The reality behind the Lincoln Project

Three of the four NeverTrumper Republican founders of the Lincoln Project? Trump-level grifters, more specificially, deadbeat tax delinquents. Vox further calls out Lincoln Project founders and top brass as having been enablers of Trump through helping get Poppy and Shrub Bush elected in part with racist dogwhistles by and for them and for downballot candidates. This is all true. Vox also reminds us that Steve Schmidt foisted Sarah Palin on us. In addition, they all produced the same type of dark ads that Trump only ramped up. He, his messages, and his message framing didn't come out of nowhere. And now, they're trying to trump Trump, which doesn't happen unless one plays for really scorched-earth tactics.

The Vox story also links to Open Secrets on the grifting angle. It finally notes that playing to Twitter isn't much of a strategy for defeating Trump, just for lining their pockets. (Well, Vox doesn't add the latter party, but c'mon.)

The biggest problem is that it's an attempt to normalize the modern Republican party to national Democrats. Given that those Democrats have invited hardcore conservative John Kasich to speak to the DNC, it's worked!