From anarchy to no malarkey

Kerry Eleveld of Daily Kos reported that Liz Cheney, third highest Republican in the House is facing a vote of removal from her leadership role for voting to impeach the nasty guy. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who subscribes to every conspiracy theory and making a nuisance of herself in the House is getting a lot of praise. In a more responsible party the reverse would be true. Jared Yates Sexton tweeted:

The entire reason we have rules to expel members of Congress is to expel members of Congress who have openly endorsed the murder of their colleagues, traffic in racist, virulent conspiracy theories, and have worked to overthrow the government. Also, just so we're clear, Taylor Greene has staked her entire career on being an open and proud extremist. That's how she got elected. On the first day of this administration she filed impeachment charges. This isn't going to tamper down. She's only going to push the envelope.

Mark Sumner of Kos reported several examples of GOP members of Congress who were tied to the insurrection, some even meeting with violent white militias and encouraging violence. Their standing in the party has risen since the Capitol attack and they are using their standing to bully those in their party who aren’t on board. One of these is Matt Gaetz, who has attended events popular with the Proud Boys. A few days ago Gaetz visited Wyoming, the state Liz Cheney represents, to hold a rally against her. This was a warning to all other GOP members that they no longer belong to a normal political party. Wrote Sumner:

The Republican Party of 2016 no longer exists. It’s not even clear that the party of Jan. 5 is still in sight. Gaetz and Co. aren’t cowed by their close association with a murderous mob. They are empowered by it. Now they’re relishing the role of enforcer, bringing the message of extremism or else to every Republican who dares think about stepping back from the brink. [Paul] Gosar isn’t in trouble for declaring that a second Civil War was underway. [Lauren] Boebert’s not in trouble for coordinating with insurgents from the House chamber. The core group of the worst in Congress are not just raising money off their calls for violence, they’re rising in the ranks.

Ben Franklin tweeted:

The focus on the antics of Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene consumes so much oxygen, I worry what is not being noticed while everyone is gawking at the dumpster fire raging inside the Republican party. Reminds me of Trump's daily outrages hiding more serious crimes. The Infowarsification of the Republican party is an important story to take note of, I just think that being transfixed by it is a waste of time and only serves to elevate the worst elements of the GOP and build their followings.

Dartagnan of the Kos community noted a few things that didn’t happen this week. First, the GOP has said very little about Joe Biden’s flurry of executive orders nullifying the orders of their hero. It is hard to object to a president governing through EO because their hero did the same thing. Second, because the nasty guy has been banned from Twitter we’ve had “a full week without hysterical edicts, missives, or barbs” from that account. Because of that silence the GOP doesn’t know how to respond to Biden. Third, because of that silence, Biden can talk uninterrupted about policy ideas based on evidence. Dartagnan wrote:

And that’s why Republicans are now at a loss. They don’t do “evidence,” and they can’t do “policy ideas.” They gave up on those things long ago.

Laura Clawson of Kos listed several things that have happened in Congress recently – the insurrection aided by Republicans. The attempt to block the EC certification by Republicans. The antics of Greene. Democrats trying to add some level of accountability. And a few more. Yet, the news media seems to still want to Both Sides the story. Clawson put out a nice rant:

Republicans have pushed and pushed and pushed the extremes that led to Donald Trump and to the refusal to accept the results of the election and to the attack on the Capitol. Republicans embrace Marjorie Taylor Greene and her violent rhetoric and harassment of teenagers. Republicans are trying to bring guns into Congress. Republicans are trying to block the COVID-19 aid that voters support. It is not on Democrats to unify with people who want them dead. Pelosi offering some real talk about what’s happening with guns in the House, or Ocasio-Cortez doing likewise with Cruz’s participation in an insurrection that threatened her life, are not some breach of decorum that deserves a both-sides treatment.

Kos of Kos commented on what he sees in Washington and it’s wonderful:

Republicans have long gotten big mileage from playing to historical Democratic desperation for “bipartisanship.” Obama made countless concessions on legislation like the Affordable Care Act trying to win Republican support, only to see those Republicans keep moving the goalposts … then providing zero support in the end. The Beltway media loves to sit on the sideline and bleat about Democratic “failures” to reach “consensus.” No one every bothered asking Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell about bipartisanship, and certainly not Donald Trump. But Democrats? They’re expected to win elections, then do what Republicans want anyway in the name of “unity” and “bipartisanship.” But Democrats aren’t playing that game anymore.

Democrats are focused on doing what the country needs to get done. If the GOP joins them, great! If not, they’re going to work around the GOP. After an atrocity a day it’s good to wake up to good news. Sarah Kendzior tweeted:

I wrote years ago that Kushner being held accountable is my litmus test for US national security and elite criminal impunity, and that is still the case. Even more so than Trump -- esp now that we can add his covid crimes to the long list.

So why hasn’t he been arrested yet? Michael Harriot, who describes himself as a master race-baiter, tweeted a thread. He first described “bright baby season” which tended to happen 5-6 months after the wife of a plantation (forced labor camp) owner (who called himself a gentleman) gave birth. While his wife was pregnant he would sexually assault his human property. That means the Confederate flag is more than a racist flag, it is a flag for legal rapists. Then he discussed Fort Pillow and what happened there on April 12, 1864. The Union soldiers holding the fort had to surrender. And the Confederates slaughtered all 350 black people. But Lincoln didn’t retaliate as he could have. Instead, he pardoned the perpetrators in the name of unity. The leader of the Fort Pillow massacre was Nathan Bedford Forrest. He went on to become the first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. So white people got their unity.

But Black people had to endure a terror campaign. When they said "unity" they mean "white people united with other white people" They mean "we get to keep doing what we were doing the whole time." They mean "white people don't EVER EVER EVER have to face the consequences." It means "f--- Black Lives"

Douglas Emhoff, husband of Kamala Harris, tweeted:

Well, now it's official. @MerriamWebster just added "Second Gentleman" to the dictionary. I might be the first, but I won't be the last.

Bill in Portland, Maine, in his Cheers and Jeers column for Kos, collected some late night commentary. Here’s a bit:

We are officially one week into Joe Biden's presidency, and for the first time in awhile, a week actually felt like a week. In one week we've gone from insurrection to cool-and-collected, from anarchy to no malarkey, from drinking bleach to boring speech. It's been a ride. —Jimmy Fallon

The Late Show included a picture with this caption:

12 year-old Champ Biden, seen here waiting patiently for the most powerful man in the world to pick up his poop.