Thomas Massie

[mr715]

Just to be clear, the enemy of my enemy is a temporary tactical non-enemy but...

He could resign.

He could switch parties. If he, in fact, fully believed his party was complicit in pedophilia and a coverup, it is a reasonable to seek a new coalition.

He could leave the GOP caucus without switching parties.

He is doing none of these things, and is instead being an ineffectual gadfly to his leadership. Somewhat like former Rep. Paul from Texas.

In practice, he has done less for the opposition cause than has MTG, the monster of Georgia.

That he remains a member of Speaker Johnson's majority in the House tells me that his posture on his party is not motivated by a desire to actually implement change. Fame, perhaps. Establishing a "maverick" streak?

He isn't a good guy. He just happens to be not actively wrong on this.

[Blue Full Moon]

1. I suspect that he will.

[mr715]

2. Do what?

Switch parties? Leave the party? Resign?

[Blue Full Moon]

3. One of the 3. Suspect going independent.

[mr715]

4. While caucusing with the GOP?

That is a nothing response.

If he goes independent and does not caucus, or caucuses with the Democrats, it makes leadership very precarious obviously.

[NoRethugFriends]

5. Nope

[sop]

6. Massie's statements on Epstein are much more impactful as a member of the Republican majority in Congress.

"On Sunday morning, Republican Congressman from Kentucky Thomas Massie went full scorched-earth on This Week, calling out Donald Trump for promising transparency on the Epstein files but delivering nothing but cover-ups and elite protection."

"He told host Martha Raddatz that the billionaire donors funding attacks against him are 'rubbing shoulders' with the Epstein crowd who may or may not be implicated or at least deeply connected, and they're fighting hard to keep the damning files buried."

"Massie laid it bare: 'Donald Trump told us that even though he had dinner with these people in New York and West Palm Beach, that he would be transparent. But he's not. He's still ‘in’ with the Epstein class. This is the Epstein administration. And they are attacking me for trying to get these files released.' "

"This is a Republican admission that the twisted Epstein web runs right through the White House and its donor class. No full release, no accountability, just excuses, redactions, and attacks on anyone pushing for the truth."

https://www.facebook.com/OccupyDemocrats/posts/breaking-gop-rep-thomas-massie-drops-sunday-morning-truth-nuke-this-is-the-epste/1431547819076788/

[mr715]

7. "And I love his policies, so I'd still vote for him over Comrade Harris!"

[Raven123]

8. I disagree with you. He had been a leader on the Epstein File issue

I cannot think of anything Paul had led on.

He is a Republican. It is what it is. On this issue he refuses to be tied to Trump. Heck, at least he has a red line.

[mr715]

11. Well, you're right, I can't think of anything Paul got...

I associate him as the ideological leader among libertarian republicans.

I agree, he is a republican, but being a member of that brand is pro-pedophilia at maximum or pro-pedophilia cover up at minimum. Bad brand to be associated with. So, why stay? Football politics?

[EarlG]

9. On balance, I think it's better if he doesn't switch or resign right now

Right now, as a Republican, he is providing a veneer of bipartisanship which is politically effective when it comes to getting the Epstein files released. That is to say, it looks much better from the point of view of people who don't follow politics if the charge to release the files is being led by congresspeople from both parties -- it makes it harder for TrumpCo to pass it off as a "partisan witch hunt," which is what they would likely attempt if Massie switched parties. (Plus, Massie isn't going to switch parties, because at the end of the day he's a Republican and he doesn't agree without our principles.)

Similarly, it benefits the Epstein investigation if Massie remains in the House. If he resigns, it's a symbolic gesture, but he would then have no power. He would be replaced (presumably) by another Republican, who would likely be a MAGA supporter. Bear in mind that it was Massie who helped push the discharge petition over the line which got Congress to pass the law demanding the release of the files. Only four Republicans voted for the discharge petition -- Massie, MTG, Nancy Mace, and Lauren Boebert -- but that was enough for Democrats to force the issue, which resulted in all but one House Republican voting for the release of the files.

Without a majority in the House, Democrats have essentially no power, and having a handful of rogue Republicans on the other side is what's allowing them to make these procedural moves and give Mike Johnson a major headache.

[mr715]

12. How many defections can Speaker Johnson afford before the chair is vacated?

[EarlG]

15. Fair point (nt)

[SocialDemocrat61]

10. As my grandfather use to say

Never trust a republican.

[Bluetus]

13. We probably disagree with Massie on many policies. But that does not make him "the enemy"

any more than Ross Perot or WIlliam Buckley or John Bolton or George W Bush were "enemies". I think they were all misguided, but they would think the same of me. I don't think they were crooks. I don't think they were foreign agents. I certainly don't think they were rapists or sociopaths. And I don't question their sincere belief that they were doing the best things for this country. Even Dick Cheney, although I could never agree with the torture.

These Trump people are different. They are all some combination of fascist, mobsters, thugs, fraudsters, liars, backstabbers, traitors and full-out Nazis. Some more than others, not none of them ever operate in good faith.

I would not put either Massie or Rand Paul in that mix. Those are literally the only two Republicans willing to stand up for our democracy while still intending to win reelection to their office. Occasionally we might be able to include Murkowski in that list, but that really is it.

I don't want a one-party government, not Democrat or Republican. You can't have a healthy democracy that way. We need people of good faith to advocate for points-of-view we can't easily take up. American needs more people like Massie, not fewer.

[hlthe2b]

14. He is, as he remains, a constant irritant of major proportions to Trump--so that gives him one check

in my book. Do I support him otherwise? Of course, not. But continue tweaking that obnoxious POS usurping our White House.

[Big Blue Marble]

16. Massie is a hardline, hardcore Republican.

He will not switch parties. He votes with Trump 94% of the time. I fully expect him
to win his primary which will go a long way to break Trump's hold on elected Republicans.
That is why they are spending millions to beat him. I am not a fan, but admire his courage
as we all should. We need Democrats and Republicans, especially elected officials who
will speak truth to power. He has put everything on the line including his life.

He is a true republican with a a small r, the kind that won our revolution. I am am grateful
as he is the kind of person who may just save our republic.

[Tommy Carcetti]

17. Massie's still an assie.

He’s still an isolationist libertarian asshole who happens to be aligned with us on one non-ideological issue.

He’s a useful idiot, nothing more and nothing less.