The R Stands For Repugnant

The Republican party is just not right.  Yes, this is yet another post listing a day's worth of loathsome behavior.  And tomorrow is another day.  But we mustn't normalize Trump's GOP and grow numb to their Machiavellian misconduct.  Stay engaged and stay enraged.  Remember, at every level of government, the R stands for Repugnant. 

Here in Franklin County, Ohio, the two R's on the county board of elections are firmly opposed to budgeting $245,000 for a voter education ad campaign next year.  The Republican strategy is fewer voters, not more, so anything which might inform or assist the voting public is strictly against their religion.  One of the two GOP fuckwits complained that the budgeted expense is several times larger than the average household income in the county.  So what?

The R-dominated Ohio State Senate will vote this week to approve an unconstitutional "heartbeat bill," which would effectively prohibit all abortions in Ohio.  Kasich has promised to veto the damn thing, as he has done before.  And to override his veto, the state's Republicans would need to return to the statehouse between Christmas and New Year's, and that ain't gonna happen because R's don't give up their vacation for anything.  What does it say about a party that repeatedly tries to pass an illegal restriction of individual rights?

On the national level, Congressional Republicans are in that well-known Egyptian river -- Denial.  Even though we've got Trump on tape with Michael Cohen discussing how to pay off the bimbos prior to the 2016 election, the R's shrug it off and say they don't believe it's a crime.  (It is).  They say they don't believe Cohen.  (Roll tape.)  They've lashed themselves to Individual One's mast and they're ready to go down with the ship.  Brilliant!

Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) -- "Cohen is a sleazoid grifter."  And that's why he's going to do serious time.

Sen.Orrin Hatch (R-UT) -- "I don't think Trump was involved in crimes."  Trumpolini's own DOJ has implicated him in a federal crime.  Cohen's payment of hush money "was in coordination with and at the direction of" Yam Face.  What do you say about that, Orrin?  "OK, I don't care."

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) -- "I don't give much credibility to what Cohen says."  But Robert Mueller does.  In his sentencing memo, Mueller describes Cohen's cooperation as "forthright and credible" and "relevant and truthful."

Sen John Thune (R-SD) -- "The president has denied some of the allegations.  My view is, let's wait."  Oh Thuney, you scamp, you're as anxious as the rest of us to read Mueller's final report.  As for Trump's denial, remember that everyone in prison is innocent.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) -- "We've investigated this for a long time.  Both sides have come up with nothing."   Sure, Kevin.  Nothing except guilty pleas from 33 people, 3 companies via the Mueller probe, 8 guilty pleas from Cohen in federal court, jail sentences for 5 associates (and counting), and immunity/cooperation agreements with a pair of longtime Trump allies, Pecker and Weisselberg.  And the Mueller report is not ready yet.

At the executive level, Trump turned a routine photo op with Schumer and Pelosi into a peevish display of selfish brattiness.  Dinky Donny told Chuck and Nancy that unless Congress gave him $5 billion for a border wall, he'd hold his breath, turn blue and proudly shut down the government on December 21st.  "If we don't get what we want, I am proud to shut down the government for border security.  I will take the mantle of shutting it down."  Duly noted.  If the asshole mantle fits, wear it.