Republican State Rep Blames Trump Regime for Party Exodus

Thursday, February 05, 2026

Longtime GOP lawmaker Ed Clere says the Republican Party has become "unrecognizable" under Trump.

Posted by reinheitsgebot at 05:32 PM | 22 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

Longtime Indiana Republican state Rep. Ed Clere said he was expelled from the House Republican caucus Monday, days after announcing he would not seek reelection and that he plans to run for mayor of New Albany next year as an independent. www.lpm.org/news/2026-02 ...

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-- Louisville Public Media (@lpm.org) Feb 3, 2026 at 5:30 PM

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A veteran Republican state representative is calling it quits, and it's all President Donald Trump's fault. Ed Clere, who has served in Indiana's House of Representatives for 18 years, told News and Tribune on Friday that he would not seek reelection, saying that the political environment in the state's General Assembly has become "dysfunctional and toxic."

The------------------- did that.

#1 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2026-02-04 12:24 PM | Reply

No ----? NOW ARREST THE ------- TRAITOR

#2 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-02-04 01:12 PM | Reply

Another repug turd heads for the exit.

www.rawstory.com

#3 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2026-02-04 06:28 PM | Reply

"There are many good Republicans, but the Republican Party has lost its way, and I can no longer be a part of it,"

Conservative Americans with integrity are leaving the GOP.

Real Americans cannot support Fascism.

Especially after so many American lives were lost fighting the Nazis in WW2.

#4 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-02-04 06:35 PM | Reply

#5 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-02-05 01:15 AM | Reply

Fmr Republican policies emphasized states' right over the Federal government.

Pres Trump has recently said that States are just agents of the Federal government.

Trump says states are agents of federal government in elections
www.cnn.com

... President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed that "a state is an agent for the federal government in elections," as he defended his call for Republicans to nationalize elections. ...

#6 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-02-05 07:08 PM | Reply

@#5

Trump Says He'll Only Accept 2026 Midterms If He Deems Them "Honest"
truthout.org

... Trump's comments on Wednesday come just days after he called on Republicans to "nationalize" state-managed elections. ...

In an interview with NBC News's Tom Llamas on Wednesday, President Donald Trump indicated that it's possible he won't accept the outcome of the 2026 midterms.

Asked whether he'd respect the results of the elections that will be held later this year, Trump said he would only do so if he deemed the outcomes to be legitimate.

"I will [accept the midterm outcomes] if the elections are honest," Trump said.

Trump also said that if the elections aren't "honestly" conducted, "then something else has to happen."

The president's judgment on what constitutes an "honest" election is highly suspect, as he has repeatedly peddled falsehoods and debunked conspiracy theories about the results of recent elections. ...

#7 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-02-05 07:10 PM | Reply

@#7 ... The president's judgment on what constitutes an "honest" election is highly suspect ...

Highly suspect?

Not really.

If Pres Trump wins an election, the election is valid.

If Pres Trump loses an election, the election is invalid.

See, simple.

Trump -- Raffensperger phone call
en.wikipedia.org

... On January 2, 2021, during an hour-long conference call, U.S. president Donald Trump pressured Georgia secretary of state Brad Raffensperger to "find 11,780 votes" and overturn the U.S. election results from the 2020 presidential election.

Trump had been defeated by Joe Biden in the election, but refused to accept the outcome,[1] and made a months-long effort to overturn the results. ...

#8 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-02-05 07:15 PM | Reply

Posted by LampLighter at 2026-02-05 07:08 PM | Reply | Flag:
(Choose)

@#5
Trump Says He'll Only Accept 2026 Midterms If He Deems Them "Honest"
truthout.org

;;

That should be a new Thread... including your #8

#9 | Posted by Corky at 2026-02-05 07:34 PM | Reply

I hope he takes the time to blame himself for supporting America's stupidest conman.

#10 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-02-05 07:38 PM | Reply

UPDATE: It's too little, too late, but Trump's going to find those 11,781 votes if it kills him. LOL

#11 | Posted by Twinpac at 2026-02-05 08:09 PM | Reply | Funny: 2 | Newsworthy 1

"Trump's going to find those 11,781 votes if it kills him."

Let's hope!

Frankly, I've never been so disappointed in cholesterol.

#12 | Posted by Danforth at 2026-02-05 08:25 PM | Reply

DANFORTH

Those Aspirin blood thinners can only make the blood so thin that the oxygen/blood ratio shuts down the normal operation of the brain. It's starting to show.

He mistake is he thinks he knows more than his doctors.

#13 | Posted by Twinpac at 2026-02-05 09:40 PM | Reply

DANFORTH

Considering Trump's eating habits over the years tells me that he's been ignoring a doctor's advice for most of his life. I'd say that his cholesterol level is probable through the roof. Which is another reason for overdosing with Aspirin.

One little chip off that buildup of cholesterol blocking the blood flow to his brain and Trump is looking at a stroke, an aneurism or death.

That how my older sister died at age 80. Her doctor had been advising her for years to change her diet.

#14 | Posted by Twinpac at 2026-02-05 10:05 PM | Reply

Doctors don't order an MRI of the brain without a reason.

It was rumored that Trump had a minor strok when he disappeared for a few days not so long ago.

My guess is that's the reason his doctor ordered an MRI this time.
Too bad we'll never find out the results until his autopsy.

Personally, I don't think he's been banging on all eight cylinders for years.

#15 | Posted by Twinpac at 2026-02-05 10:18 PM | Reply

*13

Been there done that. My second trip on warfarin, a very tricky drug to administer, one day found me light headed, dizzy, staggering. Stopped taking it, med advice, back to normal in about a day. Point? Blood thinners can cause real, severe problems. I doubt aspirin does.

#16 | Posted by et_al at 2026-02-05 11:46 PM | Reply

There's still too many idiots out there, and the US really does need a good kick in the dcnk from our allies. The relationship will be different going forward

#17 | Posted by hamburglar at 2026-02-06 04:53 AM | Reply

Who cares if he "accepts" them? It's not his call to make.

#18 | Posted by TFDNihilist at 2026-02-06 07:36 AM | Reply

I left the GOP in 2017 when McStain tainted it with his stupidity. Aside from Trump there has not been any reason to come back.

I don't need your fundraising letters for candidates that aren't serious about fixing serious problems. Republicans prior to Trump would get in there and do nothing about anything worried about the next election.

Trump got in there and started getting things done in 2017. Then immediately it started, the do-nothing republicans started trying to get in the way. A year after sending a repeal right to Obamas desk to veto they would not send the same bill to Trump.

GTFOH. Bye GOP I'll return when you prove yourself worthy of my support.

#19 | Posted by THEBULL at 2026-02-06 08:43 AM | Reply

Another repug tires of the brain dead orange child rapist's shitshow.

nevadacurrent.com

#20 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2026-02-06 03:12 PM | Reply

Longtime GOP lawmaker Ed Clere says the Republican Party has become "unrecognizable" under Trump.

Republicans have tolerated MAGAts for a long time because their votes were needed. Until, Trump came along, MAGAts were held in check. Trump unleashed them and now Republicans are left to clean up the mess. Because MAGAts are so active in the primary, there is no way out for Republicans except to vote for the democrats. It's going to take several cycles of losing "BIGLY" for Republicans to be in the ascendancy within their own party.

#21 | Posted by FedUpWithPols at 2026-02-06 03:55 PM | Reply

Being in a cult is exhausting and has proven to be fatal: www.gannett-cdn.com

#22 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-02-06 04:01 PM | Reply