Defining the 21st Century Republican Party?

[LawBeefaroni]

Dropped my youngest off at school today. One of the parents hanging out on the playground caught my eye (parents thst have time usually stick around to chat and help the teachers keep an eye on the kids). This guy had on a crispy new MAGA hat. Like the OG red "Make America Great Again" hat, but newly minted and with a "47" on the sde. He was also wearing some kind of Trump jacket but I couldn't make out exactly what the point of it was.

Now that's not so crazy, even in Chicago. But what is odd is that my son's school is about 85% minority, mostly black, and typically Chicago progressive. This guy in the MAGA hat was black. I don't recall meeting him before but he was pleasant enough when I wished him a good morning.

I have no idea what this means, but it occupied my thoughts pretty heavily. Well, until about 15 minutes later on the commute when a road rager got out of his car at a light and challenged me to a fight.


Conclusion: we're fucked.

[LordMortis]

I have no idea what this means, but it occupied my thoughts pretty heavily. Well, until about 15 minutes later on the commute when a road rager got out of his car at a light and challenged me to a fight.


Conclusion: we're fucked.

This is the MAGA world I live in. I am to the point where I daily wish I had moved back when this whole ball started rolling circa 2009 because now I am going nowhere and the area gets more and more MAGA and implied violent and inconsiderate in not so unnoticeable increments. coincidence or correlation? Well, it's the MAGA contingent openly sparking it, so....

[Grifman]

That has been true for a long time, FWIW.

FWIW, I know that. This is just the last nail in the coffin.

[hepcat]

I have no idea what this means, but it occupied my thoughts pretty heavily. Well, until about 15 minutes later on the commute when a road rager got out of his car at a light and challenged me to a fight.

Did you drive away or did you Roadhouse him?

But seriously, hope nothing happened.

[Grifman]

What I'm super interested in is what happens to the RNC after 2028, assuming drumpf loses.

At a minimum, the coffers are going to be emptied into off shore accounts. Maybe the drumpfs will just remain installed as the RNC overlords for a generation, even after drumpf himself is long dead?

It's not just the money. They are losing experienced people, and Trump's people are usually selected based upon loyalty, not competence. It will take the Republicans time and money to recover from the dismemberment of the RNC post Trump.

[Carpet_pissr]

Maybe the drumpfs will just remain installed as the RNC overlords for a generation, even after drumpf himself is long dead?

Yes, seems like most plausible outcome.

Trump dynasty. Yay.

[LawBeefaroni]

I have no idea what this means, but it occupied my thoughts pretty heavily. Well, until about 15 minutes later on the commute when a road rager got out of his car at a light and challenged me to a fight.

Did you drive away or did you Roadhouse him?

But seriously, hope nothing happened.

Nothing happened. I told him to grow up and get back in his car. He did and I was behind him for about a mile on NB Lincoln, all casual like. It was hilariously awkward seeing glaring and occasionally shouting out his window and me not taking the bait. He brake checked me once but I was 20 feet back so it was pointless.

He was mad because he tried to pass in the right turn lane while traffic was stopped for a pedestrian at a crosswalk. Fortunately the guy in front of him was actually turning right and stopped before the pedestrian got run over. When he tried to get back on the traffic lane, I didn't let him and he went crazy. I eventually let him back in because I didn't want him behind me. He was clearly losing it and I've been in front of people like that.


The dashcam video is pretty good.

[hepcat]

I am the absolute worst at keeping my anger in check when I'm in traffic. I would never challenge someone to a fight, mind you. But I will flip the bird, yell an obscenity, speed up to prevent someone who pissed me off from racing ahead to cut me off, and...on occasion...brake check another car.

However, I'm also acutely aware when I'M the dick in a driving situation. To this day, I still remember honking repeatedly at someone to turn, then realizing there was actually a turn light for our lane that I didn't see (it was visible, mind you....I was just a moron and didn't see it). I tried to speed up to get next to them after we turned so I could apologize, but I think they were afraid I was in rage mode and turned before I could. To this day, I still think about it and wish I could find them to apologize.

[Pyperkub]

That has been true for a long time, FWIW.

FWIW, I know that. This is just the last nail in the coffin.

Last?

Just wait until Trump dies and the grifters (GOP, Trump Family, others?) start warring over the corpse.

Yeats rings true...

Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.

[GreenGoo]

Last?

Just wait until Trump dies and the grifters (GOP, Trump Family, others?) start warring over the corpse.

[GreenGoo]

It's not just the money. They are losing experienced people

Couldn't care less. Or about the money. Was just speculating about the future of the RNC because it's fascinating, not because I was concerned about it.

At this point, assuming America doesn't slip into a fascist state, I would speculate that the current party of republicans will be entirely consumed by grift and a new, possibly religion based, conservative party will replace them. Would likely take decades, but who knows? Really depends on how long education is intentionally withheld from the population, and how long people are held in the grip of the right wing propaganda machine, with Fox leading the way. Their churches aren't helping either.

There is nothing conservative about the current Republican party. It's the party of hate and culture war, that's it. And they are willing to change stances in the culture war, as long as it prolongs the fighting.

[hepcat]

Just wait until Trump dies and the grifters (GOP, Trump Family, others?) start warring over the corpse.

I often wonder if Trump's hold over the GOP is strong enough to usher in a son or daughter to the presidency after he's gone.

[Pyperkub]

I don't think so, the sheer chutzpah to openly lie all the time, and ability to pull it off isn't there.

Kushner seems to have the most ability, but doesn't have that "it* factor.

Junior is the one who is most likely to try, but he's even more incompetent.

Barron may be able someday, but I expect he will have been far too pampered. We'd need to be far deeper into the idiocracy...

[hepcat]

I get the feeling that if Barron has his way, his name will be "John Simpson" or something the moment he turns 18.

[pr0ner]

Ken Buck is quitting Congress, effective at the end of next week.

[LawBeefaroni]

I get the feeling that if Barron has his way, his name will be "John Simpson" or something the moment he turns 18.

No he won't. It is foretold.

[hepcat]

The novels recount the adventures of the German boy Wilhelm Heinrich Sebastian Von Troomp,"Baron Trump", as he discovers weird underground civilizations, offends the natives, flees from his entanglements with local women, and repeats this pattern until arriving back home at Castle Trump.

[Zarathud]

TFG is a unique mix of toxic capitalism, ego and chauvinism developed over decades. His kids do not measure up, even by TFG’s standards. They will leave the Republican Party in shambles because no one had the moral strength to resist temptation.

[LawBeefaroni]

I believe Trump is what they call a Dark Triad.

The dark triad is a psychological theory of personality, first published by Delroy L. Paulhus and Kevin M. Williams in 2002, that describes three notably offensive, but non-pathological personality types: Machiavellianism, sub-clinical narcissism, and sub-clinical psychopathy.

Most of GOP leadership is, I reckon.

[geezer]

I believe Trump is what they call a Dark Triad.

The dark triad is a psychological theory of personality, first published by Delroy L. Paulhus and Kevin M. Williams in 2002, that describes three notably offensive, but non-pathological personality types: Machiavellianism, sub-clinical narcissism, and sub-clinical psychopathy.

Most of GOP leadership is, I reckon.

I'm not at all sure Trump's narcissism is sub-clinical.

[Alefroth]

Ken Buck is quitting Congress, effective at the end of next week.

If I remember right, that's the district Boebert is going to run in. I wonder if having a special election puts her at a disadvantage in the general.

[Pyperkub]

Ken Buck is quitting Congress, effective at the end of next week.

If I remember right, that's the district Boebert is going to run in. I wonder if having a special election puts her at a disadvantage in the general.

I'm more hoping that being Boebert is a disadvantage in the general

[pr0ner]

Ken Buck is quitting Congress, effective at the end of next week.

If I remember right, that's the district Boebert is going to run in. I wonder if having a special election puts her at a disadvantage in the general.

Probably, because she can't run in the special election.

[Alefroth]

I suppose she could resign her seat now and run in it.

[waitingtoconnect]

Just wait until Trump dies and the grifters (GOP, Trump Family, others?) start warring over the corpse.

I often wonder if Trump's hold over the GOP is strong enough to usher in a son or daughter to the presidency after he's gone.

I had a friend who thought if trump was smart he’d have put his daughter ivanka as the candidate and then grifted away in the background back in 2016. Looking back she was very popular. I thought trumps ego would never allow it.

Don jr and Eric are obnoxious but not charismatic.

We haven’t seen much of Barron so it’s impossible to say of he has the charisma of his father.

[Holman]

At this point, assuming America doesn't slip into a fascist state, I would speculate that the current party of republicans will be entirely consumed by grift and a new, possibly religion based, conservative party will replace them. Would likely take decades, but who knows?

FWIW, in a first-past-the-post system a party collapse and replacement can happen very quickly.

IIRC, the collapse of the (U.S.) Whigs and their replacement by the new Republican Party took place in just six years. They were born in the 1854 election, and in 1860 Lincoln won the presidency.

And they didn't even have social media.

[hepcat]

Just wait until Trump dies and the grifters (GOP, Trump Family, others?) start warring over the corpse.

I often wonder if Trump's hold over the GOP is strong enough to usher in a son or daughter to the presidency after he's gone.

I had a friend who thought if trump was smart he’d have put his daughter ivanka as the candidate and then grifted away in the background back in 2016. Looking back she was very popular. I thought trumps ego would never allow it.

Don jr and Eric are obnoxious but not charismatic.

We haven’t seen much of Barron so it’s impossible to say of he has the charisma of his father.

I think Ivanka saw her social standing in celebrity circles diminishing rapidly and distanced herself from daddy to stop that downfall. I mean, can you imagine Ivanka trying to connect with the kind of people that believe in a MTG, a Gaetz or a Boebert? Those people are abhorrent to her.

Barron, as I said, I still hold out hope for. As much as I don't respect Melania as a person (she's essentially a high paid escort, if you think about it...and I'd say the same for a male in a similar marriage where they're obviously only in it for the cash), I respect her as a mother for protecting her only son from the insanity that is Donny and his people. You NEVER see Barron slumming with deplorables.

[Isgrimnur]

A friend of mine likes to say that you're not paying for sex, you're paying them to leave.

[Holman]

I hope Barron is free of all this. His mother seems dedicated to protecting him from the DJT-adjacent political and media machine.

This is the one thing that makes her seem sympathetic to me.

[Isgrimnur]

He's about to be 18 and graduates before the summer.

[Grifman]

It's not just the money. They are losing experienced people

Couldn't care less. Or about the money. Was just speculating about the future of the RNC because it's fascinating, not because I was concerned about it.

Uh, I didn't say you cared, and I was just speculating also Though you obviously cared enough to speculate about it

[hepcat]

He's about to be 18 and graduates before the summer.

So you’re saying he could attack anywhere and at any time?

[Isgrimnur]

He could be behind you right now!

[hepcat]

Aaaahhhh



p.s. blame lawbeef for hipping me to Baron Trump

[GreenGoo]

Uh, I didn't say you cared, and I was just speculating also Though you obviously cared enough to speculate about it

I can speculate about the outcome of a coin toss without caring about which outcome occurs.

In any case, it seemed like you were suggesting that my point wasn't as significant as the loss of experience. Just outlining why I commented about caring (or not). I do agree that they are losing a ton of experienced people who aren't likely to come back even if an opportunity arises. The loss of corporate knowledge alone will be crippling. Businesses often collapse at this stage, but given the context and circumstances, money will continue to pour in because what is the other option? Give it to the Dems? Lol? Hold onto it instead of giving it to the only people actively combating the Dems? What good is money if you can't use it to get what you want? Plus it will almost certainly buy you favours from a drumpf run org that you couldn't otherwise have dreamed of purchasing from the prior people who at least tried to hide their corruption.


I am excited to see what new and interesting ways they come up with stealing millions. So I do care from that perspective.

[GreenGoo]

At this point, assuming America doesn't slip into a fascist state, I would speculate that the current party of republicans will be entirely consumed by grift and a new, possibly religion based, conservative party will replace them. Would likely take decades, but who knows?

FWIW, in a first-past-the-post system a party collapse and replacement can happen very quickly.

IIRC, the collapse of the (U.S.) Whigs and their replacement by the new Republican Party took place in just six years. They were born in the 1854 election, and in 1860 Lincoln won the presidency.

And they didn't even have social media.

Interesting. My counter would be the length of time the current Republican party have been entrenched and the likely reluctance and aversion to change.

Well, less counter argument and more counter points.

[LawBeefaroni]

I believe Trump is what they call a Dark Triad.

The dark triad is a psychological theory of personality, first published by Delroy L. Paulhus and Kevin M. Williams in 2002, that describes three notably offensive, but non-pathological personality types: Machiavellianism, sub-clinical narcissism, and sub-clinical psychopathy.

Most of GOP leadership is, I reckon.

I'm not at all sure Trump's narcissism is sub-clinical.

Only because we have no proof of clinical diagnosis. Sub-clinical is just the lower threshold.

[Alefroth]

Here's one for Yellowking-

https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/14/politics ... index.html

The Republican nominee for superintendent overseeing North Carolina’s public schools and its $11 billion budget has a history marked by extreme and controversial comments, including sharing baseless conspiracy theories and frequent calls for the execution of prominent Democrats.

Michele Morrow, a conservative activist who last week upset the incumbent Superintendent of Public Instruction in North Carolina’s Republican primary, expressed support in 2020 for the televised execution of former President Barack Obama and suggested killing then-President-elect Joe Biden.

[YellowKing]

Yeah it's just incomprehensible to me how stupid people in this state are to continuously nominate these crooks and nutjobs. Hopefully the urban areas can resist and fight back. The big cities are literally the only things keeping this state from being the next Alabama.

I have a feeling a lot of my friends and relatives are going to be upset with me this campaign season but I'm not going to sit idly by and let this kind of thing go unnoticed. If you're my friend or my family member, and you still plan to vote Republican because pwning the Libs, then I need you to be perfectly aware of what you are voting for.

[Isgrimnur]

The first part of Last Week tonight was all about Lt. Gov Mark Robinson.