American Politics IV: 1400 Reasons Why(A Stimulus Serial)

[Diahon]

So in the middle of a pandemic, with almost 500,000 deaths and a botched vaccine rollout; with an attempted coup / insurrection a little over a month behind us; with criminal justice reform desperately needed, climate change a looming disaster, and whole swathes of the economy nearly wiped out;

The Republican party has identified the number one threat to the US today:

“cancel culture”

Jim Jordan says "cancel culture" is "the number one issue for the country to address today"

broadly speaking, it's the notion that consequences -- in social prestige, if nor in legal comeuppance (notice gop pundits whining so relentlessly about purged follower counts after january 6) -- apply to them when they fuck shit up, whether by momentary missteps in the way to fullfledged authoritarian state or by successfully doing what the burmese military did just weeks ago

that's what they're against -- the full unopposed exercise of their power for their purposes to their benefit, with no one cracking a letter in edgewise

[Diahon]

Its as if the AZ GOP wants to lose future elections.

They're doing this to win elections.

"win" elections

but why try winning when every vote against your batshit must be fake and/or a betrayal of the only principle that power is yours by the will of the tree of liberty, may its thirst for the blood of millions never be quenched

[Ifreann]

They're doing this to win elections.

Its not going to win them elections.

Bigotry has gotten plenty of politicians elected over the years.

[Diahon]

Its not going to win them elections.

Bigotry has gotten plenty of politicians elected over the years.

oh, no doubt, but you do require even bigots to at least be in touch with reality, yeah?

[Comerciante]

Bigotry has gotten plenty of politicians elected over the years.

oh, no doubt, but you do require even bigots to at least be in touch with reality, yeah?

"Not if we substitute said reality with our own."

-Somebody probably

[San Lumen]

Its not going to win them elections.

Bigotry has gotten plenty of politicians elected over the years.

True but if Maricopa County keeps trending blue Republicans will find themselves unable to win statewide elections or the state legislature. 1996 is the sole election where a Presidential candidate carried the state without winning it.

[Ifreann]

Bigotry has gotten plenty of politicians elected over the years.

oh, no doubt, but you do require even bigots to at least be in touch with reality, yeah?

Bigotry requires a level of disconnection from reality.

[Diahon]

oh, no doubt, but you do require even bigots to at least be in touch with reality, yeah?

Bigotry requires a level of disconnection from reality.

to campaign

governing is a different beast, as you know

[Ifreann]

Bigotry requires a level of disconnection from reality.

to campaign

governing is a different beast, as you know

Those in government find governing to be optional.

[Diahon]

an excellent roundup of trump-era constitutional amendments, approved by the president, ratified by congress, deemed legal by the supreme court, and of course agreed upon by the states, because fuck it, the abyss yawns:

1. No president shall be removed from office for treason, bribery, or any other crime or misdemeanor provided a partisan minority of the Senate will protect him (which is always). Impeachment is thus a nullity and presidents can expect impunity.

2. Congressional oversight shall be optional. No congressional subpoena or investigative demand shall be binding on a president who chooses to ignore it.

3. Congressional appropriations shall be suggestions. The president may choose whether or not to conform with congressional spending laws, and Congress shall have no recourse should a president declare that his own priorities supersede Congress's express will.

4. The president shall have authority to make appointments as he sees fit, without the advice and consent of the Senate, provided he deems his appointees to be acting, temporary, or otherwise exempt from the ordinary confirmation process.

5. The president shall have unconstrained authority to dangle and issue pardons for the purpose of obstructing justice, tampering with witnesses, and forestalling investigations. There is nothing anyone can do about this (see Amendment 1 above).

[Asherahan]

So the impeachment didn't pass because the GOP is scared of Trump?

GG Time to amend the constitution.

[San Lumen]

So the impeachment didn't pass because the GOP is scared of Trump?

GG Time to amend the constitution.

to what? A simple majority to convict? No that's a terrible idea.

[Major-Tom]

Its as if the AZ GOP wants to lose future elections.

They're doing this to win elections.

It's a bold strategy Cotton, we'll see if it pays off for 'em.

[Zurkerx]

“The country is moving past the Trump Presidency, and the GOP will remain in the wilderness until it does too”: The Wall Street Journal Warns Republicans that Trump Can't Win Another Election.

There is the threat that someone can be Trump-like but more organize and less prone to gaffes but the GOP is in a catch-22 situation: they can't win with Trump but can't win without his supporters at the moment. This, as we all know, has led to the party not just failing to convict a man that cited a sedition/insurrection, but also is tearing the party at it seams.

Trump may not seek re-election, maybe not as a Republican but as a third party candidate to spite the GOP. He will likely go after the party for failing to protect him enough, further dividing the party up.

[The New California Republic]

“The country is moving past the Trump Presidency, and the GOP will remain in the wilderness until it does too”: The Wall Street Journal Warns Republicans that Trump Can't Win Another Election.

There is the threat that someone can be Trump-like but more organize and less prone to gaffes but the GOP is in a catch-22 situation: they can't win with Trump but can't win without his supporters at the moment. This, as we all know, has led to the party not just failing to convict a man that cited a sedition/insurrection, but also is tearing the party at it seams.

Trump may not seek re-election, maybe not as a Republican but as a third party candidate to spite the GOP. He will likely go after the party for failing to protect him enough, further dividing the party up.

Might be Democrat domination for the next decade and beyond.

[The Reformed American Republic]

“The country is moving past the Trump Presidency, and the GOP will remain in the wilderness until it does too”: The Wall Street Journal Warns Republicans that Trump Can't Win Another Election.

There is the threat that someone can be Trump-like but more organize and less prone to gaffes but the GOP is in a catch-22 situation: they can't win with Trump but can't win without his supporters at the moment. This, as we all know, has led to the party not just failing to convict a man that cited a sedition/insurrection, but also is tearing the party at it seams.

Trump may not seek re-election, maybe not as a Republican but as a third party candidate to spite the GOP. He will likely go after the party for failing to protect him enough, further dividing the party up.

Might be Democrat domination for the next decade and beyond.

I doubt it. Trump does have a shot at 2024; he should not be underestimated, as that's how he won in the first place.

[San Lumen]

“The country is moving past the Trump Presidency, and the GOP will remain in the wilderness until it does too”: The Wall Street Journal Warns Republicans that Trump Can't Win Another Election.

There is the threat that someone can be Trump-like but more organize and less prone to gaffes but the GOP is in a catch-22 situation: they can't win with Trump but can't win without his supporters at the moment. This, as we all know, has led to the party not just failing to convict a man that cited a sedition/insurrection, but also is tearing the party at it seams.

Trump may not seek re-election, maybe not as a Republican but as a third party candidate to spite the GOP. He will likely go after the party for failing to protect him enough, further dividing the party up.

Might be Democrat domination for the next decade and beyond.

That would be nice. Hopefully Democrats keep congress next year.

[Thermodolia]

It didn't when Alaska and Hawai'i joined, and tbqh, the current cap on seats benefits Republicans so there's no way a bill to change congressional size would get past the Senate.

This^

The GOP will never allow the size of Congress to change. That only harms them.

Which is why the democrats need to win in 2022. They do that and the republicans can’t do shit when they remove the restrictions

[Thermodolia]

You are correct. Only a simple majority is required for statehood.

And in both chambers too. Should pass somewhat easily though the likes of Manchin and Sinema are the ones to watch; maybe Sanders since AOC apparently doesn't support Statehood.

You’d get a few republicans too. Rubio and a few others support statehood for PR

[The New California Republic]

Might be Democrat domination for the next decade and beyond.

I doubt it. Trump does have a shot at 2024; he should not be underestimated, as that's how he won in the first place.

Hence might. It depends on how the dice fall.

[San Lumen]

I doubt it. Trump does have a shot at 2024; he should not be underestimated, as that's how he won in the first place.

Hence might. It depends on how the dice fall.

Its heavily dependent on if he goes to jail in either Georgia or New York.

[San Lumen]

This^

The GOP will never allow the size of Congress to change. That only harms them.

Which is why the democrats need to win in 2022. They do that and the republicans can’t do shit when they remove the restrictions

Hopefully they do.

And in both chambers too. Should pass somewhat easily though the likes of Manchin and Sinema are the ones to watch; maybe Sanders since AOC apparently doesn't support Statehood.

You’d get a few republicans too. Rubio and a few others support statehood for PR

Hopefully a statehood bill comes to the floor for Puerto Rico and if it does the size of the house should be permanently expanded.

[The Reformed American Republic]

I doubt it. Trump does have a shot at 2024; he should not be underestimated, as that's how he won in the first place.

Hence might. It depends on how the dice fall.

True, but he should not be underestimated, and Democrats should not fall victim to the incorrect assumption that next election or the election after that is in the bag.

[The New California Republic]

Hence might. It depends on how the dice fall.

True, but he should not be underestimated, and Democrats should not fall victim to the incorrect assumption that next election or the election after that is in the bag.

I don't think they'll make that mistake. As soon as they know Trump is running then the Dems will go all-out to stop him.

[Thermodolia]

Might be Democrat domination for the next decade and beyond.

I doubt it. Trump does have a shot at 2024; he should not be underestimated, as that's how he won in the first place.

Yes but if he splits the vote the rest of the GOP then the democrats would win because the most votes wins