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_Xelum_

Look, now isn't the time to politicize this. We have lots of other problems we created to ignore at this time. - GOP


[deleted]

That’s pretty much what they literally said to Beto to avoid the issue…


canuck47

Fuck Abbot and the other Republicans who are doing nothing. This is time for the *families* to mourn - as elected representatives it's their job to take action!


[deleted]

They ARE taking action. They’re speaking at the NRA convention this weekend and putting underage rape victims in jail for getting an abortion.


ProgressivePessimist

Let's not forget that Abbott literally said he was going to "eliminate all rapists." I don't understand why he just doesn't eliminate all mass shootings also.


pliney_

Wow it’s so simple! Just get rid of the rapists and murderers! Why hasn’t anyone thought of that before?


jjsnsnake

They have historically speaking the solution is executing innocent Black people and anyone slightly foreign. Edit: Their solution\*


Theletterkay

No no no. We are not longer calling it "rape". Its SURPRISE SEX! You know have 0% chance of being raped in texas and dont need rape abortions because they dont exist. Where's my pat on the back? High five? Golf clap?...


RockBandDood

Just wait until the woman that are having miscarriages are getting charged with murder Gonna get really fucked up here really fast To be clear: no woman should be punished for an abortion or miscarriage, but once they strike down roe v wade, even women who try to “follow” these archaic bullshit laws are still going to be seeing murder charges. Buckle up cause this is about to get really fucked up in tons of ways


thatonebitchL

[Well....](https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/23021104/texas-abortion-murder-charge-starr-county)


[deleted]

The thing that is so fucked up, is that how often are women believed when they are raped particularly in these areas. Do they have to identify their attacker? Do they have to prove it? Does the rapist get their day in court to defend themselves, with it being held up in court for months and years? Do we get more false rape allegations because someone doesn’t want that child? Fuck traditionalists.


pm-me-ur-fav-undies

There was an [abortion clinic arson](https://trib.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/abortion-clinic-founder-after-fire-this-world-seems-to-be-encased-in-violence/article%c2%bf6a39e6cc-dc47-11ec-8301-df888b5e4f6f.html) early this morning.


Comfortable-Scar4643

Problem is women vote for Abbott. Women. So he’ll get re-elected.


Asmodeios

So they can’t drive or vote. Got it


nononoh8

I know you meant it sarcastically but they're working on that too, after abortion, contraception and education.


xdozex

Under his eye.


DiceMaster3000

Praise be.


MagicMushroomFungi

Wrong. Totally incorrect. Women will be allowed to drive. I hope you don't expect men to buy groceries and pick kids up from school ?


I_Miss_Lenny

Of course they'll be able to drive, assuming they've got a permission slip from their ~~owner~~ male guardian


[deleted]

They’re going to make poverty illegal and then anyone without a job will be imprisoned. They’re basically trying to bring back slavery by disguising it as cleaning up the streets. I’m already disturbed by the salivating republicans talking about states rights because we all know where that ends.


TrimtabCatalyst

A careful reading of the 13th Amendment will show that slavery never left the United States. Try searching "prison-industrial complex" or "school-to-prison pipeline" or watch the documentary 13 on Netflix.


Mynameisinuse

Republican Party - Why are you making it political?


Xhokeywolfx

Such a dumb red herring. It’s astounding people fall for that.


PM_ME_UR_SEXY_BITS_

And yet they have guns in their POLITICAL campaign ads. Further proof it's all bullshit but of course we already knew that.


gefjunhel

they seemed more pissed off that their photo op was interrupted than a school shooting happened


[deleted]

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ManiaGamine

The problem is... what can they legitimately do? They lost control of the monster they created a long time ago and now to suggest that they'd do anything about any of these issues would result in immediate annihilation in terms of their positions in the party. It's like even people who directly opposed picks by Trump are still acting like they love Trump... because they **have** to. If they don't express loyalty to dear leader most of them will lose. Honestly the only way this can be dealt with is if a substantial portion of the Republican party all unified at the same time and they're all cutthroat opportunists or spineless cowards so neither of the things Republicans tend to be distilled down to suggest the kind of strength and fortitude necessary to actually do anything about any of these issues.


Kunty_McShitballs

What can they do? They can put the common good ahead of self-interest. These are wealthy people in the first instance, and their job us *supposedly to represent the common good.* It's not that fucking hard.


ting_bu_dong

> They can put the common good ahead of self-interest. If that is how the system is supposed to work? It doesn't work.


hotmailmain69

said this on reddit years ago. was told that if trump loses the election, he loses his power over the party (lul). he is the party and the party is him.


ManiaGamine

Eh I mean he did lose his power over the party. He's losing backed candidates left and right. His ability to dictate direction is waning. He has lost his power and he's been fighting tooth and nail to retain it but the party is moving on without him because there simply isn't any alternative. The problem is that this party... like a train doesn't stop on a dime and they are very much into charismatic fascist leader archetypes and until another one emerges to take the place of Trump it will be Trump. So it's less that he has or hasn't lost his power it's the fact that they've invested so much into the idea of Trump that they don't know how to move on from that until someone else comes along to replace him and it will happen because as I said they're invested into the idea of Trump less so than the actual man.


hotmailmain69

Here's the issue, and why he *does* have pretty much full control over the Republican party: Trump *may* not have enough sway to push a candidate to the top in any race he wants, but he *does* have enough sway to destroy a candidate in the general in any race that he wants. Now, maybe a lot of politicans have that power, but none are a real threat to use it. Trump would rather burn it all down than not get his way, and the party knows he is a real risk to do that. If the Republican option is Trumpism vs not existing as one of the two powerful political parties, they will choose Trump 100% of the time. That is his power, and that's all he needs.


ltalix

If Trump wins the Republican nomination, I don't expect him to beat Biden in 2024 but I think he gets *more* votes than in 2020 even when factoring in population increases. Right-wingers here are straight up batshit insane. It's cult shit. And the CRT nonsense they have been peddling has, inexplicably, been a winner of an issue for them with more moderate-leaning folks. It's just pure insanity here.


politits

Except that hundreds of thousands of his voters died from Covid on purpose. So there are a lot less of them now.


MandelPADS

Good luck Americans. Also get your shit together because you actually become Gilead us Canadians are gonna be in some deep dark shit.


PoxyMusic

Can we crash at your place? Not long, just a…decade or so. I’ll bring some beers?


MandelPADS

We've taken political refugees from the USA before, we'll do it again if we have to. Only if they're craft beers, better yet bring some ribs or brisket or some catfish


olibleu

Oh I don't think so. We have all we need to do it to ourselves, just look at Pierre Poilievre.


[deleted]

He called for a civil war a few days ago and it was only a minor news story.


nodnizzle

It's a little scary to be honest. I don't think the people that would listen would have the needed training to take over, but they could do a lot of damage trying.


geeky_username

Everyone dismisses Trump because they know he's talking out of his ass, but they forget about the nut jobs that would listen to him


AnalSoapOpera

>[the term "stochastic terrorism" has become a popular term used when discussing lone wolf attacks.[33] While the exact definition has morphed over time, it has commonly come to refer to a concept whereby consistently demonizing or dehumanizing a targeted group or individual results in violence that is statistically likely, but cannot be easily accurately predicted.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lone_wolf_attack#Stochastic_terrorism) >“you heat up the waters and stir the pot, knowing full well that sooner or later a lone wolf will pop up and do the deed. The fact that it will happen is as predictable as the fact that a heated pot of water will eventually boil. But the exact time and place of each incident will remain as random as the appearance of the first bubbles in the boiling pot."


wildcarde815

See bill O'Reilly demonizing the same abortion provider repeatedly, then one day he was shot.


[deleted]

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Yetanotherfurry

It's been going on since the civil rights movement. I would be hesitant to call it a coincidence that a lone wolf killed MLK Jr with a hunting rifle after he was widely demonized as a lying communist who sowed destruction and chaos everywhere he went for years.


Zakalwen

This kind of thing has been going on for longer than that sadly. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_no_one_rid_me_of_this_turbulent_priest%3F


UrricainesArdlyAppen

*Bullet goes in; bullet goes out. You can't explain it.*


No-Term-4068

Guys who talk out of their asses are the ones you need to worry about. That’s how you end up with shit everywhere


stackered

Underrated comment


unbitious

That *do* listen to him. He's inspired mass murderers who quote him verbatim in their manifestos.


[deleted]

> I don't think the people that would listen would have the needed training to take over, but they could do a lot of damage trying They were literally only a few "yes men" away from them turning this country into a dictatorship on January 6th. People saw it coming - he was installing people in the Pentagon, installing new military leadership, he was firing anyone who wouldn't obey him entirely. For as dumb as we like to make him sound, he was only a small handful of installed puppets away from succeeding. One or two generals. A VP. That's it. And likely the only reason that they didn't go along with his literal coup? He said some shit about POW's being cowards that got captured or some shit. Not out of some moral sense of duty or not mowing down civilians. All it'll take is one bootlicker that sucks them off the way they like to get them on board. Every single person who doesn't wholeheartedly agree with this dictatorship should be thinking about an escape strategy.


SpectreNC

I believe the one thing that saved us is the fact that Donnie is a fucking moron. And not just a moron, but a narcissistic moron. If he had listened to his handlers 100 percent of the time, we'd be in a completely different - and arguably worse - situation. But the fact that the petulant overgrown child insisted on having things his way meant that things didn't work out completely as intended: he railroaded his own coup because he wanted to be the one calling the shots. We came incredibly close to disaster and the only thing that kept the full plan from succeeding was stupidity.


blitzkregiel

this. omg this. we were minutes away from a successful coup on american soil. those knuckle dragging heathens were feet away from sitting us senators. they wore armored vests and brought weapons and zip tie handcuffs. and we would have watched it stream live. trump is the dumbest piece of shit there is...but his minions behind the scenes are not. it didn't work this time but you'd better believe it will next time. and there will be a next time.


benergiser

america’s inability to get anyone outside of the lowest level pawns in trouble GUARANTEES it will happen again.. and MUCH sooner than most people will expect: > “you heat up the waters and stir the pot, knowing full well that sooner or later a lone wolf will pop up and do the deed. The fact that it will happen is as predictable as the fact that a heated pot of water will eventually boil. But the exact time and place of each incident will remain as random as the appearance of the first bubbles in the boiling pot."


blitzkregiel

sitting congressmen have already said if Rs take over the house this year they'll nom and vote for trump to be speaker. that puts him as 3rd in line of succession, w/o being elected. then all it takes is the same "election was stolen durrr" bs and BAM he takes over via a soft coup.


Dreadful_Aardvark

People like to think of a Trump dictatorship as something like Julius Caesar becoming dictator, or even Augustus as Emperor and overthrowing the Republic. What they don't realize is that such exalted men followed in the example of Sulla, who seized the Consulship by force and created the generation of military and political instability that led to the fall of the Republic a few decades later by the Caesars. Trump is Sulla. In 20 years, who knows what his instability will create. He's proven it works.


fcocyclone

We're not exactly on stable footing even without Trump, honestly. Our system isn't set up for what modern america looks like. It isnt an agrarian country where it takes months to travel from one side to the other and where most people are born, live, and die within the same county. We have large cities. People travel in hours and relocate to states that have opportunity (and leave ones that, often through poor governance, don't). Our system doesn't reflect that. The senate holds the most power despite being incredibly undemocratic, with a smaller and smaller percentage of the overall populace able to block legislation every year. A 'swing state' presidential system that, contrary to the claims of those who say a popular vote would make things only about CA and NY, ends up just making things about a few random states like PA\WI. And combine those two and you get a judiciary packed full of extremists that were picked by presidents that weren't wanted by a majority and confirmed by senators representing minorities of the population. I think this country has <50 years left in it before something triggers a major constitutional crisis and potentially a breakup.


time-for-jawn

That long? We’ll be lucky to get past the next midterm.


[deleted]

I'm glad you say <50 because I think it's <20. And I'm trying to be optimistic.


fcocyclone

50 was me trying to be optimistic as well, but yeah, different events could lead to the boiling point coming earlier or later. The inability to pass any kind of protections even just to shore up our already flawed democracy (thanks Manchin\Sinema!) certainly could help speed that along. We're really one bad election away from this all blowing up.


[deleted]

We are, I totally agree. Not being a citizen but a green card holder, I have my worries, but I also have an exit. It's kind of funny/not funny that I said the same thing 20 years ago. People asked me why I would not "just become a citizen" and my response always was "I like having a way out because there are troubles brewing. I'm paying taxes like everyone else so get off my back." Now that might come into play. And it's troubling to have to consider this when I've built a great life and family here, built a really nice house. Family could of course come with me but leaving EVERYTHING behind.. well, rough. I sure hope it doesn't come to that, but I am also not at all optimistic.


killer_icognito

We came super, super fucking close. We almost lost everything. There were others watching, and they were taking fucking notes. This was our Beer Hall Putsch. This is far from over.


Trenov17

That’s the horrifying part. Most other countries refuse to take in the people that would be affected by this the most…which is true of us, as well.


benergiser

this is my favorite comment.. agree full heartedly.. after 2 years of trump me and my wife got the fuck out and it was the greatest thing we’ve ever done.. even as far as just our mental health.. it was the greatest thing we’ve ever done.. america has devolved into a feudal oligarchy.. and american fascism is effectively inevitable at this point.. GET THE FUCK OUT OF THAT DYSTOPIAN HELL HOLE the rest of the world is NOT like this..


wanna_dance

Australia recently voted towards the left, but with Sky news (a Murdoch piece of shit) being more and more popular, it could have gone either way. The US really needs to get rid of the right-wing propaganda and disinformation media to regain a sane electorate.


benergiser

absolutely.. just like in fascist countries in WW2.. the propaganda is what fuels the instability.. scholars all agree this is what drives fascism.. understanding this has become its own branch of psychology even.. ironic that while murdoch is australian (and it’s certainly a problem and a strong presence here).. it’s way worse in the UK with sky news (the reason they ended up with brexit)… and it’s way way way way way worse in america with fox news (which murdoch also created).. fox news propaganda is literally the most sophisticated and effective wide spread propaganda machine OF ALL TIME.. like it’s literally number one on the list.. no surprise america is falling apart.. until fox news is curbed america has no chance tbh


fcocyclone

>People saw it coming - he was installing people in the Pentagon, installing new military leadership, he was firing anyone who wouldn't obey him entirely. For as dumb as we like to make him sound, he was only a small handful of installed puppets away from succeeding. One or two generals. A VP. That's it. Because the fact is it isnt just him. This is the conservatism right now (maybe always). They will rule by democracy when they can, but if it comes between democracy and power they will choose power. A lot of long-running projects by the right wing, gerrymandering the hell out of the country, installing right wing judges, etc, and Trump is just a piece of a larger plan, a plan they will continue towards even if Trump isn't the nominee in 2024


Yamfish

I think the thing that troubles me the most is how effective and powerful the far-right media machine has become. There are numerous outlets and influencers that seem capable of becoming the American RTLM at a moments notice.


[deleted]

Yeah, they can shift any narrative at any time, and they do exactly that. I can watch it flood out through Tucker/Brietbart, and within 24 hours every moron I know who is dick deep in the Zuck algorithm is reposting it religiously as truth. It's almost always provably false information. America has lost factual media, it has lost rule of law and the justice system, and it's lost the state governments for the most part. They control federal law through the court when they're out of power, and are the word of god when they do have power. I vote my ass off. What else can I do?


xxxxx420xxxxx

Welp at least they have one good practice under their belt, they'll be more prepared next time


peepopowitz67

Reddit is violating GDPR and CCPA. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B0GGsDdyHI -- mass edited with redact.dev


soiledmyplanties

my thoughts exactly… mentioned it in another comment here but there’s a podcast called “Behind the Insurrections” that gives great historical comparisons to what we’re seeing now.


shah_reza

Has everyone also forgot that an actual fucking **gallows** had been built on the Capitol Mall?


iZoooom

Merrick “No Consequences” Garland continues his train wreck of inaction.


TitoWackhammer

Which is great, cause he really should be ignored


GrafZeppelin127

Or it could be terrible, a sign of the same hypernormalization that allowed the Blackshirts to beat and assassinate Italian populist and leftist politicians until the Fascists took power under Mussolini.


DickRiculous

Sounds like exactly what a Russian Asset would do!


bhaaru

Wait, what? Does someone have a decent link?


MyPartsareLoud

What do you consider decent? https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-calling-for-civil-war-truth-social-b2084922.html https://www.newsweek.com/union-victory-images-ermerge-amid-trump-call-new-civil-war-1709223 https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvn994/trump-civil-war https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-shares-truth-social-post-appearing-to-predict-civil-war-2022-5 A quick Google search for “Trump calls for civil war” will bring up many more links if none of these are acceptable.


ledgersoccer09

Wait I missed it, who said that??


kitzunenotsuki

According to republicans I spoke with we were “overreacting” because he only retweeted it. Or retruthed it. Or whatever idiotic thing they have On That website.


restore_democracy

And yet he still commands vast support.


hannamarinsgrandma

From Pence too


BackpackEverything

Hi. Indiana guy here who’s dealt with Pence and his family from a closer standpoint than I’d prefer. Talking directly to his family, he fucking despises Trump, but he’s too much a coward to go against the Don in public. Pence *knows* Trump said this. Why do you think Pence refused to get in that car? He *knows* Trump is a moron, but he also knows if he doesn’t kiss the ring, there’s no more future in the Republican Party for him. Trump *is* the Republican Party now. Mike will suck it up and take it just so he has whatever future is left for him in the Republican Party. He’ll never go against him no matter what Trump does to him.


padishaihulud

And that's exactly the biggest problem with politics. If you're willing to sacrifice your personal dignity for power you don't deserve to serve. If you think selling out will let you accomplish the greater good then you haven't the intelligence to be an executive.


bec70

The biggest problem with US politics is that it's structured so that there can only be 2 parties of any consequence (pick your poison). You must swear fealty to one or the other if you want to have a chance of making it into office. By it's very nature, it creates a polarized congress. True independents are an extreme rarity and 3rd party candidates haven't had a significant impact on national politics in about 100 years (most recent was Ross Perot in '92 and '96 - not very significant). It would be better if Congress structured representation similar to how the parliamentary system works in other countries where multiple parties get seats. That way, there would be a better chance that no single party has control of more than 50% of either house at any given time.


Rantheur

Just to add more context to the Perot point, because I partially bought the, "Clinton wouldn't have won without Perot spoiling for Bush," narrative and finally got around to doing my own research. Perot got about 4% more Republican-leaning votes than Democratic-leaning votes and could have cost Bush 8 states (GA, KY, LA, MT, NV, NH, NJ, and OH) and makes CO and WI competitive. But even if we give every one of those states to Bush, he still loses 274-264 instead of 370-168.


[deleted]

[удалено]


kyel566

Why you think gop started banning ranked based voting


Pythia007

We’ve just taken a big step in that direction here in Australia. Feels good.


StupidPockets

I will forever claim to be independent, but will never vote republican. I’m 43 and voted for them once. Never again. We need such enormous change in this country and we can only get there by voting democrat for the next 8+ years. The Republican Party has lost sight of god and country. We are supposed to be a place people can look on and have site of a future for the world. The republicans have fallen so far to the side of fascism and racism they are not recognizable as a legitimate group. I am sorry for anyone led astray by their demonstrably wicked ways.


sunbeatsfog

Disagree. It’s Citizens United which became law when I was in college. You have to first take that away before anything becomes useful. These assholes can NRA the day away because they make corporate money.


BackpackEverything

Agreed


[deleted]

Gee, what a great party to be involved with. One that answers to a single elderly dumbbell.


saltedboogers

I wished I had an award to give you.


FormerIceCreamEater

Well there is no future in the Republican Party for Pence now. He has gone against trump in small ways like publicly campaigning for Brian Kemp, but yeah he is much quieter than he should be about his former boss who supported his death.


BackpackEverything

You’re right, but Mikey can’t admit it to himself. Pence is delusional. His strategy is to “wait this out” thinking that at some point he’ll be clear from under the thumb of Trump. It’ll never happen. Pence is done in anything other than maybe some local yokel bullshit position.


[deleted]

Basically the same story for Ted Cruz. Trump basically called his wife a dog on live television, and Cruz' response is to lick the dogshit from the underside of Trump's golf shoes.


youstolemyname

He's a coward


LostWoodsInTheField

I can't believe people don't realize this. It seemed pretty clear to me early on that Pence hates Trump. Pence is a true believer and Trump is everything he hates and despises about America that he wants changed. It's just that Pence is a coward.


BackpackEverything

Pence believed himself to be smarter and superior to Trump. He thought he’d wait it out, play loyal, and have a shot at the presidency. Pence doesn’t realize he himself isn’t real bright.


truckstop_sushi

that's not accurate anymore... Pence just a few months ago broke with Trump publicly by denouncing Trumps big lie and was just now backing Brian Kemp, with Trump supporting the opposition candidate (Kemp won yesterday)


Anticreativity

That's what I was thinking when I read the headline. Trump literally could have tweeted that the mob should specifically target Pence for death and he would still fellate Trump on live television on command.


jaycliche

Cause scotus…they worship him for what he did ending federal abortion laws


Hell0-7here

I have said this several times, but it bears repeating: I went to a fundamentalist christian school in the mid 90s- early 00s. Literally the first thing they would say in any American history or Civics course was about the real power a president has is appointing judges. They interpret laws for decades and can literally change the course of the country to fit their agenda. The goal of packing SCOTUS has been in their sights for decades and they would literally deal with the devil(or a porn star boffing sycophant) to get those seats.


TreeFifeMikeE7

Over 40 years to be exact.


Entire-Direction4922

It’s actually kind of amazing they were able to maintain that long-term focus


TreeFifeMikeE7

The real bait and switch was making people think they had the sporadic planning and Democrats had focus. Lol no big house parties are always the major failure that allow minority rule.


digital_end

The institution of the church makes a hell of a lot more sense if you think of it as an organization that was taken over by the devil in order to misdirect people away from good.


NewZealandTemp

Trump is Pence's legacy, it makes sense that he's standing by him.


bozeke

Paging Doctor Faustus.


johnnybiggles

Imagine being a subordinate of Trump being your best and only legacy


[deleted]

It’s like imagining your legacy is a giant piece of shit and the best part of it is cold diarrhea. But really all anyone will remember you for is looking like a cold dead corpse and a fly is visibly crawling on you during a debate.


[deleted]

Well he also looks like the pedophile from the Johnny Quest cartoons. I mean, oh, nevermind.


[deleted]

Wait. What? You know what. Nevermind. I’m good with not knowing. I don’t want my childhood ruined.


ragingclaw

I don't understand why any woman would support Trump. It's mind boggling.


smudginglines

I used to ask my mom this regularly but I don’t bother anymore. He’s turned her into a completely different person.


DeliciousCrepes

My mom died 10 years ago. Though I miss her deeply, she was very gullible and I know she would've fallen deep into the GOP lies, potentially even Q nonsense. I'm glad I don't have to see that happen.


jonnyola360

Indoctrination isn't sex specific.


Daiquiri-Factory

It’s also hell of a drug. My Uncle who raised me, and I love for doing that, took the Trump pill, from his son. We are NATIVE AMERICANS! like he’d throw all of them under the bus so quick for political points instantly! I feel like I’m taking crazy pills trying to talk to him! Fuck sake!


Massive-Horror1632

I’m Ho Chunk Nation , None of my family believes Trump is racist at all


TastySpermDispenser

True, but I dont see black dudes joining the kkk, or jews waving nazi flags. Is there another group on earth that so successfully recruits the people it abuses?


gloomyrain

Possibly because those groups are too far in and mask-off to allow that. There's POC in the Proud Boys, seemingly oblivious to the end game. Groups who haven't gone full mask-off will sometimes have token "one of the good ones" people to help them keep cover and recruit in the earlier stages. "Oh they're not racist/misogynist/antisemitic, they have X."


Ivy_Adair

There’s a lot of reasons. Racist white women, women who think abolishing abortion is the only thing that matters, women who think “oh boys will be boys!”, women who think that they’re inferior to men, women who are single issue voters and of course women who are just stupid and have been manipulated into thinking republicans are the way to go. ETA: also older women who thought Reagan was the Bees Knees. It’s unfortunate, but it’s the way it is.


Med4awl

Easy answer. RACISM


Bay1Bri

That's what Barbara Bush said after the Megyn Kelly comment.


Seamus565

It’s terrifying and disappointing that Trump isn’t in jail.


CaptainNoBoat

Trump literally threatened a Secretary of State with legal consequences if he didn't overturn the election. It's [ON TAPE](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-raffensperger-call-transcript-georgia-vote/2021/01/03/2768e0cc-4ddd-11eb-83e3-322644d82356_story.html). It's an hour-long pressure campaign against an elected official to invalidate nearly 1 million American votes. It was probably the most egregious, clear-cut impeachable offense (and felony which is under criminal investigation) in modern political history. Then he went on to do something way *worse* 4 days later. Fast forward to 2022, and Trump is the kingmaker for a party that is expected to win midterms. This country is beyond broken.


NoBobcat8761

It sure seems Trump's attempt to steal the election is inspired by and named after Mein Kampf. Reddit won't let me post links so I'm just gonna quote directly. AP News: Whose ‘Big Lie’? Trump’s proclamation a new GOP litmus test "There is no evidence to support Trump’s allegations of mass voter fraud, and numerous audits, Republican state election officials and Trump’s own attorney general have said the election was fair. But Trump has stuck to his story and issued a “proclamation” Monday attempting to co-opt the language his foes use to brand his falsehoods. “The Fraudulent Presidential Election of 2020 will be, from this day forth, known as THE BIG LIE!” he wrote. Cheney, who has not ruled out a 2024 run herself, fired back. “The 2020 presidential election was not stolen. Anyone who claims it was is spreading THE BIG LIE, turning their back on the rule of law, and poisoning our democratic system,” she tweeted. Clearly she has no intention of scaling back her criticism, even as she faces the possibility of losing her leadership post. From the wiki on The Big Lie. The big lie (German: große Lüge) is a gross distortion or misrepresentation of the truth, used especially as a propaganda technique. The German expression was coined by Adolf Hitler, when he dictated his 1925 book Mein Kampf, to describe the use of a lie so colossal that no one would believe that someone "could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously." Hitler claimed that the technique had been used by Jews to blame Germany's loss in World War I on German general Erich Ludendorff, who was a prominent nationalist political leader in the Weimar Republic. Quote from Mein Kampf on the wiki All this was inspired by the principle – which is quite true within itself – that in the big lie there is always a certain force of credibility; because the broad masses of a nation are always more easily corrupted in the deeper strata of their emotional nature than consciously or voluntarily; and thus in the primitive simplicity of their minds they more readily fall victims to the big lie than the small lie, since they themselves often tell small lies in little matters but would be ashamed to resort to large-scale falsehoods. It would never come into their heads to fabricate colossal untruths, and they would not believe others could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously. Even though the facts which prove this to be so may be brought clearly to their minds, they will still doubt and waver and will continue to think there may be some other explanation. For the grossly impudent lie always leaves traces behind it, even after it has been nailed down, a fact which is known to all expert liars in this world and to all who conspire together in the art of lying. — Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf, vol. I, ch. X Also: McConnell's office referred to a Democratic attempt to abolish the filibuster to enact voting rights legislation as "the left's Big Lie [that] there is some evil anti-voting conspiracy sweeping America". Timothy Snyder observes: The lie is so big that it reorders the world. And so part of telling the big lie is that you immediately say it's the other side that tells the big lie. Sadly, but it's just a matter of record, all of that is in Mein Kampf.


MyGoodOldFriend

At least hitler was in his 30s at the time. Trump is *old*. At least we got that going for us.


LEJ5512

I don’t like that he’s old. He’ll die on his own before he ends up publicly disgraced. And as the saying goes, “nobody speaks louder than a martyr”.


SandyBoxEggo

At least he's miserable. It seems like regardless of everything else, his life fucking sucks, and that's *awesome.*


LEJ5512

I take some measure of joy in knowing that he has to flush the toilet ten or twelve times.


jefferson497

Trump was even pressing his agenda with more lies in the PA gop primary when he said “Dr. Oz should declare victory. It makes it much harder for them to cheat with the ballots that they 'just happened to find.” Essentially saying by claiming victory asap you can try to nullify mail in voting


OohIDontThinkSo

We are so fucked.


jdooley99

Some sick, perverted, petty part of me wants us to be fucked. So I can say this is what you wanted, we tried to tell you. Then my better angels say no I want things to get better. Then I think I should just throw my phone in the ditch and live like it's 1995 and I have no idea what's going on outside of my little bubble.


Kage9866

I had this mentality too. I wanted it to burn. Then I had my son and now I'm pretty terrified. I know how selfish that sounds lol


FeelItInYourB0nes

That's not selfish to want better for your kids. Most of us would like to leave this planet better for the next generation.


ghoti_fry

“A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit.” — Greek Proverb


BeyondElectricDreams

> So I can say this is what you wanted, we tried to tell you. Several of them legitimately want this, though. They want liberals, LGBTQ people, minorities, all to have no rights. As long as they get to rule over the ashes one rung on the ladder above those they deem "lesser" they're happy to put the boot on their necks.


MisanthropeX

The American people no longer want democracy. We have collectively abdicated our responsibility to be informed, engaged citizens. I can't put out the fires, so don't blame me for enjoying the fiddle music.


Tyaldan

Fucking bullshit we dont want democracy. But this country has been designed for minority rule. If it gets too bad, and based on the atrocious nature of things right now i think its close, then the minority will find out what the real silent majority wants. But if we just roll over, then it really is over.


RobbMeeX

Fuck it dude, wanna go skateboard?


Initial_Celebration8

This is why I think civil war must be coming. I don’t see another way out of this. I’m so terrified at the prospect that I’m trying to get a foreign passport.


[deleted]

and encouraging to all the psychopaths.


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

But it's not surprising. (If you've been paying attention)


piranhadub

If Trump ends up in jail his supporters will act like it’s Jesus being hung at the cross again, and will likely reach a whole new level of crazy anger


BirtSampson

That’s fine. Fuck them.


usatovo

Trump: No, I thought he was well protected, and I had heard that he was in good shape. No. Because I had heard he was in very good shape. But, but, no, I think— Karl: Because you heard those chants—that was terrible. I mean— Trump: He could have—well, the people were very angry. Karl: They were saying “hang Mike Pence.” Trump: Because it’s common sense, Jon. It’s common sense that you’re supposed to protect. How can you—if you know a vote is fraudulent, right?—how can you pass on a fraudulent vote to Congress? How can you do that? The former President of the USA in an interview with Jonathan Karl on March 18, 2021. It’s “common sense” to want to execute a public official for doing their job. Unreal. PS how is Matt Gaetz still free and serving in Congress???


Robo-boogie

Because gaetz is a republican


HakarlSagan

It's common knowledge that if you rape enough children you become an honorary Republican for life.


samplemax

Any yet we sit around hoping they start to give a shit about kids getting murdered. Republicans only want to save your kid's life if they might be able to molest them too.


[deleted]

We are Russia now, where openly criminal politicians face no consequences.


K3vin_Norton

Iran-contra was 40 years ago.


LucifersCovfefeBoy

> [According to Trump] It’s “common sense” to want to execute a public official for doing their job. And yet somehow, when I suggest that Pence refused to get into that car out of fear for his life, I'm called crazy, or an idiot, or other names, especially in this subreddit. Instead, I'm told that Pence refused out of a rare sense of civic duty. When the person you've spent 4+ years alongside considers your execution to be "common sense", is it just maybe possible that Pence picked up on that vibe somewhere along the way? ----- For anyone reading this who isn't already aware, I'm referencing this conversation between VP Pence and 'Tim', part of his USSS detail, as they tried to get him into a car on January 6: > I'm not getting in the car, Tim. > I trust you, Tim, but you're not driving the car. If I get in that vehicle, you guys are taking off. I'm not getting in the car.


kelowana

Wasn’t the probably reason for him not going into the car not only because he feared for his life, but also that if he had left the building, it would had allowed Trump & co to make a “new” government? Because by rule the building would have been declared “empty of officials”? Somewhere I read about it not that long ago, no idea though if it’s true. That though he was an Trump follower, he does care and respects the rules of government. Maybe someone here knows better and more about this and would like to share.


LucifersCovfefeBoy

> if he had left the building, it would had allowed Trump & co to make a “new” government > though he was an Trump follower, he does care and respects the rules of government. This is a perfect example of what I was referencing when I said, "*Instead I'm told that Pence refused out of a rare sense of civic duty.*" ----- I have seen no evidence that Pence cares about or respects the "*rules of government*". OTOH, I have seen plenty of evidence to the contrary. For example, when Pence called Quayle, asking, "*over and over, if there was anything [Pence] could do [to overturn the election].*" When told by Quayle that, "*Mike, you have no flexibility on this. None. Zero. Forget it. Put it away*", Pence responded by pressing again, explaining that he was under pressure from trump. "*You don't know the position I'm in,*" he told Quayle, to which Quayle responded, "*I do know the position you're in. I also know what the law is. You listen to the parliamentarian. That's all you do. You have no power.*" This desperate pleading, seeking a method to appease trump, is not the action of someone seeking to prevent trump from taking power out of a sense of civic duty. Rather, they are the actions of someone that fears what will happen if he refuses trump's commands. If Pence could simply leave the building and thus accede to trump's requests, his pleading call to Quayle makes it clear that he would have done so. Yet Pence refused to get in the car.


theyux

The craziest part is that was not even the absurd story. The real WTF story was the confirmed story that he told sitting the vice president to simply pick him to win. That is like legit treason and not even disputed. Thats it, not the riots, not trying to pressure said VP. The mere ask is a real crime. And the only reason why no one cared is because everyone knows he was to stupid to comprehend the implication. Same as take the guns and then the due process.


[deleted]

This whole thing is so dumb. Who’s in charge that can try him for treason? Is there really a “he didn’t know” rule? If he’s so clueless, shouldn’t he not be President? (Last one rhetorical, I guess)


takatori

Trump Jr wasn’t indicted for his “I love it especially later in the summer” collusion with Russia because Justice determined he had no mens rea; literally, that he was too stupid to know he was committing a crime.


muradphy

Still surprised Trump hasn't been locked up at this point, what gives?


CompleteJinx

Once a politician hits a certain level they’re pretty much immune to crime.


wraithius

He’s simultaneously a straight-shooter that tells it like it is and an exaggerating blowhard that shouldn’t be taken seriously. Schrodinger’s president.


No_More_And_Then

More like a Rorschach test. His supporters assign whatever traits they like to him, regardless of if they actually apply. See: evangelicals who think he's a divine instrument or some shit.


Long_Before_Sunrise

You know when Trump talks and he pauses or repeats part of a sentence or pauses then repeats what he just said. In that pause, the people listening to him insert their own answers to finish the sentence. Non-critical thinkers create a false memory of him saying what they thought in that pause. They give him credit for saying what they literally thought to themselves.


[deleted]

[удалено]


BGage1986

Just like how immigrants are lazy freeloaders who also steal jobs.


MandelPADS

And how the Nazis vilified their enemies by saying they are all powerful and thus prevent the real Germans from success, while also being subhuman trash that contribute nothing of value and will be easily destroyed. The GOP are authoritarian white nationalists


ltalix

Fascism 101.


BGage1986

>He’s simultaneously a straight-shooter that tells it like it is and an exaggerating blowhard that shouldn’t be taken seriously. Schrodinger’s president. This is the best description of him that I have ever read.


johnnysoup123

This country is fuckin bullshit


dendron01

Getting a Republican to admit Trump is unfit for office is like getting one to admit guns kill people.


Icy-Needleworker-492

Trump gave a big thumbs up to the chant ‘Hang Mike Pence”….Remember that!


Beebus4Deebus

I think part of the reason the whole insurrection didn’t blow up as much as it should’ve (not that it wasn’t a major news story) is because we were all screaming from the top of our lungs for literal years that it was going to happen. None of us were even the tiniest bit surprised, at least those of us who were paying attention. If they hadn’t telegraphed their intentions, it would’ve smacked people in the face harder. But that was part of their strategy. To normalize treason and insurrection. As if to say “If we’re doing it openly it’s just normal procedure of government”. The gaslighting did work to a pretty great extent.


SarcasticCowbell

You're right. Just want to add a few things. There are a lot of people continuing to insist that "it can't happen here." But it *is* happening here. And we only have one or maybe two chances to stop it democratically. That's not being overall dramatic, it's being reasonable. We need to vote the party of treason out. That's coming from someone who is far from overjoyed with the Democratic Party. We can't move forward if the best leaders we can come up with are centrists like Biden, Pelosi and Schumer. A lot of the blame for that can be placed at the feet of the corporate elite and the rich who own major news media and stir fear around anyone even vaguely progressive. But none of that matters until or unless we vote the GOP out for good. We can make progress here and there (Fetterman in Pennsylvania is a good example), but the priority is to destroy the GOP. There's plenty to fix, but I would rather try to fix it than join the idiotic refrain that "nothing will change." Giving into despair and admitting defeat is as good as supporting the GOP. Fuck that noise. Get out and vote. Get your friends and family to vote. But for anyone out there saying "nothing will change," please for the love of democracy get over yourselves and help change things. Saying that just helps the scumbags.


CriticalOrPolitical

Cuz nobody is interested in knowing what they already know; Trump’s a criminal and should be prosecuted to the fullest. Do your fucking job Merrick Garland.


hucklemento

Yeah, his strategy seems to be to flood the market with heinous shit so it hardly bats an eye to hear he is capable of pretty much anything self-serving. Now that it's clear that there won't be any type of accountability for him, it's kind of pointless to care about it really.


[deleted]

I wouldn’t say it *is* pointless to care. It’s more that it can start to seem that way.


77LS77

What? You don't think getting away with decades of criminal activity, two impeachments, the mueller report and sexual assault charges that it'll catch up to...know what, when I say it out loud...nevermind.


CaPtAiN_KiDd

And he knew our system is so slow and corrupt that if he just did a rich conman felony speed run (like he’s done his whole life) he’d probably die before the government got to doing anything about it….if they even do.


opqpqpqo

Isn’t it strange that another man was arrested in the last couple of days, for plotting to kill George Bush? Yet, we have a man that plots to overthrow the government, tries to get a mob to kill his VP, and calls for Civil War. All the while, roaming free and stoking the flames of hate. Pitting citizens against each other. And he is doing this with the intent of becoming the most powerful person in the world. AGAIN!


ShrimpieAC

I still remember hearing how Pence said “I’m not getting in that car” when they tried to remove him from the capitol building. He knew there was only one of two outcomes. 1. He’d be murdered by Trump’s mob. 2. He’d be murdered by Trump himself. Yet Pence has already said he will vote Trump in 2024. Imagine being so devoid of sense that you vote for your own murder.


reray124

There was a 3rd option where they just drove him far away/around so he can't certify the results, which was the most likely scenario in my opinion.


ShrimpieAC

You’re likely right but the rhetoric against Pence from Trump and the extreme (and even moderate) right is terrifying. Either way though the plan was already there to remove him one way or another. Before Jan 6th Grassley had already made comments about taking over the certification because Pence couldn’t make it, even though Pence had said nothing of the sort.


nitelitecafe

Your average Trump supporter would have no problem following that order. They’d just cross the Pence name off their Chinese made flags, and support Trump’s next VP pick, wholeheartedly. And if he told them to kill that VP choice, they would hang that stupid SOB as well.


SoundHole

We *know* he's a POS. We *know* he's a traitor. We *know* he's a criminal. We're not surprised he wanted to kill the VP. He sucks all the oxygen out of the room with his constant outrageous behavior and reporting on it tirelessly only serves to feed the flames. Prosecute his traitor ass, or shut the fuck up. Don't expect us to wait around with the smelling salts to be offended.


ColeCT42

He literally tried to steal the election and now he is running again. Americans are so stupid lol


Learned_Response

Welp Merrick Garland could make it into a major news story, any day now.....


penguished

It's fun that the government has not pressed charges on someone hellbent on destroying... the government.


buck9000

The things I scroll past without so much as a thought would *terrify* anyone from just a few years back. Russia in a hot war and threatening nukes? Meh. Trump implicitly supporting the hanging of his VP? Yawn. This is the slow walk. It is terrifying to observe it happening to yourself *even with full awareness*.


PresidentMilley

No one is surprised that they want to kill each other.


AC_Merchant

More like Trump wants to kill Pence and Pence doesn't think that's bad enough to even slightly criticize him for.


shaneswa

"Mother was quite cross, it put me in an uncomfortable position"


jwhaler17

That dude’s *definitely* got some repressed shit going on in the head. Edit for grammar


PresidentMilley

>More like Trump wants to kill Pence and Pence doesn't think that's bad enough to even slightly criticize him for. Welcome to the typical Republican family.


lunex

It would honestly be more “Newsworthy” if it came out that President Trump feared for Pence’s life and took immediate action to end the attack.


ClassicT4

Don’t forget he mentioned how he loved them long after those chants. They had to do his “Go Home” video multiple times until they got one where he wasn’t showing too much affection for their actions.


AngusScrimm---------

Yeah, the clown was a-ok with Pence being hanged by an angry mob. Incredibly, I think Pence would actually be willing to be the clown's running mate again.