Linking arms with one of many globe’s most noxious brocasters might sound an odd approach to burnish one’s political model. However that is Mr. Trump’s America. And Mr. Gaetz way back embraced the president’s technique of spinning his moral or authorized troubles as a badge of honor — proof of his patriotism and MAGA loyalty — and trying to journey that victimhood to political development.
All this would possibly look like tacky theatrics, but it surely captures a core toxicity of the Trump period: spreading the incompetence and venality of the president’s personal management to far-flung corners of the Republican Get together — locations the place the nationwide highlight doesn’t shine as brightly, however the harm wrought can nonetheless be devastating. Not occasionally, this happens by recycling and shoring up the political losers and scoundrels among the many MAGA devoted. Win or lose, they continue to be beholden to Mr. Trump.
Take the continual election denier Kari Lake, twice defeated in Arizona in recent times, now reportedly set to be detailed to the State Division. Or Ryan Zinke, who was secretary of the inside throughout Trump 1, resigned amid a swirl of ethics investigations — which he dismissed as “meritless and false” and, after all, “politically motivated” — then went on to win a Home seat representing Montana.
And allow us to not neglect Ken Paxton, Texas’ scandal-ridden legal professional common, who has weathered a formidable vary of authorized drama, together with costs of securities fraud and whistle-blower claims of bribery and abuse of workplace. He was impeached by the Republican-led State Home, then acquitted by the Republican-led State Senate. This month, a district court docket choose dominated that Mr. Paxton had wrongly fired the whistle-blowers, who had been awarded $6.6 million.
However Mr. Paxton, a pro-Trump firebrand, simply wraps himself ever tighter in his cloak of political persecution and retains on swinging, to the delight of Republican voters. In 2022, he beat again a major problem from George P. Bush and went on to win a 3rd time period. Final week, he upped the ante, saying that he would problem Senator John Cornyn in subsequent 12 months’s Republican major.
None of which is to say that Mr. Gaetz is for certain to run for workplace once more — or is assured political redemption. However in an period of Trumpist rot and relativism, there may be ample purpose for him to harbor greater than only a slither of hope.
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