Counting of Undated Ballots in Pennsylvania - Democracy Docket - November 16th, 2024 [November 16th, 2024]
- Republicans Win Control Of The HouseGiving Trump Unified Government - Forbes - November 16th, 2024 [November 16th, 2024]
- Column: Victorious Republicans are once again falling for the mandate trap - Los Angeles Times - November 16th, 2024 [November 16th, 2024]
- Republicans won the House. Now comes the hard part. - ABC News - November 16th, 2024 [November 16th, 2024]
- As Trump Staffs Up, House Republicans Watch Their Expected Majority Shrink - The New York Times - November 16th, 2024 [November 16th, 2024]
- Could Matt Gaetz Face GOP Revolt? What Senate Republicans Have Said - Newsweek - November 16th, 2024 [November 16th, 2024]
- Republicans on the verge of clinching control of the US House - The Guardian US - November 10th, 2024 [November 10th, 2024]
- Florida Republicans are thrilled about Susie Wiles with one big exception - POLITICO - November 10th, 2024 [November 10th, 2024]
- Women fear Republicans will move to overturn no-fault divorce laws - The Washington Post - November 10th, 2024 [November 10th, 2024]
- Democrats and Republicans agree on one thing: any lessons learned from Trump 2.0 will be immediately forgotten - The Guardian - November 10th, 2024 [November 10th, 2024]
- Republicans win control of the Senate; House remains up for grabs - NBC News - November 10th, 2024 [November 10th, 2024]
- Hill Republicans ready ambitious agenda as they hope for full sweep of Washington - CNN - November 10th, 2024 [November 10th, 2024]
- Republicans will flip the Senate, CNN projects, shifting balance of power in Washington - CNN - November 10th, 2024 [November 10th, 2024]
- Republicans flip the US Senate, ending three years of Democrat control - Al Jazeera English - November 10th, 2024 [November 10th, 2024]
- Republicans reassert their dominance in Texas - The Texas Tribune - November 10th, 2024 [November 10th, 2024]
- For Trump and Republicans in Congress, everything is in play on tax cuts - The Washington Post - November 10th, 2024 [November 10th, 2024]
- With Republicans Claiming the Senate and Possibly the House, Congress Expected to Reverse Course on Climate - InsideClimate News - November 10th, 2024 [November 10th, 2024]
- Missouri voted for abortion-rights amendment and Republicans who vow to overturn it - Missouri Independent - November 10th, 2024 [November 10th, 2024]
- Republicans Make Early Inroads in Their Fight to Keep the House Majority - The New York Times - November 10th, 2024 [November 10th, 2024]
- Harris Tried to Win Over Republicans. Democratic Support Collapsed Instead - Rolling Stone - November 10th, 2024 [November 10th, 2024]
- 'Republicans for Harris' Campaign Reported to FEC - Newsweek - November 10th, 2024 [November 10th, 2024]
- The Death of Never Trump Republicans? - U.S. News & World Report - November 10th, 2024 [November 10th, 2024]
- Georgia: how this pivotal swing state flipped back to the Republicans - The Conversation - November 10th, 2024 [November 10th, 2024]
- What Republicans can do with their new power and where theyll struggle - Semafor - November 10th, 2024 [November 10th, 2024]
- Republicans see possible path to total control of Washington - The Washington Post - November 10th, 2024 [November 10th, 2024]
- How close are Republicans to retaining the House? Results show it's tight - Scripps News - November 10th, 2024 [November 10th, 2024]
- Control of the Senate went to the Republicans but what about the House? - NBC New York - November 10th, 2024 [November 10th, 2024]
- Georgia Republicans, Trump campaign file lawsuit to halt counties 'illegally accepting' early voting ballots - Fox News - November 4th, 2024 [November 4th, 2024]
- Republicans' Chances of Winning the Senate, the House and the White House - Newsweek - November 4th, 2024 [November 4th, 2024]
- If Donald Trump wins, these are the Republicans he'll lean on to pass his priorities - USA TODAY - November 4th, 2024 [November 4th, 2024]
- I visited a deeply divided Pennsylvania and found Republicans repeating an enormous lie - The Guardian US - November 4th, 2024 [November 4th, 2024]
- Republicans supporting Harris say "Whisper Caucus" could swing the election - NC Newsline - November 4th, 2024 [November 4th, 2024]
- Opinion | Do Republicans like Trump in spite of what he says, or because of it? - The Washington Post - November 4th, 2024 [November 4th, 2024]
- Here Are the Republicans Voting For Harris Over Trump - TIME - November 4th, 2024 [November 4th, 2024]
- Republicans probably will try to repeal CHIPS Act that drew Micron to Central NY, House speaker says - syracuse.com - November 4th, 2024 [November 4th, 2024]
- Opinion | My Fellow Republicans, Its Time to Say Enough With Trump - The New York Times - November 4th, 2024 [November 4th, 2024]
- Kansas Republicans welcome surge in advance voting after adopting Democratic Party tactic - Kansas Reflector - November 4th, 2024 [November 4th, 2024]
- Republicans are betting big on trans issues. Following through could prove harder. - POLITICO - November 4th, 2024 [November 4th, 2024]
- Republicans Closing Argument: We Will Wreck the Economy - Bloomberg - November 4th, 2024 [November 4th, 2024]
- 'Obamacare' enrollment opens, as Republicans threaten the health insurance program used by millions - The Associated Press - November 4th, 2024 [November 4th, 2024]
- Johnson vows health care overhaul if Republicans win in November elections - CNN - November 4th, 2024 [November 4th, 2024]