Jeff Danziger lives in New York City. He is represented by CWS Syndicate and the Washington Post Writers Group. He is the recipient of the Herblock Prize and the Thomas Nast (Landau) Prize. He served in the US Army in Vietnam and was awarded the Bronze Star and the Air Medal. He has published eleven books of cartoons and one novel. Visit him at DanzigerCartoons.com.
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Sen. Rick Scott
Reprinted with permission from DailyKos
The two Republicans heading up the party's efforts to retake control of Congress in the midterms all but declared war on any GOP lawmaker who dares to cross Donald Trump between now and 2022.
<p>On Friday, both Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) copped to the fact that not only did they fail to get a commitment from Trump not to make primary targets of their caucus members, but they also had no intention of doing so. Both men are also charter members of the Sedition Party, having voted to reject congressional certification of Joe Biden's victory even after Trump's murderous mob stormed the Capitol complex on January 6.</p>
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<p>"I don't have a commitment on that," McCarthy <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/house/540724-mccarthy-no-commitment-from-trump-to-not-target-republicans#.YDlG2tK1Y6k.twitter" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">told reporters</a> Friday during a press conference, adding that he's working "closely" with Trump on "endorsements to win seats in the House."</p><p>The ten members of McCarthy's caucus who <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/01/14/956621191/these-are-the-10-republicans-who-voted-to-impeach-trump" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">voted to impeach Trump</a> face the most immediate threat from a Trump-backed 2022 primary. Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, in particular, has drawn Trump's ire. Earlier this week, Cheney <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2021/2/24/2017866/-The-Liz-Cheney-rift-deepens-after-she-assails-white-supremacy-election-fraud-lies-Trump-and-more" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">took a whack at Trump</a> once again, telling reporters she didn't think Trump should be "playing a role in the future of the party or the country." McCarthy, on the other hand, flew down to Mar-a-Lago to kiss Trump's ring in the weeks following the January 6 insurrection because he just wants to be Speaker of the House that badly.</p>
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<p>As a nice touch, McCarthy wouldn't say whether he would help Cheney in her reelection bid. "Liz hasn't asked me," offered McCarthy. With friends like that ...</p><p>And then there's Scott, who's chairing the campaign arm of the Senate Republican caucus, basically spewing venom at Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and John Thune of South Dakota. Murkowski is the sole GOP senator who both voted to convict Trump and faces a 2022 reelection bid, while Thune has repeatedly said the party should steer away from Trump's cult of personality. </p>
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<p>"I never talked to [Trump] about that," Scott <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/rick-scott-tries-to-bridge-trump-mcconnell-divide-11614349598?st=1fvtjqzx1npbdko&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">told <em>The </em><em>Wall Street Journal</em></a> of Trump refraining from endorsing potential primary opponents. "Many are saying it is my job to mediate between warring factions on the right and mediate the war of words between party leaders … Well, I have news for them—I'm not going to mediate anything." </p><p>With friends like that ... oh wait, I already said that.</p><p>In any normal party, a basic commitment to do no harm to incumbent lawmakers would be standard. But not in today's Republican Party, where fascist loyalty to Trump supersedes all other rules of engagement. It's a truly special time to be a Republican—and goddess help us all if this version of the party ever regains control of the country.</p>
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