SO MUCH FOR THE "SANE" REPUBLICANS

There is no mystery to why the Republicans are pulling out their “performative outrage” to go after President Biden. For Donald Trump - the author of this move - impeachment is an existential necessity. He not only needs to put impeachment to use as a weapon of mass distraction, but also as the authoritarian’s instrument of moral flattening.

If everyone is a crook, no one is a crook. If everyone is impeached, then impeachment is no longer a badge of shame. What is reality, anyway?

His own legal nightmare? Four indictments? Ninety-one felony charges?

WhuttaboutHunter’slaptop?

Trump talked with House leaders and ordered them to do this because, in the words of Mr. Sartorial Splendor, er, I mean Steve Bannon, the goal here is to flood the zone with shit

And so much for the “sane” Republicans.

“Sane” Republicans like Ken Buck:.

“The time for impeachment is the time when there’s evidence linking President Biden — if there’s evidence linking President Biden to a high crime or misdemeanor. That doesn’t exist right now. And it is really something that we can say, well, in February, we’re going to do this. It’s based on the facts. You go where the facts take you.”

“Sane” Republicans like the “One moderate GOP lawmaker” who said they believe there are as many as 30 Republicans who don’t believe there’s enough evidence yet for impeachment, based on informal conversations with colleagues.

“Sane” Republicans like Congressman Mike Johnson of Lousiana, who chairs the centrist-leaning Main Street Caucus:

“There is a constitutional and legal test that you have to meet with evidence,. I have not seen that evidence, but I guess I’m not suggesting it doesn’t exist. I do think the fact that the committees continue to ask for additional documents suggests that they don’t think their evidentiary record is complete yet.”

San Republicans like “Main Street Problem-Solver” Don Bacon of Nebraska:

“As of now I don't support [an impeachment inquiry]. I think an inquiry should be based on evidence of a crime that points directly to President Biden, or if the President doesn't cooperate by not providing documents.”

Sane”” Republicans like Congressman Dave Joyce of Ohio:

“When asked about Greene’s recent comments regarding an impeachment inquiry, Joyce tells Forbes he is ‘not seeing facts or evidence at this poin’” that would lead to an impeachment inquiry, and he says those calls are ‘premature.’”

Donald Trump has been speaking weekly with House GOP Conference Chair Elise “Striver” Stefanik, the first member of Republican leadership to come out in support of impeachment. Stefanik endorsed his comeback presidential bid before he made his official announcement and has been mentioned as a potential Trump VP pick should he win the GOP nomination.

The former president has not been shy about his belief that Biden should be impeached. Late last month he wrote on Truth Social: "Either IMPEACH the BUM, or fade into OBLIVION. THEY DID IT TO US."

We need to see this for what it really is: a long-term GOP “Look, squirrel!” moment on steroids.

And so far as the hope that the 18 “sane” Republicans from districts Biden won in 2020 will be the wall that stops the House Republicans from voting for impeachment, consider this:

AP is reporting in their afternoon news today feed that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s sudden decision to launch an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden has won over even the most reluctant Republicans, with some GOP lawmakers pushing for swift action while others expect it to drag into the 2024 election year. (Surprise surprise, remember “Benghazi! Benghazi! Benghazi!”)

McCarthy opened and closed a private meeting Wednesday of House Republicans justifying his reasoning for the inquiry sought by former President Donald Trump, the party’s frontrunner to challenge Biden next year.

The sooner the better to go after Biden, some GOP lawmakers feel.

“I hope we can get it through as quickly as possible,” said Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., the chairman of the Oversight Committee leading the impeachment inquiry.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has warned the House off impeachment. And GOP Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, after announcing he would not seek re-election in 2024, told reporters Wednesday afternoon, “I haven’t heard any allegation of something that would rise to the level of a high crime and misdemeanor.”

But John Thune of South Dakota, the No. 2 Senate Republican, said the briefing by House members left him feeling “there’s enough smoke there that there are legitimate questions.”

Yet moderate Republicans representing districts that Biden won in 2020 over Trump and who are most at risk in next year’s election generally were supportive of McCarthy’s decision to launch the impeachment probe.

“I would have voted for it,” said Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Calif., about the impeachment inquiry.

Garcia said, “There’s smoke there so we have a requirement to go investigate that and see if there’s fire there.”

Rep. Nick LaLota of New York, another one of the Republicans from districts Biden won in 2022, said he wasn’t worried about any backlash back home. “I think my constituents deserve some answers,” he said.

The freshmen lawmaker, along with other potential holdouts like Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., were offered private briefings from leadership this week in order to assuage any concerns.

As Harry Truman observed 75 years ago, “The only ‘good Republicans’ are pushing up daisies.”

Some. Things. Never. Change.

There isn’t a single Republican in this country who would not Make America Great Again if they were prophylactically “terminated... with extreme prejudice...” as was said in Apocalypse Now.

These. People. Are. Completely. Worthless. As. Human. Beings.

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