by digby
I have to feel a little bit sorry for the conservative movement stalwarts faced with the prospect of Trump blowing up their party. It can’t be easy. But they sound silly when they say stuff like this:
In Congress, Mike Pence was the standard bearer for conservatism. It was his cause. He was the elected Buckley. And I am now so thoroughly disappointed in him.
The 2016 Republican Presidential primary is a choice between a conservative and a shallow demagogue. The race now hinges on Indiana. Either Cruz will win and we can continue the fight to stop Trump or Cruz will lose and more likely than not guarantee a Trump nomination. A Trump nomination would destroy all that Mike Pence so tirelessly for so many years worked to achieve.
But Pence, in the face of this, remains on the sidelines. He has not yet wielded his influence in Indiana, the state he governs. Every day he sits on the sidelines is another day in which he could have made a difference. He has not used his influence in the conservative movement to rally against Trump.
In 2020, conservatives will need to remember who stood up against Trump and who sat silently by. We will need to remember those who collaborated with Trump and those who turned a blind eye to Trump. We will have to remember that the man who kept the fires of constitutional liberty lit for so long stayed so quiet.
That’s Erik Erickson. The conservative movement is going to be faced with many problems after this election. Mike Pence’s reluctance to get in the middle of this shit-show is going to be the least of it.
It will be very interesting to see if Erickson goes over to the Trump team. I’d say it’s 50-50.
.