“No one…as in no one…wants Trump to win. And if this means voting for Anybody But Trump, we’re there for it”.
To all my Bulwark friends- I think we can agree that the current Republican Party represents an ongoing threat to our democracy. I don’t know if the party is salvageable but I do know that as long as the GOP keeps winning elections, they have no…as in zero…motivation to change. So, how about this…you stop voting for republicans, any and all republicans, until they loose enough elections and are brought to their senses. If the GOP goes back to being a normal party, then vote for all the republicans you want. Until then, you need to vote for dems or independents. A hard pill to swallow, but a necessary one.
I understood the comment to be in the context of a Republican primary. By definition, you can only vote for Republicans in the primary. I think most of the Bulwark contributors and readers understand the need for the current GOP to go down in flames at every opportunity.
I'd guess 90% of the commentariat is already there. Another 3% are going to hold onto voting for the candidate not the party (and that'll be functionally the same).
The Right seems to be quite adept at manufacturing culture war issues. I mean, the whole trans set of issues is something affecting (according to the data) less than 1% of the population.... but it is a HUGE thing.
Plus, despite Dobbs, they are still grinding away at that issue and using it as a potential wedge to get into further removing other rights.
Culture is essentially all they have, because it is all that a huge chunk of their base cares about (because they see the culture as a reason for the victimization and for their economic issues).
I don't know about being totally banned (as in a movie theater could not show it), but you couldn't show it in a school or certain other places. I would be wondering why you WOULD show it at a school TBH.
Culture and anti Semiticism and racism. The usual fascist trifecta. Hitler loved German mothers and encouraged them to have many German babies. We all know his feelings for the non Germans.
The irony is the base only cares about culture. They either don’t believe economic or financial items can be improved for them (free markets did kinda screw the lower middle class, since we had no guardrails) or they are convinced hurting the right people will fix their woes (I bet on the latter). It’s all very misguided, given the GOP elites crowing about “the elite” etc.
Conservatives have significant judicial power. Liberals have significant cultural power. Current MAGA base can’t seem to understand that push and pull balance.
Well the Repubs have never cared about economic issues other than lowering taxes for the wealthy and cutting all regulations. Their base realized this and thus enabled Dump to gain their support.
Unfortunately, because of the bullshit asymmetry principle (aka Brandolini’s Law), Repuglicans won’t ever exhaust all culture war topics. Sometimes, after some indefinite interval, they reuse and recycle (but never reduce them).
To a man whose only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. To a party whose biggest hammer is resentment, every ‘issue’ is a grievance. Even the bullshit ‘issues’. ESPECIALLY the bullshit ones.
Oh, I’m pretty sure they will find some other culture war topic to create and be outraged about. There is too much money to grift in the right-wing media.
I read in Jim Swift’s overtime that Ted Cruz wants to force carmakers to bring back AM radios. Who would’ve thought that could be a culture war subject.
Reparations for enslavement, for jim crow, for redlining, for the drug wars, for shabby public schools, for extra-judicial killings. There's plenty of meat on those culture bones, and it won't be simple. Where do you stand?
A lot of the various culture war issues aren't "winning" issues (and are, in fact, probably losing issues, if they get in power and try to implement them) but they are issues that can be tacked on and that will generate turnout in places. Granted, these places are often reliably red to begin with, but the various culture war issues, while not central in a general election, will shape GoP primary outcomes... and keep some red places from turning purple or blue.
Although it is surprising what things can get legs (as you say). I would have never seen drag queens as an issue, given the history of the form and some of the big names that did it in the past... but here we are.
My money (if I were a betting person) would be on pagans: Wiccans, Druids, etc. It would be pretty easy pickings, because many of these people aren't in organized groups that support their members, let alone have any political support. There's still enough of that "Satanic Panic" fear in the air, plus the obvious anti-Christian rhetoric that's possible.
One example: single parents who help each other to raise their kids? It's becoming a thing in some places. Sounds like 'a buncha commies' to me. /s
I agree with J Fricks. The possibilities are endless. They have only scratched the surface on contraceptives because, you know, 'all children are God's children'. Even the ones who haven't been conceived.
The idea I've observed making its way around the lower levels of right-wing media most recently is doing away with no fault divorce. I am not kidding. Look-out for this being taken up on Fox, and in state legislatures soon. Never underestimate the misogyny of these people.
I didn't say anything about winning. I was responding to the comment "I think Republicans have exhausted all culture war topics." My comment was probably misplaced and poorly formed. So much shade to throw, so little time.
I never would've believed this many voters cared about drag queens. Not in a million years would I have guessed this outcome. I don't know what to think any more. It looks like no-fault divorce is the next topic. That one may resonate as men's rights groups have been complaining for years that divorce courts discriminate against them.
I would add, be sure to get active, even in the bluest states, for your Democratic candidates for *legislature*. The maga offensive has shifted to the states. That's where abortion rights are being decided. If you can donate even a few dollars to the Democratic candidate, it will greatly be appreciated. Grassroots fundraising is really tough. Door knockers and phone bankers also welcome with open arms!
Because these people hate Democracy. If Trump is elected, it will be the last real election in the once United States. He'll never leave and he will suspend elections for Congress. Too many countries said, " it couldn't happen here." Until it did.
I don’t do lawn signs, buttons, or bumper stickers. I see some very vulgar ones with extremely antisocial messaging. People have always been a bit crazy upstate, but the hostility is more palpable. It’s probably not going to resolve in my lifetime.
“No one…as in no one…wants Trump to win. And if this means voting for Anybody But Trump, we’re there for it”.
To all my Bulwark friends- I think we can agree that the current Republican Party represents an ongoing threat to our democracy. I don’t know if the party is salvageable but I do know that as long as the GOP keeps winning elections, they have no…as in zero…motivation to change. So, how about this…you stop voting for republicans, any and all republicans, until they loose enough elections and are brought to their senses. If the GOP goes back to being a normal party, then vote for all the republicans you want. Until then, you need to vote for dems or independents. A hard pill to swallow, but a necessary one.
Most (all?) of them already do and have said so publicly many times.
I am 75 years old. I have never voted for a Republican in my life and never will. I never miss an opportunity to vote.
I understood the comment to be in the context of a Republican primary. By definition, you can only vote for Republicans in the primary. I think most of the Bulwark contributors and readers understand the need for the current GOP to go down in flames at every opportunity.
I'd guess 90% of the commentariat is already there. Another 3% are going to hold onto voting for the candidate not the party (and that'll be functionally the same).
I like your word and proud to be a fellow commentariat!
The Right seems to be quite adept at manufacturing culture war issues. I mean, the whole trans set of issues is something affecting (according to the data) less than 1% of the population.... but it is a HUGE thing.
Plus, despite Dobbs, they are still grinding away at that issue and using it as a potential wedge to get into further removing other rights.
Culture is essentially all they have, because it is all that a huge chunk of their base cares about (because they see the culture as a reason for the victimization and for their economic issues).
Would Rocky Horror be banned if it came out today? 🤗
I don't know about being totally banned (as in a movie theater could not show it), but you couldn't show it in a school or certain other places. I would be wondering why you WOULD show it at a school TBH.
Culture and anti Semiticism and racism. The usual fascist trifecta. Hitler loved German mothers and encouraged them to have many German babies. We all know his feelings for the non Germans.
The irony is the base only cares about culture. They either don’t believe economic or financial items can be improved for them (free markets did kinda screw the lower middle class, since we had no guardrails) or they are convinced hurting the right people will fix their woes (I bet on the latter). It’s all very misguided, given the GOP elites crowing about “the elite” etc.
Conservatives have significant judicial power. Liberals have significant cultural power. Current MAGA base can’t seem to understand that push and pull balance.
Well the Repubs have never cared about economic issues other than lowering taxes for the wealthy and cutting all regulations. Their base realized this and thus enabled Dump to gain their support.
Unfortunately, because of the bullshit asymmetry principle (aka Brandolini’s Law), Repuglicans won’t ever exhaust all culture war topics. Sometimes, after some indefinite interval, they reuse and recycle (but never reduce them).
To a man whose only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. To a party whose biggest hammer is resentment, every ‘issue’ is a grievance. Even the bullshit ‘issues’. ESPECIALLY the bullshit ones.
Oh, I’m pretty sure they will find some other culture war topic to create and be outraged about. There is too much money to grift in the right-wing media.
It doesn’t have to be true to take hold in a mark (MAGA head).
I read in Jim Swift’s overtime that Ted Cruz wants to force carmakers to bring back AM radios. Who would’ve thought that could be a culture war subject.
Reparations for enslavement, for jim crow, for redlining, for the drug wars, for shabby public schools, for extra-judicial killings. There's plenty of meat on those culture bones, and it won't be simple. Where do you stand?
A lot of the various culture war issues aren't "winning" issues (and are, in fact, probably losing issues, if they get in power and try to implement them) but they are issues that can be tacked on and that will generate turnout in places. Granted, these places are often reliably red to begin with, but the various culture war issues, while not central in a general election, will shape GoP primary outcomes... and keep some red places from turning purple or blue.
Although it is surprising what things can get legs (as you say). I would have never seen drag queens as an issue, given the history of the form and some of the big names that did it in the past... but here we are.
My money (if I were a betting person) would be on pagans: Wiccans, Druids, etc. It would be pretty easy pickings, because many of these people aren't in organized groups that support their members, let alone have any political support. There's still enough of that "Satanic Panic" fear in the air, plus the obvious anti-Christian rhetoric that's possible.
One example: single parents who help each other to raise their kids? It's becoming a thing in some places. Sounds like 'a buncha commies' to me. /s
I agree with J Fricks. The possibilities are endless. They have only scratched the surface on contraceptives because, you know, 'all children are God's children'. Even the ones who haven't been conceived.
The idea I've observed making its way around the lower levels of right-wing media most recently is doing away with no fault divorce. I am not kidding. Look-out for this being taken up on Fox, and in state legislatures soon. Never underestimate the misogyny of these people.
I heard there was a movement among some religious Republucans to outlaw birth control.
You heard correct.
Homunculi have a soul!
Oh yeah...God said children must be raised in a family with a male head and a female dishwasher...I'm sure that's written down somewhere.
I didn't say anything about winning. I was responding to the comment "I think Republicans have exhausted all culture war topics." My comment was probably misplaced and poorly formed. So much shade to throw, so little time.
I never would've believed this many voters cared about drag queens. Not in a million years would I have guessed this outcome. I don't know what to think any more. It looks like no-fault divorce is the next topic. That one may resonate as men's rights groups have been complaining for years that divorce courts discriminate against them.
I would add, be sure to get active, even in the bluest states, for your Democratic candidates for *legislature*. The maga offensive has shifted to the states. That's where abortion rights are being decided. If you can donate even a few dollars to the Democratic candidate, it will greatly be appreciated. Grassroots fundraising is really tough. Door knockers and phone bankers also welcome with open arms!
Hmm, I used to live in Upstate NY (Southern Tier) and I was open about my political affiliations. Never had a problem with anyone.
Now, I will grant that I left the area in 2016, but have things changed that much?
Because these people hate Democracy. If Trump is elected, it will be the last real election in the once United States. He'll never leave and he will suspend elections for Congress. Too many countries said, " it couldn't happen here." Until it did.
I don’t do lawn signs, buttons, or bumper stickers. I see some very vulgar ones with extremely antisocial messaging. People have always been a bit crazy upstate, but the hostility is more palpable. It’s probably not going to resolve in my lifetime.