Let's take a step back and really get a good look at the rabbit hole the GOP have thrown themselves down

[EarlG]

The Republican front-runner for the 2024 presidential election is a twice-impeached one-term loser who is now under criminal indictment for a scandal involving the coverup of hush money payments to a porn star that he cheated on his wife with.

That same front-runner also stands a good chance of facing other criminal charges -- for stealing top secret government documents, trying to coerce state officials into fixing the results of an election, and instigating a violent attack on the U.S. Capitol.

And not only is the entire Republican party NOT denouncing this person, they're rushing out to defend him, and attacking the criminal justice system.

Imagine going back in time 10, 15, 20 years and telling Republicans that this would be the state of their party in 2023. They'd think you were insane.

Yet here we are.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

1. And their 2nd candidate just got an ass-kicking by a cartoon mouse.

[Cha]

3. Yeah..

[wnylib]

46. .

[SharonAnn]

51. I loved that the Mouse castrated DeSantis' board. Guess they had much better lawyers on thier side.

[Cha]

54. Yes, the Mouse took down the

the Elephants.

[mcar]

55. ...

[bluesbassman]

71. You f@#k with the mouse...

You get the trap.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. You're absolutely right, my dear EarlG. And They Did This To Themselves.

Nobody else is responsible for their insanity.

[gratuitous]

6. But watch how certain media pundits decree

That it's up to the Democrats to save the Republican party from the mess it created for itself.

[hibbing]

28. Yes, or to stop the "division" in the country, what a crock n/t

[Midnight Writer]

7. And they haven't learned a lesson from all this. They are still digging themselves in deeper.

[NewHendoLib]

4. Exactly.

[Beetwasher.]

5. It's Remarkable, Isn't It?

Rabbit hole is apt.

[PufPuf23]

68. Toilet swirl works for me.

May the swirl be comprehensive.

[COL Mustard]

83. As long as it clears the bowl.

I’m tired of their 💩. They really are a 🤡 show.

[Cha]

8. Yes, here we are with the RW being

Insane.. except for a few.. and they're Persona Non Grata with their Lying Gaslit party leaders.

Of course it's the brainwashing at fox & hate radio that gets all the Suckers voting them into power.

Thankful for all our Democratic Leaders who are on The Front Lines Fighting to Save Our Democracy.

It's All Hands On Deck.. No time for Anything else.

[Ligyron]

9. The only honest they've done is refuse to claim he is innocent.

Yet not one of them has the balls to come out and say, "Of course he's guilty, but we don't care, this country needs strong leadership, that's more important than democracy and the rule of law.We're just going to cancel elections and declare whoever we want the winner from now on".

They haven't been that forthright so far, but they're getting close.

[MayReasonRule]

30. "We're just going to cancel elections and declare whoever we want the winner from now on..."

Texas GOP Proposes Bill To Allow Sec Of State To Overturn Election Results In State’s Largest Blue County

Welcome to Texas!

Thanks to MissMillie for posting this!

[Artcatt]

37. Let's revisit secession.

[mcar]

57. Yeah, no, let's not do that

I've lived in FL for 31 years, in what is now a ruby red county. The Democrats here are fighting so hard to improve things. I helped found a Democratic Women's club in my county and we are now one of the most active in the state (!).

Where do you propose we go? Are you willing to buy my home and help fund my moving to a blue state? To be honest, I'd go.

So, what have you got to offer?

[UpInArms]

84. Well, you could come help me in my red state

[mcar]

86. We all need to help each other, don't we?

Lots of Democrats in red states.

[MayReasonRule]

89. Agreed!

[MayReasonRule]

88. I"m In Louisiana. I Agree. You're Dead On Point!

[mcar]

91. As outnumbered as we are here, I see signs of hope

Was heading to my car from the gym the other day. A lady also leaving was parked next to me. She saw my Biden/Harris sticker, turned and gave me a "Rosie the Riveter" arm pump.

[MayReasonRule]

87. Hell NO!!! I'm in a "Red Traitor State". The State is NOT Majority Republican Fascists!!

The state is gerrymandered that way.

Ejecting "Red Traitor States' makes less than zero sense.
Punishing the majority of a populace for the fascists that have stolen their government is depraved.
GTFO!

Cut out the delusional nonsense and focus on eliminating America's National Socialist Party, i.e. the GOP.

Machiavellian Fascist depravity is the problem.

Eliminating it is the solution.

May reason rule.

[CTyankee]

90. Our party in Texas has their work cut out for them and it is this:

Find and cultivate new voters while maintaining our base. Be as open to this effort as is possible, given the restraints and time and money. I've been watching Ali Velshi on MSNBC today and was given hope that this is happening on the ground.

[MayReasonRule]

92. The Facts In Evidence Suggest That Is The Case.

I desire that to be the case.

It will be what it will be.

Life is always as it is and rarely as I would have it.

[CTyankee]

95. I believe that the future is "brain drain" from these states, which is demonstrably the case.

The smart and talented will get out and find jobs where there is a more welcoming government. Or they will build new businesses in places that will attract the smart and the talented. The Stupid is always with us, but the smart will win and that means that states will have to remain or become blue or their economies will suffer. Simple as that.

[MayReasonRule]

96. I Agree With You.

Reason never desists, reason always resists, for reason knows that without reason, our freedoms cease to exist.

Which is why I always say, may reason rule.

[CTyankee]

97. This actually happened in my family as I have recounted here before: my granddaughter was born

and raised in MA. Her company moved to Austin, a liberal town, so my granddaughter moved there. Alas, Texas didn't move fast enough for her so she is now moving to San Francisco.

[MayReasonRule]

100. Good For Them!! Fascist Murderers Rule Louisiana And All Adjoining States!

We're still in the midst of our exit. There is no freedom where delusion rules.

It's quite frustrating!

[CTyankee]

102. Have patience. Brain drain is happening. If you are in a red state and young enough to still be

working, look elsewhere, esp. if you are woman at risk for an unwanted (or even an untenable) pregnancy. You can live and thrive elsewhere and your chances in a good economy are much better.

[RocRizzo55]

10. I would go back 43 years

When Ronnie Rat Raygun interfered with the election, and told Iran to hold out to a better deal than what Carter had offered.
This may have been the start, because Raygun got rid of many safeguards, like the Fairness Doctrine, making it easy for people like Crushed Limpballs, and Faux News to become more relevant in the mainstream.
There were other things, some go back to the days of Tricky Dick Nixon, but Raygun’s autrocities stand out more.

[PufPuf23]

104. Nixon did similar with the Viet Nam War to mess with 68 POTUS election.

dirt bags that "secretly" extended wars for an election.

[talking-liberally]

11. and supporting Russia.

[orangecrush]

12. And there it is

The truth, thank heaven, is unimpeachable.

[H2O Man]

13. Recommended.

I remember when the republican party leaders thought they could adopt the tea party, and capitalize on its rage. Surprise, surprise. Human beings cannot control rage for long. It consumes the vessel that contains it, and causes it to go out of control.

[emulatorloo]

22. +++

[IbogaProject]

14. I beg to differ

They've been crooks for a century. They funded Hitler, laundered Nazi money and personel. They did all that con-intel-pro. Nixon made a 0deal to keep war going. Nixon admin smuggled heroin. Regan Iran preecelection treason and don't forget the Contra Cocaine wave and the overt terrorism in Latin America. Then Bush 1 pardons and more violence. And we all know W's reign of error. They've been overt fascist criminals for 100 years now.

[yardwork]

27. I agree, and there's lots more.

It's ironic that the Russians have taken control of the Republican Party in order to wreak havoc on the United States, because the Republicans have been getting our government to do the same to other countries since the 19th century.

The Republicans are a party of criminals.

[EarlG]

29. All good points

I guess I'd argue that they've not been quite as overt about their criminal fascism in the past -- at least when caught.

Republicans saw the writing on the wall and convinced Nixon to quit before he could be impeached.

Reagan apologized to the nation for Iran-Contra.

Eventually -- much too late mind you -- the GOP realized that invading Iraq was a political mistake.

You can even see this early on in the Trump years, when Republicans still had enough clout to be able to persuade him to apologize for the infamous "grab 'em by the p****" tape.

In the past Republicans have had the ability to recognize political landmines and take a step back from them when necessary. But after years operating inside Trump's reality distortion field, it seems they've lost that ability.

Now the only course of action they know is never admit wrongdoing, never apologize, full speed ahead -- straight down the rabbit hole.

[IbogaProject]

61. Ok

They have become shameless now, good points.

[stage left]

73. + a million

[kentuck]

15. And they want to sell T-shirts with his mug shot on them...

...as if that is something to be proud of? Vote For Me - I'm A Proud Criminal.

[honest.abe]

16. I am really a bit surprised how many Republicans are still firmly supporting Trump.

It seems like a total dead end to me. Does Trump really have that much control over the Republican voters that they can't just move on to another candidate. Are they afraid for their personal safety perhaps? If they dump Trump someone will come after them and their families? If so, that is very disturbing situation that will not end well for anyone.

[griffi94]

45. It's that they don't want to admit they got conned.

Their choices now are to face the fact that Trump played them. With the help of Hannity and Carlson and all the res of the, now proven, liars. Or go further down the rabbit hole.

[summer_in_TX]

72. They've been convinced Dems were out to get Trump

from the get-go. With some evidence.

Rep. Al Green introduced 3 resolutions to impeach (against the vast majority of his fellow Democrats' judgment) starting in December 2017. The majority of Republicans and Democrats moved to table his motion to impeach when he forced a vote on it. The first vote he had 58 voting with him to not table the motion. Then in January 2018 he tried again, with 66 voting with him not to table. Again in July 2019 he tried again, this time 95 Dems voted with him. It was a couple of months or so after that failed that Trump's attempt to extort Zelensky into going along with efforts to smear Biden's son led to the House passing the first articles of impeachment.

So when the RW noise machine began hyperventilating that Dems were out to undermine Trump, they could point to those votes.

That seemed unjust to them (as framed by RW media) and they rallied around Trump ever more strongly each time. That's how they can convince their listeners and other members of their party that this is more of the same.

[Tree Lady]

93. What I have heard from republicans

is all politicians are crooks so I vote for lower taxes. They have been good at convincing their people through all forms of media that democrats are doing bad things too so vote for us at least we will save you money on taxes and on buying things through less regulation.

It's hard for us democrats to see it that way because when our side does some really illegal not just being falsely accused we usually put them in jail and do the right thing.

[Traildogbob]

17. Rabbit hole?????

More like a hole under an outhouse where shit goes to mingle.

[peppertree]

18. Having grown up in Mi'ssippi, I categorically say that it's NO surprise they are where they are now

With exceptions, many Deep South Republicans, 30/40 years ago, were where the party as a whole is today:

An openly fascist, authoritarian vehicle driven around by whatever mad-man who could best speak to that very worldview of theirs.

The GOP that it hit the jackpot by absorbing Jim Crow and John Birch in the '60s and '70s - but they have since devoured the GOP itself.

The "Tea Party" (Gadsden) flag really is their banner: a snake eating its own tail.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

19. Go back to 1972 or 1982 and Trumpian criminality as a GOP norm doesn't seem so implausible.

Not to me, anyway.

Trump has just added layers of crassness, narcissism, and populist cultism to the toxic criminal mix.

[True Blue American]

76. So right, 100%.

This is not new. The last decent Republican was IKE! And he managed to give us Tricky Dick.

[RocRizzo55]

78. Read my post (#10) nt

[cilla4progress]

20. Your first

paragraph.....

SMDH.

[SunSeeker]

21. K & R

[Dawson Leery]

23. kick

[live love laugh]

24. A jury of "the people" indicted him. They don't serve the people.

They only serve themselves.

[moondust]

25. Sick.

Perhaps overcome by decades of unbridled lust for money and power.

[TeamProg]

26. Strange things can happen with very insecure, gullible, fearful people. Actually dangerous when

they are all a part of ONE political movement with a huge media operation re-enforcing their fears.

Yet here we are!

[groundloop]

31. It sounds as though this indictment is far worse than just "hush money"

"More than 30 counts related to business fraud" seems pretty serious. I sure hope the media start calling it what it is and not just say that it's related to his extramarital activities.

[mobeau69]

43. ✔️

[WestMichRad]

63. It IS MUCH MORE than hush money

30+ counts of business fraud, some which almost surely are felonies, will paint quite the picture of how utterly corrupt the T family business is. Bragg has got to feel confident he has a slam dunk case, or he wouldn’t have risked bring the indictment case forward. They have the documents and can’t be relying only on the testimony of a convicted co-conspirator.

TFG will of course delay and obfuscate at every opportunity, as always. He can be counted on to blab, can’t he?

[Initech]

32. And the insanity on social media is getting weirder and nuttier by the minute.

These lunatics are insane. I wouldn't trust them to get my order right at McDonalds.

[Tree Lady]

94. And you wonder how much of that

is foreign interference.

[Martin Eden]

33. Trump is the Frankenstein Monster created by decades of rightwing propaganda

Only this time the villagers with torches and pitchforks have declared the monster their hero and savior. Those who don't join that parade will get the wrong end of the pitchforks and the creature's ire.

[MiHale]

34. All that and they STILL ...

think WE are insane.

[Freddie]

35. Had a history teacher in HS

Watergate era (I’m old) and he was VERY careful to not take political sides. However one day the topic was Teapot Dome, and he said “historically, except for Lincoln, Republican administrations have tended towards scandals.” If he only knew. Rest in peace, Mr. P.

[lpbk2713]

36. The GOP* has been is a spiral down the porcelain appliance for some time.

*Greedy Old Pedophiles

Their end is in sight. Each day they go from bad to worse.

[gademocrat7]

38. The rethugs

They hate everyone who is honest, compassionate and not prejudice towards other people. Their lust for power is a cancer on our country.

[LymphocyteLover]

39. it's all so delicious... as long they as they get wiped out in 2024

[housecat]

60. That's really all that matters

[LymphocyteLover]

65. how wonderful it would be!

[dalton99a]

40. Not to mention their newfound love for Russia.

[PatSeg]

41. And various other dictator types around the world

This might be what surprises me the most coming from the flag-wearing super patriots. They are the chameleon party. The only thing they stand for is winning and power.

[Justice matters.]

42. Lindsey Graham said if they picked rump

they will be destroyed.

Now they act like they're all cornered.

In their last throes...

[Aristus]

44. They've come a long way from the aw-shucks, mediocre B-movie actor.

But that was the beginning of the end for them...

[Just A Box Of Rain]

49. Reagan's crimes were arguably more serious than those committed by Trump.

And Trump is a criminal to his core.

[SharonAnn]

52. Yes, his crimes were worse. He just wasn't prosecuted for them.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

53. His "popularity" (and I despised the man) insulated him, unfortunately.

He should have been impeached and convicted.

Justice was not served.

[Aristus]

56. Oh yeah; I agree.

His treatment of the homeless and the mentally ill alone fries my kippers.

I hope he's burning in Hell.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

58. The genocides in Central America that he sponsored are something I will never forgive or forget.

[McKim]

80. Thank YOU!

Thank you for mentioning this. I went on three human rights delegations to Guatemala in the early 2000s and the aftermath was and is horrific. 200K were killed. Always check on what “we” are doing abroad, there are some pretty sad stories.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

85. Thank you for your work in Guatemala.

What happened there was horrific, and it has largely swept infer the rug.

I've known many people who have done human rights work and cultural anthropology work there.

I was never in field there, but I worked with a refugee organization on this end here in Los Angeles that worked to help get people settled, get psychological help with their traumas, and prep asylum cases.

The stories. Heartbreaking.

There was Genocide, No other word for it and the Reagan Admin sponsored it with a full and complete understanding of what was happening in the moment.

[c-rational]

47. +1, well said.

[TrollBuster9090]

48. Here are a couple of other rabbits to add to the list.

It's looking more and more like a SPIDER HOLE than a rabbit hole. But we'll know that for sure when they pull a bearded Trump out from underneath a fake storm drain in Waco.

--The 2023 GOP now hates police and law enforcement, and wants to DEFUND the FBI.

--Thanks to Trump, the GOP now trusts VLADIMIR PUTIN more than the U.S. intelligence agencies.

--The GOP now supports PUTIN (as a fellow white nationalist), and when Putin murders journalists and other critics, they shrug and say "you think WE'RE so innocent?"

--The GOP now supported a MEETING with Little Rocket Man Kim Jong Un, WITH NO PRE-CONDITIONS. (Something they blasted Obama for SAYING he MIGHT do.)

--The GOP now hates the military industrial complex, and wants to DISMANTLE NATO.

--The GOP now backs DOMESTIC TERRORISTS. It's okay to attack the United States Capitol, as long as you're wearing a goofy red hat.

--About face on Clinton's sex scandals. They now believe it's none of our business how many porn stars the President is screwing, as long as he hates liberals, and keeps those tax cuts for billionaires coming.

--Screw the 'small government' thing. They now want women's bodies to be controlled by "women, doctors, and LOCAL POLITICAL LEADERS." (Thank you for saying that out loud, Dr. Bong.)

--The GOP now supports TRADE TARIFFS. No more free trade. That's definitely a switch.

Am I forgetting any others?

[yonder]

59. +1.

[soldierant]

50. I know the expression is "rabbit hole"

and i know where it somes from (and that was no ordinary rabbit and no ordinary hole) - but I still can't help thinking that THIS hole was made by a wild hare.

[Joinfortmill]

62. They are about to throw themselves over the cliff... Good riddance.

[republianmushroom]

64. 26 months and counting

[Aussie105]

66. The rabbit hole . . .

It is nothing more than the attitude Trump has projected over many years, if it feels good and benefits you, it must be right and legal.

That thought appeals to a lot of people. You can do what you like, laws and common decency are superfluous factors you can ignore if you want.

To get them to back up out of their rabbit holes will take a lot of time.

Starting with Trump is a good start.

[The Wizard]

67. More Repubics support Putin over Biden

and Tucker Carlson is a media celebrity on Russian TV.

[Skittles]

69. and the GOP does this while squawking about the CONSTITUION and the RULE OF LAW

OMFG, THE UTTER GALL OF THESE TRAITORS

[FakeNoose]

70. It's bizarre that they're so unwilling to consider what Chump really is ... a liar and a fraud

[orthoclad]

74. You forgot "God's chosen"

I had some Old Testicle king thrown to me as precedent, some scumbag who did "God's work" so he was OK.

Understand this: they have no shame, honor, dignity, or empathy. They don't need that stuff - they have AR15s. It's all about power. The committee vote, the budget, the megaphone, the subpoena, the performance. Look at Graham and Cruz, turned into happily sniveling worms for Hair Furor. And Rubber McCarthy. And Dash Hawley. They took Santos into the fold. An accomplished con artist and thief is just what they need.

Why haven't Jordan and Gaetz been prosecuted for heinous crimes with lots of evidence?

[Marcuse]

75. What happens to the MAGA bubble when it touches solid ground?

[Meowmee]

77. Yep

We were just saying how insane it all is earlier. It is not going to get better. It will only get worse. And where will it go… insanity rules now.

[Escurumbele]

79. You forgot Jean Carrol who is suing trump for defamation and rape.

I also have to believe that if Carrol is successful, the woman who alleged trump and Epstein raped her when she was 13-years-old, as well as the other lawsuits for sexual abuse will gain force and those that were withdrawn will come back to life. One can only hope.

What a life of crime, it is amazing, but more amazing and frustrating is the fact that he has gone for so long without our legal system even trying to make him accountable for the many crimes he has committed.

[NowsTheTime]

81. Agree but Trump's problems will continue. We need to focus on election...fight Repub's methods.

Republican controlled State legislatures continue in efforts to control future election out come by any crazy law they can get through.

And SCOTUS by whatever crazy logic they they can use to justify what they want to do, or not do.

And Republican Federal judges latching onto whatever excuse to suppress rights.

[malaise]

82. And yet they keep digging

Please proceed ReTHUGS

[spanone]

98. republicans have truly lost their minds

[bucolic_frolic]

99. Seems to me the question is not how deep a grave Republicans have dug for themselves

but how do we reach the lost souls of Americans who believe Republicans' bullshit?

[ismnotwasm]

101. To me, this state of affairs is the logical consequence of republicanism

They are almost at their apex of disgusting hateful ideology and economic theories. Almost, they actually have room to be worse.

[ancianita]

103. Since Reagan, more loudly since the Obama days...

here we are, indeed.

Trumpublicans try DOJ investigators in the "court of public opinion."

Trumpcult & operatives "investigate" by promoting another lie that federal law enforcement should be as totally transparent as it investigates their leaders as a prosecuting lawyer in a court of law during discovery.

Trumpublicans lie that they were totally transparent in their investigations of the Clintons, Obamas, and Bidens. They want full disclosure, and dishonestly take the defense stance that the onus of guilt is on their political opponents.

In the court of their public's opinion, their base are judge & jury who doubt why Trump had 300+ classified documents.

Trump allies/media/corporate/RW internet reporting have allowed the buildup of their ongoing case:

-- that government is full of deep state, pernicious, political witch hunts that are out to get their leaders;
-- that this pernicious government and its corporate lackeys censor their side's internet sites and videos;
-- that liberals started everything they are fighting against;
-- that their patriotism is under attack;
-- that "Obama and other presidents also did it;"
-- that the Mueller Report Part 2 on obstruction is still redacted because the DOJ is afraid;
-- that the liberal side is full of violence and hate;
-- that "every president that ever did this will be brought to justice the way their leader is now, so get out and chip away at this pernicious, illegitimate administration."

As profitable Fox and Sinclair corporate media are through presenting the political victimization case above, they also spread the operatives' question about whether democracy works at all, since it's not working for their audience's idea of freedom.

Have the 23% made their case to the rest of the judge & jury public? They believe they have.

I think where we really are is here: 81 million of us told them they have no case -- no facts and law to back up anything.

[Niagara]

105. Kicking for visibility!