Ex-federal judge and prominent conservative: 'There is no Republican Party'

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CNN Politics

Washington CNN — J. Michael Luttig, a conservative retired federal judge and key adviser to former Vice President Mike Pence, declared on Wednesday that “there is no Republican Party” and said former President Donald Trump is even more dangerous than he was in the aftermath of the 2020 election.

“American democracy simply cannot function without two equally healthy and equally strong political parties. So today, in my view, there is no Republican Party to counter the Democratic Party in the country,” Luttig, who advised Pence on how to handle the January 6, 2021, election certification vote, told CNN’s Poppy Harlow on “CNN This Morning.” “And for that reason, American democracy is in grave peril.”

Luttig, who holds bona fide conservative credentials with longstanding ties to the Supreme Court, has become increasingly outspoken in sharing his criticisms of the GOP, calling the party “spineless” in June over its continued support of Trump. “A political party is a collection and assemblage of individuals who share a set of beliefs and principles and policy views about the United States of America. Today, there is no such shared set of beliefs and values and principles or even policy views as within the Republican Party for America,” he said on Wednesday.

Luttig also sought to shoot down possible legal defenses that Trump could mount to address the federal charges to which he has pleaded not guilty. The former judge said that by charging Trump with criminal offenses of conduct, not speech, special counsel Jack Smith ensures that there could not be a First Amendment defense from Trump’s legal team.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/09/politics/michael-luttig-conservative-judge-republicans-cnntv/index.html

[hibbing]

1. "there is no such shared set of beliefs and values and principles"

Yes, there are, racism, sexism, and against science for a few. Oh yeah, and that tfg won the election, there is that little thing too.

Peace

[The Unmitigated Gall]

2. If the republican party disappeared tomorrow.

The democratic party would split into conservative and progressive wings and democracy would continue.

Luttig subscribes to the bullshit republican lie that democrats are monolithic. We’re not. But we DO believe in democracy, which his party has abandoned.

[Oopsie Daisy]

5. Where would the moderate Democrats like me end up?

You're right, Democrats are not monolithic... but we're not binary either.

[The Unmitigated Gall]

15. "At least" conservative and progressive wings

Is what I meant to say. In all likelihood a centrist wing would emerge as well. The point I’m making is that it’s repukes who enforce orthodoxy over their dogma, not us.

[brush]

6. Maybe. Even conservatic Dems would still have concern and empathy...

for the majority and not just for the rich and entitled. That's the big difference from us and republicans.

[harumph]

16. I probably would be considered moderate to conservative in some aspects...

But, having said that - I don't want anyone having to eat dog food, I believe in school lunches, snap benefits...would
like to see the ERA passed, reasonable gun regulation - hell, any gun regulation...

I believe in stringently regulated capitalism (which we don't have). Instead, we have a lot of insider trading, self dealing, money laundering, pump and dump scams, and socialism for the rich. I don't think that's inevitable - but the schools don't teach about the moral hazards inherent to our financial system and why regulatory measures must be taken in the first place.

[brush]

17. Like I said, Dems, no matter center right, center left or far left...

have concern for the less fortunate and act on it. Carry on.

[Kennah]

11. Maybe. I think a Party would appear to replace it.

But the form and prominent players in it elude me. There remains a significant chunk of Americans who are bat shit crazy.

[mahina]

26. This man helped Mike Pence resist attempted the coup.

Frontline: Lies, Politics and Democracy J Michael Luttig interview.

Here is his Frontline interview. https://www.democraticunderground.com/1017852127

[kysrsoze]

3. I love how these fuckers always spin it as a need to defend the U.S. from Democrats.

It’s never about how power-hungry, insane and cult-like their party has become. Assholes like this guy perpetuate the thought in their own party that it’s “them” not “us” who are the problem, and “we” just need to shape-up and restructure to counter “their” evils eventual destruction of the country. They do just as much damage as the batshit sect of the Repuke Party.

The Republican Party isn’t dead… it’s just loaded with assholes/morons.

[GPV]

9. Yep

[Wounded Bear]

19. Indeed! nt

[bronxiteforever]

22. +100. The GOP uses the Supreme Court as party headquarters

plus the House is GOP controlled and Tommy Tuberville has more power than the Commander-in-Chief as far as who is leading the American military.

[Mr. Ected]

4. I would settle for a weak and powerless Republican Party shed of MAGA

As a counterbalance to progressive Democratic policy.

Voila, democracy restored.

[pecosbob]

7. Sounds like he's reacting to the numbers in Ohio.

I heard from Beau of the Fifth Column that in the (Ohio State?) university area ninety-eight percent voted no.

[yardwork]

8. I think the country would function just fine without the Republican Party.

[mwb970]

10. There is no republican party. trump killed it dead.

All "republican values" have been thrown out the window. There is only trump and the trump party now, and the only purpose of the trump party is to protect trump from being held accountable for his words and deeds.

[MayReasonRule]

12. The Republican Party Is Now Wholly Y'all Qaeda's Nat-C Fascist Party

Those that support the same are the same.

Here's to the rule of reason across our land!
Here's to the complete, total and utter dissolution of America's Nazi party!

Here's to Trump et al being at the forefront of the first RICO case that works toward that desired dissolution!

[NBachers]

13. "Oh, please be concerned for the fate of the poor, dear republican party!"

[OMGWTF]

14. At least he called it the "Democratic" party

and not the Democrat party which doesn’t exist.

[Escurumbele]

18. republican party stopped after Theodore Roosevelt retired from politics.

The rest of the republican party has always been worthless, a new party must be created to replace the republican party.

[William769]

20. I disagree.

That is the republican party.

[BlueIdaho]

21. No shit Sherlock...

It’s MAGA now.

[maxsolomon]

23. The "Not Republican Party" is doing a fine job "countering" the Democratic Party.

By basically stopping Dems from fixing things.

Luttig is no great sage. I don't see why we need a Conservative Party at all.

[Earth-shine]

24. This is nonsense. The Republican party isn't going anywhere.

It will continually reform in small incremental ways, sometimes getting better, but usually getting worse depending on who gets elected.

And if it did disappear and was replaced by another, it would have the same people, so what's the difference?

[ThoughtCriminal]

25. For a full generation, they have always moved rightward

Sometimes faster that other times, but never a millimeter back towards the center.

They will survive, and wait out a loss in popularity, looking for the next opportunity - an economic downturn, a terrorist attack, a threat of war - and promise simple solutions to a an easily frightened and bamboozled population.