Unfortunately, this is true. And it is especially true if they are people who have invested some sense of their identity or ambition with Trump's base, even if they aren't cultists. For instance, politicians hoping to co-opt the T base for their own future agendas, whether national, state, or local.
Unfortunately, this is true. And it is especially true if they are people who have invested some sense of their identity or ambition with Trump's base, even if they aren't cultists. For instance, politicians hoping to co-opt the T base for their own future agendas, whether national, state, or local.
An example: in a western state that I shall leave unnamed, a young evangelist small business owner (inherited) with a high-school diploma, was appointed to the legislature of a western state. This happened at a time when Republicans of both houses were using minutiae in the operating rules to stall action and bring the ability of the legislature to function to a halt. Then the pandemic hit. In the 2021 session, some Republicans who retained a sense of honor worked with the Dems on developing programs to address the health and economic needs of the state, and made a good run at catching up on essential budgetary business left over from the previous session.
During this time, somehow (I do not even want to know how, though I know people I could just ask) the young senator was selected minority leader. Shortly after that the Republican Party of Oregon (the party itself, not linked to the legislature, composed of self-identified "conservative" citizens along with, I imagine, honored donors) fired their president for not being vicious enough in his criticism of the Dems- a requirement these days, it appears, for Republican leadership. They replaced the ousted president with the previously mentioned young senator. I say "young" because of the maturity level which he has exhibited throughout the current session. Early in the first Senate floor session, he asked for a minute to speak to the members of the Senate, which he was granted. He embarked on a haranguing on several topics that are the backbone of the Extreme Right and refused to yield the floor. Asked and then directed to leave, he removed his mask and slowly walked down the center aisle, reading aloud from the bible (version unknown) and accompanied by two masked State Police officers keeping their distance behind him.
For several weeks he was absent without excuse. He has returned, but refuses to undertake any of the responsibilities of his office. On the Senate floor (which I hasten to assure is well-separated, with only the errant senator unmasked), he refuses to vote or even sign in.
The Senate President-pro-tem, as part of his/her duties, calls the names of those whose votes are not recorded to ensure that no one is missed. This man, though clearly present, refuses to answer. The other day the pro-tem repeated his name half a dozen times, asking "Do you intend to vote?" (This is also part of the process.) Finally, the renegade answered loudly and angrily "NO!". He apparently left then, and was recorded as absent without excuse on each of the many following votes.
His district is effectively without representation in the Senate. The media in the district either pretty much glosses over what is going on in the Capital, or is so far to the extreme right that even straight news stories are bent. It is surreal to read in this day and age, like something left over from 1890.
I haven't checked the House reps in the region yet. In the past session House Republicans were not as reactionary as in the Senate, but used some of the same tactics. I haven't been paying much attention to them this year. There is only a backlog in the Senate process, while House bills seem to be flowing through in a timely way. One of these days, I'll watch and see. Maybe.
One man, poorly educated (and boasts of it), uninformed about almost everything that doesn't fit his preconceptions about how the world works, is attempting to hold an entire state hostage. It appears that he will fail, but his district is likely to keep electing people like him.
I had relatives who lived in this area a long time ago- they wanted a small town to raise their children in. My uncle taught music in the local schools. After their second year, they moved to a town in another state, midway between two major cities. The town they left became a place we just passed through on our way to visit. It is as if they live in a world with a wall around it.
Unfortunately, this is true. And it is especially true if they are people who have invested some sense of their identity or ambition with Trump's base, even if they aren't cultists. For instance, politicians hoping to co-opt the T base for their own future agendas, whether national, state, or local.
An example: in a western state that I shall leave unnamed, a young evangelist small business owner (inherited) with a high-school diploma, was appointed to the legislature of a western state. This happened at a time when Republicans of both houses were using minutiae in the operating rules to stall action and bring the ability of the legislature to function to a halt. Then the pandemic hit. In the 2021 session, some Republicans who retained a sense of honor worked with the Dems on developing programs to address the health and economic needs of the state, and made a good run at catching up on essential budgetary business left over from the previous session.
During this time, somehow (I do not even want to know how, though I know people I could just ask) the young senator was selected minority leader. Shortly after that the Republican Party of Oregon (the party itself, not linked to the legislature, composed of self-identified "conservative" citizens along with, I imagine, honored donors) fired their president for not being vicious enough in his criticism of the Dems- a requirement these days, it appears, for Republican leadership. They replaced the ousted president with the previously mentioned young senator. I say "young" because of the maturity level which he has exhibited throughout the current session. Early in the first Senate floor session, he asked for a minute to speak to the members of the Senate, which he was granted. He embarked on a haranguing on several topics that are the backbone of the Extreme Right and refused to yield the floor. Asked and then directed to leave, he removed his mask and slowly walked down the center aisle, reading aloud from the bible (version unknown) and accompanied by two masked State Police officers keeping their distance behind him.
For several weeks he was absent without excuse. He has returned, but refuses to undertake any of the responsibilities of his office. On the Senate floor (which I hasten to assure is well-separated, with only the errant senator unmasked), he refuses to vote or even sign in.
The Senate President-pro-tem, as part of his/her duties, calls the names of those whose votes are not recorded to ensure that no one is missed. This man, though clearly present, refuses to answer. The other day the pro-tem repeated his name half a dozen times, asking "Do you intend to vote?" (This is also part of the process.) Finally, the renegade answered loudly and angrily "NO!". He apparently left then, and was recorded as absent without excuse on each of the many following votes.
His district is effectively without representation in the Senate. The media in the district either pretty much glosses over what is going on in the Capital, or is so far to the extreme right that even straight news stories are bent. It is surreal to read in this day and age, like something left over from 1890.
I haven't checked the House reps in the region yet. In the past session House Republicans were not as reactionary as in the Senate, but used some of the same tactics. I haven't been paying much attention to them this year. There is only a backlog in the Senate process, while House bills seem to be flowing through in a timely way. One of these days, I'll watch and see. Maybe.
One man, poorly educated (and boasts of it), uninformed about almost everything that doesn't fit his preconceptions about how the world works, is attempting to hold an entire state hostage. It appears that he will fail, but his district is likely to keep electing people like him.
I had relatives who lived in this area a long time ago- they wanted a small town to raise their children in. My uncle taught music in the local schools. After their second year, they moved to a town in another state, midway between two major cities. The town they left became a place we just passed through on our way to visit. It is as if they live in a world with a wall around it.