Opinion: There Republicans go again, siding with thugs

[LetMyPeopleVote]

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Eight Senate Republicans — Cynthia M. Lummis (Wyo.), Mike Lee (Utah), James Lankford (Okla.), Marco Rubio (Fla.), Kevin Cramer (N.D.), Ted Cruz (Tex.), John Hoeven (N.D.) and Rick Scott (Fla.) — wrote to Attorney General Merrick Garland on Monday to protest the creation of a no-fly list for passengers who lash out at airline personnel attempting to enforce mask requirements. They claim the list “would seemingly equate them to terrorists who seek to actively take the lives of Americans and perpetrate attacks on the homeland.”,,,,,

It should come as no surprise that members of a party that has characterized a violent insurrection to overthrow an election as “legitimate political discourse” oppose consequences for bad behavior on airplanes. Republicans have repeatedly made clear that they are on the side of the thugs, from demonizing and mocking Capitol Police officers who defended lawmakers on Jan. 6 to defending Rep. Paul A. Gosar (R-Ariz.) after he posted an animation on Twitter depicting the murder of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) to heralding Canadian truckers who paralyze cities.

Republicans had the chutzpah to criticize Democrats for the rhetoric of a handful of leftists who want to “defund the police” — even though leaders in the party including President Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) have denounced the phrase. Yet Democrats are inexplicably hesitant to blast Republicans for their actual nuttery.

Democrats must stop being so timid and call out the GOP for its defense of violence, opposition to law enforcement and cheerleading for chaos. Republicans inspired by the defeated former president menace democracy and the safety of ordinary Americans. Democrats from the White House on down should have no qualms about opposing Republican thuggery.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

1. Senator Rand Paul's son charged with assaulting flight attendant

Put this asshole on a no fly list

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. - The son of U.S. Sen. Rand Paul is accused of assaulting a flight attendant during a trip from Kentucky to North Carolina.

The Charlotte Observer reported over the weekend that 19-year-old William Paul was charged with misdemeanor assault on a female by aggressive physical force. The paper had previously reported that he also was charged with underage drinking, disorderly conduct and being intoxicated and disruptive.

The newspaper quoted Lt. Shawn Crooks as saying all the charges against Paul were filed the day of the incident, Jan. 5.