This is getting to be fascinating. As the now totally Trump dependent GOP continues to collapse in on its base, it’s starting to look like that time lapse photography of one of those desert flowers that folds in on itself at night for protection. And like their dystopian leader, they are creating a comforting reality for themselves that has no moorings in traditional reality.
Yesterday, former Florida GOP Representative David Jolly appeared on Nicolle Wallace’s show on MSNBC. Jolly related how he had received a text from a GOP operative that he used to work with while he was in congress. The operative was almost giddy, his text read something like Thank you President Biden! His vaccine mandate just gave the GOP the House back in 2022, and we’re going for MORE! Personally Jolly thought that the guy was full of shit, and personally so do I.
I wrote yesterday that Biden’s numbers were sagging in Covid because a lot of people who followed the rules want their goddamn lives back. Biden’s employer enforced vaccination mandate will finally get us over the herd immunity hump, while depriving the GOP of their outrage outlet. After all, you don’t pound on the window of the bosses car while you scream for him to get out so you can kick his ass. Biden is banding the vast majority together to fight the sniveling two year old’s, and it will work.
And consider this. GOP Governors like Deathsantis in Florida, Kemp in Georgia, and Abbott in Texas are playing Covid roulette with their constituents for two reasons. First, they are trying to rally the loony base and stave off a primary challenge for the right. And second, at least two of them are trying to cement their positions in case Trump doesn’t run again in 2024.
The problem is that they made a basic mistake. They let the virus get out of control. As senior populations close in on 90% vaccination rates, and more people get vaccinated statewide, this leaves children as the most bountiful hunting ground for the virus. And some of those parents holding bedside vigils, and burying school age children are GOP voters, and somehow, Covid just doesn’t seem so political anymore. They may escape a primary only to find that their own voters have turned against their leadership in the general election.
Cast your mind back to 2016. Trump squeaked out an electoral college victory because a shaky coalition of soft support GOP voters, disaffected Democrats, and demoralized independents were willing to take a chance on a rank outsider to shake things up and get government functioning again. And what they got was the most gridlocked congress in American history, an actual, sanctioned attempt to dismantle the functional government, and a political pool more toxic that the mosh pit at a Godsmack concert.
In 2020 Biden ran on reconciliation, healing the country, and finally getting the government working for the people again. And goddammit, with or without GOP help, he has followed through. His Covid stimulus was a lifeline for millions, and kick started the economy. His child tax credit cut childhood poverty almost in half. And even among Republicans, his infrastructure package is more popular than congress is. GOPtards might enjoy a roll in the racist, white grievance wallow, but the rest of us just want the damn roads fixed, and our kids getting a decent education. And Biden is getting it done.
You guys and gals have been good little readers, and you read all of your vegetables, so here’s your dessert. Texas Governor Greg Abbott is the suicide bomber of the GOP Taliban. And he overreached. The Texas GOP thought that the first federal court to touch his 6 week abortion ban mega turd would stomp it out. And instead, five radical conservative justices on the Supreme Court said Fuck it! Go for the gold dude! And in so doing, at least to my mind, cost the GOP both the House as well as the Senate in 2022.
As we speak, legal abortion in this country holds a healthy 60% support in this country, including a majority of Republicans. Following Trump’s election in 2016, GOP women, especially their core support white suburban women revolted, spanking the GOP for 40 House seats, and giving the Democrats a House they still hold. In 2020, they put the GOP on probation, coming home for downline ballot candidates, while refusing to give Trump a 2nd term. And the GOP can’t alienate them again and hope to survive.
13 GOP controlled states, including swing states like Florida, Arizona, Iowa, and Ohio have all already promised to have their legislatures craft laws mirroring the Texas law. And guess what? At this point, it really doesn’t matter how the courts proceed, the damage is already done. Abbott has set off his suicide bomb right in the middle of the moderate GOP crowd.
Look, forget about Democrats. No woman, black, white, rich, poor, Democratic, GOP, or independent wants their reproductive choices being regulated by a bunch of mostly white, rich, privileged GOPtards. Even if the courts strike down the law, the Democrats are going to use the simple fact that all of those GOP states supported and tried to emulate the Texas law in their campaigns. And women voters will listen.
It’s one thing for a political party to have a hard time separating from The Democrats were almost lost at sea when Obama was no longer at the helm. And he still steps forward today to help when he can. And the Democrats are as grateful as hell for his charisma and leadership. But when a political party follows a revered leader down a delusional rabbit hole, nothing good is going to happen.
Follow me on Twitter at @RealMurfster35
Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Nebraska, South Dakota: they’re killing off their own futures because they want a mythical past back.
Eyes wide shut … kicking around all the pundit’s anti-vaxing on the radio as an example … at least half of those go-to stations and their ignorant microphones have died from Covid, imagine that … then imagine, because the parents are not going to mask or get vaccinated, no-seree!
Losing the whole family to Covid, just because, “We are extremely stupid and proud of it”, why has there NOT been a program to educate these sad people with the truth and expose the loud-mouths for what they really are … killers by radio broadcasts … Limburger was the first major star of radio-delivered nonsense, lies and political drivel … the rest are dropping like flies
The death rate in FL was, at least last week, due to Covid-19, 1 every 4 minutes, I often wonder how the De-Stupid family has not noticed the piles of bodies laying around FL …
“Moderate GOP crowd”? You can’t even call Susan moderate anymore. Not after her support of S.C. justice Beer Bong. Seriously, when was the last time there were moderate ‘pubes let alone a moderate wing of them? It’s been several years.
GOP: We won’t support the ACA because there will be death panels killing Granny.
GOP: Is today’s death panel killing Granny, Grampy, Mom, Dad, the kids, the teachers, healthcare workers, and everybody else. Don’t support them.