Thread by @TimAlberta

A thought on Lamar Alexander:

His retirement is less relevant than you might think. Trump’s grip on the GOP has implications far beyond elected office. Lamar is looking forward to a life after politics — and he knows it will be complicated by any break w/ Trump over impeachment.

I’ve spent a LOT of time with retired (and retiring) congressional Rs since 2016. Most feel zero sense of liberation to bash Trump on the way out. If anything, they’re even more cowed & cautious, fearing that being out of favor w: POTUS (and his party) limits their earning power.

And it’s not just about money. I’ve had numerous retiring Rs talk warily — sometimes fearfully — about the “cult” of Trump supporters back home. They worry about harassment of their families, loss of standing in local communities, estranged relationships, etc.

If you think this is a bunch of weak-ass excusemaking from people who ought to rise above it and do what they think is right..... well, no argument here.

I’m just explaining the reality for these Rs. They feel trapped, most of them—and retirement isn’t the escape we might think.

This is why, even while people were justifably angry that Paul Ryan didn’t speak out forcefully *while in office*, they should appreciate that be found his voice in retirement. (See: “American Carnage.”)

It’s not easy to cross Trump the way he did. If it was, many more would.

I’ve heard for months that Lamar might, just might, take out 3 years of disgust w/ Trump during the impeachment hearing. Hinted at it here (politico.com/magazine/story…).

Maybe he will. But the idea that he’s got nothing to lose....I’m telling you, it’s a foreign concept to these Rs.

If you want to fully understand this phenomenon — not just *what* happened to the Republican Party, but *why* it happened — there’s a book I’d strongly recommend:

amazon.com/American-Carna…