There is widespread alarm among congressional Republicans at how President Trump this week abruptly replaced Pentagon leaders with political allies, and sent signals he might do the same in the intelligence community, but for now lawmakers are refraining from overtly criticizing the moves for fear doing so could harm the party’s chances of holding on to its two Senate seats in Georgia. 

That report from this morning’s Washington Post (“Republicans muzzle anger over Trump’s Pentagon culling, afraid antagonizing him could imperil Georgia runoff,” by Karoun Demirjian) portrays Republicans as concerned with the President’s actions, but unwilling to go beyond offering “praise for Esper’s tenure and little else.”

Congressional aides say the anodyne public expressions represent a concerted attempt to self-muzzle, as the political party that prides itself on being strong on national security grapples with its fear of antagonizing an erratic and impulsive lame-duck president while battling to keep control of the Senate.

Further:

GOP aides described the sudden change in leadership as an “unwise” move that could cause “chaos” within the U.S. national security establishment as the country already is vulnerable to threats. Multiple GOP aides also surmised that the shake-up would hamper the incoming Biden administration if Trump’s newly chosen leaders and senior staff withhold information from his opponent’s transition team while the president contests the election outcome.

While Republicans regard themselves as a “political party that prides itself on being strong on national security,” they are unwilling to place national security above an upcoming election in Georgia. By now this is a familiar pattern — going back most dramatically to Trump’s deference, on the international stage, to an adversary by taking Vladimir Putin’s word over that of the Intelligence Community of the United States. The party’s unwillingness (with the exception of a single Senator) to hold their party’s leader accountable when he sought to extort the Ukrainian President to provide dirt on Joe Biden underscored the GOP’s priorities.

In another era, neither the leadership, nor the caucus of the Republican Party would have chosen to place partisan interests over national security concerns. By now, the habit is as well established as a sacred ritual.

Republicans recognized before Trump’s election in 2016 his unfitness for office. Through his actions, he has confirmed their judgment many times over. No matter what misdeed or malfeasance they witness, Republicans chose to either offer praise, meaningless murmurs of discomfort or gentle dissents, or silence. It is not politically advantageous to push back. No matter what the consequences to the nation or to Americans, partisan political advantage rules the day.

For the contemporary Republican Party, the choice is clear. And the indelible pattern extends beyond issues most closely associated with international relations and intelligence.

Yesterday, November 11, 1,565 people died of COVID in the United States. Overall deaths from the virus in this country exceed 242,000. Coronavirus hospitalizations nationwide exceed 60,000. Many states are approaching hospital capacity, yet even more concerning is the lack of qualified medical personnel to attend to the increasing numbers of sick patients. The rate of infection continues to grow. And yet — there is no national plan to defeat the coronavirus, not to amp up testing, to supply PPE, or to bring down the rate of infection. States, cities, and counties are on their own. The disastrous results are clear for all to see.

The President of the United States — as far as we can tell — is indifferent to this rising toll. There is no evidence that he has given a thought, since losing the election, to saving American lives from this scourge.

Furthermore — judging by its silence and inaction — the national Republican Party is willing to overlook this ongoing tragedy, which has flourished on Donald Trump’s watch.

Based on the 71 million votes cast for Trump, rank and file Republican voters embrace the indifference of the President and accept the deaths of family members, friends, and neighbors, as well as Americans with whom they have no direct connection.

This acceptance by the base, and the refusal to hold the President accountable, explains the calculation that Washington Republicans have made. If there is a line this party, its leaders, and its voters are unwilling to cross in support of Donald Trump, if there is a bridge too far, we haven’t yet reached it.

(Image: The first two items in Donald Trump’s twitter feed this afternoon. The top tweet is a fraudulent claim about voter fraud; the second is a complaint about Fox News. Trump’s concerns, and matters of indifference to him, are plain for all to see.)