Thread by @RachelAzzara

1. #MAGA #Republicans #GOP
Let’s do a little exercise in self-awareness, because the stakes are just too high not to. You’ve probably heard the term ‘transactional’ used to describe the GOP’s relationship with DT (or maybe not if you only consume #FoxNews ). What does this mean?

2. A transactional relationship means you are getting something you want, but at a cost. For #GOP leaders this is seems fairly straight-forward. They defend DT, protect him, put up with him, etc. in order to pass their agendas. A kind of deal with the Devil.

3. Mostly, #GOP leaders are intelligent people - they know what their doing and don’t really try to hide that this is a transactional relationship. But, be aware, these members of Congress are concerned with what they can gain in the present without concern for much else.

4. It is how this transactional relationship is represented among GOP constituents that I’m concerned with. The precedent that is willingly (but, perhaps blindly) being set will not serve this country or, even, #GOP constituents beyond this odd time in history.

5. These costs go beyond the confines of the hearts and mind of the individual. We certainly can talk about moral hypocrisy, ethical contortions and willful ignorance. We can shake our head at the shocking abandonment of personal values by evangelicals.

6. This is the thing...despite all the rationalizations in the world, we can objectively state that the character and behavior of DT has moved the goal post well past anything we would’ve publicly accepted or defended in the past.

7. And this is where you need to start thinking about the precedents you’re setting and realizing that these costs may be greater than you realized. Politics are cyclical. The balance swings and power shifts between parties, but the power of the people is critical to democracy.

8. Right now, for whatever reasons, you’re allowing behaviors that you would never accept from #Democrats. What you may not realize is that you’re supporting positions that could rob people in the future from due process, transparency and democratic recourse.

9. You’re lining up to accept the demonization of our institutions that provide checks and balances - the press, intelligence community and Justice Department. You’re accepting a #POTUS trying to obstruct and squash these institutions.

10. Look at it this way, if DT refuses to comply with a subpoena that is a case that will eventually go before the Supreme Court. If they were to rule in favor of him and rule that he is ‘above the law’, then that is the new precedent. There will be Presidents after him.

11. I urge you to take a good, hard look at the absurdities you’ve accepted from DT, the willingness to defend him from investigation, the unchecked authority you’re lobbying for and consider if you would’ve reacted the same if it was Obama, Clinton, Biden, Schumer, Harris, etc.

12. You’ve already lowered the bar. You’ve already tossed morality, ethics and character to the wolves. And - trust me - that cost will affect us all, too. But, don’t blindly throw away the power of the people to demand accountability from a #POTUS. That cost is too high.