I have been thinking of this 50 year old song a lot recently.
Category: Politics
The new right-wing buzzword is “coup”
This is right-wing nonsense and an attempt to deflect attention from the real investigations of Trump and Russia. Are they going to call it a coup if Trump loses in 2020? I think that’s where they could be headed. They may say the deep state stole the election. I don’t want to sound paranoid but I don’t put anything past them.
"We shouldn't throw the word 'coup' around carelessly," says @Sam_Vinograd. "'Coup' is a word autocrats throw around…" pic.twitter.com/zTmDfrPDLw
— Josh Campbell (@joshscampbell) February 18, 2019
"Coup" — defines as a "sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government" — is officially the right's new talking point https://t.co/ExYN2GDw6k
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) February 15, 2019
When is someone going to finally investigate the investators? If this isn’t and attempted coup I don’t know what is. Regardless of party if you’re not troubled by this, you’re part of the problem. https://t.co/a1d6QKUUAs
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) February 14, 2019
The McCabe @60Minutes interview is stunning.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) February 14, 2019
Was there an attempt at a bureaucratic coup to take out President Trump?
Who is telling the truth about invoking the 25th Amendment – McCabe or Rosenstein?
Must find answers. All Americans should be concerned.
Andrew McCabe is desperate to take back his 25th Amendment comments because this fool basically admitted to taking part in a coup attempt on President Trump. Don’t let him off the hook.
— Dan Bongino (@dbongino) February 15, 2019
White nationalist rhetoric on Fox News from Tucker Carlson:
— Andrew Lawrence (@ndrew_lawrence) July 6, 2018
Democrats "are plotting, in effect, a coup" through immigration pic.twitter.com/7sh7IQFO83
Here is a link to all of our #NC09 coverage. From the day the race wasn't certified to now @wsoctv https://t.co/uZ0YVygsem
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) December 28, 2018
Democrats are holding politicians to a higher standard
Dems are confronting issues of race and identity head-on in the Trump era, policing their own ranks & speaking bluntly about some of the most difficult issues in American life. My riff >https://t.co/regb3lLhgB
— Jonathan Martin (@jmartNYT) February 4, 2019
Democrats’ willingness to hold their politicians to a high standard is a welcome change from the Clinton era—and compares favorably to the GOP’s support for the likes of Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, Rep. Steve King, and President Trump. My column: https://t.co/Qjcj9LlIJz
— Max Boot (@MaxBoot) February 3, 2019
Northam must go but Republicans should shut up
Republicans can’t talk:
Trump is a bigot.
Steve King is a bigot.
Several southern Republicans made racist statements during the 2018 elections and were elected.
McConnell posed with a Confederate flag.
None of this excuses Northam’s behavior but since Republicans tolerate racism, they can’t talk about the Democrats.
If you're going to criticize Virginia Democrats for blackface, it might help if you had criticized Trump for the Central Park 5, lying about Obama's birth certificate, vilifying Mexicans and Muslims, defending Nazis in Charlottesville, or endorsing racists Steve King & Roy Moore.
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) February 6, 2019
Asymmetry is even more evident when we look at wall-to-wall coverage of what Northam did more than 30 years ago compared to yawns about Cindy Hyde-Smith’s racism during the 2018 campaign. Not one Republican calling for Northam to go have called for any action against Hyde-Smith.
— Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein) February 4, 2019
You supported a presidential candidate who was literally endorsed by David Duke (and didn't disavow it) and later called white nationalists "fine people." Are you on crack? https://t.co/DlOztdSdEX
— Asha Rangappa (@AshaRangappa_) February 4, 2019
What a joke. It's like Trump Jr. doesn't remember pussy grabbing, Roy Moore, affairs with porn queens, Mexican rapists, shit hole countries, good Nazis, or a thousand other disgusting things. And it only works for him because Fox doesn't report the truth. It's all a sad joke. https://t.co/zH63SmmSmh
— John Oberlin (@OMGno2trump) February 3, 2019
Media should be asking: Why Ted Cruz make Steve King the co-chair of his campaign in 2016? https://t.co/Ea20iopFck
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) February 3, 2019
Hey, @realDonaldTrump
— Jon Cryer (@MrJonCryer) February 3, 2019
Your dad was arrested at an actual KKK rally. https://t.co/axdz6eYTjN
In wake of Northam controversy, @SenSherrodBrown describes Trump as unequivocally as possible as "a racist" and cites the many examples in his career to support that description. Contrast remains b/twn D party urging accountability from Northam & Rs repeatedly excusing Trump. https://t.co/rcG6Jq1fbR
— Ronald Brownstein (@RonBrownstein) February 3, 2019
You worked for a man who praised Nazis, tried to enact a Muslim ban and is pushing for a racist border wall. So you can sit down. https://t.co/klUj3q0YnF
— Oliver Willis (@owillis) February 2, 2019
REPUBLICANS DEMAND RESIGNATIONS:
— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@BettyBowers) February 2, 2019
When Clinton’s unfaithful. But not Newt Gingrich.
When Eliot Spitzer sees a hooker. But not David Vitter.
When Al Franklin touches. But not Trump.
When Ralph Northam is racist. But not Steve King. Or Donald Trump. Or Mitch. Or etc etc etc.
It is incredible how much Republicans care about racism when it serves them
— Katie Herzog (@kittypurrzog) February 1, 2019
Jr, your father pulled more crap than any candidate in history and still got himself elected President.
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) February 2, 2019
You best keep quiet. https://t.co/BJe4ctXOer
1. I have seen this from others sharper than Junior, also. That a Republican would be driven away from politics for a history of racism. How….is it even possible to think that? pic.twitter.com/BgZiSbaYXM
— Elizabeth Picciuto (@epicciuto) February 2, 2019
Imagine being the son of the guy who has no regrets about taking out a full-page ad in the NYT calling on the state to "BRING BACK THE DEATH PENALTY" to kill five black and Hispanic kids who turned out to be innocent…and not thinking, "You know, I should sit this one out." https://t.co/rPb1BOLIkz
— Robert Maguire (@RobertMaguire_) February 2, 2019
Imagine if whole GOP did to Trump after Access Hollywood what Dems are doing to Northam now. Northam must go. I really am not impressed with any R who didn’t abandon Trump after Access Hollywood. It isn’t bothersiderism. It’s Northam go, R’s put a sock in it.
— Jennifer Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) February 2, 2019
Northam should resign
BREAKING: Gov. Ralph Northam yearbook page shows blackface and Klan photohttps://t.co/6A89ejp5Ho
— The Virginian-Pilot (@virginianpilot) February 1, 2019
Northam apologizes but suggests he may fight calls for his resignation. It’s also unclear which person he was in the racist photo https://t.co/pXAFGKU2OB
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) February 1, 2019
Listen, if Democrats want to torch Northam over this, okay by me. This wasn't some teenage prank.
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) February 1, 2019
But the people supporting the Trump GOP suddenly developing a conscience about racism are not people to be taken seriously.
Northam is an easy call. Racism has to be disqualifying for public service and the definition of racism has to include far, far less egregious stuff than KKK robes and blackface. This one should be automatic. He should resign immediately.
— Adam Jentleson 🎈 (@AJentleson) February 1, 2019
Quite a lot of voices on left saying Northam should go. Irony for him: The knowledge that he will be replaced by a black LG (Justin Fairfax) who’s already a rising star makes Northam easier to cut loose. https://t.co/qsvNMEaA70
— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) February 1, 2019
If you are a conservative condemning Virginia Governor Ralph Northam for the blackface/KKK photo, we Democrats agree with you. Now do Donald Trump, Steve King and all the other Republican racists.
— Adam Best (@adamcbest) February 1, 2019
On the first day of #BlackHistoryMonth, Northam should accept responsibility & resign paving the way for Lt. Gov Justin Fairfax to become the second African American governor in Virginia’s history. That is the type of restorative justice that our nation cries out for at this time https://t.co/twRh9hANeZ
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) February 2, 2019
Reporters tweeting about how the Perriello and Gillespie oppo folks missed the Northam yearbook: you are telling on yourselves.
— Brian Fallon (@brianefallon) February 1, 2019
If you're wondering how reporters who wrote profiles of Northam or oppo research firms/Gillespie missed this. Ask yourself something. How many of you knew before today that medical schools even had yearbooks?https://t.co/jtcimpIJDb
— andrew kaczynski (@KFILE) February 1, 2019
One can simultaneously think Northam should step down and think Republicans can go screw themselves with their nonsense hypocrisy at the same time. https://t.co/WWZqMzJVU0
— Alex Leo (@AlexMLeo) February 1, 2019
House condemns Steve King
The House condemned Steve King. What took them so long? He didn’t just become a racist last week. Of course, they won’t condemn the bigot in the White House. Trump didn’t condemn King either and has claimed he didn’t know about the issue.
Glad to see House GOP finally stand up to Steve King — who didn’t suddenly become racist this week. But hard to take their condemnation against white supremacy seriously when they’ve let it sit cozy in the White House for two years with barely a peep.
— Rep. Joe Kennedy III (@RepJoeKennedy) January 15, 2019
Journalism isn’t just about the questions you ask, but the questions you don’t.
If you’re a reporter or pundit who has badgered every Dem about “socialism” yet aren’t asking EVERY Republican about what they plan to do about Rep. King’s white supremacy,you’re telling on yourself.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 14, 2019
Steve King is a “special guy, a smart person, with really the right views on almost everything,” the president has said. So why, asks @AdamSerwer, is King drawing condemnation, but not Trump? https://t.co/TXA2pjLL7Z
— Yoni Appelbaum (@YAppelbaum) January 14, 2019
Steve King had a Confederate flag on his desk for years.https://t.co/5UGjLEzPyL
— andrew kaczynski (@KFILE) January 15, 2019
President Trump, who follows the news more closely than most Americans, told reporters this morning he was not familiar with Rep. Steve King's white supremacist comments.
— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) January 14, 2019
Republicans are punishing Steve King.
But they are also all in behind a shutdown designed to realize Steve King's policy agenda.
Recall that King told Trump: "I market-tested your immigration policy for 14 years."
That's absolutely true.
New post:https://t.co/yVZa3CYc3P
— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) January 15, 2019
"The punishment came on a day when Mr. King was denounced by an array of Republican leaders, though not President Trump."https://t.co/nOYDHa8G6Y
— Maddow Blog (@MaddowBlog) January 15, 2019
Steve King serves a useful role: Giving Republicans a way to condemn problematic rhetoric without having to criticize a popular president.https://t.co/YAbJisLeri
— Philip Bump (@pbump) January 15, 2019
Provocative thread on the demise of American democracy
Folks, American democracy will likely not end with a Reichstag fire. It will not end with a military coup. It will end with a transformation of our political culture to transfer more and more power to the president and the ruling party at the expense of everyone else.
— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) January 9, 2019
Majority of Democrats identify as liberal
"Majority of Democrats Identify as Liberal for First Time" per Gallup… Talk about a trendline… https://t.co/REF4NO5YQR pic.twitter.com/tSa0WTMICk
— (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) January 8, 2019
Nixon went to Mar-a-Lago
Richard Nixon went to Mar-a-Lago a month before he resigned the Presidency, July 1974: pic.twitter.com/gtetmj1AJu
— Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) December 20, 2018
Republicans don’t care about lies and crimes if Trump does them
Remember how Republicans treated Obama and the Clintons? Many of them don’t care what Trump does as long as he appoints conservative judges.
This confirms what u hear out in the country — many Republicans think Trump is lying but they don’t hold it against him. https://t.co/jMQR0AMO8h
— Glenn Thrush (@GlennThrush) December 15, 2018
I have an observation to make—it’s a disgrace that Mitch McConnell is not concerned that Trump was implicated in crimes. https://t.co/UtZxpsa4iQ
— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) December 12, 2018
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) December 15, 2018
I’ll believe what Hatch said the first time – he has done nothing about Trump’s horrible behavior:
“Sen. Orrin Hatch, issued a statement on Friday expressing regret for telling CNN ‘I don't care’ when asked about President Donald Trump being implicated in crimes by Michael Cohen.” Good reporting from @mkraju https://t.co/TB8sCIMZFR
— andrew kaczynski (@KFILE) December 14, 2018
“Stop.”
“I wasn’t there.”
“I don’t know anything about that.”
“Oh, I don’t do interviews on any of that stuff.”
See Republican senators dodge and dismiss @seungminkim’s questions about Trump and his legal woeshttps://t.co/GwudI7Dmio— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) December 15, 2018
Devin Nunes on Cohen-Trump hush-money scheme to silence Trump affairs right before election: “Even if what Cohen said happened, people do this all the time. They do settlements out of court. It happens. I don't know what the big deal is,” he said on Fox
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) December 14, 2018
We can just quit pretending that R’s who went after Bill Clinton and now defend Trump are being guided by anything other than power. It’s not even situational ethics because it’s not remotely related to ethics. It’s acquisition and exercise of power. Let’s just be honest. https://t.co/nS9Fzcn9Kl
— stuart stevens (@stuartpstevens) December 15, 2018
This gets at why House Rs also can’t come to terms w why they lost their majority. McCarthy deflecting bc about 80% of remaining caucus is more vulnerable to primaries than gen election defeat. https://t.co/sN9pTGK3Pu
— Jonathan Martin (@jmartNYT) December 13, 2018
Actually prosecutors would need to prove that the payment was designed to *primarily* benefit the campaign. That is what both Cohen and the company that owns the National Enquirer admitted, and prosecutors had additional evidence sufficient to convince Cohen to plead guilty. https://t.co/qkRmVxJSGr
— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) December 13, 2018
I did watch. But we all know if this was President Obama paying off a porn star and if he had five kids by three wives, there would not only be calls for impeachment but grave lamentations on the degradation of traditional values served with a hearty side dish of racism. https://t.co/Ujly0X4ByQ
— stuart stevens (@stuartpstevens) December 15, 2018
As shown above, Hatch later regretted the comments below.
Orrin Hatch, who voted to impeach Clinton, says “I don’t care” about evidence that Trump broke the law. His comments make clear that the GOP commitment to the rule of law is situational: The law, in their view, only applies to their opponents. My latest: https://t.co/r1lj31eKtH
— Max Boot (@MaxBoot) December 11, 2018
"OK, but I don't care, all I can say is he's doing a good job as President." — Orrin Hatchhttps://t.co/VFliiRdTFf
— Chris Cillizza (@CillizzaCNN) December 11, 2018
Orrin Hatch 2018: I don't care if the President's own DOJ has implicated him in felonies. What is a "crime" anyway?
Orrin Hatch 1999: "crimes of moral turpitude such as perjury and obstruction of justice go to the heart of qualification for public office" pic.twitter.com/8K8NVZSntj
— Brendan Nyhan (@BrendanNyhan) December 10, 2018
Sad! 