Peter Wehner worked in the George W. Bush administration. He knew Elise Stefanik when she was a moderate. Like others who knew her then, he is confounded by her transformation into a Trump lapdog/bulldog.
The lust for power does strange things to people. Compare Stefanik and Liz Cheney: Stefanik abandoned all principle to curry favor with Trump. Cheney gave up her powerful position and her political future by refusing to tolerate Trump’s assault on the Constitution and Trump’s lies. Cheney was the #3 House Republican before the failed coup; she was ousted by her colleagues and replaced by Stefanik.
Wehner writes:
There was a time in 2016 when Elise Stefanik, now the third-ranking Republican in the House, was so disgusted by Donald Trump, she would barely mention his name. Today he proudly refers to her as “one of my killers.”
She proved that again last month. In an effort to undermine confidence in the select committee investigating the violent assault on the Capitol, Ms. Stefanik said, “This is not a serious investigation. This is a partisan political witch hunt.” The committee, she said, is “illegitimate.” The hearings did not change her mind. In mid-July, before the final session planned for the summer, she referred to the committee as a “sham” and declared that “it is way worse than the impeachment witch hunt parts one and two.”
Maybe Ms. Stefanik was continuing to discredit the House committee because the evidence it has produced from Trump insiders — and the compelling way the evidence has been presented — has inflicted staggering damage on Mr. Trump, even though it might not prevent him from winning the Republican presidential nomination for a third straight time. Ms. Stefanik has failed in her efforts to sabotage the committee, but it’s not for lack of trying.
Ms. Stefanik’s fealty to Mr. Trump is so great that some of his advisers are mentioning her as a potential vice-presidential candidate if he runs in 2024, which he and his advisers are strongly hinting he will do.
The transformation of Ms. Stefanik, who is 38, is among the most dramatic and significant in American politics. Her political conversion is a source of sadness and anger for several people I spoke to who were colleagues of hers — as I was in the White House of George W. Bush although I did not work with her directly — and who were, unlike me, once close to her. To them, Ms. Stefanik’s story is of a person who betrayed her principles and her country in a manic quest for power.
Sort of like how Democrats run as progressives and govern as Republicans. What it tells you is that the country wants candidates that are much further to the left, but the empire will never let that happen, so every election we the people get sold a bill of goods.
I wonder what we could do about that?
Wow, you can’t even post to agree about how truly awful Elise Stefanik is. Does she hate the same people you hate and that’s why you feel you must defend her honor?
Elise Stefanik is awful. Your need to NORMALIZE her and her hatefulness by your claims that the racist white Trump voters are secretly progressive and would support a progressive governor instead of threatening to assassinate her is truly astonishing.
Republicans needed useful idiots in 2016 to push the propaganda about how it didn’t matter whether a right wing Republican to a Democrat choose a Supreme Court justice to fill an open seat with the Court tied 4-4.
Those people who won’t admit they made a mistake are no different than trolls or Republicans. Like them, you are always right.
YOU ARE RIGHT, dienne77. You are right that the Supreme Court would be no different if it was a 6-3 liberal majority. YOU are right that Putin invaded Ukraine to fight nazis.
If telling you that YOU ARE ALWAYS RIGHT is the only way you will be satisfied, then you are no different than Trump, himself. There is something wrong with both of you.
But if you believe you are perfect, then YOU ARE RIGHT!
More evidence that the wacko Left and fascist Right are virtually the same. Can’t wait for the defense of Greenwald, especially since he’s been cited as “authority” by our delusional commentator.
A quote from someone in Elise Stefanik’s district from the previous post:
“I live in Stefanik’s district. A few days ago, I got a phone call from her representative who sounded like a young woman. She immediately started out with how Elise needs my help to expand her America First program against the Radical Left..”|
Tell me again how it is the Democrats fault because “the country wants candidates that are much further to the left, but the empire will never let that happen”.
The REPUBLICANS won’t let that happen, and they have useful idiots helping to empower them.
I imagine dienne77 in Nazi Germany speaking out LOUDLY every time there was any criticism of the Nazis’ attempt to annhilate everyJewish man, women and child in eastern Europe. “But the other German parties weren’t progressive enough and we MUST change the subject to discuss their failures instead.”
At some point, your need to change the subject speaks volumes about what really bothers you and what doesn’t.
Reblogged this on What's Gneiss for Education.
Stefanik’s district has the largest population of seniors in the state according her website.
And, it’s 90% White. It appears to be rural which is usually associated with religious. The district flipped to Trump after going for Obama in 2012.
I hope the media tries to pin Stefanik about the GOP’s plans on Social Security and Medicare.
Seniors won’t like it.
Assuming she tells the truth.
A person on the internet claims to have lived with Stefanik for 3 years. That person was not surprised, citing Elise’s well-developed sense of entitlement. Mr. Elise reportedly works for a gun industry trade group.
hyenaius!
Here in IL, the Republican Party is working to censure Rep. Adam Kinzinger, w/the blessing of Darren Bailey, Rep. Candidate for Guv. (Remember, he was the one who told Illinoisans–immediately after the Highland Park shooting –to go on & enjoy the day. Oh,yeah: he offered thoughts & prayers first. A commercial has him twice thanking “G-d, our Father” for the SCotUS justices & for their repeal of Roe.)
&, speaking of G-d, he’s just plain G-d awful!
E.S. is, w/o a doubt, the worst.
I can’t help, however, comparing Krysten Sinema. WHAT is the matter with HER?!
The msm was following her around the other day, asking how she would vote on something, & she just smirked…SMIRKED at them. Do her constituents not hold her accountable? She’s another one who has no idea of what she’s supposed to be: she was elected to be a SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE, not a serpent killing the people.
IMO, she’s no different than Elise Stefanie (except that she has publically slobbered all over it45…yet). If it’s not Manchin, it’s Sinema. If it’s not Sinema, it’s Manchin.
It’s not just “always something”… it’s always someONE. 😡🤬😡🤬
I meant to type: except that she has not publicly slobbered all over it45…YET.
Plus I misspelled Stefanik.
Oh, well, my meaning is the same. Joe & Krysten have totally messed up the Senate. TWO people…Dems in name only.
A can think of a few choice words and some imagery for her shape .
I
Eeew! Just read–& sent to Diane–that her husband has a great deal to do w/the gun industry (& from Newtown, CT, no less). She has an A+ rating from the NRA.
When is her term up?
I’d say I feel for all of you living in her district, but I feel for ALL of us, since she’s one of the horrendous people ruining the House.
I would say thank goodness the assault weapons ban passed in the House (barely), but we all know it’s gonna fail in the Senate.
Why is Wehnwr surprised at Stefanik’s opportunism? George W. Bush was a flawed president who was responsible for so many disturbing developments in our country. Who put Alito on the Supreme Court? Who attempted to push an even more extreme version of the Patriot Act? Who pushed for corporate reform of education?
I worked in the Department of Justice during Bush’s two terms. It was well known within the Department that Bush and his advisors were working to politicize the agency. They tried to rig thr Honors program for hiring new attorneys by reviewing resumes for the “wrong” (read liberal) associations. Bush appointed ideologues as division heads.
Don’t forget the swiftboating of John Kerry in 2004.
Bush looks better only because Trump was so appalling.