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BumRushDaShow

(165,812 posts)
Fri Feb 21, 2025, 03:59 AM Feb 2025

The private GOP panic over the slash-and-burn DOGE firings

Source: Politico

02/20/2025 04:26 PM EST


A growing number of congressional Republicans are desperately trying to back-channel with White House officials as President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency ramps up its slash-and-burn firings of federal workers.

GOP lawmakers unleashed a frantic flurry of calls and texts after federal agencies undertook the latest firings this past weekend, with Republicans particularly worried about cuts affecting public safety and health roles. Trump’s legislative affairs team, headed by former JD Vance aide James Braid, took the brunt of the frenetic fallout, according to four Republicans granted anonymity to discuss the conversations.

For the most part, Republican members are publicly cheering the administration’s push to slash the federal government, which is being led by billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk with Trump’s blessing. But privately, many are feeling helpless to counter the meat-ax approach that has been embraced so far, with lawmakers especially concerned about the dismissal of military veterans working in federal agencies as well as USDA employees handling the growing bird flu outbreak affecting poultry and dairy farms.

“I thought we were supposed to be in a new era of meritocracy. Not the indiscriminate firing of people,” said one Republican congressional aide granted anonymity to speak candidly.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/20/gop-lawmaker-doge-cut-panic-00205282

21 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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The private GOP panic over the slash-and-burn DOGE firings (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Feb 2025 OP
A new era of meritocracy? Bwahahahahaha! Vogon_Glory Feb 2025 #1
Tulsi Gabbard? Pete Hegseth? Dr. Oz? Kash Patel? RFK Jr.? Mister Ed Feb 2025 #3
They didn't get the memo. truthisfreedom Feb 2025 #2
The unstable maniac made it clear this was going to be his "revenge tour" wishstar Feb 2025 #4
Dems don't have power Dorian Gray Feb 2025 #5
OMG, the White House isn't going to do one damn thing. tanyev Feb 2025 #6
Republicans in Congress are such milque toast wussies that they Bengus81 Feb 2025 #7
if you'd just shown some backbone 4catsmom Feb 2025 #8
The Republican Party is a psychotic organization lonely bird Feb 2025 #9
How many is "a growing number" and how seriously can we take their concerns when they are not actually resisting? Ford_Prefect Feb 2025 #10
Every Dem ad needs to amplify Elon Musk swinging around a chain saw Prairie Gates Feb 2025 #11
And hang it around the GOP V850i Feb 2025 #16
I don't buy it Zorro Feb 2025 #12
It ain't gonna do no good in private, you dickheads! Aristus Feb 2025 #13
Every last one of them can go fuck themselves forever Orrex Feb 2025 #14
Thank you. I would just add. . . Tansy_Gold Feb 2025 #19
I don't believe it anymore V850i Feb 2025 #15
Every one of 'em is an oil covered lizard missing their spine wolfie001 Feb 2025 #17
Their only concern is for getting re-elected JoseBalow Feb 2025 #18
Profiles in courage n/t hibbing Feb 2025 #20
private? Skittles Feb 2025 #21

Vogon_Glory

(10,198 posts)
1. A new era of meritocracy? Bwahahahahaha!
Fri Feb 21, 2025, 04:06 AM
Feb 2025

No, Orange Julius isn’t interested in merit or meritocracy. Orange Julius is only interested in making himself and his top donors wealthier and sticking it to the weak and powerless.

wishstar

(5,803 posts)
4. The unstable maniac made it clear this was going to be his "revenge tour"
Fri Feb 21, 2025, 05:40 AM
Feb 2025

yet they supported a dishonest incompetent psychopath and his unqualified wrecking crew just to get back in power to hurt their political foes and enrich themselves.

Dorian Gray

(13,846 posts)
5. Dems don't have power
Fri Feb 21, 2025, 06:14 AM
Feb 2025

if they don't like the cuts, they're oging to have to lead the charge against them.

tanyev

(48,669 posts)
6. OMG, the White House isn't going to do one damn thing.
Fri Feb 21, 2025, 08:14 AM
Feb 2025

USE YOUR CONGRESSIONAL POWERS. Launch investigations! Issue subpoenas! Refuse to vote for his nominees!

Remember how much fun you had doing that when Biden was president? You can do it again!

Bengus81

(9,826 posts)
7. Republicans in Congress are such milque toast wussies that they
Fri Feb 21, 2025, 09:11 AM
Feb 2025

have their aides do the talking?

4catsmom

(667 posts)
8. if you'd just shown some backbone
Fri Feb 21, 2025, 09:11 AM
Feb 2025

but you didn't want to lose your congressional seat. Good luck ruling over penniless people living in ruins. I understand they are a little unruly.

lonely bird

(2,776 posts)
9. The Republican Party is a psychotic organization
Fri Feb 21, 2025, 09:37 AM
Feb 2025

They built this monster and now they are afraid. They are gutless.

I call for the complete and utter destruction of the Republican Party as a functional organization.

Sic Semper Tyrannus.

Ford_Prefect

(8,509 posts)
10. How many is "a growing number" and how seriously can we take their concerns when they are not actually resisting?
Fri Feb 21, 2025, 11:42 AM
Feb 2025

It sounds more like pearl clutching than genuine involvement. If they are really worried to the degree the article suggests why aren't they acting as Congress and the Senate are intended and engineered to do?

Prairie Gates

(7,205 posts)
11. Every Dem ad needs to amplify Elon Musk swinging around a chain saw
Fri Feb 21, 2025, 11:50 AM
Feb 2025

and acting a goddamn fool. Every Dem who attends a town hall needs to use the term "chainsaw" pejoratively for careless, reckless, and poorly planned cuts.

Dems should have ads with Musk swinging around the chainsaw then those TikTok videos of chainsaw idiots cutting down tree branches on to their own houses and cars. These should be paired and running on socials nonstop.

Let's get in the fucking game here.

V850i

(120 posts)
16. And hang it around the GOP
Fri Feb 21, 2025, 01:25 PM
Feb 2025

We always focus on a person, make sure the public knows it is all of them!

Zorro

(18,346 posts)
12. I don't buy it
Fri Feb 21, 2025, 12:02 PM
Feb 2025

They are all onboard with what Trump is doing. They aren’t really interested in what their constituency wants.

V850i

(120 posts)
15. I don't believe it anymore
Fri Feb 21, 2025, 01:23 PM
Feb 2025

Since Trump has been on the scene, this is part of every story... the Republicans are concerned, hands are wringing, teeth are gnashing... I say BS. They are not worried, they gleefully go along with anything that Trump does. Except for a few, Liz Cheney, Adam Kitzinger maybe a couple others, they are all cowards.

wolfie001

(7,092 posts)
17. Every one of 'em is an oil covered lizard missing their spine
Fri Feb 21, 2025, 01:46 PM
Feb 2025

repukes are just nasty and cannot be counted on to do anything honest nor fair, never mind dignified. Always pandering to the lowest, most foul racists in our once great country (whenever the f**k that was)

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