Trump Owns The GOP Establishment
Published by digby on January 26, 2024
It’s no longer about Washington. His top enforcers are the red state governors
Trump was so angry on Wednesday that he fired off a post on his Truth Social platform threatening to blackball any Haley donor who continues to give “Birdbrain” any money, declaring “from this moment forth, will be permanently barred from the MAGA camp.” (Haley responded with a fundraising pitch and reportedly took in over a million dollars.) I doubt very seriously that Trump will be turning away money from anyone — he’s never left a penny on the sidewalk. But it was a gangster move in keeping with his ritual humiliation of Senator Tim Scott on the stage at his victory speech in New Hampshire, intended to send a message that he’s their daddy and nobody should forget it. He’s not being subtle.
In another attempt to run Haley out of the race as quickly as possible, on Thursday a draft memo from Trump henchman David Bossie, the former president’s eyes and ears in the Republican National Committee, was circulated proposing that the RNC officially declare Trump the “presumptive nominee.” That idea was quickly quashed and despite the fact that he was probably behind it, Trump issued a Truth Social statement saying that he preferred they not do it for the sake of “party unity.” But he did express his gratitude for the “respect” the Committee showed him. He sounds more like a mob boss every day.
……………………………………
We have a MSM that refuses to call out the nightmares and horrors that red state Governors are inflicting on their populations.
This hasn’t been recent. You could see the hellholes of these states, beginning in 2010, when folks wouldn’t turn out for the midterms to ‘ teach Obama a lesson ‘ . (See, these folks are nothing new)
And, you have seen what they do, on the state level, when left with no checks, and their power runs amuck.
From the abortion bans, stripping women of their body autonomy.
To the latest attempt of recreating the Fugitive Slave Act, with these laws, attempting to prevent inter-state travel, so that women can go and get the abortion they need in another state.
To the dismantling of public education, through taking funds from public education and giving them to charter school SCAMS.
To the anti-immigrant laws that they put into place (looking at you, Florida), that has driven away migrants.
But, now, they have a labor shortage, so what’s their solution?
That’s right, repealing child labor laws and protections.
Look at the Red States. They are all doing the same thing. The same horrible conditions for the people of their states, because they are horrible people.
He’s flexing his muscles in Washington with much better results. It was only a matter of time before he openly asserted himself into the arduous negotiations over the funding bill for Ukraine and the border and needless to say he did so in the most destructive and self-serving manner possible. Mitch McConnell reportedly told his caucus this week that “the politics have changed” and Trump doesn’t want any legislative action on the border in order to keep it as an election issue for him and it wouldn’t be prudent to “undermine” him. Some Senators said they didn’t hear it exactly that way but it’s pretty clear that’s exactly what happened.
…………………….There are reports that this negotiation is not actually dead and there are some Republicans besides Romney on the record saying that they are still in favor of passing something since Biden has made such big concessions that they don’t think they’ll ever get another chance. This news did not seem to persuade the hardcore Trumpers in the US Congress who don’t care about the reality of the border as much as they care about having the issue of the border to express their solidarity with Donald Trump and their racist base. Any real reforms would be counter-productive.
And since they are totally shameless, the utter hypocrisy of standing before the American people and bellowing about the crisis on the border in the same breath that they say they don’t want to give Biden a “win” so they’ll refuse to take action for the next year is not an impediment.
There is a new dynamic in MAGA world that may shake things up in ways we can’t anticipate. This border crisis is no longer just a matter of Washington dysfunction. 25 Republican governors have come together in solidarity behind Governor Greg Abbott of Texas in his defiance of a Supreme Court order to allow the Border Patrol to remove razor wire the state has installed to maim and kill any migrants who try to cross the border. Declaring that they have a right to defend themselves from an “invasion” (based upon a fatuous reading of the constitution) Gov. Greg Abbott is refusing to comply. Essentially, he and the other GOP Governors are calling for “nullification” a concept we thought we had settled with the civil war. Apparently, these states have decided that they might just want another one.
The President needs to shut this shyt down. Just Federalize the Guard. These tantrums need to be shut down. Abbott should have been arrested for trafficking those migrants. But, this border stuff? After the Supreme Court has already told them to remove that murderous nonsense? No. Shut it down.
Chita Rivera, revered and pioneering Tony-winning dancer and singer, dies at 91
By Mark Kennedy
Associated Press
•
Last Updated: Jan 30, 2024 at 3:10 pm
NEW YORK — Chita Rivera, the dynamic dancer, singer and actress who garnered 10 Tony nominations, winning twice, in a long Broadway career that forged a path for Latina artists and shrugged off a near-fatal car accident, died Tuesday. She was 91.
Rivera’s death was announced by her daughter, Lisa Mordente, who said she died in New York after a brief illness.
Rivera first gained wide notice in 1957 as Anita in the original production of “West Side Story” and was still dancing on Broadway with her trademark energy a half-century later in 2015′s “The Visit.”
RealSandiBachom 📹 (@realsandibachom) posted at 2:50 PM on Mon, Jan 29, 2024:
IMPORTANT!!!!! Jack Smith empowered a grand jury to subpoena the Sgt at Arms. I believe it’s THIS. There were 14 calls for the National Guard all denied by Chris Miller. The FIRST was at 12:58 from the Sgt at Arms, 5 minutes after the first Capitol grounds breach.
(https://x.com/realsandibachom/status/1752071807136309379?t=93JBz28fxESJl90Hy-KgXw&s=03)
RealSandiBachom 📹 (@realsandibachom) posted at 11:55 PM on Thu, Jan 25, 2024:
🔥🔥🔥 After Jan 6th I took ALL available reporting and logged the 14 frantic calls for the National Guard and put it over where I was and who was on the calls. In DC the ONLY people who can deploy the Guard are Trump and the Sec of Defense, Chris Miller who denied them 14 times https://t.co/7jZFpnBMTM
(https://x.com/realsandibachom/status/1750759272206467144?t=SV6wAQPT5l2LTPsNqDy87Q&s=03)
This TikTok outlines the legal issues of Dolt45😁😁😁
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8nScq2x/
John Bonifaz (@JohnBonifaz) posted at 11:19 AM on Sun, Jan 28, 2024:
BREAKING: Republican judge in IL finds that Trump engaged in insurrection + is disqualified under 14.3. He ultimately finds a higher court, not the electoral board, must decide this. First Republican judge in the nation to issue such findings! @FSFP 1/
https://t.co/RTjtbgCjya
(https://x.com/JohnBonifaz/status/1751656300939722827?t=I0OU6e9cv3FCzFyWgRgOyg&s=03)
Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) posted at 1:36 PM on Mon, Jan 29, 2024:
Starting next month, many Americans enrolled in our SAVE plan—the most affordable student loan repayment plan ever—will be eligible to have their loans canceled immediately.
Learn more: https://t.co/K8xJ1bjFMN https://t.co/4aIGoOBzMS
(https://x.com/KamalaHarris/status/1752053022501359816?t=cK2YovBIRzErhFEob-hPlg&s=03)
Dana Houle (@DanaHoule) posted at 2:15 PM on Fri, Jan 26, 2024:
The Biden campaign’s Twitter feed is more consequential than every press release it puts out from now to November. It’s really good.
(https://x.com/DanaHoule/status/1750975670136840270?t=VEwcOxkmYbkoCzo9wFyvqg&s=03)
Will say it again…they resent the competence of 46 and his Administration.
scary lawyerguy (@scarylawyerguy) posted at 7:54 AM on Sun, Jan 28, 2024:
Biden’s CVS-length receipt of achievements is completely ignored in the media b/c of his age. They literally could not care less about all he’s done (not to mention the strength of our economy). Covering him is BORING. They hate it. He’s a boner killer for their bottom line.
(https://x.com/scarylawyerguy/status/1751604699403296796?t=JpdzppbaZspm4UIdz6iuFQ&s=03)
David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) posted at 8:25 AM on Sat, Jan 27, 2024:
Joe Biden has one of the most accomplished first term records of any president in modern history. Donald Trump has a rap sheet…and represents a combination of every threat this country has ever faced. The GOP is lining up behind him anyway. What are we going to do about it?…
(https://x.com/djrothkopf/status/1751249980180865361?t=A5DZU90ygWp9OTBuI1maXQ&s=03)
Nancy Pelosi (@TeamPelosi) posted at 10:44 AM on Wed, Jan 24, 2024:
We don’t agonize, we organize for Joe Biden— a leader with great vision, knowledge and empathy for the American people.
Democrats, we will own the ground and get out our vote so that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will again be President and Vice President of the United States! -NP https://t.co/3gi4npUh76
(https://x.com/TeamPelosi/status/1750198007843446811?t=5OtKEwYfvWJADZZtSCgStQ&s=03)
Koch officials tell donors Nikki Haley was the right candidate to back, despite early losses to Trump
By Fredreka Schouten, CNN
3 minute read
Updated 8:45 AM EST, Sun January 28, 2024
Officials in the political network affiliated with billionaire Charles Koch on Saturday defended their heavy investment in Nikki Haley’s long-shot campaign to derail former President Donald Trump’s bid for the GOP presidential nomination.
In a presentation to the network’s top donors, Emily Seidel and Michael Palmer – senior advisers to Americans for Prosperity Action – said the narrowing of the GOP race to just Trump and Haley demonstrates she was the right candidate to back as a Trump alternative, according to a summary of the presentation provided to CNN by an AFP Action official.
AFP Action endorsed the former South Carolina governor in November and will continue to support her – even as she faces what Koch officials acknowledge is an “uphill battle” for the nomination.
Seidel and Palmer, however, also emphasized that the organization stands ready to shift its resources and say that flipping the Senate from Democratic control is a top priority that grows all the more important if Trump wins the nomination.
uh huh
https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/27/politics/koch-donors-nikki-haley-donald-trump-south-carolina/index.html
The Intellectualist (@highbrow_nobrow) posted at 9:00 PM on Fri, Jan 26, 2024:
“This $83 million — this is just the beginning. All of us will be paraded down this gangplank. We won’t have our resources, we won’t have our homes, we won’t have our livelihood.”
– Matthew Schlapp currently faces multiple allegations of sexual assault.
https://t.co/mO2uOLooSm
(https://x.com/highbrow_nobrow/status/1751077681678967110?t=sy0mNLB5Gymim36Sd1hpZg&s=03)
Greg Sargent (@GregTSargent) posted at 9:15 AM on Sun, Jan 28, 2024:
This kind of House GOP nonsense is constantly treated as part of the inevitable background conditions of our politics. Why? Rs should be asked why they’re impeaching while abandoning a deal that would do a lot to address their pretend-complaints:
https://t.co/NpGRgtWkvV
(https://x.com/GregTSargent/status/1751625064707948716?t=AQ8UGgPMDWJwZQSSCAKtsg&s=03)
DAMN!
The Intellectualist (@highbrow_nobrow) posted at 7:43 PM on Sat, Jan 27, 2024:
Drugs from Trump’s White House Pharmacy:
The medications listed below are categorized by the conditions they are typically used for according to online resources.
**Pain Management**
– Oxycodone: For moderate to severe pain.
– Morphine Sulfate: For severe acute and chronic pain.
– Ketorolac Tromethamine: For short-term management of moderate to severe pain.
– Fentanyl (crossed out): For severe pain, often used in a surgical setting or for breakthrough cancer pain.
– Ketorolac (crossed out): For short-term management of moderate to severe pain.
**Sedation and Sleep Disorders**
– Zolpidem (Ambien): For short-term treatment of insomnia.
– Midazolam (crossed out): For sedation before surgical procedures or for acute management of seizures.
**Gastrointestinal Disorders**
– Pantoprazole: For gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and other conditions involving excess stomach acid.
– Diphenoxylate (with atropine) (crossed out): For diarrhea.
**Cardiovascular and Blood Disorders**
– Furosemide: For edema associated with heart failure, liver disease, or kidney disease, and for hypertension.
– Ramipril: For hypertension and to reduce cardiovascular risk post-myocardial infarction.
– Valsartan: For hypertension and heart failure.
– Apixaban: For the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.
**Respiratory Conditions**
– Montelukast: For chronic treatment of asthma and to relieve symptoms of seasonal allergies.
**Inflammatory and Autoimmune Conditions**
– Methylprednisolone (crossed out): For inflammation, severe allergies, flare-ups of ongoing illnesses, and many other medical problems.
**Constipation**
– Senna: For constipation.
– Docusate Sodium: For prevention of constipation.
– Polyethylene Glycol (crossed out): For occasional constipation.
**Psychiatric and Neurological Disorders**
– Haloperidol (crossed out): For treating schizophrenia, acute psychosis, and for tics and vocal utterances of Tourette’s syndrome.
______________
*This list categorizes medications based on their common uses and does not imply that these are the only uses for these medications. The crossed-out medications may have been discontinued or replaced and are included here for completeness.
** Disclaimer: The information provided here is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical or legal advice. It is a summary and interpretation of publicly available reports and should not be taken as an exhaustive or definitive account. For professional advice or more detailed information, please consult relevant professionals or official sources.
media.defense.gov/2024/Jan/09/20…
David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) posted at 8:25 AM on Sat, Jan 27, 2024:
Joe Biden has one of the most accomplished first term records of any president in modern history. Donald Trump has a rap sheet…and represents a combination of every threat this country has ever faced. The GOP is lining up behind him anyway. What are we going to do about it?…
(https://x.com/djrothkopf/status/1751249980180865361?t=GeLHspzVhMkESA8Qu3ntMg&s=03)
The Week in Abortion
1.22.24 – 1.26.24
JESSICA VALENTI
JAN 28
There’s never a dull moment in abortion rights, and this week was no exception. In addition to some key updates on state legislation and ballot measures, we saw quite a few anti-abortion trends pop up over the last few days—all of which are important be paying attention to. So let’s hop into it!
The GOP’s Crisis Pregnancy Center Plan
On Monday, I told you that the GOP is doubling down on anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers—not just by increasing funding so the groups can lie to pregnant women per usual, but as an investment in multiple projects for 2024 and beyond:
Framing funding for crisis pregnancy centers as proof that Republicans “support” women and families;
Helping enact the GOP’s anti-birth control plan;
Pushing the establishment of ‘maternity’ homes;
And using the groups to enact the anti-abortion movement’s plan to pressure and force women to carry doomed pregnancies to term.
Leaundra Ross 💙💚🏈⚾️ (@LeaundraRoss) posted at 3:36 PM on Sun, Jan 28, 2024:
Yep.
They’re always projecting.
They know they have privilege and even with it they’re still miserable.
So they truly don’t get how we can be happy.
Because they know how Black folks are treated.
If I had three wishes one of them would not be to change my race.
(https://x.com/LeaundraRoss/status/1751721028642816160?t=9OSI10Hzq9EVBVEaOLJp8w&s=03)
KHarris’s Side Eye (@SylviaM08) posted at 2:31 PM on Sun, Jan 28, 2024:
Black happiness means we’re not miserable being Black and aren’t eaten up with envy for not being white.
(https://x.com/SylviaM08/status/1751704575046807634?t=i6WdEbgtVY6wTb6Vs1-Auw&s=03)
Eugene Daniels (@EugeneDaniels2) posted at 2:33 PM on Sun, Jan 28, 2024:
President Joe Biden making his last stop in SC today at Brookland Baptist.
The crowd starts a chant of “four more years!”
Biden starts by saying there’s one reason he’s president: “Jim Clyburn” and that Black voters have had his back and he hopes they feel he’s had theirs. https://t.co/vboolHZzvd
(https://x.com/EugeneDaniels2/status/1751704979578982754?t=6KS3K2XM3ZSMEUDTw38dZQ&s=03)
EJ Dionne (@EJDionne) posted at 7:56 AM on Sun, Jan 28, 2024:
False equivalence is the bane of our politics, a challenge to the media & perilous when Trump’s threat to our democratic republic is so clear. So, sure, Trump & Biden are old. The similarities end there. We need moral clarity on this.
My column-free link https://t.co/zgc5BsLj00
(https://x.com/EJDionne/status/1751605160449540504?t=tVuLOzMHApMRv06tq05mEA&s=03)
Steve Benen (@stevebenen) posted at 3:41 PM on Sun, Jan 28, 2024:
Sensible advice from @EJDionne: “It’s time for everyone, the media especially, to face up to the actual choice: Between constitutional democracy and authoritarianism. Between a normal human being and a self-involved, spiteful madman.”
(https://x.com/stevebenen/status/1751722190083412166?t=ZXbochZyooIzE1SIAizxpA&s=03)
Steve Benen (@stevebenen) posted at 1:34 PM on Fri, Jan 26, 2024:
How strong has U.S. economic growth been lately? Strong enough to leave Republicans literally at a loss for words. https://t.co/uR2sz3ly3Z
(https://x.com/stevebenen/status/1750965517840519649?t=oTvaynBWCtaWlXcmWo9k_g&s=03)
NR_Garrett (@NR_Garrett) posted at 7:58 AM on Tue, Oct 20, 2020:
How much do you want to bet that Russians and GOP are micro targeting these hotep Rappers social media
First Kanye, then O’Shea and then Curtis
These fools are then dumb enough to fall for all of it
(https://x.com/NR_Garrett/status/1318537190536892416?t=w7wA6fB3Xf4vpwucYLHeug&s=03)
Brian Allen (@allenanalysis) posted at 7:42 AM on Mon, Jan 29, 2024:
According to CBS News, after extensive negotiations, there’s potential for a bipartisan agreement in the Senate regarding the southern border, with support from Republicans, Democrats, and President Biden.
However, this emerging compromise faces a challenge as former President Donald Trump has urged his Republican allies to obstruct the deal.
In Eagle Pass, Texas, a significant development is underway in Congress.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers is reportedly nearing an agreement with the Biden administration on implementing comprehensive new border controls.
According to three individuals familiar with the discussions, as reported by CBS News, this deal includes the provision to temporarily suspend asylum processing during periods of increased migrant crossings.
(https://x.com/allenanalysis/status/1751964135921709223?t=rHKKDIvKyt7hJoID2S8mdg&s=03)
StaceyDales (@StaceyDales) posted at 0:37 AM on Mon, Jan 29, 2024:
Here’s Brandon Aiyuk (& his parents) on his game-changing 51-yard catch…
Dad: “He came up big in the nick of time, we’re so happy, we’re going to the Super Bowl!”
Then more fam joined and that’s a wrap💪😭… @nflnetwork https://t.co/0iRBH7ni3s
(https://x.com/StaceyDales/status/1751856971328938060?t=Kz-TW3BJdPDComrgSJTJHQ&s=03)
Kurt Bardella (@kurtbardella) posted at 7:43 AM on Mon, Jan 29, 2024:
Ok Nation, Let’s Talk: The “Great Recession” never came. Inflation is down, consumer spending is up. Unemployment continues to drop, the markets keep going up. If Trump were President, he and MAGA and Fox, would be declaring this the greatest economy of all time.
@newsnationam https://t.co/5xT9G9QTxn
(https://x.com/kurtbardella/status/1751964308022407248?t=8oMfMY4uio-b9uYzh4Wriw&s=03)
RespectisEarnednotGIVEN (@ItsKey_70sbaby) posted at 6:12 AM on Mon, Jan 29, 2024:
This is how you do an interview. She voted NO for those bills however have her hand up FIRST to take credit. This is how the GOP play BOTH sides in DC they vote NO and at home they take credit. Media needs to keep calling them out on their hypocrisy.
(https://x.com/ItsKey_70sbaby/status/1751941315581853747?t=F37OpMcGFa9mrLyKzX8hdw&s=03)
Justin Chermol (@justin_chermol) posted at 0:15 PM on Sun, Jan 28, 2024:
WATCH: Rep. @MaElviraSalazar continues to take credit for projects brought to #FL27 made possible by bipartisan legislation she voted against like the CHIPS & Science Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
When pressed by @CBSMiami, Salazar says she forgot how she voted. https://t.co/ddoVWV5k7u
(https://x.com/justin_chermol/status/1751670329393414229?t=qXzdbfylCIdSOsbf0Nwe-A&s=03)
UH HUH
UH HUH
The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) posted at 0:14 PM on Sun, Jan 28, 2024:
So the Trump administration runs a pill mill and @NBCNews works Biden’s name into the tweet? 🤔
Framing is everything. After all this time, there are no accidents anymore. https://t.co/2bONncr8dZ
(https://x.com/TheTNHoller/status/1751670032533221476?t=2jdwhG3wDbziHVx0Ezkt-w&s=03)
President Biden (@POTUS) posted at 0:05 PM on Sun, Jan 28, 2024:
Last night, three U.S. service members were killed, and many wounded, during an unmanned aerial drone attack on our forces stationed in northeast Jordan near the Syria border.
Jill and I join the families and friends of our fallen in grieving the loss of these warriors in this despicable and wholly unjust attack.
Have no doubt: We will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner our choosing.
(https://x.com/POTUS/status/1751667937792967039?t=iH0YxUfqR87iPx-2LeK_4A&s=03)
Good Morning, Everyone..😊😊😊