The Mad Rush To Be on the Stupid Side of History

Imagine believing that the Founders intended for the vice president to be able to select the next president.

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A lot of stupid things are said about history. 

For example, there is no “right side” of history, if by that you mean events are destined to play out in some sort of preordained way. 

But there is such a thing as being on the stupid side of history—and there’s a mad rush to be on it. 

President Donald Trump’s lawyers failed to convince a single judge, Trump-appointed or otherwise, that there was systemic fraud in the 2020 election, never mind sufficiently outrageous fraud to warrant literally disenfranchising millions of voters. So Rep. Louie Gohmert is suing Vice President Mike Pence to force him to do exactly that. 

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  1. Avatar photo
    Bel Aves

    This is the weird calculus of Hawley, Cruz, Pence et al. No one except Trump will get 100% of Trump voters and Trump lost. So if Hawley gets a generous 75% of Trump voters in the battleground states. Where do they think that extra 25% plus whatever additional votes they need to beat Harris, will emanate?

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  2. Matthew

    How pathetic is it for so many people to debase their integrity and intellect for such a pitiful figure as Donald Trump? The argument itself is profoundly stupid on its face, but that its being advanced in favor of a carnival show barker who cares only about his own image and ego adds salt to the wound.

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  3. Curtis C

    Erick Erickson said it best. This whole perpetuation of conspiracy theory within congress and the electoral objections due to “irregularities” is “performative leg humping” for the president.

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    Eston

    This was a welcome, humorous respite in an otherwise dimly frustrating week.

    To expand the premise, there of course can be times when there is no sitting VP (as happened regularly before the 25th Amendment was ratified, and could now happen if a POTUS died and no new VP was confirmed prior to the day for certifying the electoral college vote). So if that were the case now then the Pres of the Senate would be Chas. Grassley selecting the President — or whoever is then Pres pro tempore of the Senate? I can already imagine the scheming to get that position changed from the honorary position it has been for decades! Let the farce continue!



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    The Stray Goose

    That last line is devastating.

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  6. Jay Rogers

    I propose a Wingnut Rule for each chamber each year.
    2% of the fringe Wingnuts in each party in each Chamber are out each year.
    A few details to work out.
    Like who decides on the Wingnuts?
    But I propose it's a "you know it when you see it sort of thing".
    This falls in line with my "10%-35%-5%-5%-35%-10" Politcal Spectrum Model.
    If we chip away at the ultra fringe on each end maybe we can make some progress towards civility, and the future of this country.

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    1. Avatar photo
      Pat Riot

      The GOP needs to get rid of the "fringe wingnuts" who have not denounced Trump's criminal call with the GA Secretary of State.

      That leaves 10% of the GOP who are *not* wingnuts.

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      1. Jay Rogers

        I am speechless that anyone continues to give President Trump airtime. Until he is ignored he will never go away. Every reply to his lunacy just breathes life into his $$$s grab.

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    Bill Nelson

    Has anyone actually talked to Gohmert or Hawley? I’d enjoy hearing a real explanation.

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    1. Avatar photo
      Cornelius O’Brien

      Newsmax talked to Gohmert yesterday.
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=avOknx1Dk8A

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      1. Avatar photo
        Bill Nelson

        A serious journalist, such as Mr. French. With serious questions, done respectfully.

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    wj

    I really hope Hawley and Cruz and the others pay for this in the next contest for president, or in their senate elections. Statements need to be made. Partaking in this kind of dangerous, disgraceful behavior should end one's political career in shame and dishonor, full-stop.

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  9. Scott N.

    At its core, the Hawley and Cruz actions, plus Gohmer’s “this is to avoid violence” dog whistle suit are establishing “proof” of the Republican stab-in-the-back myth.

    If it succeeds somehow, you won’t get Trump but will get Acting President Pelosi instead because it then devolves into mass state disqualification on the Dem side (with some nice multi-thousand point drops in the stock market to boot).

    In fact the “genius” of the action is that the sane/honorable Senators allow the car to stay far enough away to not actually catch it.

    But it makes a powerful mythos for the future.

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    1. Avatar photo
      Pat Riot

      The stock market crashing is the only thing keeping the remaining Republican senators from going over the ledge.

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    Dina

    It's very gratifying to see Jonah Goldberg articulate my thoughts so well:) Thanks, Jonah!

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    1. Avatar photo
      JohnF

      Most of them probably sold short last Thursday.

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