WTF????

[Septua]

Washington Post article: "Donors threatened to shun the GOP after Jan. 6. Now, Republicans are outraising Democrats."


Excerpt:

“My guess is that as tragic and ridiculous as that day was, and as bad as it was, it was always hard to get the facts because both sides were spinning everything as fast as they could of what all happened,” said the donor, speaking on the condition of anonymity to address sensitive matters candidly. “I personally felt it was an extreme event that was not really reflective of the Republican Party enough to create issues.”

I'd call it a stunning example of denialism.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republican-fundraising-insurrection-january6-nrsc/2021/11/09/1e260f2a-3753-11ec-9a5d-93a89c74e76d_story.html

[Walleye]

1. And rationalization

[Irish_Dem]

9. The GOP is desensitizing the public, next coup everyone will just shrug shoulders.

[PatSeg]

22. Sad but true

Americans are becoming immune to outrage and disaster. There is only so much that people can absorb. Humans tend to adapt after awhile.

[Irish_Dem]

24. Yep. We will adapt to the gradual loss of our democracy.

And the loss of our professionally run institutions.

[PatSeg]

29. Until the many things we've taken for granted

become a vague, distant memory. Kind of like remembering long ago, when there weren't any school shootings.

[Irish_Dem]

30. Exactly, all just old and quaint memories.

School children were safe in school.

Voters actually elected officials.

Professionally run agencies and institutions.

[PatSeg]

31. I could have never imagined

how bad things would get and how quickly it would happen.

[Irish_Dem]

32. Right in some ways it is so sudden. In other ways it has been building for decades.

We just did not understand how quickly it would go very bad.

Some of it is that the GOP doesn't bother to hide their immoral and criminal behavior anymore.
It is all out in the open.

[PatSeg]

36. You are spot on

It really didn't happen overnight, but the sudden brazenness of the behavior makes it seem that way. The many signs were always there, but people believed our institutions and traditions would hold.

[Irish_Dem]

39. I always thought our democracy would hold in the end.

And the institutions and traditions were solid.

But the GOP has been pounding hard on them for decades.
And then suddenly, boom, it went downhill very fast.

I think the biggest disappointment is the American people.
That they have gone along with the GOP leaders who are sociopaths and criminals.
There has been a concerted effort to appeal to the dark American underbelly, and it is successful.

Also I am shocked that the American GOP leaders would work so willingly with Russia and China to bring down democracy. We know that an enterprise of this magnitude required foreign funding and assistance. And we have enough proof to know Putin was involved. I suspect China as well, who will be a 21st century superpower.

[PatSeg]

40. And you nailed it again

It is the American people who are the biggest shock to me. Agree or disagree on many subjects, I always felt that the vast majority believed in democracy and hated tyrants and dictators. I could have never dreamt that self-described "patriotic" Americans would take sides with leaders like Putin against our own government and institutions. The chaos and madness is so overwhelming.

Putin has played on all our weaknesses to destroy our country from the inside. Obviously, he wasn't the only factor, but he was probably the most influential one. Diabolically sinister and brilliant. Of course, if it was really that simple, much of the fault must lie with us. From my perspective, it would probably be our excessive materialism and an educational system that is growing worse every year. I really wish I could be more optimistic.

[Irish_Dem]

41. Well said.

Last edited Mon Dec 13, 2021, 12:49 PM - Edit history (1)

I couldn't say it better.

Yes I wish I could be more optimistic, but the facts speak for themselves. If we wish to be in touch with reality, unlike so many Americans right now, we have to face the very hard truths swirling all around us.

Yes the MAGAs have made it clear they would rather be Russian than Dems. They have had sweatshirts printed with this saying.

Putin is an evil, diabolical genius who with not much effort helped place the US in the current situation. Putin and China's goal is to destabilize western democracies and they have done so brilliantly. And yes as you point out, Putin did not do this alone. He had a great deal of GOP assistance.

Yep you are right on, if this was so easy a project for Putin, it is the American people who bear a great deal of responsibility. They bought the propaganda hook, line and sinker. I think the bottom line is racism, white supremacy, and male dominance. This is what a big portion of Americans want, and they are the most powerful group right now.

Yes, so much ignorance, how did this happen that so many Americans appear to have no concept of basic science, math, government, history? Logical thinking, common sense, sense of right and wrong, common good, all lacking. How did we get so violent, school children are not safe in school anymore. So many Americans seem childish, self-centered, entitled.

This is all a national security issue. Right now it is doubtful that the US could handle a national security threat.
We have had a national pandemic emergency and many American people refused to do their part. If Pearl Harbor happened today, they would fight over that too.

The institutional failures have been mind boggling to me. The DOJ slapping the wrist of insurrectionists, ignoring the big players. The military, FBI, and CIA silent or complicit about Jan 6. And now the Supreme Ct following the Christian fascist party line.

Education, public health, healthcare, university researchers, etc being taken over by politicians, professionals being pushed aside, threatened and harassed. The US senate refusing to confirm diplomatic and state dept positions.

The list goes on and on.

[PatSeg]

42. That sums it up well

I could almost accept that some have "no concept of basic science, math, government, and history", if they at least still retained a "sense of right and wrong". Then at least there would be some hope. That used to be a basic Christian principle, but apparently that has been distorted and corrupted as well. When did Mr. Potter become the good guy and George Bailey the bad guy?

[Irish_Dem]

43. A large segment of the US population supports criminal behavior committed by white people.

They worship leaders who are sociopaths.
And love cold blooded murderers.

OK to beat up doctors, teachers, public health officials, poll workers.
Kill or kidnap elected officials.
Think it is smart to not pay taxes.

OK to not follow public health procedures to protect fellow citizens.

This list goes on and on.

Right we could forgive ignorance and lack of education if people had a moral compass.
But they don't.

[PatSeg]

45. And that brings us back

to the fact that too many people are accepting all of this as the new normal. More people should be seriously alarmed, but historically, that has not been the case.

[Irish_Dem]

47. Exactly. There seems to be a widespread indifference to what is happening.

Despite the experts, PhDs, senior politicians ringing the alarm bells.

I have for some reason started watching WWII war movies.
I find them oddly comforting right now. (I am a military brat so maybe it is taking me back to my childhood!)

Everyone on the side of democracy is working together in agreement.

The bad guys lost but at a tremendous cost to the Allies. In fact as you look at each battle in the Pacific and Europe, it was not certain in many cases who would win WWII.

In the current new normal we certainly do not have the resolve and willingness to sacrifice for the greater good.

[PatSeg]

48. I have serious doubts

that people could come together like that now. I've always been a bit nostalgic for the kind of camaraderie and unified purpose people had back then. A classic real life good vs evil story on a global playing field. Over the years, it seems that people have become too self-absorbed to work together for the common good. I hope I am wrong. Perhaps people were having similar conversations back then?

[Irish_Dem]

49. From what I heard from my parents and reading history, no, there was no doubt whatsoever.

Prior to Pearl Harbor, yes people were reluctant to enter the war in Europe. But that was a somewhat rational decision.
The American people felt the war in Europe did not affect them, so why put blood and treasure into it?
Yes there was probably some denial about how dangerous Hitler was.

But that all changed in an instant. Once Pearl Harbor happened, the American people were totally unified and had a steely and bitter resolve to defeat their enemies at any cost. The American people came together and made many sacrifices.

The Americans were the underdogs and not likely to win the war, especially in the Pacific. The Japanese naval fleet was vastly superior to the American one, and what the Americans had was damaged at Pearl Harbor. The Japanese army were superb fighters, refusing to accept defeat in the field and would fight to their death.

I think of all the sacrifices, courage and bravery shown by the American troops. Risking their lives, willing to die for our democracy. All the sacrifices the families back home made. And now people won't even wear a mask to save their fellow Americans. It is heart breaking.

There is no doubt in my mind that if WWII were to take place now, we would lose. The GOP would probably side with the enemy and a big chunk of the American people would sabotage any war effort.

Americans have become entitled, spoiled, self centered, immature. I have heard that the Europeans think the same thing. They say that Americans did not suffer enough in WWII, so they did not mature and gain empathy. That is why Europe has such a good safety net, and a more sophisticated, advanced society.

[Wounded Bear]

2. Anybody who is surprised has not been paying attention...

Did anybody really think that repub donors would desert their front men?

[ShazamIam]

10. Exactly, Trump and his public crowd of nuts are only the front for the wealthy's war against,

our democratic republic.

[Irish_Dem]

25. Add Putin and China to the list of who is backing the war, not just the wealthy.

[ShazamIam]

26. True, those are the three major befefactors of division in the U.S.A.

[Irish_Dem]

27. Yep. No doubt anymore about the identity of the bad actors.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

18. Not me... we cannot afford to relax against the RethugliKKKan threat!!

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

19. Putin and his minions always lookin to do the Rethugz' bidding.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

23. Spot on!!

[paleotn]

4. Tax cuts and reg. rollbacks "trump" democracy.

"the coup didn't work, so why's everyone all upset about it?"

[dalton99a]

5. Fascism protects and benefits the wealthy

Oligarchs hate democracy.

[Kid Berwyn]

6. Gee. Not calling witnesses to Impeachment 2 was a bad idea.

No record, memories or fodder of anything that matters will help the GOP crooks bigly in 2022.

[Bristlecone]

7. "Both sides were spinning"

You never here a democrat say “Both sides were doing ‘anything’ “. It’s a Republican BS hedge when they know they are being completely hypocritical, trying to be critical of their own party without actually being critical, going back on their word, or clearly know that they lack integrity.

It is their way of having it both ways.

[Irish_Dem]

8. It's not denial. They know exactly what happened on 1/6 and they are fine with it.

[jimfields33]

11. I don't know why they don't fess up. 200 people were involved. Get them charged

and sentenced. I think part of the problem is getting the court cases done quickly. We’re almost at the year and many still awaiting trial.

[Irish_Dem]

12. Maybe the same reason they let them just walk away from the crime scene in the first place?

Not a priority.

[Blaukraut]

33. They just had to put on a show for the public until ..."squirrel!" n/t

[S/V Loner]

13. What they are saying is that outright Fascist insurrections...

makes them uneasy (file under "shit happens) but as long as a fascist agenda continues they are good with that and will continue to invest in it.

[CrispyQ]

14. Corporations must think it will be business as usual with the fascists in charge. -nt

[Irish_Dem]

35. Yes, corporate oligarchs appear to hate democracy.

They are going to go with the autocrats and white supremacists.

[GoodRaisin]

15. That's who they are.

No surprise at all, coming from a Republican, who knows facts, including they are poised to steal future elections.

[maxrandb]

16. Let me say this again

NOTHING...ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!!! ABOUT THIS SHITHOLE COUNTRY IS GOING TO CHANGE, UNTIL WE MAKE SUPPORT OF RACISM, FASCISM, MISOGYNY AND AUTHORITARIANISM NOT PROFITABLE TO THE CORPORATIONS AND WEALTHY THAT FUND IT.

NOTHING!!!!!

As long as corporations can fund Retrumplicans without consequences, they will continue to do so.

[JHB]

21. "Both sides were spinning everything" is Republicanese for...

..."we were spinning like a tornado and the Democrats were trying to un-spin it."

[Raine]

34. They continually ask for money 🤑 it's what political parties do but

the GOP really presses hard for it. 💰

[KY_EnviroGuy]

37. The Republican Party is nothing without wealthy donors and they don't give a shit.

Despite the current radical facade, it's always been the Party of wealth and corporate interests. That is their core.

I try to remind myself daily that chaos is in the best interest of the wealthy and big business because it keep us from unifying and revolting against them.

Putin and other fascists are their bedfellows.....

[spanone]

38. the donors now think they will get away with it....traitors one and all

support an insurrection and you're an insurrectionist.

[RobinA]

44. Says Someone

who apparently hasn't been paying attention for the last 40 years.

[Caliman73]

46. Bottom line. Literally. This is about the "Bottom Line".

Donors to the Republicans did not want to be seen as donating to the party that fomented an Insurrection. The Republicans have muddied the waters sufficiently so that Donors, who really do not give a shit whether Republicans actually fomented an Insurrection or not, can donate without BEING SEEN as donating to them.

They want their taxes low and no regulations on their industry. That is it. They don't care THAT a coup was attempted, or will be attempted again. They only care that they are not SEEN supporting it.