Here's the thing: "Normal" or "moderate" Republicans live in abject fear of that MAGA base and its Orange leader. That's who is really in charge of the Republican Party and that fact is not changing anytime soon.
There is also the Steve Bannon stated aim of loosing anarchy on American government, provoking splintered far-right factions into open civil war with the aim of tearing established ways down and starting all over again. Bannon is still whispering into Trump’s ear and remains a MAGA darling. He was all in on J6 and still is the Chaos Whisperer for the MAGA contingent.While they are a numerical minority, they are powerful because they do Trump’s bidding and we know by now that for any Republican to directly defyTrump on anything Trump wants is political suicide. But remember, hard-right Republicans want you to give up. See what happened to Republican support for banning/severely limiting abortion. It is the one crack in the armour of the MAGA extremist monster. It is the only realistic way to defeat MAGA extremists at the polls. Most of the Republican power structure completely underestimates the effect of abortion bans and restrictions on women. The majority of Americans including many Republican voters, wants abortion to be accessible for American women. Working on a centrist coalition of Republicans and Democrats is important. But after Tuesday’s strong showing of pro-choice support, it is important not to underestimate the power of supporting freedom of choice for women.
Thanks for this stab at trying to make sense of the election by all Republicans of Mike Johnson who seems like a particularly smarmy choice. I appreciate your quotes by Jefferies, who seems more and more capable by the day.
I admire your idealism, but after their display of craven cowardice, I can't agree that there is such a thing as a "Moderate" Republican. Either they actually believe in the Nazi agenda but don't want to say so out loud, or--the only other explanation I can come up with, and maybe the truer one--is that someone has whispered a message like this in their ear: "I hope your daughter Linda likes the new school. She gets out of class at noon, doesn't she? Must be nice."
Will they kill people to bring about the Fourt Reich? Absolutely.
HOWEVER, and this is based on two things: Tuesday, and my gut, I think MAGA will soon be done. The media is acting like last Tuesday's elections were an aberration and don't indicate a seismic shift in American thinking. I call bullshit, and the media is useless, blind, and dumb. Most Americans are fed up to the back teeth with these hyenas, and yet the media continues to kiss their ass and pretend their lies and violence are normal. If they can get clicks and ratings, they don't give two shits about how rotten the system is, or who dies. They might want to consider that media people are often the first against the wall when a dictator takes power.
But based on my gut (which has IBS, so take this as you will) my feeling is that Biden is doing to win easily. It won't be a blowout, but it won't be nearly as close as the "pundits" predict. As I said, that is based on nothing but a feeling.
I'm sick of Democratic weeping and handwriting; it's as though we're being programmed to doubt everything so that we have no energy to fight and win. That's because we've been bathed in lies being spewed by a firehouse for seven years and it's hard to remain positive when the negativity is so relentless, and the media is so worthless.
But, I still think we're okay, and people who say Tuesday's results have nothing to do with Biden are MORONS. Biden is the poster child for the issues that just won massive victories, and for the party that just kicked the elephant's ass! Do they really think people are going to forget that in 12 months? I believe Americans have much longer attention spans than most pollsters and pundits, who are chasing the next headline.
If, as appears to be the case, most Americans support the idea of bipartisan cooperation to avoid a shutdown and keep our government operating and if, as some writers have said, notional moderate Republicans are afraid of being challenged by the MAGA extremists, those of us in that reasonable majority have to make it clear that we have their backs in the current situation. To that end, I sent this to my Congresswoman yesterday via email and suggest that others, especially those represented by Republicans, do the same:
Dear Congresswoman Wagner,
There are now 8 calendar days and, at most, 6 legislative working days, until the current resolution enabling government operations expires. The notional plans that Mr. Johnson has made public make no sense economically or practically because they won't pass the Senate and, to be clear, responsibility for the resulting shutdown will be placed squarely in the lap of the House Republican caucus. I know that you work hard to represent your constituents and I find it difficult to believe that you consider shutting down the government the week before Thanksgiving to be in our or your best interests. Please take advantage of your position, experience, and reputation to stand up in the well of the House and call on your colleagues to pass a clean Continuing Resolution to finance the government through at least the end of January so that we can avoid this contretemps during the most important Holiday season of the year for all of us.
Performative politics may play well in the media and offer fundraising opportunities galore, but they serve no practical purpose in governance and the budget games as well as the increasingly ridiculous "impeachment inquiry" regarding President Biden, should stop now. I'm old enough to remember when Congresspeople were respected members of their communities and would like to see that day return. Your help and your response will be appreciated.
So far, and not unexpectedly, there has been no response but, if we don't speak, too many of these people will continue to behave as though we either don't care or support them. I reserve the right to vote for her opponent in 11 months and will certainly do so. MO no longer has partisan primaries so it will be interesting to see how that discussion proceeds.
Here's the thing: "Normal" or "moderate" Republicans live in abject fear of that MAGA base and its Orange leader. That's who is really in charge of the Republican Party and that fact is not changing anytime soon.
There is also the Steve Bannon stated aim of loosing anarchy on American government, provoking splintered far-right factions into open civil war with the aim of tearing established ways down and starting all over again. Bannon is still whispering into Trump’s ear and remains a MAGA darling. He was all in on J6 and still is the Chaos Whisperer for the MAGA contingent.While they are a numerical minority, they are powerful because they do Trump’s bidding and we know by now that for any Republican to directly defyTrump on anything Trump wants is political suicide. But remember, hard-right Republicans want you to give up. See what happened to Republican support for banning/severely limiting abortion. It is the one crack in the armour of the MAGA extremist monster. It is the only realistic way to defeat MAGA extremists at the polls. Most of the Republican power structure completely underestimates the effect of abortion bans and restrictions on women. The majority of Americans including many Republican voters, wants abortion to be accessible for American women. Working on a centrist coalition of Republicans and Democrats is important. But after Tuesday’s strong showing of pro-choice support, it is important not to underestimate the power of supporting freedom of choice for women.
Thanks for this stab at trying to make sense of the election by all Republicans of Mike Johnson who seems like a particularly smarmy choice. I appreciate your quotes by Jefferies, who seems more and more capable by the day.
I admire your idealism, but after their display of craven cowardice, I can't agree that there is such a thing as a "Moderate" Republican. Either they actually believe in the Nazi agenda but don't want to say so out loud, or--the only other explanation I can come up with, and maybe the truer one--is that someone has whispered a message like this in their ear: "I hope your daughter Linda likes the new school. She gets out of class at noon, doesn't she? Must be nice."
Will they kill people to bring about the Fourt Reich? Absolutely.
HOWEVER, and this is based on two things: Tuesday, and my gut, I think MAGA will soon be done. The media is acting like last Tuesday's elections were an aberration and don't indicate a seismic shift in American thinking. I call bullshit, and the media is useless, blind, and dumb. Most Americans are fed up to the back teeth with these hyenas, and yet the media continues to kiss their ass and pretend their lies and violence are normal. If they can get clicks and ratings, they don't give two shits about how rotten the system is, or who dies. They might want to consider that media people are often the first against the wall when a dictator takes power.
But based on my gut (which has IBS, so take this as you will) my feeling is that Biden is doing to win easily. It won't be a blowout, but it won't be nearly as close as the "pundits" predict. As I said, that is based on nothing but a feeling.
I'm sick of Democratic weeping and handwriting; it's as though we're being programmed to doubt everything so that we have no energy to fight and win. That's because we've been bathed in lies being spewed by a firehouse for seven years and it's hard to remain positive when the negativity is so relentless, and the media is so worthless.
But, I still think we're okay, and people who say Tuesday's results have nothing to do with Biden are MORONS. Biden is the poster child for the issues that just won massive victories, and for the party that just kicked the elephant's ass! Do they really think people are going to forget that in 12 months? I believe Americans have much longer attention spans than most pollsters and pundits, who are chasing the next headline.
I don't. And I'm going to shut up now. Be well.
If, as appears to be the case, most Americans support the idea of bipartisan cooperation to avoid a shutdown and keep our government operating and if, as some writers have said, notional moderate Republicans are afraid of being challenged by the MAGA extremists, those of us in that reasonable majority have to make it clear that we have their backs in the current situation. To that end, I sent this to my Congresswoman yesterday via email and suggest that others, especially those represented by Republicans, do the same:
Dear Congresswoman Wagner,
There are now 8 calendar days and, at most, 6 legislative working days, until the current resolution enabling government operations expires. The notional plans that Mr. Johnson has made public make no sense economically or practically because they won't pass the Senate and, to be clear, responsibility for the resulting shutdown will be placed squarely in the lap of the House Republican caucus. I know that you work hard to represent your constituents and I find it difficult to believe that you consider shutting down the government the week before Thanksgiving to be in our or your best interests. Please take advantage of your position, experience, and reputation to stand up in the well of the House and call on your colleagues to pass a clean Continuing Resolution to finance the government through at least the end of January so that we can avoid this contretemps during the most important Holiday season of the year for all of us.
Performative politics may play well in the media and offer fundraising opportunities galore, but they serve no practical purpose in governance and the budget games as well as the increasingly ridiculous "impeachment inquiry" regarding President Biden, should stop now. I'm old enough to remember when Congresspeople were respected members of their communities and would like to see that day return. Your help and your response will be appreciated.
So far, and not unexpectedly, there has been no response but, if we don't speak, too many of these people will continue to behave as though we either don't care or support them. I reserve the right to vote for her opponent in 11 months and will certainly do so. MO no longer has partisan primaries so it will be interesting to see how that discussion proceeds.
Just to solidify the fact that I am not always obstinate, I agree with every word you said!
Thank You, Gene