47 Comments

“GOP’s five families” describes it perfectly, Joe. Thank you.

Expand full comment

The Republican Study Committee, Republican Governance Group, House Freedom Caucus, Republican Main Street Caucus, and the Problem Solvers Caucus are the 5 factions in the GOP conference. Officially, their leaders who meet with the speaker every week are called the Elected Leadership Council. But members, staff, and press all refer to them as the five families, with no one minding the obvious reference.

Expand full comment

Oh, I’m sure they think it makes ‘em seem Big & Bad. I bet they “go to the mattresses” too, when there’s a big disagreement.

Expand full comment

Why would they? They don't balk at dear leader comparing himself to Al Capone. It is all they really want. They want their little kindoms afforded to them by dear leader so they can all pretend they are big shots.

Expand full comment

When their leaders meet, is there a bowl of oranges on the table?

Expand full comment

Reminds me of the Mafia families that were so prevalent back in the tri-state area where I grew up.

These guys even fight like the Mafia, they're stabbing each other in the back supporting challengers to incumbents, it's a mess.

Expand full comment

Difference being, the Mafia knew they were criminals.

Expand full comment

Good point, LOL.

Expand full comment

Are they evenly split? Like 40-ish members in each faction?

Expand full comment

Their numbers are mixed. RSC is the largest while the Freedom Caucus is somehow the smallest and least organized, but still the most powerful.

Expand full comment

If Trump wins, we will truly become a lawless nation, which is something the GOP falsely accuses the Dems for creating.

Expand full comment

It is always projection with the Republicans.

Expand full comment

Everyone knows only Blacks and Hispanics commit crimes.

Expand full comment

Lil Donny needs his emotional support Senator while he's in court lol

Expand full comment

Hahaha! Yes! The only people who are there to support him are people that would be nowhere without him.

Expand full comment

And that's how he likes 'em.

Expand full comment

lap dogs.

Expand full comment

What these Guest Apparencies demonstrate is the fear that all of the MAGAs will go down with Trump in the election. Last time I checked, the Case is still being tried in Manhattan because that is the court which has jurisdiction. So far, the only New York politician to parrot the Trumpian attack on the integrity of the New York Court's is the fist term Congress person from Staten Island which represent probably less than 2% of the total voting population of the State. The great so-called conservatives from upstate New York -from Districts that Biden won or near to Districts that he won---have suddenly gotten laryngitis on this subject. As for the two Senators, Tuberville plainly did not wear a helmet when he coached the Big Red or whoever it was and Scott couldn't get elected Dog Killer in Manhattan so he should have gone to the Dakotas if he knows where those States are.. And the Speaker who suddenly popped up is likely to lose up to 17 Seats in the House if not more, so be would better off finding ways to stop MJT from ruining his inability to pass anything without Hakem Jeffries blessing. So, does anyone really believe that these buffoons are going to influence the Jury?

Expand full comment

It’s a Stupidity Cluster. Let’s remember these fools. Along with the rest of the 147 Objectors.

Expand full comment

LOL! The Nebraskans reading this do not like having Big Red confused with the Crimson Tide.

Expand full comment

And the Alabamans here (there may be some!) REALLY don’t like getting the Tide and the Tigers mixed up ;)

Expand full comment

No, but all they need is one juror to hold out a guilty verdict and that will be a win for Trump.

Expand full comment

How are you familiar with Mr. Brady’s briefcase ploy? You are too young! Thank you for the link. Reminds me that The Brady Bunch was much more clever than it’s given credit for. Also, even if DJT will never admit it, his “Russia, Russia, Russia” complaint is a direct parody of Jan’s “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia” complaint. Without a doubt it is a direct memory hit for anyone in their late 50s, early/mid 60s similar to Proust’s madeleines. They might not know why it is familiar but he does.

Expand full comment

Sorry, Joe. Great reporting as usual. But can't agree with your characterization of Iowa AG Brenna Bird's attendance at Trump's NYC lackey-lickspittle-cheer-fest as "especially odd" or even odd in any way at all. Lest we forget, in December 2020, 17 other Republican state attorneys general joined Texas AG Ken Paxton's lawsuit attempting to overturn the election results in Ga., Mi., Pa. and Wis., thus attempting to disenfranchise and steal from millions of Americans their already legally cast and valid votes.

Thieves of a feather flock together.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/106-congressional-republicans-join-17-state-attorneys-general-in-support-of-texas-suit-to-overturn-election-results-in-ga-mich-pa-wis-01607658751

Expand full comment

“…a statement that could pass for a kind of GOP lorem ipsum text—as aligned with “Bill Gates, abortion, killing coal, and funding transgender surgeries.” 

On fire!!🔥

Expand full comment

This made me smile, "GOP lorem ipsum text." Great description for how they speak.

Expand full comment

Isn't there a federal or West Virginia law forbidding convicted insurrectionists from running for national office?

Expand full comment

He was convicted of "civil disorder" which doesn't rise to the level of insurrection. Many of the kids being arrested in the Gaza protests are probably being charged with civil disorder.

Expand full comment

Great report today, Joe. The

lineup of support for DJT

brought tears to my eyes,

I was laughing so hard. Only

Ted Cruz was missing.

Mikey Johnson may have a

wee bit of a hard time getting

Mr. Jeffries to help him out

any more.

Expand full comment

Ted gets the Thursday shift. It's like they have to babysit so he'll be happy.

I read this morning they were showing him pictures of the crowd at the rally this weekend to keep him happy in court yesterday.

Expand full comment

Anything to keep him awake.🤣

Expand full comment

What passes for the republican party these days is totally disgraceful.

Expand full comment

And what's far, far worse, a clear and present danger to the Republic.

Expand full comment

'“Main Street” Republican, Carol Miller[], a candidate he described ... as aligned with “Bill Gates, abortion, killing coal, and funding transgender surgeries.”'

Actually, as a member of the Main Street Caucus Ms Miller might actually have been aligned with Gates -- pre leaving Microsoft. After all, the primary policies this caucus focus on is pro-business, and Gates led Microsoft into being the largest corporation in the world during his tenure. (For kicks and giggles, check out the photo at: https://news.microsoft.com/announcement/microsoft-is-born/)

Other than that, Mr Evans is closely following the teachings of Trump [sic] in his treatment of Ms Miller (and I don't mean grabbing her by her p****y). He appeared to be trying to make Miller take a constant defensive position, especially over low blows consisting of unfounded rumors and non-existent policy positions (the worst of which, imo, is the claim she wants to "kill[] coal" in W Virginia), so she was unable to go on the offensive during the race.

(The returns aren't in yet but I'm guessing that Evans will win. Primary voters tend to come predominantly from the fringes of their respective party -- for the RINOs that's synonymous MAGA -- and given that "endorsements included House Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good (R-Va.) and QAnon-believing, disgraced former Army Gen. Michael Flynn[,]" there is little room in my mind as to who continues on to Nov.)

-----

"which is one of the House GOP’s five families. With a few exceptions, these labels are more about a lawmaker’s temperament than actual policy positions"

Mr Perticone, I respectfully disagree with this. Of the 5 Families only the Main Streeters, and maybe the RSC, imo, fit the descriptive. The most ironically named House Freedom Caucus lawmakers [sic], almost to a member, have an internal mix that if not 50-50 between temperament and policy position it is awfully close. If the Republican Governance Group and the Republican members of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus had some sort of cover from the bomb throwers of the New GOP I think that they would trend towards policy.

fnord

Expand full comment

WaPo is reporting this morning that Miller won in W. Va., She's no prize, but at least she's not a convicted felon and insurrectionist like Evans. Just an insurrection sympathizer and an election denier -- we've certainly had to lower our standards in the Age of Trump.

Expand full comment

On the plus side, this latest batch of surrogates is probably enjoying it far more than Stormy did.

Expand full comment

Joe

Up to today I have believed EVERY SINGLE THING you've said in your posts.

But today it was "I’ve never seen so many Oakleys in one place."

Weren't you in Rome for the skateboarding championships last autumn or Tokyo for the street-boarding finals in December?

Expand full comment

God less first an officer like you but most of all a man of your qualities r hard to find i spent 15 year in law enforcement and i would have fought for my life protecting the capitol like all the officers that day my problem would have been a few day later when all those men begging you to help them save their lives and risk your then a few days later deny it happened i would probably of went around gathering them up with a few news crews in tow and pointed out each of them running and begging you and your fellow officers to protect them them only to deny it a few days later i don’t think i would have been able to let those rats get off without feeling what me and my fellow officers felt that day every damn one of them do like u said God bless all you officers that stood united that day and after

Expand full comment

Dunn got some well-earned coinage from my purse, so to speak. Worth every penny.

Expand full comment