We’re still going to have to stomach Vivek Ramaswamy’s slickly delivered anti-trans hate, Nikki Haley’s nauseating appeals to her bonafides and Mike Pence’s haircut during the next GOP primary debate in a month, but a couple of the candidates on stage last night may not qualify for the second Fox News ratings boost event of the season.
Ramasmarmy isn’t bad but Ramaswamadingdong is better.
Vivek is the living proof that America is fool of assholes and trolls, and they want some representation.
They have already been represented by the GOP for decades, and in “spectacular” fashion by Trump for the past 8 years or so.
Some choice tidbits from the Salon article:
Trump’s power is entirely due to the vacuum created by the vapidity of Republican leaders.
The GOP exists mainly as a vehicle for the endless parade of unwarranted, incoherent grievances of the Republican base.
The party’s base actively repels any discourse with real meaning. To say a true or important thing about Donald Trump to a Republican audience is to render yourself irrelevant to their political ecosystem.
Needless to say, there’s no such thing as “policy discourse” in a world built entirely around conspiracy theories.
Salon’s answer to the question, “why do Republicans bother with this farce?” It’s a fundraising grift:
But the ugly truth is that running for president is not about trying to actually win an election for most “candidates.” It’s a marketing campaign for their “brand,” using someone else’s ill-advised donations.
My guess is that only DeSantis and former vice president Mike Pence are legitimately delusional enough to think have [sic] a real shot. Everyone else on stage seems more interested in the opportunity to raise their profile, if only to command higher speaking fees at conservative events.
Their diagnosis:
the malignant incentive structures of the modern Republican Party: competence in governance is sneered at, the biggest bully in the room is applauded and it’s lucrative to repackage the hate and resentment of the GOP base and sell it back to them with an inflated price tag
I would posit it does more than render yourself “irrelevant”. It makes you an active enemy in their political ecosystem.
Vivek Ramaswamy is the candidate most likely to receive a wedgie and be stuffed into his locker by his fellow 2024 contenders.
be selected as Trump’s VP running-mate.
Found this exchange on emptywheel today:
I personally can’t wait for the down-angle camera perspective used in all the other perps’ shots. It’ll do fabulous things to that yellow cotton candy fluff on top of his head.
I’m hoping that the massive overexposure on the left sides of some images will shine right through the cotton candy fluff and show exactly how little natural hair the man has.
There are dozens of us!
cc: @littlegirlblue
I just want to live long enough to hear a future debate moderator describe his supporters in the audience as the “Vivek Section”.
Cut it out.
You are not in stitches?
I will try to stay with criticizing the candidate’s proto-fascism wannabe schtick rather than his name.
OTOH the Republican base will discard him on the basis of his name (etc.) once his shiny-object status wears off.
I feel like Republicans should embrace Ramaswarmy because he demonstrates that it’s not just Christians that get to be assholes in today’s Republican party.
“Officially” 6’3" & 215 pounds.
The CNN panel is a bit incredulous about this information and concluded that it was self reported.
Yeah, well, white guys still get to join the Republican Asshole Club as a legacy birthright.
Guys like Ramaswamy have to pull themselves up by their bootstraps to earn their place in the Republican Asshole Club.
Of course it is self-reported. We know for a fact Trump is shorter than the 6’ 1" Barack Obama, and there is no universe where Trump is under 240 lbs. min.
Uh huh.
And I’m the missing Lindbergh Baby.
6’ 1" and 320 pounds. Any takers for an over / under bet?
