You DID NOT hear it here first: Jim Jordan is a bully, and so are his MAGA-blooded followers. Mr. Tough Guy! Never passed a significant bill initiated by him in Congress. Would-be Speaker of the House who still professes that the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump.
But what was different in the days leading up to Jordan’s third defeat at being elected speaker was this: Instead of hearing stories about the vile, threatening verbal attacks on election workers, court officials and the myriad of prominent people opposing the demagogue Donald Trump, right-wingers in Congress opposing Jordan’s bid for the speakership found themselves in the crosshairs of the types of low-lifes who normally spew their bile at the never-Trumpers.
The anti-Jordan congressmen didn’t take too well to the bullying tactics, especially when they were directed at their family members. And the result, as we have seen, was that Jordan lost votes on the second and third ballots, instead of gaining votes.
How bad did things get?
Audio of one threatening phone call to a congressman’s wife was shared on CNN, and it is an understatement to call it beyond disgusting.
If you haven’t heard this call, I urge you to park your sensibilities for a couple of minutes and check out how polarizing things have gotten in this great nation of ours, even when the discord occurs within one party.
Jim Jordan is one of the poster boys for the harm that gerrymandering does to this country, allowing clearly unqualified and incompetent people (yes, of both parties) to get into office because there is no effective opposition from “the other side.” During most of his tenure in Congress, his Ohio 4th District has been among the most gerrymandered in the USA.
I’m envious of people who have the talent to combine two or more skills to create an end result that people love, a process that usually involves (1) having a vision and then (2) executing on the vision to create a successful, popular product.
One group I’m jealous of are the world’s editorial cartoonists. To be successful in that field, they must first imagine a concept that sheds light on issues of the day, frequently through ridicule, and then they must apply their artistic talents to painting or drawing a “picture” that presents their concept in an entertaining or captivating way.
I’d like to think I have half the skills needed to be an editorial cartoonist; all day long, and often at night when I’m trying to fall asleep, ideas run through my head about cartoons I wish I could create.
Unfortunately, this is the limit of my artistic skill:
This is why I hold editorial cartoonists in high esteem for their ability to do what they do.
Let’s say, for example, that I’d like to make a statement, in the simplest yet clearest way possible, about the current dysfunction in the House of Representatives.
How could I do better than this:
Do we all understand what may be the main reason why MAGA adherents have such unshakeable loyalty to Donald Trump, despite his relentless narcissistic behavior, his many frauds, his 91 criminal indictments, etc.?
Pundits constantly remind us that these are not necessarily bad people, noting that the general nature of humanity is to be “good” and kindly toward others.
The reason these folks are the way they are is that they have walled themselves off from factual sources, such as the much-vilified mainstream media. They choose to consume their information only from sources that reflect their political dispositions.
I have a widowed sister-in-law who lives a few homes away from me. Every time I visit her -and I mean EVERY time- the big-screen TV in her living room is tuned to either Fox News or Newsmax. And if I ask her about some news event that did not fit into the messages conveyed by these right-wing channels, she is often completely unaware of the subject.
This is why I wasn’t stunned by a recent New York Times article in which a panel of 11 men and women who voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020, and are leaning toward him again for 2024, were asked for their thoughts on Trump and the election process.
Here is a small sampling of their comments:
What I think would help Trump a lot is if people saw the real side of him - his compassion and his charity. He doesn’t ever talk about any of those things.
What I’m looking for is someone who has the strength and business background that Trump has. None of the other candidates, as I look through them, have the experience.
I want to feel confident that there’s not backdoor deals going on that are lining their personal pockets and their children’s pockets.
Question: What are the qualities you think would make a good president of the United States?
Responses:
Honesty.
Honesty and boldness.
Integrity.
Strong decision maker.
Someone who listens to the people.
Strong decision maker.
While there may be a tendency to ask if these well-meaning folks are drinking the Kool-Aid, the sad fact is that they are simply getting their “news” from right-wing sources that support their already well-established views.
Another critical milestone along the path to the 2024 elections is approaching, and it is one that should add further credence to the proposition that no matter what we see happening on a day-to-day basis, the 500-pound gorilla in the room is voters’ backlash to the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v.Wade.
In a November 7 election, Ohio voters are set to enshrine the right to abortion in that state’s constitution. Right-to-life supporters, mostly in the GOP, are in panic mode over this trend and are scrambling for ways to soften their language in an attempt to fool the voters.
A recent poll showed support for the measure at 58% and opposition at 34%, so mark November 7 on your calendar for further evidence that whether Trump is on the ballot or not next year, freedom of choice will also be on the ballot.
Very interesting. I enjoy finding out about people's pasts BSCA. We have so much talent in this community that is untapped. Use it or lose it, I always say. If we can only work together in this world for the common good. As an optimist I think that is possible but there needs to be a TRUTHFUL dialog and clear facts disseminated in order for that to happen. Keep up the good work.
Well written David. I think you missed your calling but it's certainly not too late to start a new career.
RobertReich@substack.com also uses humorous editorial cartoons. He was the Secretary of Labor as you no doubt know and has a very fact filled regular blog which scrupulously analyzes the elephant in the room. Bottomline: We need adults who act like adults leading our government. We need a President who acts like a President in every way. Our lives depend on it.