The GOP is still morally corrupt, even if Discourse breaks

[Timex]

@Papageno

Well, if the SCOTUS kills or Roe v Wade as it appears likely to do here real soon, the first thing McConnell and Co are going to do is go for a nationwide abortion ban of some kind, and they will not be shy about killing the filibuster to do it.

I guarantee this is not something the GOP will even attempt. Guarantee.

[Papageno]

@Timex

@Papageno

Well, if the SCOTUS kills or Roe v Wade as it appears likely to do here real soon, the first thing McConnell and Co are going to do is go for a nationwide abortion ban of some kind, and they will not be shy about killing the filibuster to do it.

I guarantee this is not something the GOP will even attempt. Guarantee.

What, an abortion ban (as of some arbitrarily small number of weeks)* or killing the filibuster?

*of course they’ll probably only ever enforce it selectively (only against poor women who can’t pay a “discreet” doctor’s risk premium) and only in states they control top to bottom.

[Timex]

The Nationwide ban on abortion. The GOP would never even attempt such a thing.

[Mark_Asher]

@Timex

The Nationwide ban on abortion. The GOP would never even attempt such a thing.

Current old school GOP still seated. I agree with that. The new right-wing fanatics are capable of anything.

[Papageno]

@Mark_Asher

@Timex

The Nationwide ban on abortion. The GOP would never even attempt such a thing.

Current old school GOP still seated. I agree with that. The new right-wing fanatics are capable of anything.

Especially if they can fix elections because they’ve corrupted the whole system. In that case, who cares what most people think/want?

[Menzo]

@Papageno

In that case, who cares what most people think/want?

You’re missing what’s really going on with these extremists. They’re not trying to thwart the will of the American people. They think they are the majority. They reject all evidence otherwise and truly believe that most people in the US think like they do.

[Papageno]

I get that, but I’m not talking about the true believers, I’m talking about all the spineless careerists who started minimizing what happened on January 6th (let alone wanting to look into the planning for it) the moment the shouting was over, because they don’t give two shits about their country if it means having power. They’re down with the new authoritarian/fascist order, where election results are doctored as necessary to achieve the pre-determined result.

[Timex]

Do you guys actually think that people like Madison Cawthorne, or Matt Gaetz, or any of the rest of the idiot brigade actually give a shit about any of this stuff, beyond being a tool to grift people who are even dumber than they are?

That they care about saving fetuses or something?

I got a bridge to sell ya.

[scottagibson]

I think it’s helpful to remember that a lot of GOP leaders and their funders don’t care about abortion at all. It’s just a trick to rope some people into the coalition.

[Siphon9r]

After all, it is more difficult to rally the faithful to “save the unborn” if you actually go and “save the unborn”. It’s far better to leave it as a wedge issue to exploit for profits.

[Pyperkub]

@scottagibson

I think it’s helpful to remember that a lot of GOP leaders and their funders don’t care about abortion at all. It’s just a trick to rope some people into the coalition.

You forgot reason #1 - the grift for money and power.

Of course, the lesson learned from 1/6 is that the desire for money and power is greater than their dedication to the United States of America, the Constitution, and, well, just about anything else (see vaccines).

[Timex]

@Siphon9r

After all, it is more difficult to rally the faithful to “save the unborn” if you actually go and “save the unborn”. It’s far better to leave it as a wedge issue to exploit for profits.

This is exactly it, and I think even the dumbest members of the GOP idiot caucus understand it… Maybe not magic the gathering.

The GOP almost learned this lesson first hand when they ALMOST destroyed the ACA. They were on the verge of being the dog who caught the car.

While these things remain abstract bullshit, or confined to backwards places in the south, it shields the GOP from needing to deal with the repercussions of their actions.

But something like a Nationwide ban on abortion? I do not think they want to deal with that blowback.

[Papageno]

So what will they nuke the filibuster for, beyond for Cabinet, Supreme Court and all other federal judicial nominees? For nothing because they can pass tax cuts forever as long as they have 50 votes in the Senate plus a GOP President?

[tomchick]

@Timex

I think even the dumbest members of the GOP idiot caucus understand it… Maybe not magic the gathering.

Now I’m willing to cut you a lot of slack for your awesome autocorrect, but I won’t have you trashing the name of a perfectly cromulent collectible card game*. The game is “Magic the Gathering”, the batty woman from Georgia is “Magic Taylor Gathering”.

-Tom

* even if I don’t like it

[Freezer-TPF]

I think that’s pretty much it. The GOP is perfectly fine with the filibuster because they can already do the only things they really want to do (nominees, tax cuts) without it.

[Zylon]

Unborn babies are both weak and strong!

[ZeTh1]

I also think they won’t ban abortions. Authoritarians spend the first 10-15 years or so to capture the state’s institutions, media etc. A GOP majority with a not-a-moron president will focus all its efforts towards securing power for the foreseeable future. In the US that means even more voter restrictions, more gerrymandering, conservative judges, control of social media and securing long term funding. Only after they get full or close to full control will they consider the ideological agenda.

[Scuzz]

The GOP as a whole may not want to outlaw abortions on a national scale but there are certainly members and constituents who will want or demand it be done. The religious right will demand it. That could make things interesting for everyone.

[Mark_Asher]

@Siphon9r

After all, it is more difficult to rally the faithful to “save the unborn” if you actually go and “save the unborn”. It’s far better to leave it as a wedge issue to exploit for profits.

Sure, but look at all the gun stuff. The NRA has had their way yet they still inspire fear in the base. Guns are still a wedge issue. The liberals are coming to take your guns. You’d better vote Republican to keep the current laws in place.

You think if abortion is outlawed it will go away as a wedge issue? It will be continual fearmongering that the liberals will bring back abortion and pack the court with liberals. Abortion will never go away as a wedge issue.

What the old school GOP folks realize isn’t that it will no longer be an issue to rally votes if it’s made illegal nationwide but that it will be an issue that will aggressively energize the opposition. That’s what they don’t want to see. It may move the swing voters who favor abortion rights to vote against Republicans if they see Republicans take away abortion rights.

[scottagibson]

@Mark_Asher

You think if abortion is outlawed it will go away as a wedge issue? It will be continual fearmongering that the liberals will bring back abortion and pack the court with liberals. Abortion will never go away as a wedge issue.

Sure, but they don’t need a national ban to keep it as a wedge issue.