Three examples of how today’s Dems play by the cutthroat rules formerly ascribed to leaders of the Soviet Union: What’s mine is mine, what’s yours is negotiable.
First, despite a historically-narrow House margin and internal splits, Republicans took the rare step of expelling one of their own, George Santos, after he was indicted on federal charges.
A Democrat, Tom Suozzi, recently won the special election for the New York seat.
By comparison, Dems control the razor-tight Senate, but there was no push to expel one of their own, New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez, who was indicted on more serious charges, which included being a foreign agent.
Second, consider how each side views impeachment.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Dem-controlled House ginned-up charges against Trump over Ukraine during his presidency, and produced two articles of impeachment.
Both were approved, with only two Dems voting no on the first and only three voting no on the second.
On the second Trump impeachment, after Jan. 6, 10 Republicans joined all Dems in voting yes and GOP Rep. Liz Cheney was a chief architect of the House hearings that followed.
Now Republicans have the House, but struggled even to impeach Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas for his refusal to secure the border.
The first vote failed in a tie, a second vote succeeded by one vote as three Republicans joined all Dems voting no.
Notice how Dems, whatever their differences, stick together for the big votes?
As for impeaching Joe Biden over his corrupt family schemes, the GOP had trouble getting a majority of its members just to support a formal impeachment inquiry.
All Dems voted no.
During hearings, Dems try to derail witnesses and downplay testimony, and unite in defending the president despite evidence Biden participated in the schemes.
No matter that testimony and bank records show he got money from his brother Jim Biden, who got it from foreign clients.
There is no Dem version of Liz Cheney willing to break ranks, nor is there enough GOP support to even consider an impeachment vote.
Ruthless politics
Third, there’s the unprecedented move to prosecute and bankrupt Trump, with indictments and civil cases coming from New York, Georgia and federal authorities — all led by Democrats.
In addition, numerous blue states outrageously considered or tried to ban Trump from appearing on ballots.
The Supreme Court is expected to rule soon on the matter.
Lest anyone think the legal assault is organic, The New York Times reported two years ago that Biden was unhappy that Attorney General Merrick Garland had not prosecuted Trump.
Soon, Garland saluted and obeyed.
On the Georgia case, chief prosecutor Fani Willis hired her lover and appears to have lied about it under oath.
Records show Willis & Co. spent days in the White House, suggesting Biden aides helped direct prosecution of his Republican opponent.
That’s the united, ruthless front Republicans are up against, and it’s why Trump, and only Trump, is the last candidate standing.