In an article in The Hill yesterday by Lexi Lonas called “GOP Congressman calls Trump a ‘would be tyrant,'” Republican US congressman Tom Rice (S.C.) responded to the former president in a statement on Saturday following a MAGA rally in South Carolina, calling him “a would-be tyrant.”
“In a statement following the rally, Rice hit back at Trump, saying the former president was in South Carolina ‘because, like no one else I’ve ever met, he is consumed by spite,’ according to local CBS affiliate WBTW.
‘I took one vote he didn’t like and now he’s chosen to support a yes man candidate who has and will bow to anything he says, no matter what,’ Rice said.
‘If you want a Congressman who supports political violence in Ukraine or in the United States Capitol, who supports party over country, who supports a would-be tyrant over the Constitution, and who makes decisions based solely on re-election, then Russell Fry is your candidate,’ Rice said in his statement.
‘If you want a Congressman who cowers to no man, who votes for what is right, even when it’s hard, and who has fought like hell for the Grand Strand and Pee Dee*, then I hope to earn your vote,’ he continued.”
Several authors and reporters have written about the vindictive nature of the former president, one writing that he keeps lists of offenders close by, so he can punish them. I have no difficulty believing this to be true. There is a reason the former president admires the Russian autocrat who is invading Ukraine.
There is a steady trickle of Republicans who feel impunity in pushing back on the former president or his sycophants. This pace of the trickle needs to hasten.
*Note: For those not familiar with SC references, the Grand Strand references the beaches along the SC coast and Pee Dee is a major river that bisects the coastal region.
musingsofanoldfart 
One merely has to connect the breadcrumb trail of his political history to see the big T’s plans.
VJ, so true, especially with such large bread crumbs. Keith
Good for Tom Rice. It’d be nice to see some other Repubs follow his example, and soon.
Totally agree.
I must not think of the possibility of Trump being president these days…
Erika, please get your concerns out as there are too many people that have bought into his schtick, which is the nicest word I can think of. Keith
Believe me, I said that in the moment when Putin started his insanity. Trump would have acted terribly, either against of even for Putin.
Erika, I cannot see Trump doing anything other than supporting Putin or stepping aside to let it happen. Keith
It’s nice to hear a Republican candidate push back.
Indeed Janis.
Another example of how unfit Trump was for the role of politics.
It seems to be everyday reveals more evidence of his role as nothing more than that action toy for the Republican Extreme wing. He turns up and performs for them.
You want get on in the Republican Party? No matter how you feel about him Invoke the word ‘Trump’, watch him giggle with glee, do his happy dance, then rake in the votes..
I wonder how long this ‘shtick’ will last before it gets ‘old’?
Roger, so true. I saw some evidence that his possible Republican primary opponents will raise his track record against him, which will not be flattering and put him on the defensive. The signs are there for the dyke to break, but the water is still a trickle, with a few more holes. Keith
I like the water analogy Keith. My father a firefighter of 25+ years had a lot to say about water (floods being common in our area then).
One being ‘Water will always find it’s own level.
The other based on the old saw ‘A pint of pure water weighs a pound and a quarter’; he would point to the most inoffensive little stream and say ‘See that. When in flood it’ll pull you off your feet and hold you down, because there’s more than one pint flowing through there,’
Roger, thanks for sharing your father’s vignettes. Keith
Totally agree. We need someone to step up and take the role of a George Will or Buckley to provide the necessary stimulation and leadership for intelligent conservatives.
Vic, I agree. Will has tried, as well as Gerson, Erickson, Brooks, et al, but folks who need to listen are not. But, they need to keep trying. Keith
Thumbs up to Tom Rice … it’s good to see that at least some Republicans aren’t drunk on the Kool Aid composed of lies, bigotry and corruption. Too bad there aren’t a few hundred more like him, willing to speak their mind and “tell it like it is”.
Jill, agreed. Keith
We need more to follow suit Keith. We can’t go there again! 🙏
Thanks Cindy. I know Rep. Kevin McCarthy is tired of hearing from me pleading for leadership on this.
At least there is ONE SC Republican who has a brain!
Peg, I have called his office a couple of times to thank him for his political courage. He is getting a flood of MAGA pushback, so he needs to hear from the more rational voices, in general, and in his own party. Keith