Submitted for your consideration and thoughtful responses:

[Martin Eden]

16. Cowardice and collaboration

Openly defying Trump can result in being targeted in the next Republican primary, ending a political career. It can also mean death threats.

On the other hand, Project 2025 has done more in one year to "starve the beast" and dismantle federal agencies Republicans hate than decades of legislative efforts. They don't care that impoundment of funds is illegal.

For most Republicans in congress, Trump is a mixed bag. They don't like the impact his feckless tariffs and now this Iran fiasco is hurting business. Nor do they like alienating our longtime allies and trading partners.

Cowardice tips the scales. He accomplishes some of what they've been trying to do for decades, and they don't want to risk the consequences of incurring his wrath.