Originally published at: It’s Time to Govern, and Republicans in Congress Can’t Remember How
We’re seeing a phenomenon play out right now that has cropped up repeatedly during both Trump terms. At the heart of the phenomenon is this: in almost all areas of governance, the Republican Party stands for Trump. Nothing more, nothing less. Members of Congress have accepted this rebranding, or left government entirely. Occasionally, Republicans in…
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Yep. What now GOP?
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I’m done talking about Republicans. I want to tell you guys a story of something so simple that happened, but it was so refreshing because we are forgetting how to be nice to one another. I’m in a supermarket. I literally had to go in and pick up a bag of rice for dinner. I get to the checkouts, and only 2 lanes of 10 are open. It was the first time I was in a Lidl, and, it wasn’t a good first impression because the 2 lines were very long. I let out a sigh because any chance I have of getting out of there in a timely fashion, has just gone out the window. Well, they open a third lane. And, as pathetically expected, people race each other to get to it. It was an off-putting performance for our species. Now, however, the line I was in has thinned out considerably. There is the guy actively checking out, and then the guy in front of me. He turns sees me, and says, “Sir, is that only thing you have?” I say yes. He then goes, “Please, go ahead of me. It’s silly to make you wait if that’s all you have.” I kindly decline, but begin to thank him, profusely, because I was so thankful that there is a good and courteous person still kicking in this shitty world. That simple gesture, we have become starved for any goodwill towards each other. I was so impressed by this gesture. Shortly thereafter, I saw him walking with his bags. and I offered to take him home. He lived nearby in an apartment complex, so it was a quick ride home. I wanted to thank him in someway with a gesture of my own.
Two strangers looked out for each other. It was a good moment.
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“We haven’t probably messaged as effectively as we should,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune offered.
Republicans haven’t lied well enough.
They certainly haven’t told the truth.
bomb threats, swatting attempts, and other forms of intimidation.
That’s what Republicans do to Republicans.
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It is so bad that the disassociative Justices of the Supreme Court cannot even contemplate that the Legislative branch once exercised oversight over independent agencies. So they’re simply gifting the Executive all the powers that once were those of the Legislative branch.
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I’d say John Thune and Mike Johnson are ignoring their Constitutional duty, to wit:
“In order to form a more perfect union” is the second phrase in the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution, signifying the founders’ goal to improve upon the weak, decentralized government under the Articles of Confederation by creating a stronger, more effective federal system to unite the states, establish justice, ensure peace, provide defense, promote welfare, and secure liberty for future generations. It reflects an ongoing aspiration for continuous improvement, not immediate perfection, acknowledging the nation’s evolving journey toward its ideals.
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The atrophied muscles are one factor. Another is that the tea party ethos still controls the house. The primary selection process guaranteed that the donor class and its hatred of government would find its fruition in that class of the GOP that reviles all governance. In this they are aligned.
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“while there’s some schadenfreude in watching Republican members of Congress attempt, and struggle, to exercise their atrophied policy muscles, there’s little solace in knowing that a failed-state party controls … the actual state.”
This administration has fired what they called DEI, etc because of the theory that they just sit and do absolutely nothing while collecting a paycheck. They got it backwards (like everything else) as it is the republicans (gop) and their blonde haired, lily white skin aides not doing a dang thing besides blowing hot air. They don’t know how to do their job - probably because daddy got them their spot in the capitol.
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That happened at least a couple of times a week at my register when I was still at the grocery store. Not all that uncommon.
In other news: affordability.
I got my COLA letter from the SSA yesterday. I have a pretty hefty payout due to 30 years in consulting. The difference between 2025 and 2026 for me is about $95.00.
I cannot imagine how those collecting average or less benefit will function next year.
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John, old boy, your party’s problem isn’t messaging. It’s your policies.
There simply isn’t enough lipstick in the world to make that pig not look like a pig.
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I’m looking forward to two things that can’t come soon enough for the country’s sake, one likely following on the other. One is the death of Trump, the second is the unraveling of the Republican Party. Both are toxic empty shells devoid of ideas, other than anger and hate.
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Yep! Do the good you can where you are. Everyone doing so would undo what the GOP has constructed, and replace it with citizens, essentially, governing ourselves.
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Random acts of grace and kindness are what has saved us from certain extinction and will carry us through. Thanks for what you did and for letting us know that humanity still has some strong attributes. MOST of us have pretty good souls….but not all of us.
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We’re staying with you : - )
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No room in the inn. We only have a one bedroom.
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A 2.8% increase less the $17 Medicare Part B premium increase.
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30 bucks here…
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I had a moment in a store today, a wine store (a good one) with beer and liquor, too. I grabbed my bottle of wine and proceeded to the horseshoe-shaped counter, where the proprietor (we sort of know one another, as regular patrons and clients do) was deeply engaged in chatter with a gray-haired man who looked fit and, well, I’ll say middle class. So the proprietor came round to me, throwing some quip about golf the other guy’s way. I said, speaking of golf, I think Trump’s not getting a port in his arm because he he doesn’t want his golf buddies (or the press) to see one. The grey-haired guy across the way looks at me suspiciously, almost glaring. The proprietor, as he rings up my purchase, adds to my comment sotto voce, “That and his Alzheimer’s.”
Which of us was the proprietor trying to please more? I’m pretty sure he was with me on Trump. His daughter, born a son, was the first in the family on either side to go to college. (I’m inferring a lot, but you get a feel for things in places you frequent.) They were so proud! Yet their son, dressed as a girl, was behind the counter by the middle of her first year of college. I hope she’s back there, because I haven’t seen her in quite awhile. And the proprietor and his wife (she and one other man are sometimes behind the counter) seem more chipper lately.
A lot for this family to handle.
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You left out the important part! What wine did you buy???
Teasing you, but I will relate some of my experience at my local dollar store here in Tenn…
I’ve been coming in for a couple of years now, and familiar with most of the staff.
One lady staffer at the checkout is a bit old, showing grey, usually in an upbeat mood.
She was checking out my beer, and I asked her how her day was going.
“Pretty good, I haven’t had to throat-punch anybody yet, but the day is still young.”
That made my day, and her my fave checkout lady.
‘
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