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EarlG

(21,894 posts)
Wed May 12, 2021, 10:09 AM May 2021

There isn't enough popcorn in the world

Liz Cheney told the truth about the election, and for that she has now been kicked out of Republican leadership. She was kicked out by Kevin McCarthy, who said the exact same thing she did about the insurrection, before he spinelessly changed his tune after being summoned to Mar-a-lago by Dear Leader.

Thanks to McCarthy's weakness, two things have happened:

1) The "mainstream" Republican Party, which had a chance to extricate itself from Trump's black hole of failure post-election, has firmly and definitively thrown itself over the event horizon. The "mainstream" Republican Party has chosen to become the party of lawlessness and anti-democracy; the party that believes no election they lose can possibly be legitimate. They are the party of un-American values, and have firmly positioned themselves alongside the likes of dictators like Putin, Erdogan, and Xi.

2) A breakaway faction of anti-Trumpists are threatening to start a third party. If this threat pans out, the GOP is in dire straits. They are already having trouble holding onto their angst-driven base (hence their need to glue themselves to Trump) and splitting their vote between two factions is a surefire loser.

Meanwhile, Democrats are in a historically good position to capitalize on this. Joe Biden's policies are very, very popular, and the Dems are proposing solid, sensible, and yes -- progressive -- legislation that a majority of Americans can get behind. Meanwhile the Republicans are stuck in la-la land, catering to their Fox-addled base with stories about things like Mr. Potato Head getting "canceled" and other childish nonsense.

We have a golden political opportunity here, so let's grab it! Do we really need any more handwringing about how Liz Cheney is ACTUALLY an awful person so let's not get too carried away praising her? We already know that! And it doesn't matter! What matters is that the GOP is slowly but surely ripping itself in two, at the very moment that Democrats are more united than ever.

So when you're out there on the Internets, posting on your Facebooks and your Twitters, please don't hesitate to drive that wedge, and drive it hard.

We've been waiting for years to see something like this, and it looks like it's finally happening.

Pass the popcorn!








68 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
There isn't enough popcorn in the world (Original Post) EarlG May 2021 OP
I'm not holding my breath bamagal62 May 2021 #1
That's fair EarlG May 2021 #5
True. They don't stand much of a chance of rebranding any time soon. lpbk2713 May 2021 #10
That's an insult to actual gorillas... AZ8theist May 2021 #66
We'll see. There are Republicans who will break away, because they're intelligent enough Baitball Blogger May 2021 #7
Or not vote. boston bean May 2021 #14
In this case we should lend then our courage. 48656c6c6f20 May 2021 #33
! Champp May 2021 #2
I'm very much afraid our nation is at a tipping point Siwsan May 2021 #3
But even if they did, have Republicans ever been for KPN May 2021 #47
They have never been THIS bad - at least not in my experience Siwsan May 2021 #48
Yeah. Well I don't give Rs much credit for KPN May 2021 #50
It's just frightening Siwsan May 2021 #51
It's very frightening. I'm of the mind that we are in the midst of a national emergency. We neef KPN May 2021 #52
They're for ALL the rich people? czarjak May 2021 #63
Just stand back and watch it burn. roamer65 May 2021 #4
I wonder what McCarthy's 'Howard Beale' epiphany was. Harker May 2021 #6
THIS !!! 👉🏾 "...don't hesitate to drive that wedge, and drive it hard..." uponit7771 May 2021 #8
"over the event horizon" - interesting choice of words. lagomorph777 May 2021 #9
Nice comparison. yonder May 2021 #42
Even if they COULD manage to build a 'New' Right wing of the GOP it will be SO flying_wahini May 2021 #11
Republicans have officially become the Party of Lies. dalton99a May 2021 #12
Excellent! cilla4progress May 2021 #13
Yup, This is NOT "A TRAP"!! Beetwasher. May 2021 #15
Well said, EarlG! Paladin May 2021 #16
Kenan Thompson is the best popcorn eater KS Toronado May 2021 #17
I agree. nclib May 2021 #23
Kevin is witnessing his own fate! The qgop will never elect him as speaker. They want gym or mtg PortTack May 2021 #18
Awesome. Question-Who becomes there #3 in the House now? underpants May 2021 #19
Elise Stefanik leftieNanner May 2021 #24
Oh that's right. I had heard that. Thanks. underpants May 2021 #49
The white male party is replacing an independent female Hortensis May 2021 #34
Popcorn! Good idea. Towlie May 2021 #20
This +1000! mcar May 2021 #21
I suspect there are already DENVERPOPS May 2021 #22
New DOJ, FBI, etc. orangecrush May 2021 #29
I second that motion. Joinfortmill May 2021 #25
If Cheney and other Republicans start a new party, they will also gain Independents. Lonestarblue May 2021 #26
They started a dumpster fire, then jumped in. sarge43 May 2021 #27
Very nice... PutGramaOnThePhone May 2021 #36
Why thank you. n/t sarge43 May 2021 #44
i think smores would be a tasty addition... I_UndergroundPanther May 2021 #53
Dessert. n/t sarge43 May 2021 #57
+1, uponit7771 May 2021 #55
Democrats are said to be in disarrary treestar May 2021 #28
Everything he touches dies, but let's hope the loss is limited to his cult/party. NNadir May 2021 #30
Recommended. H2O Man May 2021 #31
A splinter party calfing off would be the best gift Democrats could ever receive. BobTheSubgenius May 2021 #32
Also our nation. Our nation's conservatives will always Hortensis May 2021 #37
That's an important point. BobTheSubgenius May 2021 #41
Half our people? Grasswire2 May 2021 #61
Other cons. But I used "half" loosely to refer to conservatives in general. Hortensis May 2021 #67
When Biden said there may not be a GOP Roc2020 May 2021 #35
Me watching them... PunkinPi May 2021 #38
Agreed...they are putting out fire with gasoline pecosbob May 2021 #39
Can't get on board with the entertainment value ibegurpard May 2021 #40
Welcome to the 2nd Bull Moose party Volaris May 2021 #43
Rec'd for hope, although it looks like the Anti-Democracy Republicans GoodRaisin May 2021 #45
Peel off a sliver and it helps us a lot, Pinback May 2021 #59
i dont even think having the fat troll keel over will help them now. mopinko May 2021 #46
End the filibuster! Glaisne May 2021 #54
No popcorn .. but close!!! Its also a plant. YoshidaYui May 2021 #56
Hopefully, 'the Process' will continue to drive 'the wedge', empedocles May 2021 #58
Nice! ismnotwasm May 2021 #60
Horrific Duncanpup May 2021 #62
This'll be great to see the mass delusionists generate their chaos BlancheSplanchnik May 2021 #64
Sorry, not buying that the Republican Party is not united. Edwcraig May 2021 #65
I think tRump is still blackmailing a lot of them ecstatic May 2021 #68

bamagal62

(3,218 posts)
1. I'm not holding my breath
Wed May 12, 2021, 10:17 AM
May 2021

On the “starting a third party” thing. They don’t have the courage for that.

EarlG

(21,894 posts)
5. That's fair
Wed May 12, 2021, 10:24 AM
May 2021

Starting a third party is a big leap. But just the noise they're making is working in our favor. I don't recall a time when the Republicans have ever been in shambles of this magnitude, and with Trump refusing to go quietly, their problems are not going away overnight.

lpbk2713

(42,696 posts)
10. True. They don't stand much of a chance of rebranding any time soon.
Wed May 12, 2021, 10:28 AM
May 2021


Not with a 600 pound orange gorilla in the middle of the room.

Baitball Blogger

(46,576 posts)
7. We'll see. There are Republicans who will break away, because they're intelligent enough
Wed May 12, 2021, 10:26 AM
May 2021

to know and understand the path that Trump is taking this country. All they have to do is not vote.

 

48656c6c6f20

(7,638 posts)
33. In this case we should lend then our courage.
Wed May 12, 2021, 12:29 PM
May 2021

I plan on promoting the idea of a third party anyway I can. I want to see these two rabid dogs destroy themselves. While eating boatloads of popcorn of course.

Siwsan

(26,177 posts)
3. I'm very much afraid our nation is at a tipping point
Wed May 12, 2021, 10:24 AM
May 2021

If these individual states attempts to squash voter's rights protection aren't stopped, and they start mandating that they can toss out results they 'find suspicious' with no validity, the tip will be towards our destruction.

All it would take is enough Republicans to put nation over party, and we could get back to the kind of government that is by and for ALL of the people. I have no hope that will happen but never wished harder to be proven wrong.

KPN

(15,587 posts)
47. But even if they did, have Republicans ever been for
Wed May 12, 2021, 02:20 PM
May 2021

all the people? Not in my 70 year lifetime.

Siwsan

(26,177 posts)
48. They have never been THIS bad - at least not in my experience
Wed May 12, 2021, 02:36 PM
May 2021

There was a time that at least SOME degree of compromise and rational thinking. Now it's like they are all demon possessed and that demon is named trump*. I mean, seriously - WTF is it that he has to be able to take over pretty much an entire political party and turn it into something the likes of which we have always fought to defeat?

KPN

(15,587 posts)
50. Yeah. Well I don't give Rs much credit for
Wed May 12, 2021, 03:22 PM
May 2021

the bits they’ve done in the past. Their policy and politics have consistently done far more harm than good — by a long shot — for working class/middle class people and domestic stability in my lifetime. I don’t pine for a return to comitybeyeern our two parties. They have always played us and always played hardball. They have deliberately, ruthlessly and unwaveringly pursued domination domestically as well as internationally without regard to the consequences for all.

KPN

(15,587 posts)
52. It's very frightening. I'm of the mind that we are in the midst of a national emergency. We neef
Wed May 12, 2021, 03:58 PM
May 2021

to treat it as such. If we don’t, we will ultimately lose our democracy.

lagomorph777

(30,613 posts)
9. "over the event horizon" - interesting choice of words.
Wed May 12, 2021, 10:27 AM
May 2021

Strange thing about crossing the event horizon. Time freezes; you don't even realize you've crossed it; you're stuck there forever without even knowing it. But an outside observer sees you fall all the way in and disappear. That's weirdly similar to the GQP situation.

flying_wahini

(6,529 posts)
11. Even if they COULD manage to build a 'New' Right wing of the GOP it will be SO
Wed May 12, 2021, 10:43 AM
May 2021

destructive that you will see a LOT more old GOP self immolation events.

Besides I think it is just posturing so that they can squeeze a majority in the House;
The KKKGQP doesn’t stop for anyone who gets in the way. After the midterms any
Self respecting GOP will throw Trump under the very same bus.

dalton99a

(81,073 posts)
12. Republicans have officially become the Party of Lies.
Wed May 12, 2021, 10:46 AM
May 2021

Nothing but the Best and Biggest Lies


(Yeah, Cheney herself was a promoter of the WMD Lie)


Beetwasher.

(2,965 posts)
15. Yup, This is NOT "A TRAP"!!
Wed May 12, 2021, 10:49 AM
May 2021

As so many are seemingly saying. It's not some ploy, or clever plan. It's an unmitigated disaster for the GOP and there IS NO WAY OUT FOR THEM. In some ways, it IS a trap. But it's one they laid for themselves and stepped right into and now it's going to consume them.

They have NO options, except to split up. There is NO reconciliation here for them.

underpants

(182,279 posts)
19. Awesome. Question-Who becomes there #3 in the House now?
Wed May 12, 2021, 11:15 AM
May 2021

I can’t seem to find that mentioned in news reports.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
34. The white male party is replacing an independent female
Wed May 12, 2021, 12:30 PM
May 2021

with another, unthreatening female for appearance. They don't have many to choose from, but this one's presumably promised to be the loyal "girlfriend" (as Senator Mike Kelly thought Cheney was supposed to be) that Cheney wasn't.

DENVERPOPS

(8,679 posts)
22. I suspect there are already
Wed May 12, 2021, 11:25 AM
May 2021

plans being made for yet another January 6th......

This time, it will be much better organized, directed, and (pardon the word), executed.......

And this time all the state's "Militias" will attend, who didn't come last time.....

These same people will also focus on a large number of individual state's capitols.

They have not come all this way, and be this close to their goals, to be turned away from succeeding......

The Dems must not be lulled into complacency by their seeming successes.......

This "New" radical Republican Party will stop at nothing. Period......

orangecrush

(19,237 posts)
29. New DOJ, FBI, etc.
Wed May 12, 2021, 12:04 PM
May 2021

Who will be more than prepared for these idiots.

I wouldn't put it past the FBI to stage some of these "events", just to flush them out and make it easier to arrest them.


Lonestarblue

(9,880 posts)
26. If Cheney and other Republicans start a new party, they will also gain Independents.
Wed May 12, 2021, 11:42 AM
May 2021

Many of those registered as independents lean right, but they’re not the lunatics in the Trump base. Those suburban Republicans who voted for Biden would most likely go with the Cheney faction also.

But whatever splits the Republican Party is good for us.

sarge43

(28,939 posts)
27. They started a dumpster fire, then jumped in.
Wed May 12, 2021, 11:46 AM
May 2021

This calls for more than just popcorn; let's roast some hot dogs and marshmallows.

PutGramaOnThePhone

(236 posts)
36. Very nice...
Wed May 12, 2021, 12:33 PM
May 2021

expansion of the tried and true dumpster fire metaphor. The addition of the jumping in piece, makes it a solid move up to the next level, for me.

treestar

(82,383 posts)
28. Democrats are said to be in disarrary
Wed May 12, 2021, 12:03 PM
May 2021

for a lot less.

Hard to believe they are doubling down on the fantasy regarding the election.

NNadir

(33,368 posts)
30. Everything he touches dies, but let's hope the loss is limited to his cult/party.
Wed May 12, 2021, 12:10 PM
May 2021

I'm more worried that he has touched our country, which he has badly damaged.

H2O Man

(73,333 posts)
31. Recommended.
Wed May 12, 2021, 12:13 PM
May 2021

The pace of the republican party's decay increases significantly when Democrats -- from the grass roots to DC -- put pressures upon them.

BobTheSubgenius

(11,535 posts)
32. A splinter party calfing off would be the best gift Democrats could ever receive.
Wed May 12, 2021, 12:24 PM
May 2021

Think of how incredibly difficult it is to get a truly committed (pun intended) Republican to even accept that there might be a new fact they have to acknowledge, let alone completely change their mind. If there is enough division to actually create a new party on the right, each camp would adhere so tightly to "THEIR" Republicanism, it would create a new standard of devotion.

The dedication to "their side" would make rapprochement unlikely for years to come.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
37. Also our nation. Our nation's conservatives will always
Wed May 12, 2021, 12:34 PM
May 2021

be half our people and must have a party they feel represents them. As we've seen, most will support anything that claims to fill that role if enough of their fellows do.

BobTheSubgenius

(11,535 posts)
41. That's an important point.
Wed May 12, 2021, 12:44 PM
May 2021

The phenomenon is very knee-jerk and often not thought out at all, let alone well. It's the ones that can still think that can be worked with, at least to some degree. That intersection point has to be large enough to carry out the nation's business.

I like your phrase "claims to fill that role!"

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
67. Other cons. But I used "half" loosely to refer to conservatives in general.
Thu May 13, 2021, 10:06 AM
May 2021

The problem with "half" is that a smallish percentage of cons actually are too aware and principled to join the rest in just anything they may latch onto, or too contrary, but whatever. If only there were more of them.

Roc2020

(1,604 posts)
35. When Biden said there may not be a GOP
Wed May 12, 2021, 12:30 PM
May 2021

by 2024 I thought it was a joke. Turns out Biden may be a Prophet.

pecosbob

(7,511 posts)
39. Agreed...they are putting out fire with gasoline
Wed May 12, 2021, 12:40 PM
May 2021

Pull up a chair and have a cool beverage while we watch.

ibegurpard

(16,685 posts)
40. Can't get on board with the entertainment value
Wed May 12, 2021, 12:43 PM
May 2021

I see no evidence that there are enough people willing to utterly abandon the Republican Party for the fascists in charge to pay an electoral price.
Where they are entrenched they are further eroding the means to oust them. My state delivered a trifecta to them thanks to the MAGA cultists and they are now busy trying to disempower and restructure our Montana Supreme Court.

Volaris

(10,260 posts)
43. Welcome to the 2nd Bull Moose party
Wed May 12, 2021, 01:19 PM
May 2021

The first was pretty progressive, influenced democratic FDR...
oh and by the way pretty much wrecked the gop for a political generation.

Welcome to the Next Generation of FDR politics.

If we do handle this correctly, the next Newt Gingrich wont emerge for at least another 75 years, and when they do, they will complain about shit like Latin American Statehood, a high-speed rail line from SoCal to London across the bering sea, and the emergence of sub saharan Africa as the worlds manufacturing base, and the need for an expanded human NASA presence on Mars.

I WANT that fight. Because we can WIN that fight.

Because while I understand that the current fight is about RIGHT NOW, I want us thinking about the 22nd century (as in, some star trek level shit).

We CAN GET THERE.
but we need to push NOW, for that future reality.

no fear. And if the Liz Cheneys happen to be on board with All That, then they have my support. Because honestly, what is the alternative from maga-world? (they will lose that fight for the future). Know how I know?

Donald Trump bankrupted 3 casinos. He very clearly doesnt understand how future return on investments works. If that's where the Republican party wants to go, LET THEM. Kicking their ass will be a Small Matter as a result.
Just my opinion, YMMV.
VOL.

GoodRaisin

(8,885 posts)
45. Rec'd for hope, although it looks like the Anti-Democracy Republicans
Wed May 12, 2021, 01:35 PM
May 2021

have the numbers in their favor, at the moment. But I hope to see the split widen and take legs and it proves disruptive enough to keep us in the majorities in 2022.

Suffice to say whatever I say on other social media platforms will indeed be in support of that outcome.

Pinback

(12,134 posts)
59. Peel off a sliver and it helps us a lot,
Wed May 12, 2021, 10:38 PM
May 2021

as Dems are more unified than in a very long time, and expanding our appeal.

mopinko

(69,806 posts)
46. i dont even think having the fat troll keel over will help them now.
Wed May 12, 2021, 01:42 PM
May 2021

tho it could. but the fight for succession will be guided by the same powers that put the turd in the punchbowl in the first place.

if he's in prison, there might be a fair fight.

BlancheSplanchnik

(20,219 posts)
64. This'll be great to see the mass delusionists generate their chaos
Thu May 13, 2021, 07:38 AM
May 2021

While the ones not taken in by the Big Lie peel themselves off the rotted core. I can’t wait to see this strengthen Democratic response to the anti-reality KKKGQP.

Butter up that popcorn… 🍿

Edwcraig

(287 posts)
65. Sorry, not buying that the Republican Party is not united.
Thu May 13, 2021, 09:29 AM
May 2021

We have gone through over 4 years of pundits predicting that Trump would pivot. That a Senator here or a House member there would vote for a Democratic or progressive agenda item. When the vote was cast, the Republicans united almost unanimously to vote it down. And the Republicans polling showed support for these votes. They voted down two impeachments, they 100% voted not to give Covid relief, they voted not to approve the results of the election in support of the treasonous overthrow of our Constitutional Democracy.

These Everett Dirksen Republicans are now and have always been a minority in the modern day Republican Party. (not that the olden day Republican Party was anything to admire) They will be relegated and crushed. When Nixon adopted the "Southern Strategy" embracing and welcoming yellow dog, racist ex-Southern Democrats into the Republican Party the dye was cast. They have been the difference in every election since then and they are and have been the true power in the Republican Party. These elite Republicans, now shocked at the direction of their beloved Party, thought they were controlling this evil within and thought they were in charge. They were not. Trump has empowered the true leaders of the Republican Party and let them take control. They are uniting the Republican Party around its core principles, racism, anti-abortion policies and graft. They are united.

Save your popcorn.

ecstatic

(32,567 posts)
68. I think tRump is still blackmailing a lot of them
Thu May 13, 2021, 10:41 AM
May 2021

Notice how they always get back in line immediately after a visit to Mar-A-Lago? 🙄

January 6 the was the perfect opportunity for rethugs to toss trump under the bus. Even die hard trumpers would have understood, but even if they didn't, there'd be nothing they could do if all of the repug members had stood united.

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