Once again Scott, you and Mr. Red Leg have either not read what I have said, or you are electively disregarding my point of view because it does not align in lockstep with your own... As far as being too young for your 80's references, I am probably older than you, and I have a very solid understanding of the political climate then and now... I'm speaking more directly to domestic politics rather than foreign policy issues....
As far as being caught up in the "rhetoric", correct me if I am wrong but I don't ever recall Sam Donaldson referring to Reagan as Hitler or calling him the greatest threat to American democracy... Nor do I recall Tip O'Neill launching any fabricated impeachment investigations, or weaponizing the DOJ or CIA during Reagan's terms...
I have no interest in fighting with anyone, liberal or conservative, who share common-core American values, culture, and respect the Constitution and the rule of law it is supposed to uphold. I will fight all day long with hypocrites, charlatans, race pimps, and any other treasonous bastards who are apparently comfortable with doing whatever is necessary to carry out their political agendas regardless of the consequences... If you don't recognize the differences, maybe it's you that is part of the problem...?
You still don't get it my friend... It's not about self-righteousness... It's about elected politicians representing the will of the constituency that elected them...
What you call a circular firing squad is part of a new mandate within that party where a line must be drawn, and a purge of GOP dinosaurs is necessary no matter how painful, personal, or ugly it may indeed become... Where we differ is that you think it's the MAGA republicans and Freedom Caucus members are the problem, whereas I see it as the RINOS, Never-Trumpers, and Anti-Trumpers within the republican party that are the ones who need to do some self-reflection and wake up to see that the party is moving past them in a more aggressive and definitive direction toward a much more populist platform... The good news for them is that there are always jobs available for them outside of the government in Legacy media, or writing a book calling Trump Hitler...
You of all people should not need reminding that the founders intended our elected officials to represent the will of their constituents, not their own personal will. Many in the GOP seem to have forgotten or disregarded that notion... How it is that you and others are okay with the status quo in D.C. is baffling to me?
Your constant argument here is that the constituents represented by these RINOs keep re-electing them so they must be doing something right... I disagree... Institutional career politicians are historically very difficult to remove on both sides of the isle... This is especially true with Senators who serve 6-year terms. Voters in these down ballot positions tend to vote more out of familiarity and complacency than they do on the issues... Republicans flipping control of the Senate is a good indication that trend may indeed be changing and the republicans who still attend the Church of Mitch McConnell had better take note. They are slowly but surely being rejected by the newer generation of republican voters who want candidates with spine representing them...