Invictus (1875) Invalidated (2016)

Invictus (1875) Invalidated (2016)
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The GOP has forever been the party of law and order, of protecting American gun rights, of water boarding terrorists, and ultimately of standing up for what is right. They have always been tough on crime, painting Democrats as "soft" (i.e. flaccid or not erect). Recently they called the Democratic leadership - particularly President Obama - weak negotiators, as in the Iran agreement.

But, as with homophobic and family values congressmen, we again see that the accuser is in fact the person who should be accused. Now the accusers of weakness in others are the weakest of all. Members of the Republican establishment that stand up to Obama by saying "no" can't even stand up to each other.

Mitt Romney sharply attacked Donald Trump the morning of Thursday night's presidential debate. He called Trump "a phony, a fraud." He continued to say that Trump's "promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University." Romney then said that on foreign policy, Trump is "very, very not smart."

His attacks were relentless and pointed. By contrast, Cruz and Rubio seemed like frat boys when they attacked Trump. Thursday night devolved to discussions of penis size.

So, are Cruz and Rubio as sincere as Romney in their criticisms? I think not - absolutely not. They essentially called him a con artist and liar, but eventually said that if Trump were the party's nominee they would actually support him.

I am reminded of Tim Robbins' play Embedded when two reporters covering Iraq were discussing President George W. Bush. One said, "I know he's a liar, but I trust him."

So where does that leave us? We are left with self-proclaimed stand-up men who don't stand up. Is it because they won't or because they can't? Does party loyalty trump, as it were, genuine patriotism? Maybe "little Marco" and "lying" Ted should just go out and play.

The Republican Party has been decimated and even humiliated by Trump. Twitter personality bwdone2017 anticipated their meltdown six months ago when he tweeted, "Barack Obama turned the GOP into nothing more than a lunatic cult, and all he had to do was to be black."

So, how is the title of this blog "Invictus (1875) Invalidated (2016)" relevant? Here is the final quatrain, and you can draw your own conclusions:

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

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