"We need to use it again and again before the midterms to hammer home what Mitch McConnell and his party really stand for. Their entire platform is “Obstruction”."
ThankYou Betsy.
McConnell's Party of No has transformed itself into Trump et al's Party of Nihilism. Their motto is 'If I can't control it, then I will destroy it."
This is the…
"We need to use it again and again before the midterms to hammer home what Mitch McConnell and his party really stand for. Their entire platform is “Obstruction”."
ThankYou Betsy.
McConnell's Party of No has transformed itself into Trump et al's Party of Nihilism. Their motto is 'If I can't control it, then I will destroy it."
This is the operating principle of criminals from abusive partners to Putin in his war on Ukraine. It was the driving emotion of Jan 6, and is the emotion behind religious extremist credo. All share embracing and legitimizing irrationality and violence.
If any message can help Democrats, it’s making sure veterans and active duty personnel see that Republicans have demonstrated, by blocking help for veterans injured by burn pits, that the GOP has no interest in the longterm welfare of those who have served in the military. Trillions for war, nothing for warriors.
As clear as Heather explained the Republicans' tantrum, I still don't get it! Aren't there sick vets who are Republicans? Isn't it the Republican mantra to have semiconductors, amongst other manufactured items, Made in the USA? Aren't there gay Republicans? Aren't there Republicans who use birth control? Shouldn't there be a slew of angry Republican voters right about now? I have never seen anything else that better illustrates the axiom, "Cut off your nose to spite your face."
I'm late getting here, too, Sophia. I have the same questions. There is something beyond current comprehension about what makes Republican legislators tick. I am longing for someone in that pack to have the courage to out the dynamics. To blow the whistle on McConnell and his minions. NO. NOT the whistle. To blow the dang tuba. Decades ago, when my daughter was a child, I remember her clenching her fists and turning red in the face with rage about being bullied by someone. And in her fury, she spouted, "I'm sick up and fed of it!!" Yeah. That.
Ahh but everything you say assumes that people know and vote what is in their own or collective interest. You are assuming GOP voters are rational. That only applies to the GOP plutocrat paymasters and their politician puppets. The populists ... they are something else.
On some level they want what we all want - to meet basic needs and then some - but they've drunk the trickle down economics kool aid as to how to get it. Many have righteous grievances and have been mislead as to the cause and the solution.
It's taken decades to breed this much ignorance and irrationality in that part of the electorate. Who benefits from racist right wing religious extremism? Who gets what benefits from the GOP of god, guns, and greed?
Many Republicans are the blood heirs of dirt poor whites who were willing to die to perpetuate the 'noble cause' of the slave state. Many live in the embrace of existential anxieties, religious irrationalities, and blood lust resentments.
Their leaders have literally made fools of them - while making themselves rich.
Right on Lin! I could not have said it better myself. Your allusion to the dynamic of Putin's Russia, abusive partners in general is spot on. It becomes an individuals normal and they are trapped in a cycle of humiliation, anger, lashing out and then being humiliated again. Self hate leads to murder and suicide. As to The Hope, the wheels of Justice grind slowly, but once they gain a certain momentum they grind surely for the truth.
" It [abuse] becomes an individuals normal and they are trapped in a cycle of humiliation, anger, lashing out and then being humiliated again."
Or, tragically, abuse becomes an individual's normal and they adopt their abuser's justifications for the situation or construct their own justifications for why things are they way they are. On a national level, it can take the form of voter suppression by convincing people "your vote doesn't count, you can't change anything, there is no difference between the parties etc etc"
"We need to use it again and again before the midterms to hammer home what Mitch McConnell and his party really stand for. Their entire platform is “Obstruction”."
ThankYou Betsy.
McConnell's Party of No has transformed itself into Trump et al's Party of Nihilism. Their motto is 'If I can't control it, then I will destroy it."
This is the operating principle of criminals from abusive partners to Putin in his war on Ukraine. It was the driving emotion of Jan 6, and is the emotion behind religious extremist credo. All share embracing and legitimizing irrationality and violence.
"Obstruction" is a tactic. So is their culture war.
The strategy is to get and hold on to political power.
Power for what? you may ask. And I would reply...
FOLLOW THE MONEY!
If any message can help Democrats, it’s making sure veterans and active duty personnel see that Republicans have demonstrated, by blocking help for veterans injured by burn pits, that the GOP has no interest in the longterm welfare of those who have served in the military. Trillions for war, nothing for warriors.
Pro-life until the child is born.
Pro-police until the cops attempt to stop a coup.
Pro-veterans until soldiers' health fails.
Pro-America until Russia holds out a cheque.
Pro-rights as long as the people protected are exactly like them.
Pro-Freedom of Religion as long as it's Christianity.
Pro-peace as long as they can carry military grade weapons.
Pro-environment unless it interferes with corporate donations.
Pro-fact, but only if they control how a fact is defined.
Pro-family if the family is straight, white, and votes red.
Pro-kindness except when it's about brown people needing asylum.
Pro-law, unless it's inconvenient.
How many did I miss?
Actually, they’re pro-police until they attempt to stop a coup, which is what I guess you meant.
I'm glad one of us knew what I meant! Thank you for the correction. I'll see if I can fix it!
As clear as Heather explained the Republicans' tantrum, I still don't get it! Aren't there sick vets who are Republicans? Isn't it the Republican mantra to have semiconductors, amongst other manufactured items, Made in the USA? Aren't there gay Republicans? Aren't there Republicans who use birth control? Shouldn't there be a slew of angry Republican voters right about now? I have never seen anything else that better illustrates the axiom, "Cut off your nose to spite your face."
I'm late getting here, too, Sophia. I have the same questions. There is something beyond current comprehension about what makes Republican legislators tick. I am longing for someone in that pack to have the courage to out the dynamics. To blow the whistle on McConnell and his minions. NO. NOT the whistle. To blow the dang tuba. Decades ago, when my daughter was a child, I remember her clenching her fists and turning red in the face with rage about being bullied by someone. And in her fury, she spouted, "I'm sick up and fed of it!!" Yeah. That.
It is there in plain sight. Opportunism and ideology.
Rhetoric unmoored from reality - spinning bad impulses into worse facts on the ground. Insecurity - wanting absolutes in a changing world.
Ahh but everything you say assumes that people know and vote what is in their own or collective interest. You are assuming GOP voters are rational. That only applies to the GOP plutocrat paymasters and their politician puppets. The populists ... they are something else.
The idea that Republicans vote for what is not in their self-interest leaves me apoplectic...like I said, I don't get it....
On some level they want what we all want - to meet basic needs and then some - but they've drunk the trickle down economics kool aid as to how to get it. Many have righteous grievances and have been mislead as to the cause and the solution.
It's taken decades to breed this much ignorance and irrationality in that part of the electorate. Who benefits from racist right wing religious extremism? Who gets what benefits from the GOP of god, guns, and greed?
Many Republicans are the blood heirs of dirt poor whites who were willing to die to perpetuate the 'noble cause' of the slave state. Many live in the embrace of existential anxieties, religious irrationalities, and blood lust resentments.
Their leaders have literally made fools of them - while making themselves rich.
Right on Lin! I could not have said it better myself. Your allusion to the dynamic of Putin's Russia, abusive partners in general is spot on. It becomes an individuals normal and they are trapped in a cycle of humiliation, anger, lashing out and then being humiliated again. Self hate leads to murder and suicide. As to The Hope, the wheels of Justice grind slowly, but once they gain a certain momentum they grind surely for the truth.
" It [abuse] becomes an individuals normal and they are trapped in a cycle of humiliation, anger, lashing out and then being humiliated again."
Or, tragically, abuse becomes an individual's normal and they adopt their abuser's justifications for the situation or construct their own justifications for why things are they way they are. On a national level, it can take the form of voter suppression by convincing people "your vote doesn't count, you can't change anything, there is no difference between the parties etc etc"
Well said!