But that’s more a result of what they really are: a pack of third- and fourth-raters. House of Representatives Republicans, that is. Jennifer Rubin, perhaps rhetorically, expresses disbelief at the latest GOP reaction to the Democrats’ response to the January 6th Insurrection, or Revolution of the Five Year Olds:
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) earned kudos from truth-tellers in March when she released a report simply documenting the social media posts of Republicans “who voted to overturn the 2020 presidential election.” She compiled their words, revealing a hodgepodge of conspiracy-mongering and lying about the 2020 election. This was too much for the snowflake Republicans.
They have now filed a complaint, a copy of which I have obtained, with the Communication Standards Commission, an obscure body in the House formerly known as the Mailing Standards Commission, as it historically dealt primarily with franking issues.
The complaint, filed by Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-Ga.), whines: “At its core, the so-called report repeatedly violates the Commission’s rules of decorum and civility by personalizing and politicizing attacks on more than 100 Members of Congress for public statements they made on social media.” Actually, it simply recorded Republicans’ own words, thereby embarrassing them. He claims the report “engages in speculation as to the motivation or intent of the Members,” but it does no such thing. The giveaway is that Carter claims Lofgren only “insinuates” members “aided and abetted the insurrection or incited the attack” on Jan. 6. [WaPo]
But it’s merely a compilation of their own self-incriminating words, so that dog won’t hunt with the most important audience – the American electorate.
Republicans’ political stupidity is hard to fathom. They chose to attack a strong, informed woman (arguably the most knowledgeable on the subject of impeachment and a master of House rules) for airing their own rhetoric. Did they really think they were going to silence Zoe Lofgren, of all people?
It’s hard to think of a better way for Republicans to remind Americans of their own wholly irresponsible conduct. (The complaint will go nowhere since the commission is split 3-to-3.) What’s more, the timing is priceless. This comes the same week the GOP is attempting to banish Cheney from leadership for the “crime” of honesty, for refusing to sweep Jan. 6 under the rug and for refusal to kneel (as they have) before the MAGA cult leader. They simply cannot abide truth-telling women.
Indeed. But I think that the Republican members are simply overwhelmed. They distrust experts, their concept of a legislative strategy is to say No! No! No! to any substantial legislation, and, rather than engage, they have returned to the old strategy of cultural warfare. They do not have the wit or maturity to attempt to govern in a responsible manner, and I believe their ideological and theological roots will prevent them from progressing on the governing front.
They may think that their former business patrons turning against them can be turned to their advantage through wooden gestures to woke culture, but I suspect that the Democrats will beat their political foes to death with the insurrection club. Common political wisdom has the Democrats losing the House and, perhaps, the Senate in 2022. I disagree. I expect the Democrats to strengthen their grip on each wing of the legislature.
Perhaps substantially. The Republicans have to defend a large number of seats in the Senate in 2022, and everything is up for grabs in the House. There may be a very unhappy Mitch McConnell in the Senate in a couple of years.
