A few thoughts about January 6, 2021

Worgen

Follower of the Glorious Sun Butt.
Legacy
Apr 1, 2009
14,415
3,393
118
Gender
Whatever, just wash your hands.
Move on to what? Pearle clutchers, bible thumpers, libertarians or *gasp* neoconservatives?

Trump has single-handedly made the republican party completely irrelevant. They will never appeal to such a giant electorate with any single candidate.
As long as hes still around hes a threat cause hes got a really weirdly large number of people in his cult. It would be folly to assume the republican party is down and out. Without trump they will be headless for awhile, but they have a very easy time rallying a fear based... base. And don't forget, even with all the shit he pulled and how incompetent he is and his horrendous response to covid, he still got the second highest number of votes. That isn't even taking into account the electoral college which makes pure numbers less important then where the votes are, and a good number of important electoral states are pretty red.
 

happyninja42

Elite Member
Legacy
May 13, 2010
8,577
2,981
118
As long as hes still around hes a threat cause hes got a really weirdly large number of people in his cult. It would be folly to assume the republican party is down and out. Without trump they will be headless for awhile, but they have a very easy time rallying a fear based... base. And don't forget, even with all the shit he pulled and how incompetent he is and his horrendous response to covid, he still got the second highest number of votes. That isn't even taking into account the electoral college which makes pure numbers less important then where the votes are, and a good number of important electoral states are pretty red.
Not to mention he and his ilk entrenched a terrifying number of people into positions of legal power, like the Supreme Court, and other courts, that have been quietly, and steadily shifting the balance of power even more into their favor, by passing laws that are blatantly conservative in nature, with partisan agendas all over them.

They are a religious cult, that has been groomed for decades, to view themselves as the chosen of their diety, that their views on the world are not only "true american" but also religiously endorsed, and that anyone that is against them are evil enemies of the country at best, and literal minions of satan at worst. They've fused their jingoism and their faith into a single entity, so attacking one is attacking the other in their eyes.

They've been taught that any actions are justified in defense of their faith and their idea of what the country should be, and they are GLEEFULLY willing to demonstrate that, and even live stream it, like they did on 1/6. They've been taught that to question their ordained leaders is blasphemy, and zealously turn on anyone that doesn't follow their agreed upon party line, including threatening them with death.


So yeah, they are hardly irrelevant.
 

Agema

You have no authority here, Jackie Weaver
Legacy
Mar 3, 2009
8,598
5,962
118
Move on to what? Pearle clutchers, bible thumpers, libertarians or *gasp* neoconservatives?
Move on to someone who acts just like Donald Trump to the voters but minus the crazy-ass bullshit and personality disorder, and plus some grasp of how the country is run and the ability to get anything done in Washington.

All those guys you're talking about, they're just voters. They don't decide what gets done, they just need to be pacified with the right noises. Once they've been fed the appropriate lines to fire them up, the elected president can and will do whatever suits them - which in the US Republican Party is basically what big business pays them to do.
 

stroopwafel

Elite Member
Jul 16, 2013
3,031
357
88
As long as hes still around hes a threat cause hes got a really weirdly large number of people in his cult. It would be folly to assume the republican party is down and out. Without trump they will be headless for awhile, but they have a very easy time rallying a fear based... base. And don't forget, even with all the shit he pulled and how incompetent he is and his horrendous response to covid, he still got the second highest number of votes. That isn't even taking into account the electoral college which makes pure numbers less important then where the votes are, and a good number of important electoral states are pretty red.
Yeah, whatever magic spell Trump has conjured the effect it has on the electorate pales in comparison to the 'traditional' electorate of the republicans. Without Trump they have a fraction of those votes. I don't see him being replaced by the usual stiff with zero charisma.
 

Agema

You have no authority here, Jackie Weaver
Legacy
Mar 3, 2009
8,598
5,962
118
Yeah, whatever magic spell Trump has conjured the effect it has on the electorate pales in comparison to the 'traditional' electorate of the republicans. Without Trump they have a fraction of those votes. I don't see him being replaced by the usual stiff with zero charisma.
No indeed. The era of Bob Doles and Mitt Romneys at presidential candidates is gone, or at least on an extended hiatus. That's what happens when your electorate follows the hysteria of Fox, OAN etc. That'll be why one-time golden boy and president-to-be Paul Ryan departed politics: he saw the opportunities for old school, sober Republicans like him swirl and slip down the plughole. If he wasn't going to make it to the White House, he may as well go corporate and earn megabucks instead.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BrawlMan

Worgen

Follower of the Glorious Sun Butt.
Legacy
Apr 1, 2009
14,415
3,393
118
Gender
Whatever, just wash your hands.
Yeah, whatever magic spell Trump has conjured the effect it has on the electorate pales in comparison to the 'traditional' electorate of the republicans. Without Trump they have a fraction of those votes. I don't see him being replaced by the usual stiff with zero charisma.
Thats the thing though, he already opened the box. So they now have an effective path forward. If people had realized how effective just lying and telling people not to trust anything except what agrees with them then Nixon probably wouldn't have resigned. So far no one else of his ilk has his same weird charisma, but most of them would probably be more effective at disassembling democracy. Plus, republicans still control more state houses and they are trying to pass voting restriction bills like no ones business.

Not to mention he and his ilk entrenched a terrifying number of people into positions of legal power, like the Supreme Court, and other courts, that have been quietly, and steadily shifting the balance of power even more into their favor, by passing laws that are blatantly conservative in nature, with partisan agendas all over them.
The courts don't pass laws, they judge the constitutionality of laws that have been passed and interpret their meaning. Having a conservative bend does mean though that that interpretation will probably have a more conservative slant though. So far though, what is hilarious about trumps appointees is that they haven't been that bad. For all that the republican did to get them in, they haven't really made any horrendous rulings.
 

happyninja42

Elite Member
Legacy
May 13, 2010
8,577
2,981
118
The courts don't pass laws, they judge the constitutionality of laws that have been passed and interpret their meaning. Having a conservative bend does mean though that that interpretation will probably have a more conservative slant though. So far though, what is hilarious about trumps appointees is that they haven't been that bad. For all that the republican did to get them in, they haven't really made any horrendous rulings.
Yes if you want to split hairs about my wording, they interpret the meaning, not pass the laws. But given that the meaning, and how they are implemented is the whole point of the laws, and drastically change if they are a good/bad thing, it's a very bad thing that they are as conservative as they are.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BrawlMan

Worgen

Follower of the Glorious Sun Butt.
Legacy
Apr 1, 2009
14,415
3,393
118
Gender
Whatever, just wash your hands.
Yes if you want to split hairs about my wording, they interpret the meaning, not pass the laws. But given that the meaning, and how they are implemented is the whole point of the laws, and drastically change if they are a good/bad thing, it's a very bad thing that they are as conservative as they are.
I feel like I have to since how you say it is very important. Remember, one of the things republicans looooove to yell about is 'activist judges' and when they do they love to make it sound like those judges are writing their own laws and forcing them upon honest conservatives, completely bypassing elected officials.

This is why you have to always keep an eye on republicans and make sure they don't end up in power. Cause they will do this kinda thing.
 

Agema

You have no authority here, Jackie Weaver
Legacy
Mar 3, 2009
8,598
5,962
118
I feel like I have to since how you say it is very important. Remember, one of the things republicans looooove to yell about is 'activist judges' and when they do they love to make it sound like those judges are writing their own laws and forcing them upon honest conservatives, completely bypassing elected officials.

This is why you have to always keep an eye on republicans and make sure they don't end up in power. Cause they will do this kinda thing.
"Activist judges" is a term with some of the worst, hot bullshit imaginable. Conservatives are fine with judicial activism just so long as it serves conservative ends. They've stacked the court just so they can get some of that sweet, sweet judicial activism for themselves.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BrawlMan

Worgen

Follower of the Glorious Sun Butt.
Legacy
Apr 1, 2009
14,415
3,393
118
Gender
Whatever, just wash your hands.
"Activist judges" is a term with some of the worst, hot bullshit imaginable. Conservatives are fine with judicial activism just so long as it serves conservative ends. They've stacked the court just so they can get some of that sweet, sweet judicial activism for themselves.
Oh, it beyond is hot bullshit, but no reason to give them more ammo. Cause conservatives will often parrot bad info that lefties say just to further discredit the other side.
 

The Rogue Wolf

Stealthy Carnivore
Legacy
Nov 25, 2007
16,302
8,779
118
Stalking the Digital Tundra
Gender
✅
Isn't she that person the conservative chucklefucks instantly declared to be an antifa when they learned she'd been killed?
If "the cause" needs her to be a false-flag operative, that's what she is. If "the cause" needs her to be a martyr, that's what she is. Logic was shot at the door.
 

BrawlMan

Lover of beat'em ups.
Legacy
Mar 10, 2016
26,689
11,192
118
Detroit, Michigan
Country
United States of America
Gender
Male


 

The Rogue Wolf

Stealthy Carnivore
Legacy
Nov 25, 2007
16,302
8,779
118
Stalking the Digital Tundra
Gender
✅

Gordon_4

The Big Engine
Legacy
Apr 3, 2020
6,045
5,345
118
Australia
So apparently everyone’s pissed off because Nancy Pelosi has decided to convene a Select Committee to investigate the Jan 6 Riots and rejected two of Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s (what an unfortunate name for a US politician to have) five chosen representatives: Jim Jordan and Jim Banks because they voted against President Biden’s certification. Another of his picks, Troy Nehls who likewise voted not to certify, is staying. It has been mentioned that Mr. Jordan spoke to then President Trump on Jan 6 and may have been called as a witness. Also former Minority Leader Liz Cheney (daughter of Dick Cheney) went in to stump for not approving Mr. Banks because in her own words, he “Hasn’t been taking this seriously”.

Now to be fair the optics of that aren’t great but as far as I can tell, this is only happening because McCarthy blocked the original independent commission which would have given each party thirteen reps with considerable veto power on issuing subpoenas.

Kevin, mate, you screwed yourself here. You could have had all five of these muppets plus eight others of your choice to go in and bat for the Republican’s cause. But you blocked the bipartisan option on grounds I don’t fully understand so this is what you’re left with. You dun goofed, as the kids say.
 

The Rogue Wolf

Stealthy Carnivore
Legacy
Nov 25, 2007
16,302
8,779
118
Stalking the Digital Tundra
Gender
✅
Kevin, mate, you screwed yourself here. You could have had all five of these muppets plus eight others of your choice to go in and bat for the Republican’s cause. But you blocked the bipartisan option on grounds I don’t fully understand so this is what you’re left with. You dun goofed, as the kids say.
But doing anything but fighting "those evil libtards" every step of the way would've had him branded as a traitor by Trump's Turnips.
 

happyninja42

Elite Member
Legacy
May 13, 2010
8,577
2,981
118
So apparently everyone’s pissed off because Nancy Pelosi has decided to convene a Select Committee to investigate the Jan 6 Riots and rejected two of Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s (what an unfortunate name for a US politician to have) five chosen representatives: Jim Jordan and Jim Banks because they voted against President Biden’s certification. Another of his picks, Troy Nehls who likewise voted not to certify, is staying. It has been mentioned that Mr. Jordan spoke to then President Trump on Jan 6 and may have been called as a witness. Also former Minority Leader Liz Cheney (daughter of Dick Cheney) went in to stump for not approving Mr. Banks because in her own words, he “Hasn’t been taking this seriously”.

Now to be fair the optics of that aren’t great but as far as I can tell, this is only happening because McCarthy blocked the original independent commission which would have given each party thirteen reps with considerable veto power on issuing subpoenas.

Kevin, mate, you screwed yourself here. You could have had all five of these muppets plus eight others of your choice to go in and bat for the Republican’s cause. But you blocked the bipartisan option on grounds I don’t fully understand so this is what you’re left with. You dun goofed, as the kids say.
Actually he wouldn't have been able to have any of them, I heard a podcast directly discussing this, and they basically said that Nancy is only obligated, per the wording of the documentation, to CONSULT with the repubs about the people chosen. She is under no obligation to actually agree with his picks, which is obvious considering she told him to remove those two. In fact, they speculated, that since she knew they would pick Jordan, that they worded it specifically so she could make sure his criminal ass didn't get on there, because we all knew who McCarthy would pick.

Frankly I don't even know why the Dems bother trying to play nice with the repubs. They've made it abundantly clear that they will not play ball at all, on anything ever, and will take every opportunity to obstruct and block as much as they can, as long as they can. They're clearly not at all interested in seeing this committee actually work, because they know full well that it will implicate several of them, in insurrection charges. So they've burning as much down as they can, all the while screaming about murica, god, and freedom, to distract their base with the trigger words that give them all patriotic orgasms.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hawki and BrawlMan

Thaluikhain

Elite Member
Legacy
Jan 16, 2010
18,578
3,536
118
Frankly I don't even know why the Dems bother trying to play nice with the repubs. They've made it abundantly clear that they will not play ball at all, on anything ever, and will take every opportunity to obstruct and block as much as they can, as long as they can. They're clearly not at all interested in seeing this committee actually work, because they know full well that it will implicate several of them, in insurrection charges. So they've burning as much down as they can, all the while screaming about murica, god, and freedom, to distract their base with the trigger words that give them all patriotic orgasms.
If I'm being cynical, I'd say because the Dem leaders aren't the ones really suffering from the actions of the GOP, so they go through the motions and don't or won't know or care that it won't work.

Less cynically, I'd say its because they are frightened that it they stand up to the people burning most of the country down they'll get mad and burn it all down.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MrCalavera

tstorm823

Elite Member
Legacy
Aug 4, 2011
6,468
923
118
Country
USA
Kevin, mate, you screwed yourself here. You could have had all five of these muppets plus eight others of your choice to go in and bat for the Republican’s cause. But you blocked the bipartisan option on grounds I don’t fully understand so this is what you’re left with. You dun goofed, as the kids say.
They voted against the "bipartisan commission" in part because they deemed it a waste of time, but also in part because it was designed in a way as to not allow Republicans to pick their own representatives. They didn't agree to that commission because the rules of it allowed Pelosi to do exactly this anyway. He would have had 0 "muppets of his choice", as Pelosi was pre-emptively flaunting her authority and courting all the anti-Trump Republicans.
 

Hades

Elite Member
Mar 8, 2013
1,966
1,430
118
Country
The Netherlands
They voted against the "bipartisan commission" in part because they deemed it a waste of time, but also in part because it was designed in a way as to not allow Republicans to pick their own representatives. They didn't agree to that commission because the rules of it allowed Pelosi to do exactly this anyway. He would have had 0 "muppets of his choice", as Pelosi was pre-emptively flaunting her authority and courting all the anti-Trump Republicans.
When setting up a commission its kinda important not to let the guilty judge themselves. People who voted to object to Biden's election win have no place on such a commission because they are responsible for causing the whole mess. And considering the Republicans used their freedom to pick their own choice in order to pick people who voted to object, there's something to be said for not having allowed them to pick their own representatives.
 

Seanchaidh

Elite Member
Legacy
Mar 21, 2009
5,241
3,062
118
Country
United States of America
When setting up a commission its kinda important not to let the guilty judge themselves. People who voted to object to Biden's election win have no place on such a commission because they are responsible for causing the whole mess. And considering the Republicans used their freedom to pick their own choice in order to pick people who voted to object, there's something to be said for not having allowed them to pick their own representatives.
now, now, i'm pretty sure that the Constitution specifies that we all have the right to a jury of our alleged co-conspirators