Cable News Clips

Rhiannon12866

(239,725 posts) Wed Jul 2, 2025, 12:47 AM Jul 2

'America, you're next': Michael Steele on creeping authoritarianism in the U.S. - The Weeknight - MSNBC

The Weeknight hosts discuss Donald Trump once again raising the idea of deporting U.S. citizens — and why it is time to take Trump’s chilling words “at face value.” - Aired on 07/01/2025.

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'America, you're next': Michael Steele on creeping authoritarianism in the U.S. - The Weeknight - MSNBC (Original Post) Rhiannon12866 Jul 2 OP

Finally, Steele says it at 1:44. I saw it this afternoon and was wondering if he's still a Republican. ancianita Jul 2 #1

I believe he still considers himself a Republican, "the party of Lincoln" as opposed to what TFG has made it into Rhiannon12866 Jul 2 #2

In 2015 markodochartaigh Jul 2 #3

I tend to agree with you, the "party of Reagan" is dead and buried under TFG Rhiannon12866 Jul 2 #4

ancianita

(41,183 posts)

1. Finally, Steele says it at 1:44. I saw it this afternoon and was wondering if he's still a Republican.

Reply to Rhiannon12866 (Original post)

Wed Jul 2, 2025, 12:52 AM

Jul 2

Rhiannon12866

(239,725 posts)

2. I believe he still considers himself a Republican, "the party of Lincoln" as opposed to what TFG has made it into

Reply to ancianita (Reply #1)

Wed Jul 2, 2025, 12:58 AM

Jul 2

And he is as opposed as anyone to TFG.

markodochartaigh

(3,447 posts)

3. In 2015

Reply to Rhiannon12866 (Reply #2)

Wed Jul 2, 2025, 01:26 AM

Jul 2

there were some in the Republican leadership who wanted a brokered convention instead of Trump. But because Trump was so wildly popular with the 80% of the Republican base who are authoritarians the Republicans knew that they could not win without him. So they put party before country and chose an authoritarian Strong Leader who was not committed to democracy. Amazingly some Republican leaders, those who could personally afford to, Bushes, Cheneys, Romney still refused to support Trump.
After the failed coup attempt Trump's popularity temporarily dropped there were a few Republican politicians who tried to shift away from Trump. But Trump's popularity rose when he wasn't held personally responsible and those politicians dove for cover.

I think that some Republican leaders like Michael Steele realize that for a democracy to be functional there must be at least two viable parties, and they hope to steer the Republican party away from authoritarianism and become again a viable partner in democracy.

Personally, I think that when the Republican party chose an authoritarian Strong Leader who was not committed to democracy as their candidate, and then that candidate won the election, the Republican party died as a viable political party in a democracy.

Rhiannon12866

(239,725 posts)

4. I tend to agree with you, the "party of Reagan" is dead and buried under TFG

Reply to markodochartaigh (Reply #3)

Wed Jul 2, 2025, 01:36 AM

Jul 2

While I was never a fan of Reagan, in many ways he was the opposite of TFG. He welcomed immigrants, was extremely tough on the USSR under Gorbachev ("Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" ) and he joined the other living former presidents, Carter and Ford, in supporting President Clinton's 1994 Assault Weapons Ban. *sigh*

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