Tuesday, April 16, 2024

"Second Deadline" Update: The Greatest Bi-Partisan Action in American History (4/16/24)




The Greatest Bi-Partisan Action in American History

“Historically speaking, it is very significant when conservatives break with fascists.” – Tim Snyder (@timsnyder)

"I think Russian propaganda has made its way into the United States, unfortunately, and it’s infected a good chunk of my party’s base," says House Foreign Relations Committee Chairman, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) - CNN, Republican lawmaker says Russian propaganda has 'infected a good chunk' of GOP base, 4/7/24

Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH), chairperson of the US House intelligence committee, says some of his fellow Republicans are “absolutely” repeating Russian propaganda on the chamber floor, echoing a similar claim made recently by another rightwing American lawmaker. “It is absolutely true we see, directly coming from Russia, attempts to mask communications that are anti-Ukraine and pro-Russia messages, some of which we even hear being uttered on the House floor,” the Ohio congressman told CNN’s State of the Union show. - Guardian, "House intelligence chair says Republicans are ‘absolutely’ repeating Russian propaganda," 4/8/24

The powerful messaging of the Lincoln Project, the brilliance of Stuart Stevens, the indomitable leadership of Lynn Cheney, the gravitas of Judge Luttig, the courage of Cassady Hutchinson. I offer them to you as proof that America is not divided down the middle, America is not half crazy, America is less than half crazy. I agree with them on almost nothing, they are conservative Republicans, and I am progressive Democratic, but they are not crazy, and neither am I, and we all belong to what I call the #UnitedFrontforSanityAndDecency, which is indeed a moniker for the Greatest Bi-Partisan Action in American History. That’s how I describe it. It is an empowering frame for patriots, it should be embraced. It is one of hope and clarity. But you will never hear it described in that way in the mainstream news media … BECAUSE … they are wholly invested in the horse race narrative, Blue v. Red, battleground states, “a country deeply divided,” yada yada yada, and that obsolete narrative doesn’t allow for the more complicated landscape we are actually living in …

Indeed, IF the evening news did cover this for what it really is - The Greatest Bi-Partisan Action in American History, the narrative of all that we have endured these last few years would read very differently ...

One of the bulwarks of this Greatest Bi-Partisan Action in American History, Republican Voters Against Trump, is investing tens of millions of dollars in advertising to tell the story of disaffected Republican voters and hopefully encouraging even more into not voting for Trump:

A Republican group dedicated to opposing former President Donald J. Trump is planning to spend $50 million to stop him through a series of homemade testimonial videos of voters who backed him in past elections but say they can no longer support him in 2024. The group, Republican Voters Against Trump, first emerged in the 2020 campaign and made a return appearance for the 2022 midterm elections. It is run by Sarah Longwell, a leading figure in Never-Trump politics whose focus groups and polling are a staple of center-right podcasts and have made her a go-to figure for political reporters aiming to decipher the motivations behind Trump supporters. Unlike Democratic organizations that aim to help President Biden by promoting his record in office, Ms. Longwell’s group focuses solely on attacking Mr. Trump through the voices of his former backers. The Republican Voters Against Trump website features 100 videos, from one to three minutes long, of Republicans speaking to a computer or mobile-phone camera about why they voted for Mr. Trump in 2016 or 2020 and will not do so in 2024. - NYT, Anti-Trump Group of Republicans Lays Out $50 Million Plan of Attack, 3/12/24

The ranks of disaffected Republicans is swelling.
MSNBC (11/21/23): Cassidy Hutchinson: 'We're fighting for our democracy' in 2024