This being falling in line with Trump on the fraud nonsense.

More and more Republicans are jumping on the bandwagon. A lot of them being people "who know better"
https://www.vox.com/2021/1/2/22210509/ted-cruz-11-gop-senators-electoral-college-votes


Let's say your objective is just reelection. No morality, right vs wrong involved whatsoever. Just pure cynical politics. What's the move? Is your political future stronger hopping on this Trump train or falling back?

Trump is flexing his muscles right now to show he'll still have power whether he's president or not. That's what's behind his attacks on Georgia's Governor and secretary of state, and other people not licking his boots. He wants to demonstrate that he can still easily ruin people.

So how are people going to look back at this period? Will their defense of Trump be a stain on their future prospects, or a badge of honor?

If I/they/them were ______, then we'd walk, talk and act like ____.

Even as a thought experiment, it's pretty hard to get around that fact that if you were someone else, you wouldn't do what *you* would do.

You'd do what *they* would do. What *you* would do doesn't even enter the picture, because it's not you. You're someone else entirely.

So if GOP politicians are falling on line with Trump, that's what you would do too.

>Let's say your objective is just reelection. No morality,
>right vs wrong involved whatsoever. Just pure cynical
>politics. What's the move? Is yourmp,political future stronger
>hopping on this Trump train or falling back?

Clearly, they think their political future is stronger by hopping on the Trump train. So that's what they're doing.

>So how are people going to look back at this period? Will
>their defense of Trump be a stain on their future prospects,
>or a badge of honor?

It's hard to tell whether or not it's a bad move, from the standpoint of their personal political goals.

I think that even the ones who supposedly "know better" still align with him ideologically in hating and loving all the same people.

To that end, they're not aligning with Trump so much as they're aligning with Trump supporters. Trump tapped into the fringe in a way that normalized the fringe to the point that whatever people think/thought was the so-called "normal" GOP- whatever the fuck that is or was relative to its current form- is now in fact the new fringe, while the former fringe is now the norm.

The red pill, Q****, anti-vax flat Earth, wack job GOP is here to stay, and there's likely a significant intersection with the gun totin, bible thumping, poor people hating, brown skin loathing 'Murricans we've always had.

So yeah, it's probably going to be good for business if those people see them as fighting for Fuher in a losing effort, because those people likely won't reelect those who aren't showing sufficient loyalty to Fuhrer.

In North Korea, I've read that if a leader dies, the must show sufficient pain in mourning. Those who aren't showing sufficient anguish in response are dealt with quite harshly, and so there is ample motication for everyone to cry and wail is loudly and visibly as possible. More to the point, they've also been brainwashed into believing that the selfish, narcissistic pile of shit who just died was nothing short of messianic, but even if they see through the facade, their survival depends on keeping that hidden.

That's a lot like what this is, except GOP voters are the hit squad and work camp overseers, while GOP Republicans are the ones who have to put on a show or their political survival.

the endgame is. Trump may still have power to flex with his base at the moment, but that power has already waned from what it was pre-election, and will continue to lessen once he’s out of office. The fact that McConnell and others in the GOP have acknowledge the loss and worked towards moving on without facing a large backlash from the GOP base shows that waning power.

So to the point in the OP, if my only concern is re-election, I’d have to ask myself what will be Trumps level of influence at the time of my next election campaign. In a couple years that would be minimal if anything at all. Only the most extreme Trump followers would still be holding a grudge - especially considering that at this point McConnell has made it much more easy for them to move on. On the other hand, what is the potential negative? Once the party moves on you’re going to have all kinds of conservatives saying they were never actually fully with Trump, and that they only backed him to further conservative ideals and actually were trying to hold him in check. But going on the record of trying to overthrow an election after it’s been certified in states and the electors have already done their job will put them in a position to be shown as not part of whatever the next conservative movement is. Some of those folks might end up even losing in a primary.

Ted Cruz is human garbage but he's not dumb. Unlike these cult members many who genuinely believe anything Trump says. Cruz, Johnson, etc.. 100% know there's no fraud but they're willing to ride this wave if it serves their ambitions.

then you have hedge types like McConnell, or cowardly enablers like Rubio.. they're all about self-preservation, but not gonna go all in until they have to.

even Romney who's speaking out against this madness is only doing so because he's safely in Utah with no threat of losing his spot.

unsure how it all will play out over Biden's run but it doesn't seem promising.

>Cruz, Johnson, etc.. 100% know there's no fraud but they're
>willing to ride this wave if it serves their ambitions.

To your point they must actually thing that still backing Trump will serve their ambitions, and I really don’t see how at this point. I mean if you step out of reality for a moment and view this as if it was a plot in a movie, people would be calling it a plot hole that some in the GOP are still backing him at this point when it really won’t help them in their next election.

The ONLY thing I can think of to make it make sense would be if they know that there dirt out there which will come out once Trump is out of office and that’s what has Cruz and the others in a more desperate situation that’s gotta be it - maybe at this point McConnell has insulated himself enough from the dirt that he’s fine with admitting reality while some others are still frantically trying to hide the bodies.

during the 16 primaries, most of the far right talk radio types were all about Cruz, claiming Trump wasn't a true conservative. Trump not only won the battle with Cruz, he won the battle for that wing, and brought on board the even kookier, even more deplorable wing (Alex Jones, David Duke, etc..). Anyone who wasn't on board was pushed out.

I wan't to believe it's not sustainable, but i figure they think 70 million people would disagree.

I think the McConell/Rubio types are banking on Trump as an anomaly. That the public has a short memory, and soon enough they can get back to pretending they're the party of morals and decency.

______________________________________

Navem nu, cuando sol
Tutu nu, vondo nos nu
Vita em, no continous non
Nos nu ekta nos sepe ta, amen

When the sun shades the ship
We sweat and life is not safe
To swim or to touch not
When we unite we hedge amen

https://twitter.com/keithedwards/status/1345796238722129923

the media needs to start calling the republican party what it is. an authoritarian criminal enterprise.

Might even be very concerned

and it was a pretty big lesson

i've hardly heard it mentioned the past few years. i saw they were clowning him on election day and today the headline is "Commander in Thief" lol

so its not that Drudge felt Trump was a shitty dude..

just shitty for not being as shitty as promised.

****************
TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

which was like every two months, when liberals would start retweeting her like "OMG I agree with Ann Coulter!", but 99% of the time it was only because he wasn't being sufficiently cruel enough to mexicans at the time

but when you research its usually because he wasn’t as harsh as promised during the campaign.

and I hate the “omg I agree with Ann” bullshit

no you don’t.. cause she hates you.

****************
TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

I doubt she’s ever losing any sleep about enabling his ass.

These people don’t get held accountable for anything, so why should they give a fuck about anything other than more grift?

Also there’s NO talk of replacing Mitch. Some smoke at Mitch would def be a big backbone/power move if there were any Republican senators interested in getting shit done or for the good of the country, but all they care about is winning, tax breaks, and corporate welfare.

if I lived in Trump land I’m giving them something they can feel until I know rhe coast is clear.

Really.. it doesn’t matter for most GOPers.

Some will be like “Trump who?” in a year or 2

****************
TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

"My colleagues fail to understand the dangerous precedent this sets. If we are successful then Democrats gain the same privilege. I stand by the constitution and Trump lost."

This action potentially costs them the Senate. It's unbelieveable overturning the election is on the table this close to inauguration.

No empathy for white misery (c) BDot

"root for everybody black haters say that's crazy, wow..."

https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/04/politics/trump-call-republican-reaction-censure-resolution/index.html

House Republicans rush to Trump's defense over Georgia call as Democrats prep censure resolution

(CNN) — Many conservative House Republicans defended President Donald Trump in the aftermath of his phone
call demanding Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raensperger "find" the votes needed for him to win the elections
in his state -- as Democrats began drafting a resolution seeking to censure Trump over the matter.
After House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy downplayed Trump's stunning demand, other Republicans rushed to
his defense -- and some refused to take issue with the President's actions.
"I wasn't involved in the call," said Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer, who chairs the House GOP's campaign arm.
Rep. Paul Gosar, a conservative Arizona Republican who is joining his colleagues' eort to overturn the election
results on Wednesday, contended that Trump's call was a simple expression of "enormous frustration."
"Politically correct speech doesn't run well," Gosar said when asked about Trump.
Ohio GOP Rep. Jim Jordan, a leader of the congressional eort to overturn the elections, argued that Trump's call
was similar to the impeachment fight and the President's call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky where
Trump asked for an investigation into the Bidens.
"I got no concern," Jordan said. "But you guys in the press and the Democrats are always going to make a big
issue of it just like you did with the call to Zelensky."
Asked if Trump's call could cut into GOP support on Wednesday, Jordan said it wouldn't. "We got huge support
and it's growing," he said. "And I think it will continue to grow."
Trump's call with Georgia's secretary of state, audio of which
was reported by CNN, the Washington Post and others on
Sunday, comes ahead of a Republican eort to object to
President-elect Joe Biden's victory when Congress counted
the Electoral College votes on Wednesday. At least 140 House
Republicans and a dozen Senate Republicans are preparing
to vote against Biden's victory in a push to overturn the
election results despite no evidence of widespread voter
fraud, though the eort has divided Republicans, with some
Republicans openly criticizing their colleagues for an eort
they charge is dangerous to democracy.
Trump has attacked those Republicans not joining with his
push to overturn the election results, tweeting Monday at Sen.
Tom Cotton of Arkansas, one of Trump's typical Senate GOP
allies, after Cotton announced he wouldn't support the
objections.
Rep. Lee Zeldin, a New York Republican, criticized the press when asked if he had any concerns about Trump's
hourlong call, which was recorded on tape and leaked to the media.
"I wish the reporting on it was a full and honest discussion -- as opposed to the one-sided, biased take," Zeldin
said.

like, the level of dumb or not giving a f&*k.

First they often win even doing immoral, illegal and despicable things.

Secondly their base VOTES not matter what. So what do they have to lose?

Foxnews.com TOP headline for hours today was "Trump lawyer slams Georgia Secretary of State Raffensperger for 'secretly' recording 'confidential' call."

They are playing the GAME - and they are winning.

Might lose this one - but who else are these fucking Republican idiots going to vote for? Romney??

These are dead enders.

------------


Gone: My Discogs collection for The Roots:
http://www.discogs.com/user/tomhayes-roots/collection

Obviously most are just shitty arrogant people who never face consequences.

There's a few I would not be surprised Trump has dirt on too.

And there are definitely a couple eyeing 2024

But this is the GOP now...don't line up in this line and get primaried by some QANON nutjob next cycle.

A lot of these red state GOPers major competition is in the primary, not a general.

Trump owns the GOP.


What kills me is if Romney, Collins, etc really gave a shit they could threaten to caucus with the Dems and fuck over Mitch. They could vote GOP all the way, but still take the ML away from McConnel if he doesn't kill this shit.

They have a lot of power right now, but won't use it. Another reason they should caucus with the Dems...they'd fit right in. They could all compete to see who is the most afraid of their own shadow.

they throw grease on a fire, while the dems got squirt guns. they fight different.

Y'all buy those labels, I was born supreme

Trump tweeting that Pence can declare him president tomorrow.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1346488314157797389?s=19


Maybe Pence is going to try to weasel out of his job?
Chuck Grassley might have accidentally spilled the beans on the plan lol.
Said he (Grassley) will preside over the session because Pence won't be there. And shortly after Pence's crew and Grassley's crew stepped in to retract that statement.

https://twitter.com/rollcall/status/1346473050078777356?s=19

what a damn mess

www.engadgethd.com - the other stuff i'm looking at

Pence is going to give clowns like Cruz a chance to start their 2024 presidential campaign for a few hours, then announce that Biden won.

-----------------

www.albumism.com

Checkin' Our Style, Return To Zero:

https://www.mixcloud.com/returntozero/

That's the long and short of it.

------------


Gone: My Discogs collection for The Roots:
http://www.discogs.com/user/tomhayes-roots/collection

That just means no one got to 270 and Nancy is President, no?

Is that really their play?

When Here’s the Deal was in Pence’s spot 4 years ago, held it down like free lunches and told Dems to cool it.

https://www.npr.org/2017/01/06/508562183/biden-to-democrats-objecting-to-electoral-college-results-it-is-over

>Trump tweeting that Pence can declare him president tomorrow.
>
>https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1346488314157797389?s=19
>
>
>Maybe Pence is going to try to weasel out of his job?
>Chuck Grassley might have accidentally spilled the beans on
>the plan lol.
>Said he (Grassley) will preside over the session because Pence
>won't be there. And shortly after Pence's crew and Grassley's
>crew stepped in to retract that statement.
>
>https://twitter.com/rollcall/status/1346473050078777356?s=19
>

why wouldn't they lean into whatever he's selling?

And by 74 electoral votes? Because neither of those is barely.

-----------------

www.albumism.com

Checkin' Our Style, Return To Zero:

https://www.mixcloud.com/returntozero/

nothing barely about that.

Trump BARELY lost, and miracle shit like GA going blue had to happen for him to lose. This election was close as fuck.
It was like 7 states with an under 1 percent margin of victory IIRC?
Given his performance as president? That's a huge problem.
As for the 7 million popular votes...y'all can get caught up on that coastal vote shit that hillary did. That's not how our elections work.

...any favors.

I mean, all praise due to Abrams and all the other Democratic organizers, but Dipshit has spent the last two months making everything about himself and telling his Georgia base not to trust the election process. And by at least preliminary accounts, it doesn't sound like his base came out in nearly as strong numbers as they did in November.

So you'd think these doofuses would get some self respect and forgo the extraneous horseshit for someone who'd throw them under the bus for a nickel.

-----------------

www.albumism.com

Checkin' Our Style, Return To Zero:

https://www.mixcloud.com/returntozero/

overturn the election...also tried throwing in the false equivalency "both sides" nonsense. Trying to reset those goalposts now that the GOP has zero power...

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/congress-electoral-college-vote-count-2021/

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the "United States Senate has a higher calling than an endless spiral of partisan vengeance" as he dismissed GOP lawmakers’ challenge to Electoral College results.

McConnell warned against actions that would “guarantee the delegitimatizing efforts after 2016 is a permanent, new routine for both sides.”

“Framers built the Senate to stop short-term passions from boiling over and melting the foundations of our republic. So I believe protecting our constitutional order requires respecting the limits of our own power. It would be unfair and wrong to disenfranchise American voters and overrule the courts and the states on this extraordinarily thin basis,” he added.
McConnell closed with this statement: “I will vote to respect the people's decision and defend our system of government as we know it.”

To quote Cold Mountain: "Every piece of this is man's bullshit. They call this war "a cloud over the land" but they made the weather and then they stand in the rain and say 'Shit, it's rainin'!'"

-----------------

www.albumism.com

Checkin' Our Style, Return To Zero:

https://www.mixcloud.com/returntozero/

I don’t know enough about him but why this play?

This whole stunt is just to be one of the first to start his campaign and hopefully get Dipshit's voters.

-----------------

www.albumism.com

Checkin' Our Style, Return To Zero:

https://www.mixcloud.com/returntozero/

this is crazy