Defining the 21st Century Republican Party?

[Jaymann]

Sweet Home Alabama

[hepcat]

As a former Ohioan, I want to make Bloodbuzz Ohio the state song.

Spoiler:

[Smoove_B]

Defining element? Retribution:

A group of Republican Senators announced they plan to stop working with Democrats in Washington D.C. after 12 jurors convicted former President Donald Trump on criminal charges in New York City.

Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and J.D. Vance (R-OH) lead a list of eight senators who are now promising to stonewall funding increases, political appointments and Democrat-backed legislation under the administration of President Joe Biden, according to a letter dated Friday.

"The White House has made a mockery of the rule of law and fundamentally altered our politics in un-American ways," the senators write. "As a Senate Republican conference, we are unwilling to aid and abet this White House in its project to tear this country apart."

The lawmakers are joined by Sens. Tommy Tuberville, Eric Schmitt, Marsha Blackburn, Rick Scott, Roger Marshall and Marco Rubio.

In their letter, the Republicans avow the following:

"We will not 1) allow any increase to non-security related funding for this administration, or any appropriations bill which funds partisan lawfare; 2) vote to confirm this administration's political and judicial appointees; and 3) allow expedited consideration and passage of Democrat legislation or authorities that are not directly relevant to the safety of the American people."

[Isgrimnur]

[Isgrimnur]

Oh, and Tuberville can go fuck himself.

[Smoove_B]

NJ's primary elections are on Tuesday and there are so many politicians doubling-down on supporting TFG ahead of the election now, issuing statements against justice being weasponized or some other nonsense. This is absolutely insane to see - that people are actually endorsing the felon on their party ticket.

[Blackhawk]

The more I see, the more I read, I think that this is going to be where history shows that the line was drawn. This is where it all broke - we just won't know which way it broke for a while yet.

It really is a terrifying time to be an American.

[Unagi]

NJ's primary elections are on Tuesday and there are so many politicians doubling-down on supporting TFG ahead of the election now, issuing statements against justice being weasponized or some other nonsense. This is absolutely insane to see - that people are actually endorsing the felon on their party ticket.

Who, I may point out - started his entire political life screaming: "Lock Her Up!"

[Smoove_B]

I know social media is an open sewer, but the actual number of people in my corner of the state that are happily posting how this only makes them want to vote harder for TFG is both frightening and depressing. They are seemingly more convinced than ever that this is all more proof that he should be elected because "they" are trying to keep him out of the White House.

If they are a representative sample, we're in for a hell of a ride over the next 5 months.

[YellowKing]

Yeah I don't know how we get back to normalcy when one side literally believes in a fantasy world. This is no longer a difference of opinion, it's a difference of belief in objective reality. We are fighting a cult, and I'm dead serious.

Just random googling I found 10 symptoms of a cult:

Absolute authoritarianism without accountability
Zero tolerance for criticism or questions
Lack of meaningful financial disclosure regarding budget
Unreasonable fears about the outside world that often involve evil conspiracies and persecutions
A belief that former followers are always wrong for leaving and there is never a legitimate reason for anyone else to leave
Abuse of members
Records, books, articles, or programs documenting the abuses of the leader or group
Followers feeling they are never able to be “good enough”
A belief that the leader is right at all times
A belief that the leader is the exclusive means of knowing “truth” or giving validation

I bolded the ones I felt were applicable, and even then I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt. That's 6 out of 10.

If you start looking up characteristics of a cult leader, Trump checks nearly every box.

[Zarathud]

I think Trump checks 9 out of 10. It’s a cult of narcissism for a strong man to persecute “evil liberals.” The right wing has systematically programmed a fear of Democrats.

[Carpet_pissr]

the actual number of people in my corner of the state that are happily posting how this only makes them want to vote harder for TFG

Thankfully voting is binary and voting harder will not help. Silver lining is these same people were already absolutely going to vote for Trump, hopefully what you are seeing is THOSE people just reiterating "we are voting for Trump!"
"Now, we're REALLY voting for Trump, you assholes!" is kinda meaningless.

[Smoove_B]

That's true, I guess for me it just reinforced the cult-like nature of their devotion. It's not surprising (really), just hard to process in real-time and on social media - being proud of voting for a felon. And that doesn't even cover the local politicians that are posting the same - that more so now than ever, it's important to support them (and DJT) during the Tuesday primary. It's surreal.

[Pyperkub]

The more I see, the more I read, I think that this is going to be where history shows that the line was drawn. This is where it all broke - we just won't know which way it broke for a while yet.

It really is a terrifying time to be an American.

Or Ukrainian, Israeli,Palestinian, Brazilian, Nigerian,Georgian, Russian, Chinese, Haitian, Taiwanese, Hungarian, British, Iranian, Saudi, Afghani....

This list of those under the yoke of Authoritarian shitbags or under pressure/threat to be so is long and getting longer, and it's coming to dominate the 21st Century.

But it gets so much worse if America fully succumbs.

[Blackhawk]

I know social media is an open sewer, but the actual number of people in my corner of the state that are happily posting how this only makes them want to vote harder for TFG is both frightening and depressing. They are seemingly more convinced than ever that this is all more proof that he should be elected because "they" are trying to keep him out of the White House.

If they are a representative sample, we're in for a hell of a ride over the next 5 months.

It's been my experiences that the loudest voices are rarely representative. They just tend to give that impression through sheer volume and a constant presence.

I don't think polls are of much value right now, either - if there are Republicans swayed by this, they're unlikely to admit it. They're more likely to quietly vote for someone else, or to quietly stay home. There are too many potential consequences for being seen as 'traitor' to Trump.

[GreenGoo]

The more I see, the more I read, I think that this is going to be where history shows that the line was drawn. This is where it all broke - we just won't know which way it broke for a while yet.

It really is a terrifying time to be an American.

Does this conviction gain him any voters that weren't in his corner before?

That's the only question that matters.

Yeah, this:

Thankfully voting is binary and voting harder will not help. Silver lining is these same people were already absolutely going to vote for Trump, hopefully what you are seeing is THOSE people just reiterating "we are voting for Trump!"
"Now, we're REALLY voting for Trump, you assholes!" is kinda meaningless.

[Holman]

A single Trump voter can only vote once, but the MAGA movement can suppress lots and lots of anti-Trump votes.

That's the name of the game now. Legislatively, fraudulently, and by other more threatening means.

[Blackhawk]

The more I see, the more I read, I think that this is going to be where history shows that the line was drawn. This is where it all broke - we just won't know which way it broke for a while yet.

It really is a terrifying time to be an American.

Does this conviction gain him any voters that weren't in his corner before?

That's the only question that matters.

I disagree. I think this - especially if this results in prison time - has the potential to significantly solidify the divide within our nation, and has significant potential to ramp up violence and the violence-adjacent behavior we've seen. Him losing because of what is being seen as a purely un-Amercian political kidnapping has the potential to be the worst thing this nation has seen in a century.

Win or lose, we've lost. It's like climate change - right now we're hoping for the better disaster.

Of course, it could all just generate a lot of hot air and then fade away, too - but the potential that I'm seeing everywhere I look matters, too, and that's what I was referring to.

[Smoove_B]

Yeah, I feel like this provides energy to the folks that are beating the drums demanding that we remove judges or enact new laws or do whatever it is to make sure this type of thing never happens again - because if it can happen to TFG, it can happen to anyone.

Note, I'm not saying we shouldn't be doing these things, I'm saying I don't know how we counter a party that is hellbent on dismantling democracy.

[gbasden]

Note, I'm not saying we shouldn't be doing these things, I'm saying I don't know how we counter a party that is hellbent on dismantling democracy.

Yeah, that's where all of this falls down for me. If the only way to pacify the crazies is to put Republicans above the law, we're going to have to have the fight sooner or later. Better now than after further normalizing it.

[LordMortis]

It's not even the just the crazies. It's the same main stream media that the GOP is harping on which feeds the not crazies. I mentioned it on the day of the guilty verdicts, how unhinged the commentary was, I think, on the morning business news on how finding him guilty was a harbinger of doom for how the democratic party have completely weaponized government to put down opposition. It's all they could talk about for 40 minutes, how Biden and the democrats have destroyed government with this and it only serve to justify the righteousness of outrage of the GOP and its support. I make the mistake of turning the TV on again later and this same business news was doing a live feed of a TFG press conference. Sure, they can talk about how he's going to testify. Ignore or praise his not testifying and then allow him to try and shape the narrative after they've already been ranting about him being found guilty.

I haven't turned the news back on since. Not sure what I'm going to do for business news short term. I can't deal with CNBC at all any more. That was at least a short term last straw for me and that sucks. Business news was company and it let me know how the wind was blowing on any given day.

[YellowKing]

Yeah, that's where all of this falls down for me. If the only way to pacify the crazies is to put Republicans above the law, we're going to have to have the fight sooner or later. Better now than after further normalizing it.

Exactly. We were in a no-win situation from the get-go. Trump found guilty, MAGA rebellion. Trump found innocent, MAGA validation. They have framed politics into a "heads I win, tails you lose" situation.

Personally I don't feel we should give one inch to these assholes. They have learned the art of the bully from Trump, and so far they've wielded that power very effectively. You've got corporations scared to death of being "woke" and getting boycotted, you've got schools catering to book banners. Stand up to these assholes and say, no, you're wrong, shut the fuck up and sit down.

We are in the situation we are now because instead of Republicans standing up to Trump and saying, "This is not acceptable," they kept giving in over and over and over. And we went from "this guy's a little eccentric but he tells it like it is" to "We fully embrace a convicted felon who says he wants to be dictator for President."

Lock his ass up, I don't care what the repercussions are. If they get violent, lock their asses up. The cost of giving in even a little is just far too high.

[Blackhawk]

Note, I'm not saying we shouldn't be doing these things, I'm saying I don't know how we counter a party that is hellbent on dismantling democracy.

It's easy. You fight them by dismantling democracy.

It's like playing chess. You have one person who is blatantly cheating, and one who is playing by the rules. There are no officials. The person playing by the rules can forfeit, they can willingly lose, or they can cheat.

That's not my recommendation, but we're quickly getting to the point where the only way to get rid of the problem is to be the problem. We do have one other option - if the voters blow the Republicans out of the water, and we have Democrats willing to take the opportunity to close all of the loopholes and exploits that the GOP has been taking advantage of. Short of that, we're out of options, and, then, as I said before: Win or lose, we lose.

[gbasden]

It's not even the just the crazies. It's the same main stream media that the GOP is harping on which feeds the not crazies. I mentioned it on the day of the guilty verdicts, how unhinged the commentary was, I think, on the morning business news on how finding him guilty was a harbinger of doom for how the democratic party have completely weaponized government to put down opposition. It's all they could talk about for 40 minutes, how Biden and the democrats have destroyed government with this and it only serve to justify the righteousness of outrage of the GOP and its support. I make the mistake of turning the TV on again later and this same business news was doing a live feed of a TFG press conference. Sure, they can talk about how he's going to testify. Ignore or praise his not testifying and then allow him to try and shape the narrative after they've already been ranting about him being found guilty.

I haven't turned the news back on since. Not sure what I'm going to do for business news short term. I can't deal with CNBC at all any more. That was at least a short term last straw for me and that sucks. Business news was company and it let me know how the wind was blowing on any given day.

Unfortunately CNBC is just Fox in a different skin. I wouldn't call it mainstream media.

[LordMortis]

When I got funneled over to them from Nightly Business Reports they were pretty straight forward and NBR was excellent. I've been clinging to that past for too long, though as they have gotten worse or perhaps more transparent, I dunno. Unable to find a new landing spot. But this last week was the end for me at least through the election though. I can't with them anymore. I've tried other business news but so far they are more like podcasts intended to have reference for a week at a time than a daily news.

[waitingtoconnect]

I know social media is an open sewer, but the actual number of people in my corner of the state that are happily posting how this only makes them want to vote harder for TFG is both frightening and depressing. They are seemingly more convinced than ever that this is all more proof that he should be elected because "they" are trying to keep him out of the White House.

If they are a representative sample, we're in for a hell of a ride over the next 5 months.

Fox News and the right wing media talking heads like Meagan Kelly are a massive part of this issue (who trump pilloried, and who was sexually assaulted) basically saying that this is a far left plot to end American democracy. That multiple New York juries are a Democrat conspiracy even a civil lawsuit for sexual assault. If you watch these shows everything we can see Trump doing they say Biden is doing.

And these people for the most part like with the public have been pulled into the cult. In the Republican Party presidential debate for example in 2015 Kelly asked then-presidential candidate Donald Trump whether a man of his temperament ought to be elected president, noting that he has called various women insulting names in the past. That’s what led to him and his supporters going after her. Now she’s a loyal lapdog.

So people believe it.

Another issue is that for many white people Obama becoming president was something they couldn’t stomach.

The far right Christian facists have been pushing for this since 1960 when the presidency of JFK started pumping billions into the pursuit of science and the space race. In 1960 80% of Americans went to church on Sunday and that had reduced to less than 30% by 1969.

[YellowKing]

Our local school board (4 Republicans, 1 Democrat) voted along party lines Tuesday to ban schools from posting any "flags or signage" that aren't directly related to the school or current curriculum. It was obviously a measure to stamp out pride month, and it worked as the county school social media had to take down their pride month announcement.

My wife's principal said his staff could put up whatever they wanted and he was going to refuse to comply with the order.

My take is that if you want to be a homophobic bigot, do it on your own time. Stop legislating your bigotry so that I have to adhere to it. I cannot wait until the next election to vote these pieces of shit out.

It's worth reposting this because it's exactly what I feel about these people.

[Pyperkub]

Tuberville making a strong claim for the dumbest Senator in history...

https://www.thedailybeast.com/tommy-tub ... in-ukraine

[Kraken]

Tuberville making a strong claim for the dumbest Senator in history...

https://www.thedailybeast.com/tommy-tub ... in-ukraine

He's an intellectual giant next to MTG.

[waitingtoconnect]

Tuberville making a strong claim for the dumbest Senator in history...

https://www.thedailybeast.com/tommy-tub ... in-ukraine

He's an intellectual giant next to MTG.

Unlucky for him mtg isn’t a senator….lucky for him (and her) there are so many other current candidates.

[Isgrimnur]

Oh, and Tuberville can go fuck himself.

[Grifman]

The party of “law and order”:

https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania ... 19bc2a8d2e

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A visit to the Pennsylvania House floor by two former police officers who helped protect the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot of 2021 drew boos and walkouts by some Republican legislators this week.

[Holman]

The party of “law and order”:

https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania ... 19bc2a8d2e

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A visit to the Pennsylvania House floor by two former police officers who helped protect the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot of 2021 drew boos and walkouts by some Republican legislators this week.

PA state Republicans are the worst, easily as bad as the GOP in any securely insane Red state.

Fortunately (and despite severe gerrymandering), the state House has finally flipped to a 2-vote Dem majority after decades of GOP control.

[LawBeefaroni]

The party of “law and order”:

https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania ... 19bc2a8d2e

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A visit to the Pennsylvania House floor by two former police officers who helped protect the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot of 2021 drew boos and walkouts by some Republican legislators this week.

I wonder what legislators' protective detail and the Harrisburg Capitol Police think about this show of solidarity.

[Grifman]

They are “worried”:

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/471 ... enate-gop/

“Some Senate Republicans are expressing concerns over former President Trump’s calls for political vengeance after the 2024 election, warning that retaliatory prosecutions will lead the country down a bad road.

The Senate GOP’s top leaders, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and Senate GOP Whip John Thune (S.D.), have shown no desire to embrace Trump’s calls to prosecute senior Biden administration officials or his long-time nemesis Hillary Clinton.”

[Smoove_B]

Has anyone checked in with Susan Collins??! Have we reached "concerned" levels yet??!

[Carpet_pissr]

Has anyone checked in with Susan Collins??! Have we reached "concerned" levels yet??!

You better believe that mildly worded letters are being penned RIGHT now. She's totally on it.

[Isgrimnur]

Sen. Collins takes heat for echoing Trump’s claims of political prosecution

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins raised eyebrows and triggered a barrage of criticism last week when she echoed former President Donald Trump’s claim that he was the victim of political persecution after a jury found him guilty of 34 felony charges relating to hush money payments to a porn star.

Collins, a Republican who voted to impeach Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, repeated Trump’s talking point that the New York City prosecutor who filed the charges campaigned for his job on “a promise” to prosecute Trump, even though that claim has been discredited by fact-checkers.

[Pyperkub]

More from Maine - GOP lawmaker quits after Trump Candidate wins primary:

“I don’t want to be part of anything within 1,000 yards of Austin Theriault,” Andrews said Wednesday...his own town of Paris voted for Theriault. Theriault won the town 201-157.

“That made up my mind,” Andrews wrote on Facebook. “I’m sorry, but I’m done standing up for anything in this community. I’m officially retired from politics.”

“This absolutely disgusts me,” Andrews said.

Andrews said that Theriault’s “handlers are going to make a fortune” off his campaign...

“Theriault is already owned by the Swamp,” he wrote on Facebook. “He’s just too dumb to know it.”

Andrews said that Theriault is “everything that’s wrong with politics,” especially the money grab by political consultants and aides that comes with cash from Washington-based powerbrokers.

[Smoove_B]

The Texas GOP is just nuts

Yeah, they are:

The Republican Party of Texas is calling for a referendum on whether the state "should reassert its status as an independent nation" as a "legislative priority" in the next session of the Texas legislature.

The call was included in the party's 2024 Legislative Priorities and Platform document which was released on June 7, after its component parts were voted on by Texas Republicans at the party's convention in San Antonio, which took place between May 23 and 25.

...

Plank 203 of the Texas GOP's official legislative platform, under the title of "Texas Independence," states: "The Texas Legislature should pass a bill in its next session requiring a referendum in the next General Election for the people of Texas to determine whether or not the State of Texas should reassert its status as an independent nation. This referendum should be a legislative priority."

Separately under the "state sovereignty," section Plank 20 called for "federally mandated legislation that infringes upon the 10th Amendment rights of Texas shall be ignored, opposed, refused, and nullified" adding: "Texas retains the right to secede from the United States."

On its official website the Texas Nationalist Movement (TNM), which campaigns for the state to leave the Union in a move it dubs TEXIT, said: "The inclusion of these planks in the Republican Party of Texas Platform is a major step that could have far-reaching implications for the TEXIT movement in the next legislative session."

Good luck!