The Republican party has gone rogue and off the rails. Refusing to clearly condemn the “Big Lie” of the “StoptheSteal” campaign and acknowledge the seriousness of the January 6th insurrection, they have made a mockery of the rule of law and as a result, have fueled a movement that threatens our democracy. Their moral turpitude and sycophantic obeisance to The Don, coupled with their insidious and rapacious desire for power, has fostered an environment where potential for violence, in the name of faux patriotism, is becoming more and more real.
Polling indicates that 30 percent of Republicans, and 40 percent of people who “most trust” far-right news sources, believe that “true patriots” may have to resort to violence to “save” the country.
Let’s look at a few recent incidents that frankly scare the shit out of me.
Here’s a comment made by someone at rally sponsored by a right wing media provocator:
“At this point, we’re living under corporate and medical fascism. This is tyranny. When do we get to use the guns?” the man asked, to applause from the crowd. “No, and I’m not – that’s not a joke. I’m not saying it like that. I mean, literally, where’s the line? How many elections are they going to steal before we kill these people?”
Good question. When are they going to “use the guns”? I don’t have any actual data, but I am willing to bet that most of the people who own guns in this country are the “we” he is referencing.
Representative Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, who is one of the only Republicans to condemn the “Big Lie” and is sitting on the committee (along with Liz Cheney) investigating the January 6th Insurrection, was told to slit his wrists and “rot in hell.”
Another hoped Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska (whose outrageous act was to vote for a bill to fix bridges and roads!) would “slip and fall down a staircase.” Rumor has it that Bacon told a friend, “Hope that asshole steps in a pothole and breaks his leg”.
Fred Upton, another congressman, who committed heresy by voting for the infrastructure bill, said his phone lines were flooded with more than a thousand angry and threatening calls, including multiple death threats to him and his family. An Upton spokesperson reported that the strangest voice message he heard was someone singing the beginning of a dark Curtis Mayfield song:
“Hey, hey
Love, love
Yeah, yeah
Ah, ha
Freddies dead
That’s what I said”
Marjorie Taylor Greene sicked her ire on her colleagues, and blasted out the office phone numbers of the 19 Republican senators who voted for the infrastructure bill in August. She referred to them as “traitors.” But MTG, we just want to fix the roads and bridges. What’s the harm in that? Rumor has it that MTG responded “Better to die driving over a bridge that caves in, than to give those treasonous Democrats a victory. Real American heroes die for their country; and if it means hurtling through the air to your death: So be it!”
Representative Paul Gosar, Republican of Arizona, this week tweeted an anime video altered to show him killing Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
What did Minority leader Mr. McCarthy, and almost all his Republican cronies, have to say about Gosar’s outrageous action? Nothing at all. Rumor has it, that when McCarthy was asked what he thought about Gosar’s video, he said, “Paul’s got a weird sense of humor, anyway I can’t be bothered with that as I am too busy fantasizing hitting Nancy Pelosi in the head with a gavel when I replace her as speaker”.
Michigan Congresswoman Debbie Dingell said she was threatened by men with assault weapons outside her home last year after she was denounced by Tucker Carlson on his Fox News show. One friendly constituent left this voice mail: “They ought to try you for treason. I hope your family dies in front of you. I pray to God that if you’ve got any children, they die in your face.” God, if you are listening, can you please do something to this menace to society? If you don’t, I will be forced to come to the conclusion that you are a Republican.
And what of Ted Cruz’s assault on Big Bird, who dared to support children getting vaccinated. Cruz accused Big Bird of “Government propaganda…for your 5 year old!” That’s right Big Bird wants to control your mind. He wants to take away your freedom. He wants to teach you how to read things like Toni Morrison’s “Beloved”. Watch out as Karl Marx is Big Bird’s great, great grandfather.
And then there is what The Don had to say when asked about Mike Pence’s safety during the insurrection when great patriots were screaming, “Hang Mike Pence, Hang Mike Pence!”.
“No, I thought he was well-protected, and I had heard that he was in good shape” Trump said.
“Because you heard those chants — that was terrible,” Karl said.
“Well, the people were very angry,” Trump replied.
Jonathan Karl from his new book: Betrayal: The Final Act of the Trump show continued:
“They were saying, ‘Hang Mike Pence’” Karl said.
“Because it’s common sense, Jon,” Trump replied. “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?”.
So, is the Don saying what I think he’s saying? Was he suggesting that Pence would have gotten what he deserved, that if by some chance he didn’t get to safety that wouldn’t have been so terrible? Yes, you heard it right. You heard the ex-president say that killing his vice president would have been understandable given the people’s anger. You heard a not-so-veiled call-to-arms to take back what was stolen. Yes, that’s where we are in this country. Scary place to be!
On a positive note, Steve Bannon was finally indicted for refusing to appear before the congressional committee.
The Grand Offal Party 