12399

I know they don’t. My point was that if they did get it banned it wouldn’t matter, so they idea that they are afraid of banning it isn’t something to bet on.

Relatively sane lawful evil Rs like Moscow Mitch probably don’t want to go that far, but crazies like MGT and Gym Jordan? They are chaotic evil and capable of anything!

12400

But you are missing one crucial element:
Their base is made of idiot rubes.

They don’t really demand anything. They are simply told what to be angry about, and it doesn’t really matter if the GOP enacts policy based on it.

The goal isn’t some kind of policy platform.

The goal is simply the contrived angst and feeling of victimization.

To that end, even when it comes to the contrived “problems” that the GOP sells their rube base, it’s far more in their interest to keep that problem or enemy in play, because it’s the fear that drives their vote.

12401

The enemy will always be in play whether abortion is legal or outlawed. It makes no difference, just as the current extremely permissive gun laws make no difference. Guns are still an incendiary issue that gets votes for the Rs.

12402

Sure, but it takes less effort to not actually do something like outlaw abortion across the country, so that’s what they will do.

12403

The base is motivated regardless of what you do. You don’t want to motivate opposition.

12404

My guess is you’re correct, but I wouldn’t bet on it. It wouldn’t surprise me if Texas tries to outlaw Texas residents from travelling out of state to get abortions.

12405

Texas is an interesting case…I think the GOP is fucking themselves there.

Mississippi is one thing… That state is a backwards dumpster fire.

But Texas is actually a thriving economic power house, and it’s growth is being pretty much directly driven by it’s transition to a purple/blue state.

I think the abortion crusade there is likely to backfire.

12406

State legislators tend to be far more True Believers and crazies.

12407

“Idiot rubes” who are religious fanatics who have been told by their churches and religious leaders how abortion is an abomination and morally repulsive. That group won’t go away, in fact they would stay active. The Gun nuts won’t care, those who think Dems are socialists won’t care, but don’t for a minute think the religious won’t care.

12408

Sure, but they will actually be MORE active if abortion stays and the GOP just tells them that the reason abortion is still around is because mumble mumble communism.

12409

This is why despite multi mass shootings and no substantial gun control legislation since 1994, GOP voters have let gun control slip into the background and don’t worry about it anymore, having effectively won the gun control “debate”?

Even if abortion is banned, the threat that abortion will be brought back won’t motivate anyone, surely?

12410

Thank you. That’s the point I’ve been trying to make. Don’t think the GOP base is terrified of outlawing abortion. They want to do that. And if they do, they will be terrified of the Democrats legalizing it again.

12411

To be clear, I agree that the GOP totally could keep abortion as an issue even if they banned it.

But I think that they totally don’t actually give a shit about it being using it as a wedge issue, so I don’t think they will do anything, because why bother?

Doing nothing and then bitching about how the democrat communists are killing babies is way easier.

Also, actual implementation of their bad policy ideas mean that voters will have to deal with the actual repercussions.

Like, SAYING you want to destroy the ACA is one thing. That doesn’t cost you anything.

But if it actually got removed? And suddenly millions and millions of people lost health insurance? That would have been a fucking huge cluster fuck for the GOP.

12412

That’s if the old school GOP is in charge. That seems to be changing. Moscow Mitch is about done. Newer GOP nuts are coming. They worry more about appeasing the crazy base and they also don’t care about the institution of democracy, because they now sense that they can get around it so it won’t matter. This is my fear at least.

12413

I just don’t think that actually doing crazy policy helps them appease the crazy base, because Trump showed them that reality has no impact on what his supporters believe.

They can do nothing and appease the crazies by blaming their inaction on the communists

12414

The base will demand martial law if necessary to get things done. Folks will get primaried if they don’t do it.

12415

They could just say they did them, even if they didn’t.

12416

The fact that reality matters to our voters definitely makes things more challenging!

12417

I used to think that back in the bygone days of pre-COVID. Now I understand that GOP lawmakers can literally do anything, then blame liberals/socialists/Democrats for any fallout and their dumbass voters will agree.

12418

I think telling the base that without vigilance the socialist heathens will bring back abortion would be all the GOP would have to do.

Maybe the fact that I am about 200 pages into Reaganland and I have been reading about Phylis Schlafly and “feminism” has added to my beliefs that the GOP leadership hasn’t led in a long time.