What, exactly, is a RINO?

[earendel]

flock and others use this term a lot. I know it stands for "Republicans in name only", but that raises the question of what, exactly, it takes to be a "real" Republican and not a RINO. I have a feeling that many revered Republicans of the past would fall into the RINO category these days, but in order to be certain, I'd like to know what the criteria are.

[jarnon]

"VP Harris’s Democratic Party would be unrecognizable to my father and uncle and I cannot reconcile it with my values." - Robert Kennedy, Jr.

The very same thing could be said about the Republican Party. Do you think Eisenhower (Yes), Goldwater (Oh Yeah!), Dole (Yes), Rockefeller (Yes), Bush (No), McCain (Hell no!), or even Reagan (Absolutely!) would be welcome in today's GOP?

I get the impression that BackInTex and Flock favor limited government, and oppose Republicans who support big government, even when it carries out a conservative agenda.

[Weyoun]

Reagan supported massive immigration and thought Russia was bad. He was also a cheery person and did not do gestures making fun of the disabled while on stage.

He would not be welcome in today’s GOP, which really is defined as allegiance to Trump.

[Bob78164]

flock and others use this term a lot. I know it stands for "Republicans in name only", but that raises the question of what, exactly, it takes to be a "real" Republican and not a RINO. I have a feeling that many revered Republicans of the past would fall into the RINO category these days, but in order to be certain, I'd like to know what the criteria are.

I think it's clear that the Republican Party has become a cult of personality in ways that the Democratic Party demonstrably has not (and I think never will, due to its much more heterogeneous nature). So a RINO is simply any Republican who fails to declare sufficient fealty to Donny. --Bob

[Beebs52]

"think it's clear that the Republican Party has become a cult of personality in ways that the Democratic Party demonstrably has not (and I think never will, due to its much more heterogeneous nature"

Now that is funny I don't care who yar.

[flockofseagulls104]

Reagan supported massive immigration and thought Russia was bad. He was also a cheery person and did not do gestures making fun of the disabled while on stage.

He would not be welcome in today’s GOP, which really is defined as allegiance to Trump.

Doc obviously does not differentiate between legal and illegal immigration. A common delusion among his ilk.

Russia knew the USSR was an enemy. Trump knows Russia is our enemy, but held Putin in check by protecting strength. He says they had a good relationship, because he knew where putin stood, and putin knew where he stood. It was trump that stopped the russian pipeline to Europe, which biden promptly allowed. Who's russia's friend? Russia did not dare to do the things they did under both Obama and Biden when Trump was in office.

Reagan is an icon of the GOP and Trump is much more of a successor to his values and platform than anyone else in the present time.

This is still America, and you are free to make statements like this, as ill-informed as they are.

[flockofseagulls104]

flock and others use this term a lot. I know it stands for "Republicans in name only", but that raises the question of what, exactly, it takes to be a "real" Republican and not a RINO. I have a feeling that many revered Republicans of the past would fall into the RINO category these days, but in order to be certain, I'd like to know what the criteria are.

RINOs are essentially republicans who march, ultimately, to the beat of the swamp.

[Bob78164]

"think it's clear that the Republican Party has become a cult of personality in ways that the Democratic Party demonstrably has not (and I think never will, due to its much more heterogeneous nature)"

Now that is funny I don't care who yar.

If the Democratic Party were a cult of personality in the way the Republican Party has become, President Biden would be accepting his renomination on Thursday night.

That, by the way, is why Donny's panties are in a bunch. President Biden voluntarily surrendering the nomination for the good of the country and the Party was literally unthinkable to Donny. He still can't get his head around it, which is why he keeps floating crazier and weirder conspiracy theories. He can't understand a public servant who would act for the public good at a personal cost to himself. --Bob

[BackInTex]

"think it's clear that the Republican Party has become a cult of personality in ways that the Democratic Party demonstrably has not (and I think never will, due to its much more heterogeneous nature)"

Now that is funny I don't care who yar.

If the Democratic Party were a cult of personality in the way the Republican Party has become, President Biden would be accepting his renomination on Thursday night.

That, by the way, is why Donny's panties are in a bunch. President Biden voluntarily surrendering the nomination for the good of the country and the Party was literally unthinkable to Donny. He still can't get his head around it, which is why he keeps floating crazier and weirder conspiracy theories. He can't understand a public servant who would act for the public good at a personal cost to himself. --Bob

This is funny.

Biden dropping out of the race was anything but voluntary. The problem for the Dems is that the powers that be didn't go far enough. Now they have to deal with Kamala as the candidate, the candidate no one liked before and the one that's even less liked now.

The Dems will try to make this election about abortion. That and men in girls restrooms. It's all they got. They'll try to ignore the Palistine issue as much as possible. They don't have a position popular with a plurality of the party. They can't do what's right because too many of their voters want what's wrong.

Kamala has no clue about economics (Price controls? The spech never to be mentioned again.) Her record on the boarder and crime is horendous.

Republicans are falling in line with Donald Trump for one reason only. He is the guy who got the votes in the primary. Can't say that about the Dems, now can we? I guess the Republican party is more democratic than the Democratic Party. Not really a surporise.

Also, regarding falling in line behind Trump. We know his policies, we know his actions. We had four years of it, and it was good. Falling in line behind Harrris? Crap, she's not going to be calling the shots anymore than Biden did. That's scary. A whole lot of voters not knowing who they really are voting for. Just mindlessly voting for the name on the ticket The Party selected, uh, then unselected, and then 2nd choice. O.K.

[Beebs52]

Bob, you're wrong. That is all.

[flockofseagulls104]

"think it's clear that the Republican Party has become a cult of personality in ways that the Democratic Party demonstrably has not (and I think never will, due to its much more heterogeneous nature)"

Now that is funny I don't care who yar.

If the Democratic Party were a cult of personality in the way the Republican Party has become, President Biden would be accepting his renomination on Thursday night.

That, by the way, is why Donny's panties are in a bunch. President Biden voluntarily surrendering the nomination for the good of the country and the Party was literally unthinkable to Donny. He still can't get his head around it, which is why he keeps floating crazier and weirder conspiracy theories. He can't understand a public servant who would act for the public good at a personal cost to himself. --Bob

I addressed the cult personality bullshit on another post. Why does this have to be like episodic TV? Your point is wrong, moot and already addressed. If you don't like the way it was addressed, comment on that. Take the argument from that point on. Don't act like it never was. I'm so tired of having to say the same things over and over again to you *#!@$!

[flockofseagulls104]

BTW, I won as many democrat primaries as Kamala. It's a tie. Can I be the nominee?

[flockofseagulls104]

That, by the way, is why Donny's panties are in a bunch. President Biden voluntarily surrendering the nomination for the good of the country and the Party was literally unthinkable to Donny.

Trump could have just sat out and had a great life on the beach. But he's literally stuck his neck out (and almost died for it) because he cares about the COUNTRY. Get that through your head, booby.

[Bob78164]

Biden dropping out of the race was anything but voluntary. The problem for the Dems is that the powers that be didn't go far enough. Now they have to deal with Kamala as the candidate, the candidate no one liked before and the one that's even less liked now.

All President Biden had to do was nothing and he'd be accepting the nomination on Thursday. No one could compel him to withdraw from the race. He made the decision to do that voluntarily. He did so in the face of a compelling showing that he was unlikely to win the general election, but that doesn't change the fact that his decision was voluntary.

The Dems will try to make this election about abortion. That and men in girls restrooms is all they got. Kamala has not clue about economics (Price controls? The spech never to be mentioned again.) Her record on the boarder and crime is horendous.

The American people hate Republican politics on abortion, now that they actually have to live with the results. And the whole point of democracy, of course, is that the people get to select elected officials who will work the people's will on these issues.

As for your claim about price controls, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and simply say you're misinformed. The people who made that claim are (as usual for national Republicans) deliberately lying. All Vice President Harris called for was laws against price gouging. Do you have a problem with laws against price gouging? (Hint: You might want to do a little research before saying yes.)

Also, regarding falling in line behind Trump. We know his policies, we know his actions. We had four years of it, and it was good. Falling in line behind Harrris? Crap, she's not going to be calling the shots anymore than Biden did. That's scary. A whole lot of voters not know who they really are voting for. Just mindlessly voting for the name on the ticket The Party selected, uh, then unselected, and then 2nd choice. O.K.

I think that the many, many people who died as a result of Donny's mishandling of the pandemic might beg to differ about how good we had it back then. So might their family members. And friends. Such as the friends of TBone right here on this Bored.

And the idea of an 82-year-old Donny with his finger on the nuclear button ought to scare the shit out of anyone who's paying the least bit of attention.

I'm one of the many millions of Democrats who voted for President Biden in the primary. I have absolutely no problem with his choice to withdraw -- in fact, I'm one of the many people who publicly called upon him to make that decision -- and I am delighted to support Vice President Harris (who has proved to be a far more effective campaigner than I imagined she'd be). But if you think there's a raft of Democratic partisans who will refuse to vote for Vice President Harris because they don't like President Biden being supplanted on the ticket -- well, you do you. --Bob

[Bob78164]

Bob, you're wrong. That is all.

Really? Name one action that Donny ever took from the Oval Office that demonstrably placed the good of the country above his own personal interests.

Was it outing an undercover Israeli spy to the Russian government?

How about arranging a huge tax cut for real estate interests at the expense taxpayers who aren't billionaires?

Maybe it was fomenting an insurrection when the American people voted to fire him?

Name one. --Bob

[flockofseagulls104]

Bob, you're wrong. That is all.

Really? Name one action that Donny ever took from the Oval Office that demonstrably placed the good of the country above his own personal interests.

Was it outing an undercover Israeli spy to the Russian government?

How about arranging a huge tax cut for real estate interests at the expense taxpayers who aren't billionaires?

Maybe it was fomenting an insurrection when the American people voted to fire him?

Name one. --Bob

How about this, booby. You name one thing (refrain from the bullshit that's already been addressed many times) trump for his OWN personal benefit over the country's best interest?
BTW, he's the only national politician that I know of that came out poorer after his term in office than he was before.

[BackInTex]

As for your claim about price controls, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and simply say you're misinformed. The people who made that claim are (as usual for national Republicans) deliberately lying. All Vice President Harris called for was laws against price gouging. Do you have a problem with laws against price gouging? (Hint: You might want to do a little research before saying yes.)

Calling near record inflation price goughing is a lie. I'm not surprised you are comfortable with that.

Also, regarding falling in line behind Trump. We know his policies, we know his actions. We had four years of it, and it was good. Falling in line behind Harrris? Crap, she's not going to be calling the shots anymore than Biden did. That's scary. A whole lot of voters not know who they really are voting for. Just mindlessly voting for the name on the ticket The Party selected, uh, then unselected, and then 2nd choice. O.K.

I think that the many, many people who died as a result of Donny's mishandling of the pandemic might beg to differ about how good we had it back then. So might their family members. And friends. Such as the friends of TBone right here on this Bored.

The country was locked down. Well, longer than the "two weeks to flatten the curve" that "smarter than me" people said. President Trump brought the vaccines to market in record time. According to you and other "smarter than me" people, get the vaccine and you won't get Covid. So how are you blaming him for mismanagment and people dying? Oh, yeah, lies. Keep 'em coming. Tbone was vaccinated. Had someone else been in office, the vaccines wouldn't have been available for years. Tbone got an extra year ore so because of the vaccine.

I'm one of the many millions of Democrats who voted for President Biden in the primary. I have absolutely no problem with his choice to withdraw -- in fact, I'm one of the many people who publicly called upon him to make that decision -- and I am delighted to support Vice President Harris (who has proved to be a far more effective campaigner than I imagined she'd be). But if you think there's a raft of Democratic partisans who will refuse to vote for Vice President Harris because they don't like President Biden being supplanted on the ticket -- well, you do you. --Bob

No, the raft of Dems will, like you, vote for who you're told to.

[tlynn78]

Bob, you're wrong. That is all.

C'mon, man. Clearly the Dems are the party of joy. Just look at the crowds of "fans" outside the convention site - a large section of which is part of their base. Sunshine and rainbows! At least according to mainstream media

[earendel]

Somehow none of this has answered my question. The closest anyone has come is flock, who said "RINOs are essentially republicans who march, ultimately, to the beat of the swamp." That doesn't really clarify things.

[Weyoun]

Bob, you're wrong. That is all.

Really? Name one action that Donny ever took from the Oval Office that demonstrably placed the good of the country above his own personal interests.

Was it outing an undercover Israeli spy to the Russian government?

How about arranging a huge tax cut for real estate interests at the expense taxpayers who aren't billionaires?

Maybe it was fomenting an insurrection when the American people voted to fire him?

Name one. --Bob

How about this, booby. You name one thing (refrain from the bullshit that's already been addressed many times) trump for his OWN personal benefit over the country's best interest?
BTW, he's the only national politician that I know of that came out poorer after his term in office than he was before.

But Trump losing money is not exactly news. Does it all the time! Did you know that if he had just taken his dad’s inheritance and placed it in the stock market and invested in the S&P 500, he probably would’ve been worth three times what he was worth when he took me out of office?

He’s a horrible business who kills everything he touches. He’s almost certainly in debt to foreign powers. Only dumb rednecks who think that programming on NBC on Thursday night tells them who is rich or not think that this guy was great businessman.

[Weyoun]

Bob, you're wrong. That is all.

C'mon, man. Clearly the Dems are the party of joy. Just look at the crowds of "fans" outside the convention site - a large section of which is part of their base. Sunshine and rainbows! At least according to mainstream media

If you’re citing protesters outside, they wouldn’t be people who are part of the party, right?

[Weyoun]

Joe Biden was almost certainly forced out. But Bob’s point still stands. He ultimately did so. Trump is a narcissist who never set aside his own political interest for the country.

Also, we tried prosecuting him for overthrowing the government, and that failed, largely because of cowardly Republicans, who were afraid that one of Trump’s lack of followers would kill them (They said this behind the scenes). A RINO is essentially a Republican who does what he or she wants, and doesn’t live in constant fear of Trump’s stupid brain-dead followers.

Do you think one of Joe Biden’s followers is going to try to kill leading Democrats because of what they did to remove Biden? Of course not. Only Trump followers are that crazy.

[BackInTex]

Bob, you're wrong. That is all.

C'mon, man. Clearly the Dems are the party of joy. Just look at the crowds of "fans" outside the convention site - a large section of which is part of their base. Sunshine and rainbows! At least according to mainstream media

If you’re citing protesters outside, they wouldn’t be people who are part of the party, right?

But they are. That's why Shapiro isn't the VP candidate. It's why he isn't campaigning with the team. Don't deny it. Embrace your party's diversity of thought.

[flockofseagulls104]

We were told that Trump is a nazi, doc. Remember that? Even though his children and grandchildren are Jewish. I remember it. Don't you?

Why aren't all those Palestinian protesters going to trump rallies and cheering for him?

When are you going to recognize you are being lied to? How much bullshit can you absorb before you wake up?

[Weyoun]

We were told that Trump is a nazi, doc. Remember that? Even though his children and grandchildren are Jewish. I remember it. Don't you?

Why aren't all those Palestinian protesters going to trump rallies and cheering for him?

When are you going to recognize you are being lied to? How much bullshit can you absorb before you wake up?

I’ve never said Trump is a Nazi, and people who do so are using that as a proxy for being extremely far right and racist. I agree, he’s never shown and he desire to armed Jews.

It’s much like Trump supporter is claiming that, Harris is a communist and wants to turn the country into Venezuela. It would be more correct to say that she wants to turn the country into Sweden.

I do think that Trump has a lot in common with Maduro in that he sees himself as a Latin-style jefe.

Quite the opposite, I think one reason you love him is because he wants to continue to arm Israel and that result in dead Arabs, and that makes you happy.

I asked for why they protest, they are on the left wing. They’re going to protest the folks who are more closely aligned with them, even though it’s not as close as you think it is. Very little point of making a stink at the RNC.