I have received my first dose of vaccine now. Since I got the Moderna vaccine I will receive a second shot in just under 3 weeks. I was told that after the first 2 weeks I will be at 60% coverage. Full strength will come 2 weeks after the second shot. I will be honest and say that during this whole time I was never really afraid of catching the virus because I believe I had it at the end of January 2020. So I thought I had acquired some immunity. But even so, after I received the vaccine I still felt a huge sense of relief. Relief that I was on the road to being able to go to a restaurant or a movie or a gathering of family and friends without a small doubt in my mind that it was safe. I also felt a sense of a duty fulfilled. I was doing something that might get my country back to a more normal footing, that would help those who have had their lives upended by job loss regain their livelihoods.
It was also with a sense of relief that I saw the verdict in the Chauvin trial. My relief was born of a sense that people in my state had finally stood up and did the right thing. While no one won in that situation, the law finally prevailed. Unfortunately one case does not stop stupid from happening again. We can only move on and take each day at a time.
I was listening to an interview with George W. Bush on Jimmy Kimmel live. Dubya has come out with a new book, one of portraits he has done of immigrants to this country. It was with a measure of relief that I was able to listen to a politician again who has a sense of humor. That was one thing I always liked about Dubya. It was a pleasure to find laugher again. So if you have a moment take a break from all of the darkness in the world and remember the light.
George W. on Jimmy Kimmel Show
75 comments:
"… after I received the vaccine I still felt a huge sense
of relief."
This morning's headline news (local) tells me that we have huge sense of relief spreading through our county as well. Vaccine availability new exceeds demand for the vaccine--with available slots for shots going open, starting early this week. (The county is only at 26% of the 'over 16' population fully vaccinated.) This news was brought to the public along with a local interest angle, a brave young patriot and wife (and infant in arms), with his jaw jutted out and a patriotic gleam in his eye exposing his dedication to "you ain't the boss of me" school of public service and social responsibility. He proudly and loudly asserted that he and his were not vaccinated because he comes from a long line of patriots who had a 'family tradition' of going unvaccinated. (That would necessarily imply that they've been home-schooling for generations now. That latter might explain his aspect on camera.)
Not much can be done with those folks I'd reckon, although there is a remote possibility that the situation in India (where the Trump-friendly Prime Minister had just recently declared the coronavirus to be "defeated" nationwide) will eventually penetrate FoxNews.
Typo correction:
"Vaccine availability now exceeds demand for the vaccine…"
We are starting to see a slow down of vaccination here in Minnesota. Most of the people who were anxious to get the vaccine have gotten at least one shot. So now comes the hard part of trying to make people understand that the vaccine will help us in the long run and they should get their shot.
Funny you should mention India, I was just pointing out the difference between Israel, which has done a good job of vaccination, and India, which has not, to someone this morning. He is reluctant to get the shot because of a fear of needles. He was thinking about getting the J&J one shot and done, but then they started having issues with blood clots in a few people, so that put him off.
I see that the Republicans in Arizona have managed to initiate an audit of some elections within their state. The "some" being those that Democrats won. They have hired a firm in Florida, Cyber Ninjas. That's okay if you have never heard of them, not too many people have.
"…then they started having issues with blood clots in a
few people, so that put him off."
Is he of child-bearing age? That seems to be a selective criteria for the blood-clot thing.
"Republicans in Arizona have managed to initiate an audit
of some elections within their state."
I've read a couple of articles of late lamenting the fact that the Republicans seem to have become more paranoid and radical since their loss of Trump. (No focus for their emotional needs for outrage it would seem, so they're now goin' nuts in all directions at once.)
AND it's beginning to look like it wasn't just my imagination, police departments across the country have gone on something of a minor shooting spree (against unarmed 'people of color') since the verdict convicting Derek Chauvin of murder. At first I thought it was maybe just my imagination, or just increased reporting in the wake of the Chauvin verdict. But, I'm not the only one who's noticed.
Trump seems to be plotting his return.
Most Mondays and Tuesdays, former President Donald Trump skips golf to confer with aides about the week ahead.
Together they decide which Republican candidates he will meet with at his office -- a converted bridal suite above Mar-a-Lago's 20,000-square-foot ballroom -- and whether they deserve his support. Often, he'll ask for updates on his leadership PAC and political operation, or spend hours chatting by phone with a coterie of old friends.
But then, did we expect anything else?
Is he of child-bearing age? That seems to be a selective criteria for the blood-clot thing.
Late 30's. But there have been few men who have the reaction. It seems to be mostly women. So his odds aren't as high.
I just watched Biden's first 'Presidential' address to Congress. He did better than I was expecting, especially with his delivery. There was evidence of his speech impediment, but it was marginal, and he had a 'folksy' aspect that I think will play well with the American public. (Although he did fall into the usual custom of running through the 'laundry list' of proposals; I suppose he figures that's part and parcel of the 'Presidential' address to Congress.)
In general I think he did well enough that the Republicans in Congress and on FoxNews will be screaming for his head on a pike by the end of the day tomorrow.
"… did we expect anything else?"
We would do well to remember that Trump is impulsive and unpredictable. He might back out at the last minute.
But he misses the semi-delirious cheering throngs of dedicated Trumpkins.
And there's only one way for him to experience that again.
Apparently Rudy Giuliani had a visit from federal agents.
Federal agents executed search warrants Wednesday at the Manhattan apartment and office of Rudy Giuliani, his attorney said, advancing a criminal investigation by federal prosecutors that has been underway for more than two years.
Giuliani, who served as former President Donald Trump's personal lawyer, has been the focus of an investigation concerning his activities in Ukraine, including whether he conducted illegal lobbying for Ukrainian officials while he pursued an investigation linked to Trump's primary political rival, President Joe Biden, CNN has reported. Giuliani hasn't been charged and has denied wrongdoing.
It is unusual for prosecutors to execute a search warrant on a lawyer, although Manhattan federal prosecutors have done so before, most notably in recent years against another former lawyer for Trump, Michael Cohen.
I just watched Biden's first 'Presidential' address to Congress.
I watched most of that too. I admit to dozing off a couple times. But that was less to do with Biden's delivery and more to do with that I was just tired.
It sounds like he has quite a laundry list of things to spend money on. The Republicans are already screaming about cost, as if they hadn't been doing that already. But at least this spending will be targeted more toward lower income and the middle class (what's left of it) than the wealthier segment of society, which is where Republicans were focused, for the most part.
If this is truly a blue collar spending bill Biden may find more support in the country than the Republicans understand. But I hope that there can be some common ground eventually.
Btw, "Nomadland" won best picture.
But he misses the semi-delirious cheering throngs of dedicated Trumpkins.
And there's only one way for him to experience that again.
Yes, he missed the adulation. He is truly a narcissist. Joe Biden is a welcome relief.
"But that was less to do with Biden's delivery and more to
do with that I was just tired."
It was over an hour long. An hour plus of Joe Biden. That may also have had something to do with you dozing off a time or two.
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"Apparently Rudy Giuliani had a visit from federal agents."
Another reason for Trump to run for President again. He forgot to pardon Giuliani last time.
It would seem that Mike Pence would like to be a player in the 2024 election. He is kissing up to Trump supporters big time, saying serving with Trump was the biggest honor of his life. It's hard to find words. That just reinforces my dislike of the man.
"It's hard to find words."
I had the same problem.
I've read a couple of articles of late lamenting the fact that the Republicans seem to have become more paranoid and radical since their loss of Trump. (No focus for their emotional needs for outrage it would seem, so they're now goin' nuts in all directions at once.)
Sounds a bit like pouring water on a grease fire.
Well now, that metaphor hadn't occurred to me. But it seems to fit the situation.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Mitt Romney was booed and heckled back home in Utah as he addressed the Republican state party convention over the weekend. Cries of "traitor" went up from the crowd as he spoke, and he missed being officially "censored" by party conventioners on a vote of 789 against to 711 in favor. NewYorkTimes
Mitt Romney was booed...
George W. Bush and Liz Cheney are kind of getting a similar reaction to their opposition to Trump. That just reinforces the fact that we have a deeper problem than Trump.
I kind of feel like we are living in a Jim Jones moment where these people have checked their thinking ability at the door. Yes, I can understand not supporting some of Biden's policies. He is looking at spending a lot of money. But have they even bothered to look at what he wants to spend it on?
I was watching 60 Minutes last night and they were interviewing the CEO of the last chip maker here in the US. The rest have decamped to Asia. If people aren't aware of what these chips go in, they may find out the next time they want to buy a car. Anyway, he was making the point that we may want to have more tech companies like that here in the US, like we used to. Because supplies may be an issue going forward. Part of Biden's infrastructure bill, that the Republicans are panning, has money earmarked for getting those companies back in the US. No, this is not a road or a bridge, but it does constitute "infrastructure". And it is an important piece in our economy.
Maybe looking beyond the sound bites of the Republican crazy far right like Marjorie Taylor Green, Ted Cruiz or Josh Hawley might be to their advantage as well as the advantage of the "looney" left. They may find they are not as looney as they think.
"…crazy far right like Marjorie Taylor Green…"
Speakin' of whom. Marjorie Taylor Greene has joined forces with Matt Gaetz of Florida to launch a traveling road show which they'll be calling "The America First Tour", which will denounce 'squish' Republicans and promote fealty and tribute to the one and the only Great Orange Trump.
No word yet on whether Cruz or Hawley are gonna get in on the new road show. (Cruz and Hawley both want to run as the 'new and improved' successor to Trump, which they can't do until Trump agrees to get the hell outta the way; so there's that complication.) NewYorkIntelligencer
... which they can't do until Trump agrees to get the hell outta the way; so there's that complication.
LOL! I would say that's a very large orange complication!
Liz Cheney appears to be on shaky ground. She is committing the sin of speaking truth and not groveling enough at Trump's feet like so many other Republicans.
If I didn't live in this country I would start to think they deserve what they may get. But since I do live here I will continue to object to the cult of Trump taking over.
"I will continue to object to the cult of Trump taking over."
I think you're talking about a fait accomplias if it's currently happening. It's already happened, past tense; that part's over.
I suppose you might accuse me as an optimist, although I think I'm more widely accused of being a cynic or even a pessimist. But, I'm thinkin' that the expulsion and hopefully the eventual banishment of Liz Cheney from the new "Trumpkan" Party is probably a good thing for us NeverTrump types. The near-censor of Mitt Romney (following the actual censor of John McCain, and then the recent Republican Party censor of McCain's widow, Cindy McCain, just for good measure it would seem), and taking due note of the fact that Dubya has gone public with his write-in vote for Condolezza Rice on account of he couldn't bring himself to vote for Trump, we can readily see that all three of the most recent standard bearers for the old Republican Party are not appreciated in the new Trumpkan Party. We can pretty much conclusively assume that George Bush ꜱʀ. wouldn't be welcome either (likely they'd not accept the mostly genial Ronald Reagan either).
Trump has expanded the Trumpkan Party to the right of where it had been before. He's picked up maybe as much as a 5% increase in voters. Mostly these are mostly 'nativists' (as they choose to call themselves, never minding that the natives were Indians not white folks), white supremacists, radical fundie Christers, neo-nazis, and other authoritarian elements of various shades and stripes. They're voting again, and voting Republican now, and voting in the primaries. Trump has pushed the far right-wing of the new Trumpkan Party way out past where the old Republican right-wingers dwelt. And that 5% will not only decide the Trumpkan primaries, but it will also be enough to win general elections. So, the remnants of the dying Republican Party have accepted their new tent-mates and they're goin' full-on dedicated Trumpkin from this point forward. They believe that additional boost to their numbers will bring them back into power at least long enough for them to make it permanent.
The thing they haven't counted on--mostly I think because they just don't want to see it--is that Trump has also boosted voter turnout against him and against his fascist minions. Turnout is up among American moderates as well as among the right-winger crazies, and the moderates aren't voting for Trump nor for the many mini-Trumps trailing in his wake. Turnout is also up among the liberals. More telling, the left-wingers, who're outraged at Trump are now willing to go along with a moderate coalition which will save them from Trump.
(Like the far-right-wingers, they're pretty much always outraged over something, but they've decided they need to make their piece with Biden. He's even getting praised by left-winger politicians who'd rather pretend he's secretly come over to their left-winger viewpoints rather than admit to their more rabid supporters that they've simply accepted Biden, for now, as their shield against Trump. This "left-shift" characterization is popular on the right-wing as well, but for the purposes of demonization rather than praise.)
So, now, after that too-long of a windup. The pitch will follow in the next comment ↓↓
continued from just above
I think Trump's also pulling up infrequent voters from among the independents, most of whom are voting against Trump and his Trumpkins. And I further think that he's energizing the liberals and the left-wingers to make their own alliance to defeat the Trump coalition.
And I think Trump's losing them as many traditional Republicans in the middle as he's gaining new recruits from amongst the right-wingers, probably more. And I think that these public purges of the likes of Romney, Cheney, McCain, Jeff Flake, Bob Corker, even Paul Ryan, are simply making it more and more likely that other traditional Republicans will fail to support Trump in 2024. It's enough if they just sit out the election; it's not necessary that they vote for the Democrats. And, now that I've mentioned Paul Ryan, we could go on at some length on the list of Republican Senators and Congressmen who've retired rather than continue as Trumpkan Party candidates.
So, I'm thinking the very public purging of Liz Cheney is gonna be a good thing. More is better. The more they throw traditional Republicans out of their party the more incentive they give other traditional Republicans to just sit out the upcoming elections. (It's better than us trying to convince them; we're both hard-edged #NeverTrumpers; they won't listen to us. But they gotta see what is happening right in front of them. Give 'em even more I say; under these circumstances, more is better; bring on bunches more.)
Changing topics:
Trump's just announced (yesterday) that he's gonna launch his own "blog". (I'm not sure he knows what a blog is, and how it differs from Twitter, but he's made the announcement anyway.)
Still too young to get my first shot of vaccine here in Sweden, probably late may or early June it’ll be my turn. The oldest and people working w the oldest get it first.
I will reluctantly take the shot. Reluctantly because I do not really fear COVID and think vaccination is mostly irrelevant for me. But also bc I had a close friend who took the vaccine against the swine flu, which I took and had no side effects from, got really ill from that vaccine. I mean it stole like 5 years of his life away.
So I will take the shot, not bc I fear COVID but bc I want to be allowed to travel.
And I think Trump's losing them as many traditional Republicans in the middle as he's gaining new recruits from amongst the right-wingers, probably more.
I would certainly hope that to be the case. If this continues the Republican Party will be known as the part of crazy. Or at least it should be to all reasonable people.
Btw, something the Republicans may not have noticed in their preoccupation with trying to knife each other in the back, the $1.9 trillion Covid relief package included things that may actually help struggling businesses. I am thinking of the specific relief targeted to restaurants. This will help their employees.
The one thing that could derail it all is the reluctance of some people to get vaccinated. If there are enough of those people we may not reach herd immunity which would tamp down the virus.
Trump's just announced (yesterday) that he's gonna launch his own "blog".
Facebook has punted on the decision about whether or not to ban Trump for life. At the moment he is still banned.
Well, he may find that the comments on his "blog" may not be as supportive and adulatory as as he would like. And if he disables comments he will not have the possibility of any adulation.
So I will take the shot, not bc I fear COVID but bc I want to be allowed to travel.
That may be an incentive for people here as well. I have read that Europe will allow Americans who have been vaccinated to enter their countries. Although I am wondering how they will identify those people.
"Still too young to get my first shot of vaccine here in
Sweden…"
The United States is vaccinating everybody down to the age of 16 years' old. Been that way for weeks now. (It varied, state to state, for awhile, but it's national now.)
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
"At the moment he is still banned."
He may stay banned. That is one of the options the 'Oversight Board' gave the company. They say Facebook (Zuckerberg) should review its decision again in the light of…of…(well, they're a little vague on that one but I gather they think it's okay to ban Trump permanently, but not indefinitely). The Oversight Board is semi-infamous for handing down split decisions, and this seems to me to be a nod towards trying to maintain that wishy-washy tradition, without actually improving Trump's chances of getting his Facebook page back.
"And if he disables comments…"
I understood that the page is already up and there are no comments. (Tuesday morning's announcement may have just been Trump getting out ahead of the expected unfriendly decision from Facebook's Oversight Board.)
"…we may not reach herd immunity…"
Lookin' like a definite possibility. I'll be keepin' my vaccinations current.
"Although I am wondering how they will identify those
people."
You're lookin' at the infamous 'vaccine passports' already much denounced by the dedicated Trumpkins.
Lee: “ The United States is vaccinating everybody down to the age of 16 years' old. Been that way for weeks now. (It varied, state to state, for awhile, but it's national now.)”
I know. But y’all are still way better than us to ramp up and get things done once it’s decided to get things done. Sweden is, in the developed world, probably uniquely bad at ramping it up.
Are you vaxxed yet Lee, and if so which shot did you get?
I got the Moderna vaccine, I've received both shots already.
Good for you. I would have liked to get Moderna or maybe Phizer and I would have liked to have gotten it already. But I’ll prolly have to wait a month or so and then they’ll give me Astra Zeneca and then I have to wait 6-7 weeks for the second shot.
"…we may not reach herd immunity…"
Lookin' like a definite possibility. I'll be keepin' my vaccinations current.
Minnesota is at 59% of those 16 and over with at least one dose. But 47% of total population. Their goal is 70%.
"Although I am wondering how they will identify those
people."
You're lookin' at the infamous 'vaccine passports' already much denounced by the dedicated Trumpkins.
Then I hope the Europeans stand their ground on that and not fold like so many Republican officials in the face of the Trump cult.
Too bad you can't get to Times Square in New York, Marcus. The governor is saying he wants to offer free vaccine to tourists there. No details on how they would get a second shot if necessary, though.
I'm given to understand that Arizona's proposed "audit" of the vote in Maricopa County (Phoenix), which went for Joe Biden is being put on hold.
It seems their plan was to go house to house using government records of who voted and demand to know who the householders had voted for. They were then going to produce their own tally proving the Trump had won the county and thus had won the State of Arizona (irrespective of what they learned at people's front doors is my guess).
Seems they got word that the Department of Justice was watching them as they set up their plan. It is, after all, a secret ballot by law. Getting the local government to go out to the voters' houses and demand they tell that local government for whom they voted was looking a lot like official government voter intimidation, and the DoJ had decided to keep an eye on them whilst they conducted this plot.
So, they're rethinkin' that one.
"Mike Lindell, MyPillow CEO and fanatical supporter of former
President Donald Trump, appeared to flout Dominion Voting
Systems' $1.3 billion lawsuit against him, telling Steve Bannon
Saturday morning their case is 'coming apart at the seams.'
"Lindell offered his newest taunt towards Dominion on Real
America's Voice program, claiming that his personal probe
into unfounded election voter fraud is currently conducting
tests that will 'prove' their machines were rigged in President
Joe Biden's favor."
Newsweek
There is at least one Republican official, Texas Rep. Lyle Larson, who has noticed that these restrictive voting laws may hurt Republicans as well as Democrats. He noticed that quite a few Republicans have voted by mail.
So, they're rethinkin' that one.
Well I'm glad somebody put the fear of God into them! I've been getting rather expressed about how easy the crazies have had it. I just wish more average Americans would notice the danger the lies and misinformation that Trump & Co deal in pose.
Mike Lindell, MyPillow CEO and fanatical supporter of former
Yup, like the delusional my pillow guy.
"… quite a few Republicans have voted by mail."
Yeah. There've been several political analysts and campaign advisor types who've tried to point out that Republican voters tend to be older, more likely to be infirm and more dependent on easy ballot access than are the average Democratic voters. The Republicans have been getting them out to vote by getting them outraged at the blacks and the queers and the Latinos and the liberals, and the like, but that doesn't necessarily translate into them standing in long lines to do that voting. They still went heavy on the vote-by-mail options, in spite of Trump's trying to deprecate the mail-in option that during the last election.
Furthermore, there is substantial evidence to indicate that they managed to discourage participation in the census by Latinos, enough to cost them electoral votes in the usually red states of Texas, Florida, and Arizona, which could conceivably bite them in the ass this next presidential election. WashingtonPost
Turns out that a lot of the would be mini-Trumps popping up across the country aren't any more competent than was Trump himself. This hightened, fairly exceptional level of sheer incompetence just may turn out to be our salvation in the end. (Re: "I just wish more average Americans would notice the danger…" etc.)
Typo: "…This heightened…"
"PARIS — The European Union is effectively turning away from
the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, after the Anglo-Swedish
manufacturer fell behind on its delivery targets and amid
concerns over the vaccine’s efficacy against some variants of
the coronavirus."
WashingtonPost
I suspect there will be plenty of other vaccines to go around as our vaccine campaign appears to be slowing. Whether we will get enough people vaccinated to achieve herd immunity is a big question.
I don't blame the EU for being wary. After all of the negative press I would be concerned too.
There have been stories of a Native American group sharing its excess vaccine with their tribal relatives across the border in Canada. Apparently Canada is behind the US in numbers of vaccinated people.
Turns out that a lot of the would be mini-Trumps popping up across the country aren't any more competent than was Trump himself.
Judging by their behavior and their jumping on the conspiracy bandwagon I'm not surprised.
It's been a full week now, as of yesterday, actually, and Trump's new blog has made a wholly unimpressive public debut. I've even checked for references on the FoxNews web site, but they don't seem to be following it either.
The newly Trumpkan Party is expected to toss Liz Cheney from her leadership position sometime today. I find myself only barely interested in that internal party drama. (They may proceed to give her the boot without having an agreement on a replacement, but I find even that only mildly interesting.)
It took 16 minutes for the GOP to give Cheney the boot. I've been trying to find out the vote total (for/against), but haven't found it yet. Maybe they won't report that?
Apparently she was booed when she spoke against Trump. Sad turn of events. I used to vote Republican at one time.
I give Cheney credit for speaking truth against lies.
It was done on a "voice vote", there was no tally of the count. This was to protect those who voted, not to protect Cheney's reputation.
"I used to vote Republican at one time."
I think I've probably voted for more Republicans than Democrats, at least in earlier times; that's changed significantly here of late.
But, even back when I's voting more Republican than Democratic, Cheney would not have been on my list of acceptable candidates for national office. (Neither Dick nor Liz.)
...Cheney would not have been on my list of acceptable candidates for national office.
Scary that she now looks like the sane one, isn't it? I felt the same way when I found myself applauding Nancy Pelosi, whom I had never liked before.
It was done on a "voice vote", there was no tally of the count.
So we can't know unless someone present in the chamber squeals? Convenient.
"Convenient."
Indeed. But, the Democrats engage in that sort of avoidance as well, when it's convenient for them.
And, it may well be that any Republicans who intended to vote to retain Cheney needed the protection of anonymity more than did those who would vote to expel her.
In any case, it doesn't matter much to me. I've vowed to not vote for a Republican again, any Republican, until the Party rids itself of Trump. And if Trump dies first, not until the Party explicitly repudiates the memory and legacy of Trump.
I will be curious to see if the discipline of Liz Cheney causes the number of enrolled Republicans to drop again. (There was a significant jump in persons re-registering as voters--abandoning their Republican Party designations--after the January 6ᵗʰ putsch. I'll be keepin' an eye out for whether the discipline of Cheney causes another drop in Republican Party affiliations. I rather doubt it, but, maybe.)
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Post Script: I'm not yet up to applauding Liz Cheney. I consider opposing Trump's attempt to overthrow the government to be a minimum requirement--not sufficient to generate applause. I'll allow that she's passed a minimum threshold requirement, but she ain't in applause territory yet.
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2ⁿᵈ Post Script: I noticed that the trial judge has declared Derek Chauvin guilty of four of the five "aggravating factors" urged by the prosecution for consideration in the killing of George Floyd. Probably means a longer sentence than is usual for a first offense.
I'm in favor of that. The prosecutors didn't charge an intentional murder, seemingly because they didn't think they had the evidence to submit it to the jury. But, I think it was intentional (or sufficiently reckless so as to justify a claim of "depraved indifference" to the probability).
I will be curious to see if the discipline of Liz Cheney causes the number of enrolled Republicans to drop again.
I don't know about that, but it does appear to be encouraging some Democrats in Wyoming to consider registering as Republicans and vote for her in the primaries.
I'm not yet up to applauding Liz Cheney.
I think to get rid of Trump and Trumpism we need more Republican leaders to speak out and do so strongly. She is doing that and I will give her credit. That doesn't mean I am ready to vote Republican again. That would take saner minds in charge of the party. So I am like you, I will send my vote elsewhere for now.
Probably means a longer sentence than is usual for a first offense.
I'm in favor of that.
I'm fine with that too.
I noticed a couple of hit pieces on Liz Cheney published late yesterday, after the new #3 House Republican, Elise Stefanik of New York, had been elected to Cheney's old job.
It begins to look like they're not going to let up on Cheney. The Reich needed its enemies. The MAGA crew needs its enemies as well. Cheney can be an enemy. Trump wants her primaried and beaten, and looks like there's a whole Trumpkan Party eager to curry his favor and do his bidding in this regard.
It begins to look like they're not going to let up on Cheney.
I suspect that Cheney isn't going to let up on them either.
An a side note, I have noticed that even some Republicans are tiring of Arizona's election audit.
Perhaps the wackier they get the more people will jump ship. It is a hope.
CNN had a special on last night about the remaking of the Republican Party. Unfortunately I missed it. But I am sure they will have it on again. They trace the changes back to Barry Goldwater.
"They trace the changes back to Barry Goldwater."
I usually track it back to Ronald Reagan (on account of Goldwater lost so significantly, if for no other reason--although the Republicans have long tracked their new direction back to Reagan as well).
However, the migration of the black voters away from the Republican Party did begin with Goldwater's implacable hostility to the 1964 and '65 Civil Rights Acts. Goldwater was apparently sincere in his federalist arguments, keeping the federal government from encroaching on State's Rights; he wasn't racially motivated so far as anybody has been able show; I don't know that he had any personal hostility towards black persons or towards black persons voting. However, "State's Rights" had an unavoidable identification for black voters as a racist trope. They weren't havin' any diversionary talk 'bout federalism and federal overreach, not when the issue was blacks gettin' to vote―or not, blacks gettin' lynched―or not. So, black migration away from the Republican Party spiked when the Republicans nominated Goldwater. So, I can see the point in going back that far.
On top of which--rehabilitating Goldwater's conservative uprising against the Republican establishment is what first brought Ronald Reagan a significant following among the Republican right-wing. So, again, "I can see the point", and etc.
Goldwater's candidacy was the impetus for both the flight of the black vote to the Democrats and for the rise of Ronald Reagan with his 'Faerie Tale America' and 'Voodoo Economics'; Goldwater's run at the Presidency was the spark for both those trends to begin the reshaping of the Republican Party into what we have today. (Reagan was also the one who coined the racist theme of the black "Welfare Queen", in retaliation for the black vote's flight to the Democratic Party. This turn was later entrenched by Nixon as the basis of his infamous "Southern Strategy".)
But it all depended on Reagan. Without Reagan, Goldwater's landslide loss would have been the end of that line of politics, forgotten but for an occasional mention in a footnote here and there. Reagan was the nexus. Reagan's candidacy was where they first, tentatively, disengaged from reality and where they first fairly explicitly adopted a white grievance political doctrine. That's where it all came together and became viable.
Rather an ironic turn of events, given that Reagan was Hollywood. And Hollywood is anathema to the right.
"…, given that Reagan was Hollywood."
Reagan wasn't exactly "Hollywood" anymore. His acting career had pretty much petered-out by the early 1950s, much to his dismay (although he didn't officially "retire" from acting until the mid-60s).
He'd filled in that interval with a stint as president of the Screen Actors' Guild and in hosting "Death Valley Days" (television) and the "General Electric Theater" (radio and television).
The Reagan family still insists that Bobby Kennedy got him fired from the "General Electric Theater" (the show was actually canceled, ratings were down by a third and still dropping when they pulled the plug on it).
Although―Reagan was investigated by the Kennedy Justice Department for corruption involving some (alleged) insider-dealing while he was head of the Screen Actors' Guild (they couldn't make a 'beyond-a-reasonable-doubt' case against him and closed the file without charges, but he didn't forget it either).
It was during this remaking of his career from actor to 'acting-related' businessman that he morphed from a liberal Democrat into the cardboard cut-out conservative Republican that he eventually became. (Coincidentally, or perhaps not, Trump was also a nominal Democrat before he eventually became a Republican politician.)
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N.B. Reagan did prove that one doesn't have to be a particularly good actor to act like a good President. It's not a difficult role to pretend at for the cameras--harder to actually do.
Today is the vote on the bill on whether or not to hold an investigatory commission on the Jan. 6th insurrection. McCarthy has already stated his opposition. No surprise there as it would really make him look even more hypocritical than he already does. Even with that the House probably has the votes to pass. McConnell however is waffling. No surprise there either. So the Senate may be stickier. Oops, wait, I just checked and McConnell has just announced his opposition.
It's not looking pretty going forward. Between the laws being passed in various states to suppress voting and the pandering to Trump's lies by the Republican legislature we are creeping ever farther down the road to an undemocratic country.
(Coincidentally, or perhaps not, Trump was also a nominal Democrat before he eventually became a Republican politician.)
Yup, used to contribute to the Clinton's campaigns if I recollect correctly. Funny how things change when it comes to self promotion.
"… we are creeping ever farther down the road to an
undemocratic country."
I might describe it as something rather more blatant than "creeping". But, you've mapped their chosen road quite correctly.
They're playin' for keeps this time--this time for all the marbles, nothing held back.
And I think they've made the correct calculation. If they don't pull it off before the Trumpkin movement collapses back in on itself, they likely won't see another opportunity come 'round within their foreseeable future. No point in holdin' back; this is gonna be their best shot (maybe their only shot) at taking down the "American Experiment" in their working lifetimes.
I still think they'll fail this time. I note that thirty-five Republican Congressmen, over 15%, voted in favor of a bipartisan commission to investigate the roots of the Jan 6ᵗʰ putsch, in spite of Trump and McCarthy's joint opposition to such an investigation. I take that as a promising sign.
(The commission just might get through the Senate as well, in spite of McConnell's 11ᵗʰ hour endorsement of the efforts to kill it off before it ever got out of the House. Ain't likely, but it ain't exactly an extreme long shot either. They'll need to up that percentage to 20% in the Senate, not likely, but possible.)
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Post Script: We can expect them to escalate as it becomes clear that they're failing. So, keep that in mind; don't let it surprise you.
I think if I were an activist in Georgia next election I would make sure I had plenty of bottled water on hand to pass out before people got in line and then bus as many as possible to their designated polling places.
I still think they'll fail this time. I note that thirty-five Republican Congressmen, over 15%, voted in favor of a bipartisan commission to investigate the roots of the Jan 6ᵗʰ putsch, in spite of Trump and McCarthy's joint opposition to such an investigation. I take that as a promising sign.
I hope so. I was actually hoping for 40.
They're playin' for keeps this time--this time for all the marbles, nothing held back.
The problem is in getting your average American voter to realize what is at stake. Too many have bought into the lies for whatever reasons.
"The problem is in getting your average American voter to
realize what is at stake."
I would identify the problem differently. The Trumpkan/Republican Party has decided on its future direction. They're going to embrace Trump and his dedicated Trumpkins. Trump is going to be their candidate for 2024 (absent an adverse medical development that keeps him out of the race).
The Party has little choice. Trump has periodically threatened to bolt, taking his dedicated Trumpkins with him, and they would go with him. When Lindsey Graham says they "can't win without him" that's what he's referencing. On top of which, it's become increasingly apparent that Trump drives the small dollar donations that're coming their way, and Corporate America, Wall Street America, is becoming an increasingly wary donor base.
Voters and money--Trump's the key to both for the Trumpkan/Republican Party. He controls significant percentages of both.
Meanwhile: The "average American voter" already knows what Trump offers.
The problem is that a good 35-40% of American voters are okay with that.
But, this is not the first time the American voter has flirted with fascism.
A secondary problem, one of only slightly lesser magnitude, is that this 35-40% of American voters control near'bouts 50% of the electoral votes, give or take a little bit (through extreme, politically-inspired gerrymandering recently approved by the newly conservative Supreme Court, which supplements the "two Senators" rule that gives extra political advantage to low population and rural states).
The problem is that a good 35-40% of American voters are okay with that.
Yes. The question is how do we get them to not be okay with that?
But, this is not the first time the American voter has flirted with fascism.
Do we have to go through another war to remind them how horrendously wrong that is?
"…how do we get them to not be okay with that?"
We don't. Ain't gonna be anything we do that turns them around. Their "turnaround" will come about only after they discover that their current game plan is a consistent loser. So, first thing is we gotta beat Trump again in 2024. That's how it starts. That's gotta be the first thing.
"…Do we have to go through another war to remind them
how horrendously wrong that is?"
They ain't gonna be deterred by your notions of right and wrong (nor by mine). They're pissed off and want to punish, to crush, their American enemies. Trying to "remind them" of some practical or moral notions of patriotism or of right and wrong will be the wrong tactic. Those things are not relevant to their partisan motivations. First they gotta learn they're backin' a loser. They will consider that to be relevant. Which means we gotta make sure that happens to be true going forward.
Then we gotta be prepared for them to escalate the conflict next time they lose the national elections. 'Cause escalation is likely gonna be their response to another loss. So, we best not be surprised by that when it happens.
I offer the following passage from the Trumpkin publication known as "AmericanGreatness" for your consideration:
"The sooner Americans realize that we are being governed
by people [a/k/a non-Trumpkin Americans] at war with our
Constitution and contemptuous of ourselves, the sooner
those people may be treated as the enemies they are."
The escalation in response to Trump's loss in 2024 is already in the planning stage. (That's also why the Trumpkan/Republican Party is now solidifying in opposition to any bipartisan investigation of the failed Jan 6ᵗʰ putsch.)
After they escalate and lose that next round as well, after the violent seizure of the reins of government fails for a second time--then we can start to consider how to convince them to try something else. We will have more and newer data by then. And they're not gonna give up without trying it again anyway; so we best just not be surprised by it again next time. (I expect they'll put some serious planning into it come 2024.)
Meantime… We have a natural advantage. Their voters are skewed towards a dying demographic. Lindsey Graham noted their poor long-term prospects back in the summer of 2012 when he told the press that "we're not generating enough angry [old] white guys". That still happens to be true.
We just gotta hold on long enough; they gotta win another main round damn soon if they're ever gonna win one again.
Follow up: The pro-Trump publication NationalInterest.Org tells us that:
"Here’s the deal: Trumpism isn’t a set of specific policies,
but a willingness to fight…"
You're not going to beat those folks back with anything other than losses. They don't have a set of policies that can be argued intelligently. They want to defeat their perceived American Enemies; that's the main goal. Ain't about policies; it's about anger and taking that anger out on other people.
Ya beat that back by beating it back. They'll give up on that idea after it doesn't work a couple of times in a row. (On account of their core voters are dyin' off even as they frantically try to seize control of the government before the grim reaper makes that impossible.)
And if they don't lose? They have done a good job of stacking the Supreme court, suppressing the vote in various states and are even mow still trying to rewrite history with bogus recounts of the previous election. They have moved on to Georgia now with that tactic.
They don't need live voters if they can cheat.
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