Who could have possibly predicted this except for anyone who knows anything about Missouri senate candidate Eric Greitens?

After rising to the governorship following the 2016 election, Greitens resigned less than two years later. He made that move due to an affair and allegations of revenge porn coupled with a scandal surrounding campaign donors.

However, Greitens resigned in May of 2018 following scandal/controversy involving an affair with his hairdresser and allegations that he photographed her in a state of undress and threatened to publish the photo(s) if she revealed the affair, as well as allegations regarding the improper use of a campaign donor list.  He was facing likely impeachment, a move supported by the majority of his fellow Republicans in Missouri.

Despite that, and likely because of his high name-ID and drafting off his support for Donald Trump, Greitens has risen to the top of the GOP primary heap. That may be about to change, though. New allegations have emerged involving Greitans and domestic abuse.

NEW: Former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens, now a leading Republican Senate candidate, was physically abusive and demonstrated such “unstable and coercive behavior” that steps were taken to limit his access to firearms, according to new affidavit from ex-wife https://t.co/bFlbOHldgU

— Brian Slodysko (@BrianSlodysko) March 21, 2022

Former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens, now a leading Republican Senate candidate, was physically abusive and demonstrated such “unstable and coercive behavior” that steps were taken to limit his access to firearms, according to new allegations from his ex-wife revealed in court records on Monday.

The sworn affidavit from Sheena Greitens is part of an ongoing child custody dispute in Missouri. A public affairs professor at the University of Texas, she sought divorce from Eric Greitens after a sex scandal which led to his resignation as governor in June 2018. She’s now asking the court to move the custody case to Austin in part to spare her children from renewed public attention as Eric Greitens tries to mount a political comeback.

Here’s the thing with all this. Even if one wants to wish-cast away all of Greiten’s failings and pretend this is all one big conspiracy against him, public office is not a birthright. Anyone who wants to run for something as big as a senate seat needs to take stock of their personal life and decide whether they are in a position to move forward or not with that pursuit.

With that said, and given all that I know about Greiten’s past, I have no reason to believe his wife is lying. Yet, assuming she is just for giggles, why would anyone going through such a contentious divorce prompted by such abhorrent behavior feel they are capable of being a US senator? That Greitens seemingly doesn’t care shows me he has an unhealthy, disturbing lust for power, to the point where he would put that ambition above his own family’s wellbeing.

The other factor here is electability. Greitens consistently runs behind the other GOP candidates in head-to-head matchups with the probable Democrat opponent. So on that front alone, it’s selfish for him to keep his candidacy going.

Lastly, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Greitens is a former Democrat who only changed parties (and ideologies) the moment he felt he couldn’t win under the banner of his old party. He is the consummate grifter, sucking up to Trump in hopes of winning his endorsement, and to that effect, Trump’s flirtation with him is ill-advised and short-sighted. Being anti-Mitch McConnell is not the only litmus test that matters.

Missouri Republicans will have to make their own choice here, but if Greitens doesn’t take the hint after this latest scandal, primary voters should show him the door before it costs the GOP an incredibly valuable senate seat in a highly contentious election. There are other “fighters” out there, and no one should feel they have to swallow a bad candidate just because he mumbles some pro-Trump stuff and plays the game.