Let’s be clear, there is no “both sides-ing” this. We have one party that is now saying, “You know what, democracy really doesn’t work for us anymore. We will just tell you who you elect, and you don’t need to worry your pretty little heads about it, ok?” And the other saying, “WTF? No!”
This won’t work this time. But we cannot afford to go home, wipe our brows and say “glad that’s done, don’t have to worry about it anymore.” So long as as the fascists have a functional stranglehold on a significant chunk of our country, we cannot relax. Because you can be damn sure they won’t.
Agreed, except that I don’t think it’s a serious coup attempt. I think it’s an attempt to undermine Biden. Republicans are already doing what they’ll do for the next four years – throw any kind of dirt and shit they can think of at Biden, however fictional, in a collective effort to smear their opposition.
If the Democrats used the same ploy against the GOP or Trump , Trump and the GOP would be evacuating their bowels where they stand, screeching like banshee’s.
Right? But the ever-civil Dems instead try to calmly refute the charges leveled against them.
Unfortunately, in our current social order, screaming banshees come out the winners in such contests.
Similiar with Hockey. Player intentional high sticks opponent, ref’s ‘didn’t see it’. Opponent retaliates and gets penalty, offender laughs with no consequences.
Not a perfect analogy but it is what we have been lead/conditioned to expect in North America.
I’m not sure it matters if it is or not. They are playing a dangerous game if they see this as just as trying to undermine Biden, because there are plenty of people who are taking them seriously and will act on that belief that Biden is illegitimate, and that people who vote for the Democratic party are the enemy who need to be eliminated. If they keep this shit up, more people are going to get killed.
Not surprised it happened, but surprised we have such damning audio. Big thanks to whoever recorded and leaked.
“Your attitudes towards democracy are forcing me to attempt a coup.”
“I think we need to tone down the rhetoric. This is already a volatile situation. It’s like a tinderbox and throwing lit matches into it,” Cruz said.
How about YOU maybe stop trying to call a legitimate election into question, first, Ted. If anyone here is “undermining democracy” it’s YOU!
Asshole.
That must be in the top two or three in the Republican rule book: Accuse the opposition of doing exactly what you’re doing.
Read something about ironic goat fuckers once. Seems to apply here.
Mary Trump gets to the core of Biff’s appeal (and likely the appeal of future successors):
Donald’s the weakest person I’ve ever met in my life. But there are, as it turns out, people who are a great deal weaker than he is. He is a magnet for them. They also see that in their view he has been incredibly successful. He speaks to their grievances in a way I believe no one else ever has in this country.
As I always say, my deep contempt for bullies is nothing compared to my loathing for their toadies, without which they are nothing.
Her last words are a good reminder:
What advice would you give the American people about these next few weeks so they are not surprised by what Donald Trump may do?
Be on your guard. Be vigilant. Do not take anything for granted. We barely won this battle. We are nowhere near the end of this war. Donald is capable of anything. Don’t laugh it off. He’s not just some incompetent clown, although he may be, but Donald is not just that. He is somebody who has an extraordinary amount of power. He has an extraordinary amount of latitude. Mock Donald at your peril.
File format conversion crisis delayed attempt to challenge US presidential election result
The legal minds behind a so-far-failed attempt to sue United States vice-president Mike Pence so he can challenge the result of the nation’s presidential election have not only failed to put forward a convincing legal argument, but they also struggled convert documents from one format to another.
[…]
(Channeling Tony Soprano…)
These fuckin guys…
“The GOP majority tabled the seating so members of the Senate could digest both sides of an official challenge by Ms. Ziccarelli, interim Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman said on Monday. Ms. Ziccarelli is asking a federal court to toss out votes in the race that would swing the district to her, and urged the Senate, in the meantime, to refuse the official vote certification on the chamber floor.”
Same song, different verse. It’s like the Republicans only know one strategy: lose the vote and try to throw out enough legitimate votes to take the seat.
paraphrasing david frum-- if republicans discover they can no longer win under conditions of gerrymandered democracy, they will abandon democracy.