"...some observers think the Trump faction is attacking Cheney simply to provide the kind of sound bites that will please their voters."
So which is it? The crackle of static coming from the Trump wing, in particular, is increasingly hard to parse. Newbies Greene, Boebert, and Cawthorn appear to have no policy agenda beyond waving the Tru…
"...some observers think the Trump faction is attacking Cheney simply to provide the kind of sound bites that will please their voters."
So which is it? The crackle of static coming from the Trump wing, in particular, is increasingly hard to parse. Newbies Greene, Boebert, and Cawthorn appear to have no policy agenda beyond waving the Trump banner. More established types like Jordan and Gaetz also seem to have little to say other than "no."
This leads back to a thread yesterday about how suitability of candidates is determined. The messages being sent by the House GOP is that it's unfair to penalize Greene based on statements made before she was elected. Clearly, even she knows it was bad stuff as she's been trying to delete past social media posts. Are age and citizenship requirements sufficient standards for qualification? How is it that screening processes don't alert congressional leaders to the potential headaches such candidates are likely to bring?
Advocating violence against members of the opposite political party seems like a red flag to me even if it is protected speech under the First Amendment. Now she's also spitting in the face of her own party's leadership. I'm sure rabble-rousers have been seated in every Congress. The difference is that today it's not an individual action but a disruptive strategy. Disruption can be healthy if there's an associated goal but I don't see that here.
Do you (author and readers) think these people believe their own BS? What evidence exists to suggest that they are seeking ends that benefit Americans vs just raising their own political profiles? If reflexive obstruction is the only "skill" representatives bring to the table then the notion of representative government is pointless. The amount of air time and number of electrons spent discussing people who aren't bringing ideas to improve our country to the table is ridiculous. At this point I can only hope that Kevin McCarthy ends up choking on the can of bad will he's trying to kick down the road. Yes, her previous statements matter. These weren't youthful indiscretions but of recent vintage. The tired excuse of "my social media posts are not who I am" doesn't cut it with me and shouldn't cut it with their peers either.
I have long advocated that being a U.S. citizen and, as stated in several of my prior posts, "tall enough to ride the roller coaster" are insufficient qualifications to run for any political post. While I do not believe it will ever happen, I do advocate that a minimum attainment of an academic credential, such as say a high school diploma or its equivalent, and a passing grade on the same civics exam given to those immigrants wishing to become U.S. citizens be required. I do not feel that is too much to ask. I also feel it should be applied retroactively to all currently serving in office.
I’ve tutored immigrants and refugees preparing to take their citizenship exam and I don’t believe that many, or possibly most, Americans could pass it.
It's not only not too much to ask, it's really too little. As I noted yesterday, try a little geography test for those people who shop for districts or states to run in. Just a little local lore. That'll get them, at least the first time.
Unfortunately for most proud University of Georgia grads, MTG is a UGA grad, so her problem is not a lack of education, but more a frightening desire to be noticed - a sort of exhibitionist wearing clothes. If she does not have a diagnosed mental illness, my guess is that she doesn't actually believe her ridiculous QAnon rhetoric, but thrives on her disturbing notoriety. She obviously has anger issues. Our bad luck and her constituency's poor judgment.
I absolutely believe mental illness is a strong core in so many of ‘these’ people. My sister broke when I was 9 years old. They didn’t even think about schizophrenia then (1960). Her entire life was lost. On her meds, off her meds. In and out of every facility that you can imagine; from State Hospitals to exclusive private establishments. She always ‘came out’ in worse shape. She’d disappear for months...years! Having been in and out of those facilities, majoring in Psychology, and to this day reading psychology books from every POV, I think that mental illness is rampant on our streets. Always was, but worse. Some people seem to adjust pretty well, drugs are plentiful, and social media is a wildfire. My daughter worked in a psych hospital for a few years, and is now getting her masters degree. And she agrees that if the bell shape curve of our population was factual we would be horrified to see that the bell is so much flatter than we think. People so desperately need to connect. These bizarre groups based on bizarre facts are a haven for those who suffer from the inability to separate reality from fiction. It’s just too much cognitive dissonance...
Very true, TPJ, but what impressed me was his refusal to give her oxygen - just ignored her. Being a bully put her firmly in T***p's camp, and the fact that someone was recording her antics gives a clue to her possible motive (besides sadism). I believe she was planning a run for office, and knew that the Menace's followers would devour her behavior. What better way to sell her QAnon garbage that she probably doesn't believe? I'd love to see her in an orange jumpsuit, but will settle for my taxes paying her for doing nothing, since she has been stripped of her committee memberships. A muzzle is the best way to shut her up.
As well as being an American in good standing, a transparent record of paid taxes, and no bankruptcies, no questionable relationships with hostile foreign or domestic entities, and knowing how to balance a budget. How many of our politicians were wined and dined at the Kremlin in the past 20, 30, 40 years? So terribly fish-stinky, that.
All the highest positions in our land should be able to pass the high security clearances that most government employees must pass, and including a mental health screening-- a bit beyond "person, woman, man, camera, tv." Oh, and maybe add all conflicts of interests—nepotism, violated emolument clauses, a max. budget for golfing (never at your own business). Oh, and then they should never have dabbled in fake universities where they ripped off innocent people, or violated family foundation charities requirements, or not paid their bills, or have fake tan, fake hair...getting sleepy here...money laundering, (yawn) love relationships...with dictators.....grab....bing women...zzzzz..zzz.
It troubled me when I tried to find ANY political objectives or community engagement that Marjorie Taylor Greene had pursued in Georgia. She inherited a construction company but abandoned it to her husband and took her money to open a Crossfit gym. That's it. There is no history, whatsoever, of her policies, agenda, or hopes for her constituency. Just bile.
It blows my mind that this person has been given a pass. Hoping that by the end of the day she’ll be sitting around doing nothing. And Kevin McCarthy, Lindsey Graham, they have to be defeated in one way or another.
I was wondering this morning if there was ever a time that average people, who ‘read’ the news and genuinely care about the state of their world, weren’t on edge about ‘surviving’ the situations surrounding them?
World Wars, depression, plagues, McCarthyism, Cold War(s), terrorist attacks, unnecessary wars, droughts, massive fires, school shootings (mass shootings any/everywhere).... there were always insane and seemingly unbearable conditions for our country that we had to face and try to overcome. We’ve been living with an unbelievable nightmare for 5 years now due to Trump and the not so recessive gene of racism. (Combined with the blanket of Covid floating over the entire world)...
I really thought (shame on my naïveté) that once Biden was safely inaugurated and in the White House the insanity would abate. And yet it continues, beyond comprehension and logic. I watched a ‘former’Qanon’ member on the news explain what she believed and why she ultimately left the group. There’s no doubt in my mind that she would very likely be diagnosed with some serious mental illness, and that made me so sad. Would that be the case for many of these folks? I don’t know, and only history will verify that.
But I know that Biden is doing a fabulous job, and he’s blocking out all the noise that is taking place in our Congress, but are we somehow (what’s a word a notch below ‘doomed’?) to be saddled by so much that is wrong, dangerous, and potentially destructive to our nation? I long to wake up and not feel the urgency to read the news and react with anger, frustration, and sadness.... Is this just the way it’s always been, or has it gotten worse? The phrase etched in our social conversation since May has been ‘I can’t breathe’, and that is how I so often feel. From the air that’s so polluted to the forces that are smothering our society and the world as well.
Sorry for the rant, I’m just so weary. I will continue to be active, writing postcards, writing letters and calling my representatives, volunteering when and where it is safe, but to quote Peggy Lee, ‘is this all there is’?
Well, there is nature, and the silence of late night and early morning. We all need to reflect, and to give gratitude for "this breath”. This helps me sooo much.
Yes, indeed...when the snow was falling earlier this week..and all the world seemed quiet and beautiful (from my window) I had tears fill my eyes... there's no word to describe that magical moment of peacefulness...albeit short-lived.. I am trying to go back to see who recommended the book "Braiding Sweetgrass' a week or so ago... It has been the greatest reset that I have had in years...I highly recommend it to everyone here..and to everyone in the world.
I got "Braiding Sweetgrass" several years ago and have been recommending it ever since. I was delighted to see it on the NYT bestseller list last week!!!
i know that sense you felt Cynthia; I feel it is pretty much in every moment, but especially anywhere in nature, or, with music, or even with the play of shadows on the ground
imho, a key to some kind of peaceful consciousness is this moment, before the anxiety and judgements and etc. I try to play beginners guitar and take walks and sit quiet and watch my thoughts for 30 minutes, twice a day. it helps w my addiction to politics
Our country's patriotism rose to an all-time high after 911. There were still a few wingnuts being outrageous but most people pulled together. I'm not pessimistic about our future. I think our children are watching all this nonsense and they will return the country to some sanity eventually.
Yesterday, Canada designated the Proud Boys a terror organization. I don't see why we wouldn't follow. Perhaps RICO convictions could help facilitate that? And add all the other birds of a feather right wing extremist hate & Violence groups, the 3 %'ers, Oath Keepers, & the Militia's with kidnap and kill conspiracy plans ( there are so many of these violent right wing nuts now I cant list them all).
But then how long till the Republican Party is also designated a hate group and domestic terror organization? I really appreciate the RICO report beta, thank you HCR. RICO is really going to open a Pandora's box for the Republicans. It has the potential to fragment the bases of support and destroy their party as we know it.
"how long till the Republican Party is also designated a hate group and domestic terror organization?"
Bullseye. Part of it certainly resembles terrorists. The, other part seems to be terrorized, literally, due to death threats, harassment and, most glaringly, the GOP's lethal insurrection. Hopefully the Repugs split into two (or more) rumps, enabling the Biden admin to make progress addressing multiple crises.
The Southern Policy Law Center maintains among the best lists of Hate Groups and Extremists available to the general public. You can find the lists here:
You will also find here the list of the worst of the worst extremists and ideologies. Also, the SPLC map of the location of hate groups here will let you know which ones can be found to be active near where you live:
I hear they are “building a wa to keep us out. But it’s not that high cuz we will be to sick to climb it cuz we can’t afford our health care”- Jim Jeffries
Lot of friends and colleagues left the Crossfit scene the last few years. Some, not all Crossfit gyms develop their own type of indoctrination and group think towards their workouts and then that morphs into right wing nut-ism. Some, not all have an ultra nationalism component, merchandising the gym, equipment, and clothing with excess American flags. Some not all develop the Libertarian ideology, I think because the owners are independent businesses. Interesting that MTG is one of these Crossfit types.
It MIGHT be possible to excuse her statements IF they were truly a thing of the past, but she is still spouting the same nonsense. They gave her a SO because she supposedly disavowed her past statements, but she hasn't done so in public; I think she just told them what they wanted to hear in an effort to keep her committee assignments.
I too have to wonder what the heck they are doing in Congress if they have no concept of "public service."
Even the tactical maneuver of admitting that school shootings are real included no apology for past behavior and absolutely no walking back of her suggestions that Democratic lawmakers be shot dead. Apparently the Republican caucus is just fine with that. Even the pseudo retreat from QAnon took zero responsibility for having been part of it - to hear her, it only happened because the "liberal" media was so unreliable. She also did not retract the suggestion that California wildfires were deliberately started by Jews.
Her comments could never be excused! They weren't rants of an adolescent, or someone who had been traumatized. People need to understand that words have consequences, and her incendiary bile, alone, should have disqualified her candidacy. Yes, I know, the First Amendment . . . .
We have young friends (low-to-mid 30s) who are constantly putting posts out on FB about how Trump was cheated out of the election, how we need to ban mail-in voting, and other statements of "tRumpublican" craziness. Interestingly, some of them are willing to agree to disagree, while the comments from their friends come in much more vicious...calling one or both of us some pretty low names, telling our friend to "throw that idiot socialist off your friend list", etc. Not all of these people are stupid, but they have bought into the hype so much that they truly believe it. But ask them for documented proof of the things they spout? Then you just get more name-calling and throwing of the "socialist" word. These children have grown up with social media, and it is very telling.
“ Not all of these people are stupid, but they have bought into the hype so much that they truly believe it.“
Regretably, yes those advocating this are incredibly stupid. Or, alternatively truly malevolent. I either case, you are better off not letting them make decisions about fact or fallacy for you. Be informed, fact check, use your own critical thinking skills and make these important decisions for yourself. Do not let acceptance to the group replace a search for truth.
I think, unfortunately, that they manage to convince themselves of their own rectitude.....as it is defined by their fantasy ideology... which of course replaces critical thought. Having their ideology makes them part of the clan and gives them a sense of identity and belonging for which their defective and deficient personality craves. It then starts to resemble the " electricity torture experiments" in LA which looked at how far people will go to stay within as opposed to without. They have to up-the-ante every time the boss turns the screw to stay in the fold. Some but all people have their limits. I wouldn't count on Greene etc reaching theirs.
Yes, Stuart! From reading and listening and personal experience, this is what I believe, too. That experiment was revelatory when I listened to tapes from it. In this iteration insecure or aggrieved individuals are either encouraged by applause 👏🏻 or emboldened by others who are applauding 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 to lead or join the herd. It’s hard-wired throughout the animal kingdom. In our case, human beings speak, too. MTG was probably surprised by getting a standing O in Congress which says to her: “keep going!” Is MTG an intellect who has reasoned any of her spoken thoughts: I doubt it. She’s a DJT stand-in without any charm or a good speaking voice. And, we heard her say she’s waiting for His next move. An acolyte. RICCO! will reel in this fish, too. Betting on it. ❤️🤍💙
I have a question; I heard (can’t remember who or where) that the standing O for MTG had to do with her denouncing some of her remarks and/or some of the Q beliefs...? Does anyone know if there’s any basis to that?
Stuart, Exactly. This is political theatre performed for the audience of self doubters and undernourished egos. I'm reminded of grade school play yards where the person who did the stupidest thing got all the attention. "Hey look, Billy just eat a live worm." And I don't believe that the sacred 'grassroots' is as strong as they would have you believe. Watch MI-3CD to see what's really going on.
This whole shtick is getting more entertaining than the old cowboy movies IMHO of course.
It would be if it were not for the potentially diabolical consequences...but then you go back to Shakespeare's inspiration, Juvenal, who first wrote "all of Greece is a stage and all Greeks are actors"
Rectitude, or smugly sanctimonious. Fallback position is to not acknowledge what's happening on their side but to blame the other side, whether that's factually warranted or not (almost always not). They would gladly press the button to give someone a jolt and not think twice about it, but if the situations were reversed, they'd claim your response was politically motivated.
Many, many years ago when I was an elementary school teacher, I noticed a remarkable phenomenon every time a "new" student entered my classroom. Every time. The new student would pause for a few seconds at the door, scanning the room, and then gravitate to one or more of the "old" students. If the new student gravitated to my more "serious" students, I knew I had another good student to enjoy. If he or she gravitated to my more "challenging" students, I knew I had another opportunity to teach acceptable behavior along with the regular curriculum. I see the Matt Gaetzes and Marjorie Greenes as the latter; they entered Congress with the intent to associate with others like themselves and to take over. I don't know if they will ultimately create a supernova and self destruct, or as pointed out by Heather, will be brought down by RICO. But other than causing chaos and drawing attention to themselves, I don't think they have any other purpose in Congress, much less life itself.
These things should have come out before her election, which then might have prevented it. Does this mean that basic opposition research was never done on her by her opponent? It sure looks like it.
He was harassed and tgreatened to the point where his marriage fell apart, he left the state and returned to his parent's home. She literally ran him into the ground.
Thanks so much. I knew nothing of Van Ausdal, other than that he'd dropped out of the race. Interesting to see that Raffensperger refused to declare him ineligible to run, thus guaranteeing that MTG would be unopposed. This for all the folks that believe Raffensperger is a standup guy!
Her Democratic opponent never had a chance. Her district is deem "safe" for Republicans. It's one of the top ten safest Republican districts in the U.S. Looking at the demographics of the district, one might understand why they vote Republican.
Though she didn't win the primary, she got the largest share of vote, which lead to a run off and she got 57% of the vote. Her primary opponent was also a Trump supporter.
You're right that he never had a chance; he lacked the intestinal fortify to stand against her utter insanity. I find it appalling that we live in a time and place where candidates actually campaign brandishing automatic weapons and then raffle them off. Worse yet is the fact that they are elected and seated.
Where is common decency in all of this? Where is one's right to live a life free from harassment and intimidation by your neighbors and politicians? How is it we now accept leaders who put forth the notion that political opponents deserve to be assasinated? How is it one vile man's personal quest for power has driven a country to the edge.
I am emotionally exhausted. The facade upon which our country was built is not only cracked but crumbling quickly. The structure was made of straw not iron. The 3 Little Pigs learned their lesson the hard way too, didn't they?
Daria, don't give up yet. The Menace is gone, and will probably be in court for years, and Biden is doing a wonderful job of clearing the debris and forging ahead, with the assistance of a stellar cabinet. He smiles and nods to the Rethugs, but ignores their false claims of bipartisanship. It will be an arduous task, but I think the repair crew knows what it's doing. Having said all of that, I'm exhausted, too.
Hello Daria and All, I never tire of quoting these words because they never cease to lift the spirit.
"The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature,"
-- Lincoln's First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1861
I agree, but last week one of our county commissioners brandished his rifle (via zoom) at a hearing while another laughed, during a citizen's testimony requesting the county not approve of proudboys. Put us on the map, the wrong map.
Kathy, opposition research and government background checks. I don't know who does the latter for federal positions. I mean, I'm just assuming it would be done. Wouldn't take long.
The Democratic opponent never had a chance at election, and might have been jousting at windmills. Even if all of her exploits had been local front page news, her constituents would have loved her, and she'd have been elected.
The area that MTG represents would probably have welcomed her rhetoric. Before the election, when riding through the area, just a couple of hours from Atlanta, political yard signs flourished, and all were for Trump and most of the local candidates had pictures of automatic weapons on them. In recent interviews, the Atlanta networks reported that the locals in her area love her.
She's from north west Georgia. Representing areas surrounding Rome GA and nearby Dalton GA - carpet making. Georgia may have turned blue in the metro area, but is red in rural areas. 30 years ago, folks were thrilled when Golden Corral restaurant came town with it's all you can eat buffet. I drove from Atlanta to observe physical inventory. Her area is filled with red necks.
Well said. Advocating the murder of ones opponents must be considered a red flag. Your question of "do you think these people believe their own BS?" is a good one. I believe there are some more "savvy" political types who use the words who don't buy into the message (McConnell comes to mind; he is evil incarnate, and will use whatever means serve him the best). The ones like the current crop of House Qpublicans don't seem like they have anything other than rhetoric that they "believe" in. There is no evidence that they are seeking ends that benefit anyone OTHER than themselves and are tapping into the deeply held racism that still festers in this country.
Ally, your comment “advocating the murder of one’s opponents must be considered a red flag” felt like a gut punch. That it’s even a question is astonishing. It’s more than a red flag; isn’t it a felony? Can we now threaten to kill one another with impunity? Head in hands.
Ally, question of whether they believe their own BS was strictly rhetorical but it might reflect my naivete, since I struggle to accept that they can go through life being able to prove nothing about their positions. Somehow, somewhere, I have to think smarter people could see through that facade. So either smart people don't vote or they're more evil than the candidates.
People who become radicalized often accept things as “fact” that the rest of us reject as fanciful or ridiculous. I suspect there are deeply cynical folk who are manipulating the crazies for their own game (Kevin McCarthy has been described as a man of unbounded ambition untethered from any discernible principle, for example) but there are true believers out there as well. Both groups are deeply concerning. That the QAnon candidates were nominees of a major political party I think speaks to the fact that party has ceased to function as a political party and has become the instrument of people interested only in power, not policy.
Well stated. Even so, there's a significant disconnect between what constituents voted for and what these particular representatives are doing. As redneck as her district might be, it's really hard to imagine most constituents were contemplating murder or Sedition.
I don't know if these people believe anything that comes out of their mouths or not. I get sick to my stomach thinking about that question. I do firmly believe that age and citizenship are not sufficient standards for running for office. Our world is exceedingly complex. No single Senator or Representative can possibly have a handle on all the intricacies of our programs, laws, regulations, needs, etc. They need to each and every one surround themselves with some expertise, as President Biden has done. Even the very best educated politicians have too much to know. So, when we start with uneducated, inexperienced people, who are not even interested in how our government works, why it works that way and what their role should be, we have big problems. When you add insanity (the only short way to express what I think of their behavior) into the mix you have these nonsensical, volatile animals running through Congress. And it terrifies me. No one should be allowed to run without a reasonable education, and maybe something like SAT testing to see if they can even comprehend our Democracy. And they should pass a background test so that at a minimum it is published for Americans to see who they are voting for.
They do not believe their own BS but, the BS gets them votes. More than half the battle is getting into office and this is what some people in some areas want; junk food. And, when I really think about it this type of obstructionism serves their purposes very well. They are shrinking the government by stature and deed a a rate faster than ever. Some still want to provide a veneer of plausible deniability but it gets thinner by the day. This is an all out war and they are putting up a fight to shrink the government and they are wining many hearts and minds still. Republicans dont want to find ways to run the government unless it is pared down to bare minimums such as perfect roads while people dont have enough to eat and maintaining the status quo for oil companies and corporations when people don’t make enough money to maintain a household.
Hi Scott. Just below this line of text, on my screen at this moment, is a green box containing the words "92 new replies." Just in case you were curious, that's how much discussion you generated with this post.
Roland, thanks for pointing that out. It's always interesting to see what sparks a conversation, and the crowd here doesn't disappoint. A fascinating array of experiences and perspectives. The exchanges here are easier to follow than on Facebook and are more extended. Also, I'm an early riser and this column usually comes in between 2-3 AM. I probably respond several times a week, and that gives me a bit more time to focus on this before the rest of the day takes over and I'm not able to follow every thread. I just saw your email and it's now 93.
What is frightening is that there were enough people in her district to elect her! Was she campaigning on these ludicrous beliefs and they believe them as well or were her constituents duped by her?
The story is that she "flogged" him with assaultive Q-type innuendo and fictitious aspersions, ruined his marriage and finally drove him out of the state.
“And we’ve got [newly elected Democratic senator Raphael] Warnock up for reelection in two years as well. I think there’s an opportunity for a strong Republican candidate to make a case that while he has broken some barriers and that’s laudable, that he’s not the right person to represent the state of Georgia, just ideologically.“
"...some observers think the Trump faction is attacking Cheney simply to provide the kind of sound bites that will please their voters."
So which is it? The crackle of static coming from the Trump wing, in particular, is increasingly hard to parse. Newbies Greene, Boebert, and Cawthorn appear to have no policy agenda beyond waving the Trump banner. More established types like Jordan and Gaetz also seem to have little to say other than "no."
This leads back to a thread yesterday about how suitability of candidates is determined. The messages being sent by the House GOP is that it's unfair to penalize Greene based on statements made before she was elected. Clearly, even she knows it was bad stuff as she's been trying to delete past social media posts. Are age and citizenship requirements sufficient standards for qualification? How is it that screening processes don't alert congressional leaders to the potential headaches such candidates are likely to bring?
Advocating violence against members of the opposite political party seems like a red flag to me even if it is protected speech under the First Amendment. Now she's also spitting in the face of her own party's leadership. I'm sure rabble-rousers have been seated in every Congress. The difference is that today it's not an individual action but a disruptive strategy. Disruption can be healthy if there's an associated goal but I don't see that here.
Do you (author and readers) think these people believe their own BS? What evidence exists to suggest that they are seeking ends that benefit Americans vs just raising their own political profiles? If reflexive obstruction is the only "skill" representatives bring to the table then the notion of representative government is pointless. The amount of air time and number of electrons spent discussing people who aren't bringing ideas to improve our country to the table is ridiculous. At this point I can only hope that Kevin McCarthy ends up choking on the can of bad will he's trying to kick down the road. Yes, her previous statements matter. These weren't youthful indiscretions but of recent vintage. The tired excuse of "my social media posts are not who I am" doesn't cut it with me and shouldn't cut it with their peers either.
I have long advocated that being a U.S. citizen and, as stated in several of my prior posts, "tall enough to ride the roller coaster" are insufficient qualifications to run for any political post. While I do not believe it will ever happen, I do advocate that a minimum attainment of an academic credential, such as say a high school diploma or its equivalent, and a passing grade on the same civics exam given to those immigrants wishing to become U.S. citizens be required. I do not feel that is too much to ask. I also feel it should be applied retroactively to all currently serving in office.
I’ve tutored immigrants and refugees preparing to take their citizenship exam and I don’t believe that many, or possibly most, Americans could pass it.
I completely agree with you. My disappointment in the lack of civics education for most Americans is profound.
Agreed
Civics has been replaced by ... what? Nothing, apparently. Perhaps it's a casualty of the Vast Rightwing Conspiracy.
They don't even know that such a class exists!
Wow.
It's not only not too much to ask, it's really too little. As I noted yesterday, try a little geography test for those people who shop for districts or states to run in. Just a little local lore. That'll get them, at least the first time.
Unfortunately for most proud University of Georgia grads, MTG is a UGA grad, so her problem is not a lack of education, but more a frightening desire to be noticed - a sort of exhibitionist wearing clothes. If she does not have a diagnosed mental illness, my guess is that she doesn't actually believe her ridiculous QAnon rhetoric, but thrives on her disturbing notoriety. She obviously has anger issues. Our bad luck and her constituency's poor judgment.
One other possibility with MTG is that the mental illness is undiagnosed, but nevertheless present in spades.
I absolutely believe mental illness is a strong core in so many of ‘these’ people. My sister broke when I was 9 years old. They didn’t even think about schizophrenia then (1960). Her entire life was lost. On her meds, off her meds. In and out of every facility that you can imagine; from State Hospitals to exclusive private establishments. She always ‘came out’ in worse shape. She’d disappear for months...years! Having been in and out of those facilities, majoring in Psychology, and to this day reading psychology books from every POV, I think that mental illness is rampant on our streets. Always was, but worse. Some people seem to adjust pretty well, drugs are plentiful, and social media is a wildfire. My daughter worked in a psych hospital for a few years, and is now getting her masters degree. And she agrees that if the bell shape curve of our population was factual we would be horrified to see that the bell is so much flatter than we think. People so desperately need to connect. These bizarre groups based on bizarre facts are a haven for those who suffer from the inability to separate reality from fiction. It’s just too much cognitive dissonance...
sorry, here I go again.
Sorry to hear about your sister’s illness. You’ve made some important points here.
Thanks... it's such a sad life for so many..and all the ripples from there.
30% of People have a mental health emergency in their lifetimes.
She's a bully whose treatment of Mr Hogg would get most people arrested.
Still could. She was stalking him, admitted she was carrying while being hostile, and making threats.
Very true, TPJ, but what impressed me was his refusal to give her oxygen - just ignored her. Being a bully put her firmly in T***p's camp, and the fact that someone was recording her antics gives a clue to her possible motive (besides sadism). I believe she was planning a run for office, and knew that the Menace's followers would devour her behavior. What better way to sell her QAnon garbage that she probably doesn't believe? I'd love to see her in an orange jumpsuit, but will settle for my taxes paying her for doing nothing, since she has been stripped of her committee memberships. A muzzle is the best way to shut her up.
Yes, Mr. Hogg demonstrated way more maturity and intelligence that she did.
As well as being an American in good standing, a transparent record of paid taxes, and no bankruptcies, no questionable relationships with hostile foreign or domestic entities, and knowing how to balance a budget. How many of our politicians were wined and dined at the Kremlin in the past 20, 30, 40 years? So terribly fish-stinky, that.
All the highest positions in our land should be able to pass the high security clearances that most government employees must pass, and including a mental health screening-- a bit beyond "person, woman, man, camera, tv." Oh, and maybe add all conflicts of interests—nepotism, violated emolument clauses, a max. budget for golfing (never at your own business). Oh, and then they should never have dabbled in fake universities where they ripped off innocent people, or violated family foundation charities requirements, or not paid their bills, or have fake tan, fake hair...getting sleepy here...money laundering, (yawn) love relationships...with dictators.....grab....bing women...zzzzz..zzz.
It troubled me when I tried to find ANY political objectives or community engagement that Marjorie Taylor Greene had pursued in Georgia. She inherited a construction company but abandoned it to her husband and took her money to open a Crossfit gym. That's it. There is no history, whatsoever, of her policies, agenda, or hopes for her constituency. Just bile.
It blows my mind that this person has been given a pass. Hoping that by the end of the day she’ll be sitting around doing nothing. And Kevin McCarthy, Lindsey Graham, they have to be defeated in one way or another.
I was wondering this morning if there was ever a time that average people, who ‘read’ the news and genuinely care about the state of their world, weren’t on edge about ‘surviving’ the situations surrounding them?
World Wars, depression, plagues, McCarthyism, Cold War(s), terrorist attacks, unnecessary wars, droughts, massive fires, school shootings (mass shootings any/everywhere).... there were always insane and seemingly unbearable conditions for our country that we had to face and try to overcome. We’ve been living with an unbelievable nightmare for 5 years now due to Trump and the not so recessive gene of racism. (Combined with the blanket of Covid floating over the entire world)...
I really thought (shame on my naïveté) that once Biden was safely inaugurated and in the White House the insanity would abate. And yet it continues, beyond comprehension and logic. I watched a ‘former’Qanon’ member on the news explain what she believed and why she ultimately left the group. There’s no doubt in my mind that she would very likely be diagnosed with some serious mental illness, and that made me so sad. Would that be the case for many of these folks? I don’t know, and only history will verify that.
But I know that Biden is doing a fabulous job, and he’s blocking out all the noise that is taking place in our Congress, but are we somehow (what’s a word a notch below ‘doomed’?) to be saddled by so much that is wrong, dangerous, and potentially destructive to our nation? I long to wake up and not feel the urgency to read the news and react with anger, frustration, and sadness.... Is this just the way it’s always been, or has it gotten worse? The phrase etched in our social conversation since May has been ‘I can’t breathe’, and that is how I so often feel. From the air that’s so polluted to the forces that are smothering our society and the world as well.
Sorry for the rant, I’m just so weary. I will continue to be active, writing postcards, writing letters and calling my representatives, volunteering when and where it is safe, but to quote Peggy Lee, ‘is this all there is’?
but to quote Peggy Lee, ‘is this all there is’?
Well, there is nature, and the silence of late night and early morning. We all need to reflect, and to give gratitude for "this breath”. This helps me sooo much.
Yes, indeed...when the snow was falling earlier this week..and all the world seemed quiet and beautiful (from my window) I had tears fill my eyes... there's no word to describe that magical moment of peacefulness...albeit short-lived.. I am trying to go back to see who recommended the book "Braiding Sweetgrass' a week or so ago... It has been the greatest reset that I have had in years...I highly recommend it to everyone here..and to everyone in the world.
I got "Braiding Sweetgrass" several years ago and have been recommending it ever since. I was delighted to see it on the NYT bestseller list last week!!!
My daughter LOVES that book!
Wow! I missed that!
i know that sense you felt Cynthia; I feel it is pretty much in every moment, but especially anywhere in nature, or, with music, or even with the play of shadows on the ground
imho, a key to some kind of peaceful consciousness is this moment, before the anxiety and judgements and etc. I try to play beginners guitar and take walks and sit quiet and watch my thoughts for 30 minutes, twice a day. it helps w my addiction to politics
my wife tells me she has “braiding sweetgrass” but has other things at her attention (Jungian psychology, mostly)
Our country's patriotism rose to an all-time high after 911. There were still a few wingnuts being outrageous but most people pulled together. I'm not pessimistic about our future. I think our children are watching all this nonsense and they will return the country to some sanity eventually.
Marjorie Greene does have one job: opening the door for the insurgency.
"the not so recessive gene of racism"
Oh this is precious, Cynthia.
Thank you Roland... coming from the archetypal wordsmith I am humbled!
Cynthia, I think we all feel this way. With you 100%
Hi Ted! Haven't seen you in awhile!
This is our western values conundrum; looking to the so-called ‘exterior’ world, where in effect, there is no exterior world, but in our minds.
Yesterday, Canada designated the Proud Boys a terror organization. I don't see why we wouldn't follow. Perhaps RICO convictions could help facilitate that? And add all the other birds of a feather right wing extremist hate & Violence groups, the 3 %'ers, Oath Keepers, & the Militia's with kidnap and kill conspiracy plans ( there are so many of these violent right wing nuts now I cant list them all).
But then how long till the Republican Party is also designated a hate group and domestic terror organization? I really appreciate the RICO report beta, thank you HCR. RICO is really going to open a Pandora's box for the Republicans. It has the potential to fragment the bases of support and destroy their party as we know it.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/canada-proud-boys-terrorist-capitol-siege/2021/02/03/546b1d5c-6628-11eb-8468-21bc48f07fe5_story.html
"how long till the Republican Party is also designated a hate group and domestic terror organization?"
Bullseye. Part of it certainly resembles terrorists. The, other part seems to be terrorized, literally, due to death threats, harassment and, most glaringly, the GOP's lethal insurrection. Hopefully the Repugs split into two (or more) rumps, enabling the Biden admin to make progress addressing multiple crises.
I am really looking forward to some RICO convictions!
RI-CO! RI-CO! RICO! RI-CO!
"Sing it again!"
-- Abraham Lincoln
The Southern Policy Law Center maintains among the best lists of Hate Groups and Extremists available to the general public. You can find the lists here:
https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/groups
You will also find here the list of the worst of the worst extremists and ideologies. Also, the SPLC map of the location of hate groups here will let you know which ones can be found to be active near where you live:
https://www.splcenter.org/hate-map
The Southern Poverty Law Center is an extremely worthwhile project to support. They have done amazing work for people of color in the south. Amazing.
🙏
Sadness
"how long till the Republican Party is also designated a hate group and domestic terror organization?" WOW. Yes.
I want to be annexed by Canada.
I hear they are “building a wa to keep us out. But it’s not that high cuz we will be to sick to climb it cuz we can’t afford our health care”- Jim Jeffries
Lot of friends and colleagues left the Crossfit scene the last few years. Some, not all Crossfit gyms develop their own type of indoctrination and group think towards their workouts and then that morphs into right wing nut-ism. Some, not all have an ultra nationalism component, merchandising the gym, equipment, and clothing with excess American flags. Some not all develop the Libertarian ideology, I think because the owners are independent businesses. Interesting that MTG is one of these Crossfit types.
It MIGHT be possible to excuse her statements IF they were truly a thing of the past, but she is still spouting the same nonsense. They gave her a SO because she supposedly disavowed her past statements, but she hasn't done so in public; I think she just told them what they wanted to hear in an effort to keep her committee assignments.
I too have to wonder what the heck they are doing in Congress if they have no concept of "public service."
Even the tactical maneuver of admitting that school shootings are real included no apology for past behavior and absolutely no walking back of her suggestions that Democratic lawmakers be shot dead. Apparently the Republican caucus is just fine with that. Even the pseudo retreat from QAnon took zero responsibility for having been part of it - to hear her, it only happened because the "liberal" media was so unreliable. She also did not retract the suggestion that California wildfires were deliberately started by Jews.
Her comments could never be excused! They weren't rants of an adolescent, or someone who had been traumatized. People need to understand that words have consequences, and her incendiary bile, alone, should have disqualified her candidacy. Yes, I know, the First Amendment . . . .
Mea Culpas tonight. Creepy how her new statements sound so sane.
Until you see clips of everything she has said, much of it recent.
Lust for power vs. public service
We have young friends (low-to-mid 30s) who are constantly putting posts out on FB about how Trump was cheated out of the election, how we need to ban mail-in voting, and other statements of "tRumpublican" craziness. Interestingly, some of them are willing to agree to disagree, while the comments from their friends come in much more vicious...calling one or both of us some pretty low names, telling our friend to "throw that idiot socialist off your friend list", etc. Not all of these people are stupid, but they have bought into the hype so much that they truly believe it. But ask them for documented proof of the things they spout? Then you just get more name-calling and throwing of the "socialist" word. These children have grown up with social media, and it is very telling.
“ Not all of these people are stupid, but they have bought into the hype so much that they truly believe it.“
Regretably, yes those advocating this are incredibly stupid. Or, alternatively truly malevolent. I either case, you are better off not letting them make decisions about fact or fallacy for you. Be informed, fact check, use your own critical thinking skills and make these important decisions for yourself. Do not let acceptance to the group replace a search for truth.
You might be interested in my ideas about how to talk to such people: https://cogitamus.substack.com/p/influencing-trump-supporters
Just sent this to my sister, surrounded by used-to-be-pretty-smart-Republicans.
Reason # 481 to get off FB.
Before social media there was reality TV with rude judges, shaming, name calling. Children watched and learned how to behave.
High five, Scott. Either answer, "Yes, they believe their own BS" and "No, they don't believe their own BS" IMHO does nothing to benefit the nation.
I think, unfortunately, that they manage to convince themselves of their own rectitude.....as it is defined by their fantasy ideology... which of course replaces critical thought. Having their ideology makes them part of the clan and gives them a sense of identity and belonging for which their defective and deficient personality craves. It then starts to resemble the " electricity torture experiments" in LA which looked at how far people will go to stay within as opposed to without. They have to up-the-ante every time the boss turns the screw to stay in the fold. Some but all people have their limits. I wouldn't count on Greene etc reaching theirs.
Yes, Stuart! From reading and listening and personal experience, this is what I believe, too. That experiment was revelatory when I listened to tapes from it. In this iteration insecure or aggrieved individuals are either encouraged by applause 👏🏻 or emboldened by others who are applauding 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 to lead or join the herd. It’s hard-wired throughout the animal kingdom. In our case, human beings speak, too. MTG was probably surprised by getting a standing O in Congress which says to her: “keep going!” Is MTG an intellect who has reasoned any of her spoken thoughts: I doubt it. She’s a DJT stand-in without any charm or a good speaking voice. And, we heard her say she’s waiting for His next move. An acolyte. RICCO! will reel in this fish, too. Betting on it. ❤️🤍💙
I have a question; I heard (can’t remember who or where) that the standing O for MTG had to do with her denouncing some of her remarks and/or some of the Q beliefs...? Does anyone know if there’s any basis to that?
Stuart, Exactly. This is political theatre performed for the audience of self doubters and undernourished egos. I'm reminded of grade school play yards where the person who did the stupidest thing got all the attention. "Hey look, Billy just eat a live worm." And I don't believe that the sacred 'grassroots' is as strong as they would have you believe. Watch MI-3CD to see what's really going on.
This whole shtick is getting more entertaining than the old cowboy movies IMHO of course.
It would be if it were not for the potentially diabolical consequences...but then you go back to Shakespeare's inspiration, Juvenal, who first wrote "all of Greece is a stage and all Greeks are actors"
Rectitude, or smugly sanctimonious. Fallback position is to not acknowledge what's happening on their side but to blame the other side, whether that's factually warranted or not (almost always not). They would gladly press the button to give someone a jolt and not think twice about it, but if the situations were reversed, they'd claim your response was politically motivated.
Standard for "perverse" psychoses...projecting ones own nasty tendencies on the other.
Many, many years ago when I was an elementary school teacher, I noticed a remarkable phenomenon every time a "new" student entered my classroom. Every time. The new student would pause for a few seconds at the door, scanning the room, and then gravitate to one or more of the "old" students. If the new student gravitated to my more "serious" students, I knew I had another good student to enjoy. If he or she gravitated to my more "challenging" students, I knew I had another opportunity to teach acceptable behavior along with the regular curriculum. I see the Matt Gaetzes and Marjorie Greenes as the latter; they entered Congress with the intent to associate with others like themselves and to take over. I don't know if they will ultimately create a supernova and self destruct, or as pointed out by Heather, will be brought down by RICO. But other than causing chaos and drawing attention to themselves, I don't think they have any other purpose in Congress, much less life itself.
Good show, Ellen. Seeing challenge as opportunity is both more productive and a psychological boost.
These things should have come out before her election, which then might have prevented it. Does this mean that basic opposition research was never done on her by her opponent? It sure looks like it.
I believe her Democratic opponent dropped out of the race, which might explain a lot (I'm sure it was completely awful trying to run against Greene!)
He was harassed and tgreatened to the point where his marriage fell apart, he left the state and returned to his parent's home. She literally ran him into the ground.
That's a red flag, if true. I'm not challenging your statement, I just haven't seen it in the media. Please source. Thanks.
Here's a link.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/10/26/the-regular-guy-who-almost-challenged-georgias-qanon-candidate
Well, that's elucidating. Mr. Raffensperger doesn't look too good in this, either.
Thanks so much. I knew nothing of Van Ausdal, other than that he'd dropped out of the race. Interesting to see that Raffensperger refused to declare him ineligible to run, thus guaranteeing that MTG would be unopposed. This for all the folks that believe Raffensperger is a standup guy!
l have to dig but I will find it. I'm not prone to fantasy.
This is from 17 October, 2020.
https://www.washingtonpost.com
Exact URL is here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/10/17/kevin-van-ausdal-qanon-marjorie-greene-georgia/?arc404=true
Wow. How awful.
Her Democratic opponent never had a chance. Her district is deem "safe" for Republicans. It's one of the top ten safest Republican districts in the U.S. Looking at the demographics of the district, one might understand why they vote Republican.
Though she didn't win the primary, she got the largest share of vote, which lead to a run off and she got 57% of the vote. Her primary opponent was also a Trump supporter.
https://ballotpedia.org/Georgia%27s_14th_Congressional_District_election,_2020_(June_9_Republican_primary)#What_was_at_stake_in_the_general_election.3F
You're right that he never had a chance; he lacked the intestinal fortify to stand against her utter insanity. I find it appalling that we live in a time and place where candidates actually campaign brandishing automatic weapons and then raffle them off. Worse yet is the fact that they are elected and seated.
Where is common decency in all of this? Where is one's right to live a life free from harassment and intimidation by your neighbors and politicians? How is it we now accept leaders who put forth the notion that political opponents deserve to be assasinated? How is it one vile man's personal quest for power has driven a country to the edge.
I am emotionally exhausted. The facade upon which our country was built is not only cracked but crumbling quickly. The structure was made of straw not iron. The 3 Little Pigs learned their lesson the hard way too, didn't they?
Daria, don't give up yet. The Menace is gone, and will probably be in court for years, and Biden is doing a wonderful job of clearing the debris and forging ahead, with the assistance of a stellar cabinet. He smiles and nods to the Rethugs, but ignores their false claims of bipartisanship. It will be an arduous task, but I think the repair crew knows what it's doing. Having said all of that, I'm exhausted, too.
Hello Daria and All, I never tire of quoting these words because they never cease to lift the spirit.
"The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature,"
-- Lincoln's First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1861
I agree, but last week one of our county commissioners brandished his rifle (via zoom) at a hearing while another laughed, during a citizen's testimony requesting the county not approve of proudboys. Put us on the map, the wrong map.
Fortitude not fortify. Gads. Spell check.
Kathy, opposition research and government background checks. I don't know who does the latter for federal positions. I mean, I'm just assuming it would be done. Wouldn't take long.
Perhaps not. Greene represents the "Deliverance" part of Georgia. The ominous sounds of rushing water and banjos are never far away.
I believe they did come out before her election and she was elected anyway. Doesn't mean she should have been given committee assignments.
The Democratic opponent never had a chance at election, and might have been jousting at windmills. Even if all of her exploits had been local front page news, her constituents would have loved her, and she'd have been elected.
The area that MTG represents would probably have welcomed her rhetoric. Before the election, when riding through the area, just a couple of hours from Atlanta, political yard signs flourished, and all were for Trump and most of the local candidates had pictures of automatic weapons on them. In recent interviews, the Atlanta networks reported that the locals in her area love her.
Good lord.
She's from north west Georgia. Representing areas surrounding Rome GA and nearby Dalton GA - carpet making. Georgia may have turned blue in the metro area, but is red in rural areas. 30 years ago, folks were thrilled when Golden Corral restaurant came town with it's all you can eat buffet. I drove from Atlanta to observe physical inventory. Her area is filled with red necks.
Well said. Advocating the murder of ones opponents must be considered a red flag. Your question of "do you think these people believe their own BS?" is a good one. I believe there are some more "savvy" political types who use the words who don't buy into the message (McConnell comes to mind; he is evil incarnate, and will use whatever means serve him the best). The ones like the current crop of House Qpublicans don't seem like they have anything other than rhetoric that they "believe" in. There is no evidence that they are seeking ends that benefit anyone OTHER than themselves and are tapping into the deeply held racism that still festers in this country.
Ally, your comment “advocating the murder of one’s opponents must be considered a red flag” felt like a gut punch. That it’s even a question is astonishing. It’s more than a red flag; isn’t it a felony? Can we now threaten to kill one another with impunity? Head in hands.
Ally, question of whether they believe their own BS was strictly rhetorical but it might reflect my naivete, since I struggle to accept that they can go through life being able to prove nothing about their positions. Somehow, somewhere, I have to think smarter people could see through that facade. So either smart people don't vote or they're more evil than the candidates.
"All is clouded by desire."
-- Krishna to Ajuna (Javanese shadow drama)
People who become radicalized often accept things as “fact” that the rest of us reject as fanciful or ridiculous. I suspect there are deeply cynical folk who are manipulating the crazies for their own game (Kevin McCarthy has been described as a man of unbounded ambition untethered from any discernible principle, for example) but there are true believers out there as well. Both groups are deeply concerning. That the QAnon candidates were nominees of a major political party I think speaks to the fact that party has ceased to function as a political party and has become the instrument of people interested only in power, not policy.
Well stated. Even so, there's a significant disconnect between what constituents voted for and what these particular representatives are doing. As redneck as her district might be, it's really hard to imagine most constituents were contemplating murder or Sedition.
I don't know if these people believe anything that comes out of their mouths or not. I get sick to my stomach thinking about that question. I do firmly believe that age and citizenship are not sufficient standards for running for office. Our world is exceedingly complex. No single Senator or Representative can possibly have a handle on all the intricacies of our programs, laws, regulations, needs, etc. They need to each and every one surround themselves with some expertise, as President Biden has done. Even the very best educated politicians have too much to know. So, when we start with uneducated, inexperienced people, who are not even interested in how our government works, why it works that way and what their role should be, we have big problems. When you add insanity (the only short way to express what I think of their behavior) into the mix you have these nonsensical, volatile animals running through Congress. And it terrifies me. No one should be allowed to run without a reasonable education, and maybe something like SAT testing to see if they can even comprehend our Democracy. And they should pass a background test so that at a minimum it is published for Americans to see who they are voting for.
They do not believe their own BS but, the BS gets them votes. More than half the battle is getting into office and this is what some people in some areas want; junk food. And, when I really think about it this type of obstructionism serves their purposes very well. They are shrinking the government by stature and deed a a rate faster than ever. Some still want to provide a veneer of plausible deniability but it gets thinner by the day. This is an all out war and they are putting up a fight to shrink the government and they are wining many hearts and minds still. Republicans dont want to find ways to run the government unless it is pared down to bare minimums such as perfect roads while people dont have enough to eat and maintaining the status quo for oil companies and corporations when people don’t make enough money to maintain a household.
If only the roads were perfect ....
Hi Scott. Just below this line of text, on my screen at this moment, is a green box containing the words "92 new replies." Just in case you were curious, that's how much discussion you generated with this post.
Now the green box says "120 new replies." (Feb. 5, 6:39 a.m. Pacific Time)
Green box?
Roland, thanks for pointing that out. It's always interesting to see what sparks a conversation, and the crowd here doesn't disappoint. A fascinating array of experiences and perspectives. The exchanges here are easier to follow than on Facebook and are more extended. Also, I'm an early riser and this column usually comes in between 2-3 AM. I probably respond several times a week, and that gives me a bit more time to focus on this before the rest of the day takes over and I'm not able to follow every thread. I just saw your email and it's now 93.
I'm glad to subscribe here instead of giving money to Suckerberg.
What is frightening is that there were enough people in her district to elect her! Was she campaigning on these ludicrous beliefs and they believe them as well or were her constituents duped by her?
It’s a heavily right-wing district. There was absolutely no possibility a Democrat would be elected.
She won by a margin of 74% against the Dem. Kevin Van Ausdal who withdrew before the election date but remained on the ballot.
His campaign lasted 1 month.
The story is that she "flogged" him with assaultive Q-type innuendo and fictitious aspersions, ruined his marriage and finally drove him out of the state.
And have you seen the interview with Dr. Cowan, her rival in the primary?! Yikes! What are those people in that district all about?!
The proof is in the pudding.
Really 😀 Is there a link to that article?
Yes, several, here’s a couple : https://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2021/01/30/rep-greenes-gop-opponent-on-why-she-won.cnn
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/01/marjorie-taylor-greene-is-the-worst-enemy-for-her-causes.html
Interesting. Thank you.
Odd comment tho:
“And we’ve got [newly elected Democratic senator Raphael] Warnock up for reelection in two years as well. I think there’s an opportunity for a strong Republican candidate to make a case that while he has broken some barriers and that’s laudable, that he’s not the right person to represent the state of Georgia, just ideologically.“