The Republicans have made being an American a partisan issue. There are now two clear sides.

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

https://www.editorialboard.com/p/the-republicans-have-made-being-an

Michael Fanone made news during testimony before the House select committee investigating the January 6 sacking and looting of the United States Capitol. While recounting his experience, which included electrocution “again and again and again with a taser,” thus triggering a heart attack, the Metropolitan police officer said, “I feel like I went to hell and back to protect them and the people in this room, but too many are now telling me that hell doesn’t exist or that hell actually wasn’t that bad.”

Fanone then punctuated the last word in the following sentence by pounding his fist on the table: “The indifference shown to my colleagues is disgraceful.” (Boom!)

Fanone was talking about the indifference of the Republicans in the United States House of Representatives. If the Post’s reporting this morning is any indication, the GOP appears bent on proving the point. Sure, it might be disgraceful to show indifference to the men in uniform who put their lives on the line to protect elected officials, but really, who’s got the time to watch a “political charade”? Per the Post:

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said he was “booked in all these different meetings.” Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) told reporters he was tied up with a committee hearing. Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), who rose to her position after her predecessor was sacked for criticizing Trump’s role in the attack, declined to say whether she watched. Rep. Matthew M. Rosendale (R-Mont.) said he did watch—but only the opening statement from Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), who has joined the panel in defiance of her party, not the officers’ testimony.

*snip*

[RKP5637]

1. I wondering if?/when? the republican party might break into two fractions ... n/t

[empedocles]

2. Vaccination is an opening wedge

[RKP5637]

5. Yep, I think at some point the pendulum "might" swing the other way for some. They are

caught in a quandary ... they don't want to loose their electorate, of course, but yet likely don't want their legacy to be seen as a wacko in years to come, I guess. If a few more like Liz Cheney come forward, things might change some ... maybe.

[Dan]

6. Only if the voters punish them, by voting them out of office.

That is the only thing the GOP understands, that and tax cuts for the wealthy, and not allowing a woman control over her own body, and how to take advantage of the stock market when they’re on certain committees.

[RKP5637]

7. Yeah, that's sadly pretty much the GOP platform. n/t

[patphil]

3. Could these people be any more disrespectful to the Officers who defended them on 1/6?

I can't imagine the horrific words and actions of Republican Congressmen will endear them to anyone other than hard core Trumpists.

[spanone]

4. Clear as Day.

[DFW]

8. The Republicans have a narrower way of looking at things

To them, it would appear, truth and facts take a back seat to whether or not an issue will increase their power or not. If not, it is of no interest to them, and thus to be labeled as inconsequential, unpatriotic, or worse--"Democrat." THAT is what matters. "Support the cops"--unless your friends trashed the cops. If cops that your friends trashed object, then it's "Fuck the cops."

It comes down to what determines the guiding basis of a Senator's or Congressman's position--principle or convenience. If we are governed by principle and Republicans are governed by convenience, the chances for finding common ground are by definition slim, indeed.