Making Political Hay Over Marjorie Taylor Greene
Democrats, understandably, are salivating at the prospect of making a mountain of political hay over Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a pro-Trump Republican who got elected despite believing in QAnon and pretty much every other conspiracy theory from the last quarter-century or so.
More importantly, when considering her fitness to serve in the United States government, Greene also approved of the idea of shooting Nancy Pelosi in the head. She is thus, not to put too fine a point on it, a terrorist sympathizer. Shooting your political enemies is a pretty textbook definition of terrorism, after all.
Previous to the insurrection attempt at the U.S. Capitol, Greene called for it to become "our 1776 moment," which is also pretty clear-cut. She supported an attempt to rebel against the sitting government (of which she was now part), plain and simple. How else can "our 1776 moment" be interpreted?
So there is more than enough evidence for House Democrats to act upon. Greene's words and beliefs are a pretty obvious disqualification for her to serve, period. Right now, the question the House is considering is whether to kick her off all her committee assignments. This would make her a virtual pariah -- a representative without committees, without power, and without the ability to convince donors that her vote was worth courting. She'd be relegated not just to the back benches, but to the furthest back of them all. But she'd still be a member of Congress.
Which is why there is another proposed resolution to just expel her from the House entirely. The House does have the power to do this, and has done it before (for instance, in a case with clear parallels, the House expelled multiple members who were part of the rebellious Confederacy). A two-thirds vote is necessary, though. So far, there's been no word on if or when this resolution will get to the floor for a vote, whereas the committee-stripping one will get a vote tomorrow.
Democrats gave Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy a short window, just in case he wanted to act on his own to strip her committee assignments. This would have been a face-saving way for the Republicans to disavow her without being forced to cast a vote on it. Unfortunately, Greene is a favorite of Donald Trump. Which means any Republican from McCarthy on down who dares vote against her might just wind up paying the ultimate political price for doing so. McCarthy met with Greene yesterday and then made an unserious offer to the Democrats: he would remove her from the most objectionable committee assignment (Education and Labor), but he'd move her to another committee instead. Democrats, quite rightly, immediately turned this idea down.
McCarthy was reportedly given 72 hours to deal with the problem. He's down to about 24 hours, and he still hasn't decided what he's going to do. Plenty of his own caucus is begging him to act and just remove her from the committees, because they don't want to have their vote on the record, one way or the other. But that would require political strength, a clear moral vision, and a steely backbone -- none of which McCarthy actually possesses.
This is why Democrats have the opening to make a huge pile of political hay in the first place. McCarthy's cowardice has left an enormous opening, because if Democrats force all Republican House members to vote, then some Democrats see their entire 2022 election campaign as being: "The GOP is now the party of QAnon." Supporting Greene means endorsing her ideas as valid in the political debate -- including shooting the speaker of the House in the head because she doesn't happen to belong to your party. That's pretty radical (not to mention depraved), which is why it's such a potent political issue. And Democrats will be right to paint (with a very broad brush) any GOP House members as Greene supporters if they cast a vote in her favor.
Republicans have sown this wind for years, and now they are attempting to ride the whirlwind they created. Greene's comments and actions are indefensible, but voting to condemn them means the possibility of enraging all of Trump's supporters -- who form a large part of the Republican base in all their districts.
Overall, the concept of defining Republicans as nothing short of extremists and radicals is indeed a good way for Democrats to campaign, because it is so obviously true in so many blatant ways. I would even suggest reviving the label "Radical Republicans," because that is truly where they have ended up.
But I have to end on one note of caution. Because trying to make every House race into a referendum on one opposing member rarely works as well as both parties think it will. Ask Nancy Pelosi, she's tell you. Or Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, for that matter. Pelosi has appeared in more opposition ads than just about anyone else in Washington over the past few decades, but even when Republicans deploy the full-court anti-Pelosi press, it rarely works as designed. One such election actually ended in a landslide for the Democrats.
So making (as has been put many times already) "M.T.G. the A.O.C. of the GOP" may indeed be politically beneficial to Democrats. But they shouldn't put too much faith in the overall effectiveness of the tactic, because House elections are almost never nationalized by one polarizing figure from the other party. It's just too much of a stretch to think the congressman you personally vote for really has anything to do with any other prominent political figures in the House (or elsewhere). House races are incredibly localized, after all (as designed, in fact). The only time nationalizing an election really does work to any noticeable degree is with the presidency (tying House or Senate candidates to the president or presidential candidate of their party).
Also, if the move to actually expel Greene works then she will disappear as a potent issue. The only way this really has a chance of working is if she's still around, and still prone to saying all kinds of crazy -- and treasonous and terroristic -- things, on a regular basis. For that to happen, Republicans will have to vote in large numbers to support her. If they don't -- if enough of them (around five dozen) vote to expel Greene, then the problem goes away for the Republicans who remain. It's anybody's guess, really, how they will actually vote, but there is a small chance that enough of them will realize what a headache Greene is going to continue to be for them and vote to get rid of her. In which case Democrats will have achieved their stated goal, but will also be left without the ability to use her as a political foil in 2022.
-- Chris Weigant
Follow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisWeigant
I am baffled that the Democrats (or is it just you?) see a downside to expelling this loathsome and dangerous person from Congress - that then they can't use her as a target to rally anger against the Republicans in the next election.
It reminds me of the police departments who depend on a steady supply of criminal seizures to fund their operations, so that there is no incentive to actually suppress crime below a certain level, letting the criminals continue to prey off society so the police can continue to operate.
It's also similar to all the bleating about how, if the Dems get rid of the filibuster so they can pass legislation that they honestly believe is good and will get them re-elected by a grateful public, it will not be worth it when the Republicans regain power. Because then the GOP will use the lack of a filibuster to pass laws that the Democrats honestly believe are terrible and will alienate the public, leading to a future Democratic comeback.
Just do the right thing, for once, and try to remember that that is actually good politics. Get rid of her because it will make the Congress and the nation a healthier and safer place, and figure out who else to run against in 2022. There will be plenty of others, I would bet.
CW,
It was reported that Greene was given a standing ovation from her Republican colleagues in the House today at the start of a Party meeting. WTF?!?!
And while I agree that Republicans attacks on the women of the DNC might not result in more voters to win elections for them, MTG’s greatest power is in her ability to be used to raise money for the GOP (QOP).
I believe we are not realizing the true reason that Republicans are unwilling to stand up to the nut jobs in their Party... they can’t or the GOP would risk losing a large portion of the voting base they now rely on to be the “minority majority” when they win elections. Trump received millions more votes in 2020 than he did in 2016; which can only mean that either Trump voters are former GOP voters that had stopped voting until Trump, or Trump committed levels of voter fraud never seen before and we have not realized it occurred because it was not enough to give him a victory.
Whoops, hit submit by accident...
The GOP cannot piss off the Crazies or else they will be left with a voting base the size of the Libertarian Party’s base. They cannot allow Trump to take his voters and create his own party, and Trump knows this, or else the GOP will no longer be able to continue in its current form (which, I think most would agree, would not be such a bad idea!). They might not see themselves in the majority for 30 - 50 years if they stand up to Trump and he successfully (which is doubtful at best) creates his Patriot Party.
Republicans are cowards. The are liars. They have only themselves to blame, but that ain’t ever gonna happen!
So, there's a conspiracy theory going around that the Q-Anon congresswoman has denounced everything she ever said.
Republicans have been appealing for unity. What could be more unifying than "we all think Marjorie Taylor Greene is abominable"?
One of my favourite musicians doesn't think too kindly about president Biden. He thinks the election was stolen from Trump and that Biden couldn't possibly have gotten 80 million votes.
He's still one of my favourite musicians and I hope he finds this place so we can talk about the way forward.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqMl5CRoFdk&list=RDMM&index=14
Why don't Republican voters expect more than simply opposing the Democrats? I get the whole "own the Libs" thing, but they don't offer any alternative proposals, like how to help Americans deal with this fine mess or what they'd replace Obamacare with.
I just checked Fox, OANN & Newsmax & Trump isn't on the radar screen. The GOP acts like they're still cowed but that may be an act. An excuse.
While Pelosi never cost a Democrat their seat she's not nearly the most Liberal Representative. And Libs like AOC don't advocate political violence. I watched MTG and she meant what she said. I'd rather be associated with Nancy than with this nut job if I want suburban & educated voters.
[1]
JMC wrote,
It's also similar to all the bleating about how, if the Dems get rid of the filibuster so they can pass legislation that they honestly believe is good and will get them re-elected by a grateful public, it will not be worth it when the Republicans regain power. Because then the GOP will use the lack of a filibuster to pass laws that the Democrats honestly believe are terrible and will alienate the public, leading to a future Democratic comeback.
Fine -- I want the Repugs to do just that! If their sucky planet trashing millionaire tax cuts and abortion restrictions screw the country we will resume power with FDR's juice.
[3]
LWYH wrote,
They might not see themselves in the majority for 30 - 50 years if they stand up to Trump and he successfully (which is doubtful at best) creates his Patriot Party.
No, four years max in the wilderness if they remove him via Impeachment. He's off the radar screen & even Trump TV won't make a dent. And lots of the Trumpanzies will stay home but the rest will stay put.
If the Repugs wuss out it will add months or years to the Republican Carnage. Or at least a lot of bleeding, out of their wherever.
Elizabeth I'll post the video of MTG unambiguously saying ever last word if you ask nicely.
...saying EVERY last word .
[4]
What musician?
Ted Nugent?
Kanye, again?
With Covid denial so prevalent Joe should publically call on Trump,
"Mr. President please tell your supporters that you're so confident in your Operation Warp Speed vaccines that they should get one as soon as they can. And tell their friends, too, before they send the doses out to Nancy Pelosi's district."
Whether Trump does so or not this is a win-win for Joe. It'll
1- call attention to the need for all Americans to get the vaccine. Especially as the media will push the story, because Trump.
2- remind everybody how badly Trump bungled Covid.
3- if Trump wont act Presidential that will remind everyone what an uncaring d-bag he remains. Cain't but hurt Trump in the Senate.
***
Please rate the above on the Scale of Evilness, 1 - 10
***
Elizabeth Miller wrote:
Hey, MtnCaddy! Do you like the Romantics? I just found out that they are from Detroit.
Tonight's your lucky night! You can introduce me to your fave Romantics tunes Sunday Dance Party -- MixmistressDJ the Royal Canadian way. I didn't know they came from Detroit.
Steve King lost his Committees and so will MTG.
Yeah I'd get the Repugs on record for not booting MTG. She'll make a railcar of money for both sides.
And you know that MAGA & Q are a bigger slice of the State level GOP. So that more than National level will be damaged by her, with 21 months to the Midterms.
I have just received my first dose of the Pfizer vaccine. No fuss or bother on my part, just turned up at a health center a couple of miles from my house for an appointment arranged by my GP, with a choice of times. (I'm early 70s and the next tranche will be over 65's. My other half, late 70s, was done on Saturday.) The whole thing took 5 minutes plus 15 minutes observation time. Gee, isn't socialized medicine terrible?
I could have got it a few days earlier by making an appointment at a mass vaccination center several miles away, but chose a slightly longer wait and greater convenience.
Why don't you come out to play on Sunday nights, anymore?
Well, that is what Sunday nights are supposed to be around here!
Did I miss your song from last Sunday? God, my memory is going fast. :(
Not my thing.
I don't believe that.
This week I've been rediscoving an old favourite band that I think you will like. See ya Sunday night!
Marjorie Taylor Greene takes the floor and explains she quit believing in QAnon, portrays herself as the victim (so Trumpian), explains that the media is "just as guilty as QAnon" for spreading lies, and now the GOP hopes to just move on from Marjorie's past statements because she doesn't believe all that "old" stuff anymore.
Now get Marjorie to explain this recent statement from a firsthand source:
*
Good thing Marjorie has put all the lies behind her. *shakes head*
Perhaps Marjorie could give us the names of all the people in attendance at that White House meeting on December 21, 2020. Somebody remind the poor victim that it's a crime to lie to the FBI. :)
[1]
JMFC wrote,
It reminds me of the police departments who depend on a steady supply of criminal seizures to fund their operations, so that there is no incentive to actually suppress crime below a certain level, letting the criminals continue to prey off society so the police can continue to operate.
But there's a difference between the two. Police doing that gets people hurt and even killed, just for starters. Leaving MTG in place is harmless. Politically she's a dead woman walking* and only one of 435 Congresspeople. GA-14 was sending hard Right no matter who they elected. Leave her be! She's working for us now.
*"Today's word is 'radioactive' boys and girls."
[20]
Don Harris wrote,
Sung to Pretty Woman:
Boogeywoman, kick her to the street
Boogeywoman, the kind we must defeat
If we remove you and you are through
We lose excuse to say "Vote Blue"
Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo (4X)
Boogeywoman!
Respectfully, I tweaked the words in the middle a little:
If we remove you
And you're through,
Then there's
No way
To say,
"Vote Blue!"
Sing it out whaddya think? BTW I'm dying of curiosity. Did you come up with this yourself? Or did you snag it online?
That's all Don.
***
Department
Of
Occasional
Midweek
Recklessly
Attempted
Talkingpoints
or DOOMRAT
[Author's note: In coming up with a title I envisioned a sort of edgy acronym approach. As I'm a serious politics junkie my first choice would have been "overdose." Purdy catchy, eh little girl?
Alas, it was already taken (by some obscure website called OD it turns out.) Soooo, I had to settle for DOOMRAT which was a close second choice.*sigh*]
~ONE~
"MAGAtQ" could be the soft underbelly of the GOP:
Recall…
It's 2008 and Obama beats the War Hero. But come 2010 Repugs make gains from Congress down to dog catcher. Those State level legislators Gerrymandered like, well, Gerrymanders. Ahem. And this greatly helped Repugs obstruct Obama for six years. Que "disappointment," and with Hillary offering more years of the same...Trump.
Sadly, it's too late for 2020. [And I'm just not feeling like researching how the States swung but I promise I'll get to it later.]
But come '22 I expect incumbent State level Repugs will have more than a couple MAGAtQs in the mix, considerably more. I expect Dems to go after these "MAGAtQ Repugs" -- is that catchy or what? Heh. For the record it's pronounced "maggot kyoo" and that's so it drives home the connection between MAGA and QAnon. Tell your friends.
Because 600,000 Americans will have died by then and Trump will be in custody as well. So the timing will be timely.
***
~TWO~
Why don't Republican voters expect more from their politicians than simply opposing the Democrats? I get the whole "own the Libs" thing, but they don't offer any alternative proposals, like how they'd financially help Americans deal with this fine mess. Or what they'd replace Obamacare with.
Wait -- I know the answer! It's because Repugs have been programming this anger into their voters going back decades. Get the rubes mad at _______________ and they won't mind that those tax cuts don't help them like they help us rich guys.
***
~THREE~
With Covid denial so prevalent Joe should publically call on Trump,
"Mr. President please tell your supporters that you're personally so confident in your Operation Warp Speed vaccines that you yourself are proudly vaccinated and that they should get one as soon as they can. And have them tell their friends, too, before they send their doses back out to Nancy Pelosi's district."
Whether Trump does this or not this is a win-win for Joe. It'll,
A- call attention to the need for all Americans to get the vaccine. Especially as the media will push the story, because Trump.
B- remind everybody how badly Trump bungled Covid.
C - if Trump won't act Presidential that glaringly reminds everyone what an uncaring d-bag he remains. And that just cain't but hurt Trump in trial.
***
~FOUR~
To those high minded among us who prefer to look forward and move on from Trump, um, why? While post-Twitter Trump is to a surprising degree politically emasculated there remain so many different alphabet players interested in the ex-President that he'll remain in the public spotlight in a very negative light. I mean, besides when he gets to accept the Novel Peace Prize in an ankle bracelet. Heh.
Plus, there's the GOP Civil War with the Trumpanzies putting forth their worst foot.
So it'd be over-the-top-Kumbaya if the Democrats didn't keep rubbing Trump in the Repug's faces, early and often. After all, the Repugs campaigned against Jimmy Carter for how many cycles? (Spoiler alert: it worked.)
***
~FIVE~
To those high minded among us who prefer to look forward and move on from Trump, um, why? While post-Twitter Trump is to a surprising degree politically emasculated there remain so many different alphabet players after the ex-President that he'll remain in the public spotlight in very negative light. I mean, besides when he gets to accept the Novel Peace Prize in an ankle bracelet. Doubleheh.
Plus, there's the GOP Civil War with the Trumpanzies putting forth their worst foot.
So it'd be way over-the-top-Kumbaya to not keep rubbing Trump in the Repug's noses. Hey, the Repugs campaigned against Jimmy Carter for how many cycles? (Spoiler alert: it worked.
~SIX~
Here's another chance for our unity President Joe Biden to once again call on our ex-President Trump to help our country. This, regarding whether illegal aliens should get stimulus help, too:
"Sir, please remind your Christian supporters of Jesus' words about the poor and about those who seek refuge. Tell them this their chance to help One Nation Under God step up for the undocumented among us, our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ."
***
[28]
That's Don? Original that Don made up himself? Gawd this guy is effing funny!
Dept. of Quality Assurance
("Psst! I don't think anybody's read it yet. Let's get in there and clean it up a little more.")
D epartment
O f
O ccasional
M idweek
R ecklessly
A ttempted
T alkingpoints
or "DOOMRAT"
For the above referenced title, I had sort of an edgy acronym approach in mind. As a serious politics junkie my first choice would have been "OverDose." Purdy catchy, eh little girl?
Alas, it was already taken (by some obscure website called OD it turns out.) Sooo, I had to settle for DOOMRAT which among my all other choices was a close second.*sigh*
***
~ONE~
"MAGAtQ" could be the soft underbelly of the GOP
Recall…
It's 2008 and things after W were so bad that black Obama beats the white War Hero. But come 2010 Repugs make make big gains, from Congress all the way down to dog catcher. Those State level legislators Gerrymandered like, well, Gerrymanders! Ahem. The resulting flood of Repugs then obstructed Obama for six years. Que up "disappointment, stage Left" and then Hillary offers more of the same. And...Trump.
Sadly, it's too late for 2020. [And I'm not feeling like researching how the States swung from '16 to '18 to '20 just now, but I promise I'll get to it.]
Now come '22 I expect incumbent State level Repugs will have more than a couple MAGAtQs in the mix, in fact, considerably more! Dems to go after all these "MAGAtQs" -- is that catchy or what? Heh. For the record it's pronounced "maggot kyooz"so as to unceasingly connect MAGA to QAnon. Tell this to your friends. Borrow it freely. Heck, steal it shamelessly! Please.
Because by 2022 some 600,000 Americans will have died of Covid. And Trump will quite likely be in custody by then. So the timing of driving MAGAtQ home will be...
timely.
~TWO~
Why don't Republican voters expect more from their politicians than simply opposing the Democrats? I get the whole "own the Libs" thing but they don't offer any alternative proposals, like how they'd financially help Americans deal with this fine mess. Or, say, just what they'd replace Obamacare with. Cutting taxes for the rich, cutting polluters loose and cutting access to abortion. That's all they've got? Yikes!
Wait -- I know the answer! It's because Repugs have been programming this anger into their voters going back decades. "Get the rubes mad at [insert red meat] and they won't notice that those tax cuts don't help them like they help us rich guys."
~THREE~
With Covid denial so prevalent Joe should publically call on Trump,
"Mr. President please tell your supporters that you're personally so confident in your Operation Warp Speed vaccines that they should get one as soon as they can. And have them tell their friends, too, before they send their doses back out to Nancy Pelosi's district."
Whether Trump does this or not this is a win-win for Joe as it will:
(A) call attention to the need for all Americans to get the vaccine. Especially as the media will push the story, because Trump.
(B) remind everybody how badly Trump bungled Covid.
(C) and should Trump decline to act Presidential *gasp* that will glaringly reminds everyone what an uncaring d-bag he remains. And that just cain't but hurt Trump in trial.
~FOUR~
To those high minded among us who prefer to look forward and move on from Trump I say, um, why? Post-Twitter Trump is to a surprising degree politically emasculated. Yet there remain many different alphabet players (FBI, FEC, SDNY et al) interested in the ex-President that he'll remain in the public spotlight and in a very negative light. I mean, besides when he gets to accept the Novel Peace Prize in an ankle bracelet. Heh.
Plus, there's the GOP Civil War with the Trumpanzies putting forth their worst foot.
So it'd be over-the-top-Kumbaya if the Democrats didn't keep rubbing Trump in the Repug's faces, early and often. After all, the Repugs campaigned against Jimmy Carter for how many cycles?
(Spoiler alert: it worked!)
~FIVE~
Here's another chance for our unity President Joe Biden to once again call on our ex-President Trump to help our country. This, regarding whether illegal aliens should get stimulus help, too:
"Sir, please remind your Christian supporters of Jesus' words about the poor and about those who seek refuge. Tell them this their chance to help One Nation Under God step up for the undocumented among us, our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ."
Something is missing.