A lot of support among Republicans for splitting the party. Either Trumpists want to kick out centrists, or centrists want to kick out Trumpists. Democratic campaign managers must be laughing their arses off at how stupid Trump and his minions are.
https://twitter.com/NumbersMuncher/status/1361314057157038084
The GOP splitting into two parties may not be the silver lining of the Trump administration it appears to be.
The GOP higher command had pushed a far right agenda before Trump, the tea party was just a culture war to disguise the economic foundation of their policies. The moderate republicans are very far from being centrists. But if they create a new party they get to set the narrative that they are centrists and moderates and push the economic agenda again further to the right.
Bidens administration has so far concentrated on correcting the "culture war" that the GOP has inflicted in recent history. That is not a bad thing, but they need to push an economic agenda that improves peoples lives, especially the groundswell of normally disenfranchised voters who normally don't vote but came out in numbers this time to win it (lets not pretend this was won by swing voters, the numbers don't support that myth). If he doesn't do that then he is just applying republican economic policy by proxy, and they win either way.
It's a bit crap that, similar to Obama in 2009, even though the Democrats have control of congress they're starting out in the midst of a financial crisis which will curtail a lot of their plans. It's whether they can do enough before the mid-terms to keep control of congress, I suspect they won't as Democrat voter apathy will probably kick in. The only hope is the GOP splitting (very unlikely) or Trump supporting right-wing independents running against GOP candidates and that splitting the Republican vote enough that Democrats keep/win seats.
I actually can’t believe this bloke got away with it. Well… I sorta can hes white and privileged. How people who have been given power to do the right thing can just refuse to do it is really depressing.
Keeps getting away with it 🙂
He's got away with bankruptcy several times, not paying people for work done, not going to VietNam when drafted... Why should this be any different?
The GOP splitting into two parties may not be the silver lining of the Trump administration it appears to be.
If Trump started a MAGA party, he would take some, but not all Republican voters with him. In the last election, Biden beat Trump by about 5% of the total vote. Next time around, he'll have the benefit of incumbency, which is a big advantage. For any Republican to win, they will need to retain all their 2020 voters, plus either steal a big chunk of Biden voters or convince them to not turn out. Having Trump on the ballot has had the effect of motivating Democratic voters to turn out and centrists to switch from voting Republican to voting Democrat. He's an anchor for Republicans.
I think Trump would probably get at least 20% of the popular vote, but not more than 40% if he ran as a MAGA candidate against a Republican candidate. A Republican presidential candidate running against Trump and a Democrat would need to split a massive number of voters away from the Democratic Party. As the old cliche goes, you win elections through addition, not subtraction.
You missed the point.
If the GOP splits, the less looney but still far right section, will claim the centre ground, pretend they are moderates and centrists, they will keep control of the narrative. The dems will likely counter that (as they have done so for the past 40-50 years) be also moving to the right. The GOP wins by having right wing policies enacted whether or not they win the next election.
The dems will likely counter that (as they have done so for the past 40-50 years) be also moving to the right
I think that's unlikely.
Fantastic outcome for the world this. Trump or his brand standing next time would split the Republican vote. Had he been banned Republicans could have gathered themselves.
This has been my thought on all this, splitting the vote between the republican party and the Trump (whichever one it is) helmed narcissist/racist party just hands the other party victory. Let them fight amongst themselves while the Democrats get on with running the country, making America great again (maybe with less right wing retoric and more money spent on healthcare and not border walls) and bolstering their already strongish base.
As its been posted before, the right wing groups are already tearing themselves apart as it is, QAnon has left it's followers out to dry, and the orange buffoon sloped off with his tail between his legs to play golf. We won't see him for a while because putting his face back out there means he'll have to answer questions from all parties about why he lost and why he didn't hand out pardons to his loyal supporters when they marched on congress...…but did to his fraud committing and lying under oath mates.
QAnon has left it’s followers out to dry, and the orange buffoon sloped off with his tail between his legs to play golf.....
It seems like there's an unending appetitte amongst the Trumpist/ Far Right / Supremacist cohort for being duped.
while the Democrats get on with running the country, making America great again (maybe with less right wing retoric and more money spent on healthcare and not border walls)
Although, as this is America, the Democrats have just given Raytheon (sorry; awarded in a competitive tender) $740 million, before they finalised the $2000 cheque they said they'd give every American as "first business" so y'know, don't get your hopes up too high
lets see how sleepy joe is doing on the trump joans scale of presidential sucess ooh thats gotta hurt...
Trump, Guliani, Proud Boys and Oath Keepers are being sued under the 1871 Klu Klux Klan Act
link
The lawsuit accuses Trump and his allies of violating the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, which prohibits violence that disrupts Congress’ ability to carry out its constitutional duties.
And so it begins..... 👍
And continues. Supreme Court have just refused to block New York's subpoena for 8 years of tax and financial records from Mazars and Deutsche Bank.
The reckoning is about to begin..
The Georgiareloaded thing reminded me to post this.
I think the URL explains the content
That film. Wow. I mean, how do they get away with it?
I can just imagine Pirate Dan vigorously frotting as he wrote that script in a cocaine frenzy 😂
Kinda sad that they need to appeal to voters on the GI Joe / Iron Man level.
Does it remind anyone else of the Brooklyn 99 recruitment video?
That film. Wow. I mean, how do they get away with it?
The framing of the anti facism movement as terrorist perfectly displays the control the far right hold on the media, and exactly the kind of society that Murdoch and chums want to create. That and the framing of compassion as an elitist sentiment (but don't worry the billionaires are our friends if we just cut their taxes again we will all be better off).
The framing of the anti facism movement as terrorist..
Plus the framing of the right-wing as militaristic heroes, ready to ignore those pesky liberal laws, hush up those political enemies, and do what it takes to save 'murica. (i.e. fascism)
The framing of the anti facism movement as terrorist perfectly displays the control the far right hold on the media, and exactly the kind of society that Murdoch and chums want to create. That and the framing of compassion as an elitist sentiment (but don’t worry the billionaires are our friends if we just cut their taxes again we will all be better off).
That'll be the post-Steve Bannon media landscape. Bannon has been able to turn our liberal sentiments against us, framing us as an out of touch "elite" who are responsible for the many grievances of the working class. You only need to read the recent posts from our own pet troll to see how that sort of batshittery goes down with people who aren't equipped to think critically.
I can only refer you back to the James Delingpole video. People who can't differentiate between a polemicist with a degree in English Language and an expert in international trade love the notion that someone they admire is sticking it to people they've been told not to like and make up a significant proportion of voters. Keep them energised with hate and they'll turn out to vote en masse for the very politicians who despise them. Populism was ever thus.
That film needs a faulty parachute.
To quote Charlie Sykes:
The theme of this year’s CPAC is “America Uncancelled.”
But, by the end of business yesterday, CPAC had literally cancelled Young Pharaoh.
https://twitter.com/davidfrum/status/1363963089113260033?s=20
https://twitter.com/ehananoki/status/1363920080766201861?s=20
The CPAC shitshow continues. Not content to hold the event on a stage which appears to be themed on an SS rune, we have this remarkable mangling of the national anthem. Question: How many key changes? Answer: All of them.
I love the fact the golden statue was made in mexico!
I love the fact the golden statue was made in mexico!
Trump was right then. There are bad hombres and rapists getting sent out of there after all.
Question: How many key changes? Answer: All of them.
They where playing all the right notes, just not necessarily in the right order.
I love the fact the golden statue was made in mexico!
Isnt there something about not worshipping false idols or something in that book that most republicans are supposed to be keen on?
As for that "singing". I have to admire the republicans for doing their part in trying to increase inclusiveness and reduce discrimination. Just think now all those people who got rejected from pop idol for not enough talent will have something to aim for.
Blimey, they're really not letting up with their Third Reich fanboism this year:
Put it this way, if they emulate Nazis and openly embrace Nazi ideology then chances are they aren't going to play nice if they get in office. This sort of iconography is very much an in-joke with their audience, who once upon a time were Reaganites.
Oh and re the 6th Jan Capitol riot, the individual who bragged about stealing Nancy Pelosi's laptop and her efforts to sell it to the Russian security services has been profiled. The backstory is neither pretty, nor redeeming. From Bellingcat.
I couldn't help but notice Herr Drumpf going full on "stab in the back" with the election result. I do hope that someone (preferably Jewish or Black) hoofs him in the slats very soon.
Blimey, they’re really not letting up with their Third Reich fanboism this year:
I think the most depressing thing is how it is even considered possible for it to be deliberate.
If the tories did something similar then I dont think many people would consider it a serious possibility that it was anything other than a unfortunate coincidence and it would rapidly be bodged to remove the resemblance. Be an opportunity for a few choice headlines, political digs and jokes but not a nothing more. A few years back under Bush and it would be the same.
Trumps republicans though?
Now that most people who experienced the horrors of fascism in Europe and Japan have died from old age, there's been a change in narrative. Populists absolutely love the notion of a grass roots political movement based on grievance, now that folks' grandparents aren't around to tell them about what it's like to have your street bombed by the Luftwaffe, to be a soldier participating in the liberation of a concentration camp or to be a POW in the far-east, forced to build a railway and endure malnutrition and tropical diseases, we've a growing number of malcontents who'd happily see the above come to pass again provided it happens to those whom they've been told to blame for their quality of life being worse than it was twenty years ago. Notice that populists have given up trying to sell a notion of a better tomorrow, it's just "own the libs".
One of the trademarks of populism is that populist leaders hold those who support them in utter contempt. Although we're starting to see a realisation amongst Americans who were duped into voting for Trump that they'd been had, the endless narrative of stolen elections, or a secret cabal of liberal pederasts are likely to keep them coming back for more for a little while yet. If Trump were to disappear from politics tomorrow, there are plenty of others willing to step in to his place. They're in plain sight.
Don't forget the approval and support of the Republican Party as an organisation. They had the chance to condemn him and chose not to. Could that have encouraged 'normal' republicans to think this was acceptable?
And also, what the hell with Mitch McConnell??? Criticise for an insurrection, but not vote to convict on a technicality, then visit him, then tacitly support/endorse him???
Don’t forget the approval and support of the Republican Party as an organisation. They had the chance to condemn him and chose not to. Could that have encouraged ‘normal’ republicans to think this was acceptable?
Two key pieces of legislation have done much to change the landscape of the GOP:
Citizens United vs FEC 2009 - this simultaneously hindered the amounts that could be donated by Trade Unions and removed the limits on expenses only type campaigns.
McCutcheon vs FEC - this removed the limit on individual donations. This has meant that the GOP is subject to the whims of a tiny group of extremely monied individuals to dictate policy. If Charles Koch for example wants something, he merely threatens to turn off the funding taps and bends the Republicans to his will. There's a reason why threats from the Republican right to form a new party steeped in populism are frequently dropped.
I wasn't sure if it was the singer or the keybord player off key, hard to tell.
They where playing all the right notes, just not necessarily in the right order.
The Republicans have culturally appropriated freestyle Jazz music!!!
Criticise for an insurrection, but not vote to convict on a technicality, then visit him, then tacitly support/endorse him???
Making all of the right noises, just not necessarily in the right order.
Every time I see Mitch McConnell I think ..Evil Turtle 🙂
The very best thing that could happen to US politics is to re-democratise party funding by placing absolute limits on individual donation and the scope of "in kind" donation by businesses. I suspect that would be as much of a relief to McConnell as it would to (almost) everyone else.
The only thing Mitch McConnell cares about is his current power and re-election (assuming the world's unlucky enough that he'll live that long).
I wasn’t sure if it was the singer or the keybord player off key, hard to tell.
The "performance" was a cappella. The video with the keyboard player was him trying to play along with the recording.
Making all of the right noises, just not necessarily in the right order.
I think the criticism was a rare case of him developing a conscience about where his power grabbing policies have take the republicans and to some extent the country. He soon overcame it though.
A bit of insight into Trumps motivations in relation to his approach to managing a public health crisis perhaps - the measures he was resistant to putting in place would hit his own pocket.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56438914
About par for the course for the likes of Boebert and that awful Taylor-Greene woman.
