Today more than half of the Republicans in the House of Representatives signed onto Texas’s lawsuit asking the Supreme Court to overturn the results of the 2020 election and install Trump, rather than the legitimately elected Joe Biden, into the White House.
Black people should not be allowed to vote - this is the basis for all that we see right now. I'm sure the obese greedy lunatic sitting in the people's house watching TV and wetting his depends truly believes that he was robbed because he knows exactly who cast those votes against him in places like Atlanta and Detroit and doesn't believe they are legitimate because of the color of those voters' skins. And there are a lot of people in this country - white people - people who look just like me - who agree with him. If anything has been made perfectly clear to me it is that as a white woman I walk invisibly through enemy lines all the time; but for the first time I've gotten the tiniest and most irrelevant sense of what my Black female friend has tried to envisage for me many times. The enemy is everywhere - the enemy is us. And Black people, people just like my friend, citizens of this country...are forced to walk that gauntlet every damn day of their lives. I'm disgusted. I'm ferocious.
Another day dawns (almost). It's not yet 5 AM and I'm already muttering "WTF" and shaking with rage.
Those 106 Republican representatives and 17 Republican-led states are engaging in some of the worst performative "art" ever displayed by a US government, at least in its scale. Part of me says few of them actually believe in what they're doing, and are participating only to point out to Trump's supporters in the future that they stood with the president* today.
But another part of me whispers - well, maybe it's on the verge of yelling - perhaps they do believe. Or maybe we're looking at the horses' asses as they bolt from the barn of democratic process. Could stupidity be more contagious than the coronavirus?
Finally, in what seems like the last part of what's left of my mind, a nagging concern exists that this gambit might actually work, that Trump played his hand perfectly, that not even John Roberts can stay the madness as the new conservative majority on the bench finally fulfills the wet dreams of the Federalist Society. I hope against hope that Gorsuch might look at this and go, nah, not subtle enough. I have no such hopes for Kavanaugh and Barrett, while Alito and Thomas have been lost causes from the jump.
Is it possible that we miss Scalia, who at least at one point had the courage, or smarts, to point out the not every type of weapon should be considered reasonable to be included under the umbrella of the Second Amendment?
My Mom died 2 weeks ago. I was glad she'd seen Trump lose the election. I'm also relieved (?) she didn't have to witness this affront to the country that her family, like so many others, fled to in the hope of a better life. We owe it to all those who came to and helped build America, as well as our children and grandchildren and future generations, to make sure that those heading this "protest" are never allowed to serve in an political capacity again.
Now please excuse me, I have to remove a shoe from the TV screen and put it in the pile that's been growing larger every day this week.
This is what I wrote to my state and federal representatives today. Not that they care, but they are all i have as my reps at the state and federal level:
I am furious with all of you! You are supposed to be representatives of us, your constituents. You have joined this ridiculous Texas lawsuit to deny the results of the most secure election ever (as noted by the Republican in charge) to bow to King Donald, the man-child. But not to deny ALL who won in this election, because you aren't disputing down ballot votes. Your actions as representatives of Tennesseans are despicable. Meantime I am isolated in my home to avoid the fate of other Tennesseans who are filling hospitals, desperately sick. Your
self-indulgence is disgusting and your willingness to destroy our democracy breathtaking frightening. You do not deserve the offices you hold.
Could the 81.3 MILLION American citizens who voted for Biden/Harris file a class action lawsuit, naming Donald Trump; his legal team; Republican members of both Houses of Congress who have refused to acknowledge the Biden win; the Attorneys General of Texas and 17 other states; and Republican legislative leaders in, especially, PA and MI who have gone along with Trump--suing them for their blatant attempt to nullify our votes, thus disenfranchising us, and for attacking the foundation of our election system and thus the Constitution which specifies that WE THE PEOPLE choose our leaders?
As relief, we should demand that the Republican Party be de-legitimized and not be able to field candidates for national office unless and until they abandon their march toward authoritarianism and single-party rule.
This is sheer madness. As Carole said, the holidays are already difficult, to say the least, not to mention almost 300 thousand of us dead, millions without jobs or food, and we have to be submitted to this lunacy by a "party" (no longer republican in any shape or form) and it's leader, who has become a cult figure. Would that this be a Monty Python farce, but it is not. It has become a never-ending nightmare, ALL of it. I called the Supreme Court today, and I'll call again tomorrow.
Dr. Richardson, thank you for being such a steadying voice of reason. I admit to being terrified of this, probably, fruitless latest attack on our country. Even if it fails though, so much damage has been done. It may sound maudlin, but it makes me weep.
When it comes to women's reproductive rights, Republicans abhor judicial activism. The same for same-sex marriage, I recall. But their American flag lapel pins start to glow with patriotic ardor with the idea that a panel of judges would literally overthrow legitimate government to install, for all intents and purposes, a dictator.
I think, I hope, HCR is right; Texas AG Paxton is angling for a pardon, and the members of the party jumping on his bandwagon fear the loss of MAGA Mob support. I would like to hear more, much more, from the Republican legislators who did not sign on to Paxton's lawsuit. Being silent is an endorsement of a sort as well.
These are not times to sit silently on the sidelines.
Post script: If, when, the Democrats get control of the Senate again, the rules that permit a single senator, the majority leader, to control the entire legislative and judicial/cabinet approval process must be changed.
American citizens are dying in record number and they want to dick around playing this stupid game of frivolous pointless lawsuits when they should be passing legislation to get aid to people and plan how distribute a vaccine???? Every morning I wake up wanting to throw up. I’m sorry I don’t have anything wise or constructive today.
I appreciate the work you do, Heather, to keep us informed. This is also the only forum I can think of that I look forward to reading the comments, as they are insightful and informative, and it’s a safe place for an occasion rage. (Thanks for indulging me. )
Another thing, don't mistake these States Attorney Generals as crazies. They are lawyers. This move is deliberate and organized and because our government is a legal shambles; and has been at least since Reagan, and now with the entire country in a physical, emotional, and financial shambles due to a raging pandemic, which has been supported and specifically promulgated by the government in charge, these traitors are making a push for it.
Much is written affirming Trump’s erratic and narcissistic mental state. That an entire party clings to the fragile coat tails of the deceptive charisma of a former TV personality defies all sane logic— defines a logic of calculated and evil desperation.
We held our breath until the election. Now we hold it until Jan 5 election in Georgia. Then we hold it until Inauguration. Breathe. It aint over until the fat man is dead of natural causes or in prison and even then it aint over. So keep breathing. Holding your breath is not what people mean about turning America blue.
FWIW, there are just 5 women on that list of 106 Republican House members. Rutgers Center for Women and Politics posts "101 women hold seats in the House of Representatives, comprising 23.2% of the 435 members in 2020. The women represent 34 states; 88 are Democrats and 13 are Republicans." This seems worth noting for some late night reason. It feels like some/many Republicans keep rolling dice on Trump to see how far out this bananas gambit will play, and how long it can keep benefiting them. It seems almost cute to think about when I realized that many people in elected office are there for themselves, not for the people who optimistically elected them. And I may be just as naive or ill-informed, but is it not true that the only people whose lives measurably improve under Republican leadership are white and/or well-off. The fact that these Republicans would keep rolling bones under the cynical notion that they'll play out this destructive game for as long as they can is both absurd and infuriating. As someone who lives in a state neighboring Texas, where I've tried hard not to be petty and join in as others bashed Texans, this honestly doesn't help. I mean, as far as this thing goes, eff Texas. Really. Y'all step away from the big, orange button. Take your lumps, suck it up and get on with disregarding public health measures in nearby states and wearing an outrageous amount of makeup whilst skiing badly. I believe in you. You can do it.
Since Trump first won office many people have said some variation of “it can’t get any worse than this.” Of course it always did — usually by the next news cycle. So we shouldn’t be surprised that we — the country — have reached these depths thanks to Trump.
You have to give him credit. Trump has certainly exceeded all expectations— of incompetence, criminality, vulgarity and the ability to turn America into his own surrealist nightmare.
He’s also revealed just how weak and easily manipulated our political institutions can be and the moral and ethical corruption of the average Republicans office holder. I suppose we should thank him for taking away our illusions.
When are the so-called Republican moderates going to ban together and put their foot down? All it would take would be a small coalition. They were very few profiles in courage among most Republicans. It appears that the state office holders in Georgia demonstrate that courage. On PBS NewsHour yesterday lieutenant governor of Georgia use the word duped to describe what’s going on and in no uncertain terms condemn the actions of the president and other members of the republican party. It’s high time for people like Romney and Collins in Portman to speak out in unequivocal terms. Where is the so-called educated Ben Sasse? Their silence is colluding with sedition
This law suit may not have much to stand on, but the fact that so many other states have joined in, so many Republican members of Congress and even Republicans in the states that are being attacked shows how much damage Trump and his gang of corruption have done and how much power they still wield. I find it terrifying. And with this Supreme Court, I am worried. They have broken so many of our institutions, our laws and destroyed our reputation.
Black people should not be allowed to vote - this is the basis for all that we see right now. I'm sure the obese greedy lunatic sitting in the people's house watching TV and wetting his depends truly believes that he was robbed because he knows exactly who cast those votes against him in places like Atlanta and Detroit and doesn't believe they are legitimate because of the color of those voters' skins. And there are a lot of people in this country - white people - people who look just like me - who agree with him. If anything has been made perfectly clear to me it is that as a white woman I walk invisibly through enemy lines all the time; but for the first time I've gotten the tiniest and most irrelevant sense of what my Black female friend has tried to envisage for me many times. The enemy is everywhere - the enemy is us. And Black people, people just like my friend, citizens of this country...are forced to walk that gauntlet every damn day of their lives. I'm disgusted. I'm ferocious.
Another day dawns (almost). It's not yet 5 AM and I'm already muttering "WTF" and shaking with rage.
Those 106 Republican representatives and 17 Republican-led states are engaging in some of the worst performative "art" ever displayed by a US government, at least in its scale. Part of me says few of them actually believe in what they're doing, and are participating only to point out to Trump's supporters in the future that they stood with the president* today.
But another part of me whispers - well, maybe it's on the verge of yelling - perhaps they do believe. Or maybe we're looking at the horses' asses as they bolt from the barn of democratic process. Could stupidity be more contagious than the coronavirus?
Finally, in what seems like the last part of what's left of my mind, a nagging concern exists that this gambit might actually work, that Trump played his hand perfectly, that not even John Roberts can stay the madness as the new conservative majority on the bench finally fulfills the wet dreams of the Federalist Society. I hope against hope that Gorsuch might look at this and go, nah, not subtle enough. I have no such hopes for Kavanaugh and Barrett, while Alito and Thomas have been lost causes from the jump.
Is it possible that we miss Scalia, who at least at one point had the courage, or smarts, to point out the not every type of weapon should be considered reasonable to be included under the umbrella of the Second Amendment?
My Mom died 2 weeks ago. I was glad she'd seen Trump lose the election. I'm also relieved (?) she didn't have to witness this affront to the country that her family, like so many others, fled to in the hope of a better life. We owe it to all those who came to and helped build America, as well as our children and grandchildren and future generations, to make sure that those heading this "protest" are never allowed to serve in an political capacity again.
Now please excuse me, I have to remove a shoe from the TV screen and put it in the pile that's been growing larger every day this week.
This is what I wrote to my state and federal representatives today. Not that they care, but they are all i have as my reps at the state and federal level:
I am furious with all of you! You are supposed to be representatives of us, your constituents. You have joined this ridiculous Texas lawsuit to deny the results of the most secure election ever (as noted by the Republican in charge) to bow to King Donald, the man-child. But not to deny ALL who won in this election, because you aren't disputing down ballot votes. Your actions as representatives of Tennesseans are despicable. Meantime I am isolated in my home to avoid the fate of other Tennesseans who are filling hospitals, desperately sick. Your
self-indulgence is disgusting and your willingness to destroy our democracy breathtaking frightening. You do not deserve the offices you hold.
Could the 81.3 MILLION American citizens who voted for Biden/Harris file a class action lawsuit, naming Donald Trump; his legal team; Republican members of both Houses of Congress who have refused to acknowledge the Biden win; the Attorneys General of Texas and 17 other states; and Republican legislative leaders in, especially, PA and MI who have gone along with Trump--suing them for their blatant attempt to nullify our votes, thus disenfranchising us, and for attacking the foundation of our election system and thus the Constitution which specifies that WE THE PEOPLE choose our leaders?
As relief, we should demand that the Republican Party be de-legitimized and not be able to field candidates for national office unless and until they abandon their march toward authoritarianism and single-party rule.
This is sheer madness. As Carole said, the holidays are already difficult, to say the least, not to mention almost 300 thousand of us dead, millions without jobs or food, and we have to be submitted to this lunacy by a "party" (no longer republican in any shape or form) and it's leader, who has become a cult figure. Would that this be a Monty Python farce, but it is not. It has become a never-ending nightmare, ALL of it. I called the Supreme Court today, and I'll call again tomorrow.
Dr. Richardson, thank you for being such a steadying voice of reason. I admit to being terrified of this, probably, fruitless latest attack on our country. Even if it fails though, so much damage has been done. It may sound maudlin, but it makes me weep.
When it comes to women's reproductive rights, Republicans abhor judicial activism. The same for same-sex marriage, I recall. But their American flag lapel pins start to glow with patriotic ardor with the idea that a panel of judges would literally overthrow legitimate government to install, for all intents and purposes, a dictator.
I think, I hope, HCR is right; Texas AG Paxton is angling for a pardon, and the members of the party jumping on his bandwagon fear the loss of MAGA Mob support. I would like to hear more, much more, from the Republican legislators who did not sign on to Paxton's lawsuit. Being silent is an endorsement of a sort as well.
These are not times to sit silently on the sidelines.
Post script: If, when, the Democrats get control of the Senate again, the rules that permit a single senator, the majority leader, to control the entire legislative and judicial/cabinet approval process must be changed.
American citizens are dying in record number and they want to dick around playing this stupid game of frivolous pointless lawsuits when they should be passing legislation to get aid to people and plan how distribute a vaccine???? Every morning I wake up wanting to throw up. I’m sorry I don’t have anything wise or constructive today.
I appreciate the work you do, Heather, to keep us informed. This is also the only forum I can think of that I look forward to reading the comments, as they are insightful and informative, and it’s a safe place for an occasion rage. (Thanks for indulging me. )
Another thing, don't mistake these States Attorney Generals as crazies. They are lawyers. This move is deliberate and organized and because our government is a legal shambles; and has been at least since Reagan, and now with the entire country in a physical, emotional, and financial shambles due to a raging pandemic, which has been supported and specifically promulgated by the government in charge, these traitors are making a push for it.
Much is written affirming Trump’s erratic and narcissistic mental state. That an entire party clings to the fragile coat tails of the deceptive charisma of a former TV personality defies all sane logic— defines a logic of calculated and evil desperation.
These are ugly times.
We held our breath until the election. Now we hold it until Jan 5 election in Georgia. Then we hold it until Inauguration. Breathe. It aint over until the fat man is dead of natural causes or in prison and even then it aint over. So keep breathing. Holding your breath is not what people mean about turning America blue.
If only Trump and his cronies worked this hard dealing with the pandemic.
Do we have any idea when the SCOTUS will respond to this stupidity? A one-liner would seem appropriate....as they did with the previous attempt.
FWIW, there are just 5 women on that list of 106 Republican House members. Rutgers Center for Women and Politics posts "101 women hold seats in the House of Representatives, comprising 23.2% of the 435 members in 2020. The women represent 34 states; 88 are Democrats and 13 are Republicans." This seems worth noting for some late night reason. It feels like some/many Republicans keep rolling dice on Trump to see how far out this bananas gambit will play, and how long it can keep benefiting them. It seems almost cute to think about when I realized that many people in elected office are there for themselves, not for the people who optimistically elected them. And I may be just as naive or ill-informed, but is it not true that the only people whose lives measurably improve under Republican leadership are white and/or well-off. The fact that these Republicans would keep rolling bones under the cynical notion that they'll play out this destructive game for as long as they can is both absurd and infuriating. As someone who lives in a state neighboring Texas, where I've tried hard not to be petty and join in as others bashed Texans, this honestly doesn't help. I mean, as far as this thing goes, eff Texas. Really. Y'all step away from the big, orange button. Take your lumps, suck it up and get on with disregarding public health measures in nearby states and wearing an outrageous amount of makeup whilst skiing badly. I believe in you. You can do it.
Since Trump first won office many people have said some variation of “it can’t get any worse than this.” Of course it always did — usually by the next news cycle. So we shouldn’t be surprised that we — the country — have reached these depths thanks to Trump.
You have to give him credit. Trump has certainly exceeded all expectations— of incompetence, criminality, vulgarity and the ability to turn America into his own surrealist nightmare.
He’s also revealed just how weak and easily manipulated our political institutions can be and the moral and ethical corruption of the average Republicans office holder. I suppose we should thank him for taking away our illusions.
When are the so-called Republican moderates going to ban together and put their foot down? All it would take would be a small coalition. They were very few profiles in courage among most Republicans. It appears that the state office holders in Georgia demonstrate that courage. On PBS NewsHour yesterday lieutenant governor of Georgia use the word duped to describe what’s going on and in no uncertain terms condemn the actions of the president and other members of the republican party. It’s high time for people like Romney and Collins in Portman to speak out in unequivocal terms. Where is the so-called educated Ben Sasse? Their silence is colluding with sedition
This law suit may not have much to stand on, but the fact that so many other states have joined in, so many Republican members of Congress and even Republicans in the states that are being attacked shows how much damage Trump and his gang of corruption have done and how much power they still wield. I find it terrifying. And with this Supreme Court, I am worried. They have broken so many of our institutions, our laws and destroyed our reputation.