Republicans are all like “It’s not such a big deal.”
Regardless of the explanations and justifications, the procedural vote is just the latest, clearest sign of fading Republican support for finding Trump responsible for the Capitol riot three weeks ago.
You can see their point. It was almost three weeks ago. Generations have been born and died since then. Memories have faded. It’s in the past now. Nobody gets hot under the collar about the War of 1812 and it’s the same with this.
Shortly after the incident, Lindsey Graham – one of the president’s closest allies in the Senate – said the president’s actions “were the problem” and that his legacy was “tarnished”.
Then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell reportedly was “pleased” with the House’s impeachment efforts and said just last week that the mob that attacked the capital was “fed lies” and “provoked” by president.
That was then, this is now. It’s old old old news. In the interests of national somethingsomething we have to move on while pretending it never happened.
The Republican Party’s evolving views on the president’s culpability are probably best captured by the shifting comments of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
During the impeachment debate in the House of Representatives two weeks ago, McCarthy said Trump “bears responsibility for Wednesday’s attack by mob rioters” and recommended that he be formally censured by the chamber.
Last week, he said he didn’t believe Trump “provoked” the rally and then, a few days later, that “everybody across this country has some responsibility” for creating the political environment that led to the insurrection.
Mostly, to be fair, the Democrats. All that refusing to agree that the election was stolen just because there’s zero reason to think it was – so petty, so selfish, so ungenerous.
Meanwhile, those who spoke out against the former president and haven’t walked back their comments are facing growing calls for political retribution from within their own party.
As is only right. How dare she rebuke this wise and saintly man?
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3 responses to “Nearly 21 days”
Yeah, I have some responsibility. Sure. Because I insisted on having opinions of my own and failed to accept Trump’s view of the world. Because I voted for Biden. Because I exist outside of their bubble. Sure, I’m responsible. Right. And so is Darth Vader, and Gargamil and Voldemort and Aunt Lydia and the Joker and Dr. No. EVERYONE! Except Trump, of course.
McCarthy is employing a version of the Otter Defense:
The republicans are all alike. It begins and ends there.