The difference between Nixon and Trump

One of the reasons Republicans were able to pressure Nixon to resign was that they knew Nixon cared about the institution of the Republican party.

Another reason is that they knew that Nixon would go away and keep quiet in a self-imposed exile after his presidency. He wasn’t going to spend his winter years taking shots at Wiggins and Goldwater and Ford on Twitter 15 times a day.

Neither of those assumptions are operable with Trump.

There are only two reasons that Republican officeholders would take sides against Trump from here forward: Because they care about the long-term health of the party and because they think it’s the right thing to do.

There are incentives along these vectors, to be sure. But they’re pretty far down the list for the Republicans left in national office.

They’re probably going to stick with Trump. To the end.

Jonathan V. Last, Republicans Have Four Options on Trump and Ukraine. They’re All Bad.