The Joni Ernst story is critical to understanding Trump's power. Throw-in the death threats that MAGA likes to lob at folks, and you have a bulwark that is fractured.
If only the 'normal' republicans banded together they would actually have some power to change the trajectory of the Trump presidency. Unfortunately, they are too frightened to do the right thing.
The Joni Ernst story is critical to understanding Trump's power. Throw-in the death threats that MAGA likes to lob at folks, and you have a bulwark that is fractured.
If only the 'normal' republicans banded together they would actually have some power to change the trajectory of the Trump presidency. Unfortunately, they are too frightened to do the right thing.
It is waaaaaaaaay too late for the "normal" Republicans to band together. It was too late for that after he got elected the first time.
When you cave a bizillion times in a row, you have basically lost any chance you had to do anything. When you reside in a media echo chamber where up is down and black is white and good is evil, you are kind of screwed. When your voters are largely zero information people who live in a reality created by that media and that you have gone along with for your own selfish intersts for a few decades, you reap what you sow.
IтАЩll be writing my тАЬspecialтАЭ senator, Ernst, to remind her that primaries can be withstood. Case in point, the MAGA primary challenger in IowaтАЩs 1st congressional district who only a few months garnered a mere 20% of the vote (the incumbent GOP survived the primary and then the November election and will (sadly) be returning to D.C. ). Joni *should* take heart and stand firm against a primary threat like the soldier she claims to be.
For clarity. This is a district that mostly sits on the border with Illinois and corridors to the main city Des Moines. The Republican, Marianette Miller-Meeks, Lauren Boebarted the General with less then 1% of the vote. A whopping win of 800 against 416,000 (rounded) cast. This district is the best chance for democrars to pickup in the state. A place where the Magamovement does not do well. Safe to say. Thats not a good bell weather against what will happen to Joni. As the resr of the state is much deeper red minus the county Im headed to right now in Pottawattemie. Joni, 100% is in the middle of bending the knee.
You may well be correct, and I certainly wonтАЩt be asserting that I trust Ernst to do the right thing for the country.
But, the relatively swingy nature of the 1st district meant that Miller-Meeks has had to make a few (literally a couple) of anti-MAGA votes during her time in Congress. She had reason to know that MAGA was gunning for her in the Primary on this basis, yet she prevailed.
ItтАЩs on that argument that I would attempt to encourage Ernst to be brave, futile though it probably would be.
DonтАЩt discourage me here, Ryan! YouтАЩre talking to someone who tries to take comfort from the notion that тАЬat least Ernst is better than GrassleyтАЭ :-(
I might take my chances with a primary challenger. It's not like MAGA senate challengers have a winning record. Plus, two years of Trump.2 may not be the average GOP voter's cup of tea.
My solution is to switch to independent. If itтАЩs a gerrymandered district, then the independent would do well, since itтАЩs the low turnout in the primaries that usually does them in. Just a thoughtтАж:)
The far-right noise machine sets the agenda that Republican office-holders are functionally required to follow, if they intend to obtain another term in office. It's mob rule, plain and simple, on behalf of the oligarchy and whoever they've deigned to support.
There are no normal republicans anymore; especially when threatened with a primary! Trump owns the party; from the RNC to the Oval, and any dissent will not be tolerated: PERIOD!
These people are victims of their own success. Extreme gerrymandering and voter suppression!тАж:)
The respect of your family and spouse, the reputation of your family name, the comfort of your local community, your own health .... so many worse things.
That's right! The normal republicans or the ones that know that Trump is a moron and unfit are scared of a primary, so they cosplay as MAGA freaks. They essentially sell their soul for power. They are not unique but they are still cowards.
I wish they would understand that there is strength in numbers. Trump and his MAGA acolytes like Kirk cannot mount primary challenges to 10 Republican senators that banded together to stop Trump's craziest impulses.
The Joni Ernst story is critical to understanding Trump's power. Throw-in the death threats that MAGA likes to lob at folks, and you have a bulwark that is fractured.
If only the 'normal' republicans banded together they would actually have some power to change the trajectory of the Trump presidency. Unfortunately, they are too frightened to do the right thing.
They're not frightened of him, but of each other, and ultimately, the voters.
Facsicm at its finest
It is waaaaaaaaay too late for the "normal" Republicans to band together. It was too late for that after he got elected the first time.
When you cave a bizillion times in a row, you have basically lost any chance you had to do anything. When you reside in a media echo chamber where up is down and black is white and good is evil, you are kind of screwed. When your voters are largely zero information people who live in a reality created by that media and that you have gone along with for your own selfish intersts for a few decades, you reap what you sow.
That about sums it up.
I know you are right.
They will all be primaried, start your lists, Ernst, Cornyn, Tillis, Cassidy, probably even Lankford.
The lucky ones will be primaried. The others will be treated like Nancy Pelosi's husband.
and then primaried, if they survive
Nicely done!тАж:)
This is the truest statement ever written.
IтАЩll be writing my тАЬspecialтАЭ senator, Ernst, to remind her that primaries can be withstood. Case in point, the MAGA primary challenger in IowaтАЩs 1st congressional district who only a few months garnered a mere 20% of the vote (the incumbent GOP survived the primary and then the November election and will (sadly) be returning to D.C. ). Joni *should* take heart and stand firm against a primary threat like the soldier she claims to be.
For clarity. This is a district that mostly sits on the border with Illinois and corridors to the main city Des Moines. The Republican, Marianette Miller-Meeks, Lauren Boebarted the General with less then 1% of the vote. A whopping win of 800 against 416,000 (rounded) cast. This district is the best chance for democrars to pickup in the state. A place where the Magamovement does not do well. Safe to say. Thats not a good bell weather against what will happen to Joni. As the resr of the state is much deeper red minus the county Im headed to right now in Pottawattemie. Joni, 100% is in the middle of bending the knee.
You may well be correct, and I certainly wonтАЩt be asserting that I trust Ernst to do the right thing for the country.
But, the relatively swingy nature of the 1st district meant that Miller-Meeks has had to make a few (literally a couple) of anti-MAGA votes during her time in Congress. She had reason to know that MAGA was gunning for her in the Primary on this basis, yet she prevailed.
ItтАЩs on that argument that I would attempt to encourage Ernst to be brave, futile though it probably would be.
DonтАЩt discourage me here, Ryan! YouтАЩre talking to someone who tries to take comfort from the notion that тАЬat least Ernst is better than GrassleyтАЭ :-(
Lol, im comforted in the fact that you as a human being exist.
I might take my chances with a primary challenger. It's not like MAGA senate challengers have a winning record. Plus, two years of Trump.2 may not be the average GOP voter's cup of tea.
My solution is to switch to independent. If itтАЩs a gerrymandered district, then the independent would do well, since itтАЩs the low turnout in the primaries that usually does them in. Just a thoughtтАж:)
And the longer they wait, the harder it will get, because every one of these cop-outs makes the problem worse.
The far-right noise machine sets the agenda that Republican office-holders are functionally required to follow, if they intend to obtain another term in office. It's mob rule, plain and simple, on behalf of the oligarchy and whoever they've deigned to support.
There are no normal republicans anymore; especially when threatened with a primary! Trump owns the party; from the RNC to the Oval, and any dissent will not be tolerated: PERIOD!
These people are victims of their own success. Extreme gerrymandering and voter suppression!тАж:)
your last paragraph - good point.
Absolutely correct!!!
There are so many worse things than being primaried and losing your job as a legislator. Like losing your integrity.
It's not just losing your job, it's losing your ticket into the room where it happens. For prople like Lindsey Graham, that's a social death.
Lindsey Graham, soulless wonder.
The respect of your family and spouse, the reputation of your family name, the comfort of your local community, your own health .... so many worse things.
That's right! The normal republicans or the ones that know that Trump is a moron and unfit are scared of a primary, so they cosplay as MAGA freaks. They essentially sell their soul for power. They are not unique but they are still cowards.
I wish they would understand that there is strength in numbers. Trump and his MAGA acolytes like Kirk cannot mount primary challenges to 10 Republican senators that banded together to stop Trump's craziest impulses.
not Kirk alone, but the MAGA movement, for which his is a leading choice, can.
He only has the power that they give him.
So true, Robert. Gerrymandering has turned into a morality tale for the ages. Be careful what you wish for. The parable of Frankenstein is apropos.