Thom Tillis Trashes Conservatives ‘Righteous Indignation’, Draws GOP Ire In Mueller Protection Push

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sen. Thom Tillis (RINO-NC) is laying it on thick. IN an op-ed for the Washington Post, doubtless an appropriate vehicle for the proud RINO, Tillis argues that passing his legislation to protect special counsel Robert Mueller and his adrift Russia probe is good policy and those on the Right that disagree essentially need to shut up.

“I have received a good deal of criticism from some on the right for introducing special-counsel legislation, with the common refrain being that it is harmful to President Trump.

[…]

While the president is understandably frustrated with the investigation, I don’t believe he would ultimately remove Mueller, and the White House and the president’s legal team have indicated that he does not intend to do so.

[…]

The Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act is about protecting the rule of law and producing an outcome that is good for our country. It’s not about producing an outcome for one political party.”

He may be right; this is not about producing an outcome for one political party. Instead it seems to be about producing a result for one politician – Tillis.

If Tillis doesn’t even believe Trump is going to fire Mueller, why would he be basking in the spotlight as he pushes for protections? It’s not about rule of law – the bill itself steps all over executive authority outlined in the U.S. Constitution.

No, this is about Tillis angling for a 2020 election under faulty premise that appeasing Democrats and patronizing the Republican base is a recipe for victory.

But his GOP colleagues are not too enthused with him. Politico interviewed Tills and others on the issue, revealing what we all know to be true; Tillis is more popular with Democrats than Republicans.

“Tillis doesn’t think Trump will ultimately fire Mueller even as the president rages over the expanding Russia probe. But he has an impassioned response for his conservative critics nonetheless: “Spare me.”

“Courage is when you know you’re going to do something that’s going to anger your base,” Tillis said in an interview in his Senate office.

[…]

But some Republicans warn that it could hurt Tillis among Trump voters he’ll need in what’s likely to be a brutal reelection campaign in 2020.

“I can tell you conservatives in my district are not happy about it,” said Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), chairman of the House Freedom Caucus.

Some of his colleagues are also concerned.

“It’s not good politics in the end,” said Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). “It says you don’t trust the president.”

[…]

…right now, most Democrats have nothing but praise for a junior senator who is willing to stick his neck out and face the potential peril of Twitter attacks from a president who’s grown angry about the special counsel digging into his affairs.”

“Spare me,” says Tillis. If there were ever an example of an elitist, holier than thou attitude, it seeps out of Thom Tillis when he talks about conservatives in his own party.

He even brags about his “courage” in doing things that anger his base. He must relish the praise of Democrats for being their tool.

Meanwhile, House Freedom Caucus Chairman Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) knows conservatives will have none of it, but other political strategists, according to the piece, sense that Tillis is merely trying to create space between himself and Trump on a 2020 ballot. In other words, despite he protestations, Tillis is using the playbook of the Establishment and engaging in the very same political grandstanding that he derides in his interviews.

This bill will not pass, but he still pushes it to make a point. Even though, according to Tillis history doesn’t record all the good points made in the senate.

What’s more, Tillis seems to tease those displeased with his D.C. antics right after another rich lie:

“Frankly, I haven’t even thought through the political consequences,” Tillis said. “So if my constituents are at odds with me, there will be an opportunity to voice their opinion on it in November of 2020.”

If you believe that Tillis hasn’t thought through the politics of it all (and made the wrong conclusion), I have some land to sell you.

Voters will definitely voice their opinion in 2020 (not sure he’ll make to November of that year), and when he loses it will take a toll more on Democrats than Republicans.

Read more of the senator’s hubris here and here.