How can so few right wing radical Republicans take extreme measures to disrupt government? They make a lot of baseless accusations at Committee meetings, like the recent attacks on Attorney General Merrick Garland. They lectured the Attorney General, and then interrupted him as he attempted to reply. The was a stunt made for television. They want to interfere in the legitimate role of the Department of Justice to investigate criminal activity.
Jim Jordan led the charge for Republicans. His central theme was that the Justice Department has systematically targeted Republicans, while they go easy on Democrats. Jordan and others carried this message from the hearing room to cable news or social media.
But, nothing was panning out like it should. It was totally contradicted when Democrat Senator Bob Menendez and his wife were indicted for bribery and conspiracy to commit fraud. The evidence was astounding. A search of his home found approximately half a million dollars stashed in various locations. I know he is innocent until proven guilty, but I personally this time, they have a great case against Bob and his wife Nadine. Part of the evidence comes from a wiretap of Nadine’s phone. Yes, a court authorized wiretap which will help secure a conviction. So, AG Merrick Garland proved exactly what he was testifying to- that they follow the law and the facts in each case.
I particularly like this opinion as posted on CNN:
Link CNN Opinion, Government isn’t broken, the Republican Party is.
It is much easier to block a road than to construct it. Another words, it is easier to block progress to solving a problem, than actually work to solve it. The fix must come from the electorate. Five members of Congress blocked action of Defense appropriations (Andy Biggs, Dan Bishop, Eli Crane, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Rosendale) . The one area where Republicans could always be counted on was support of the military. Now, as I began, the guard rails are off.
Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Laura Boebert will never put forward any legislation that has any chance of being passed. They enjoy frustrating progress. In fact, the 20 plus extreme radical Republicans have a certain unity, not in Congress but in the Freedom Caucus, which doesn’t really care about funding government, raising the debt ceiling or reducing carbon emissions. The New York Times provided this list of extreme Republicans in January 2023 as follows:
Link New York Times How Far Right Are the 20 Republicans Who Voted Against McCarthy?
It is hardly all inclusive. A much longer list, is all the Republicans who supported Donald Trump’s claim that the 2020 election was rigged (election deniers).
Link, Election deniers in Congress
It was no surprise to see Senator Tommy Tuberville listed as an election denier. A short biography of Senator Tuberville, shows he is totally off the rails, in blocking the normal promotion of our military leaders.
Wikipedia, Tommy Tuberville
MSNBC
I believe that in not fixing what is not broken, which includes our military, our courts, the FBI, law enforcement, and the Department of Justice. Crashing our economy not raising the debt ceiling hurts everyone. False claims of a rigged election in 2020, damage our democracy.
There is a lot to be done going forward. Global warming is a huge problem. People have lost lives in Maui and California, and around the world in forest fires. This is real, and please don’t re-elect representatives who will do nothing. Russia can not be allowed to extend its borders. The US support of Ukraine is extremely important.
I believe in fixing what is broken, and that is the radical members of the Republican party. The next election will be critical in showing these out of control destructive members the door.
Stay tuned,
Dave
news and views 