A good microcosm of my whole political critique is that GOP leaders reflexively understand that “Biden commutes death penalty sentences to life in prison” = “attack Dems viciously” while Dem leaders reflexively see “Trump’s top pick to be AG is a child rapist” as another opportunity to say nothing. - ThreadSky

brianbeutler.bsky.social • 63 days ago

A good microcosm of my whole political critique is that GOP leaders reflexively understand that “Biden commutes death penalty sentences to life in prison” = “attack Dems viciously” while Dem leaders reflexively see “Trump’s top pick to be AG is a child rapist” as another opportunity to say nothing.

Comments

melancholyjaques.bsky.social•63 days ago

Did Dem leaders say nothing?

vhliv.bsky.social•63 days ago

I don’t know, I’m far removed from the beltway, but my understanding was that not saying much about Gaetz was so as not to feed partisan antagonism in ways that would cause the GOP to defend him and make him AG. OTOH pushing bipartisanship not my idea of good opposition politics.

maximumjim.bsky.social•63 days ago

The TrumpubliQans literally want to decide who lives and who dies.

jkdanthonyian10.bsky.social•63 days ago

It's interesting to watch Mini Mike's performative outrage as he continues to relentlessly lie, while posing as a devout Christian, which is his biggest fraud. A devout Christian who can't even follow the 10 Commandments and who backs a heretic, criminal, rapist and swindler.

amsav.bsky.social•63 days ago

Such a political critique fails when it posits that GOP leaders are reflexively understanding such things. They are intentionally advancing a scripted rhetoric for their audience.

alexandermarquardt.bsky.social•63 days ago

No political party will exactly reflect the opinion of the country, or even a subset of constituents, but the Democrats are uniquely bad at advertising where they are in alignment with voters and forcefully calling out the deplorable behavior of their opponents. This is why they lose.

toddicus.bsky.social•63 days ago

Dems play checkers while GOP smashes the board. Always the same

thundertheologian.bsky.social•63 days ago

@aoc.bsky.social

thundertheologian.bsky.social•63 days ago

@thedemcoalition.bsky.social

bearpondboy.bsky.social•63 days ago

Johnson and Leghorn are Louisiana’s shame.

dingodingo14.bsky.social•63 days ago

They're not being released from prison, correct? What is the problem?

cshlan.bsky.social•63 days ago

On the heels of the commutations that let people remain out of jail, they're expecting their followers will assume he had these people freed from jail.

yukonjohn.bsky.social•63 days ago

Trump tried to appoint a child-rapist as AG, and the Democrats are mute in response. The problem is: the Dems don't attack, they are too nice.

The Johnson prisoner tweet is an *example* of both how easy it is to attack and why being nice is dumb.

afishcalledwanda.bsky.social•63 days ago

Low-informed republican voters don't know that

its-me-t.bsky.social•63 days ago

And that Christian fraud Johnson knows that.

rfpoorlands.bsky.social•63 days ago

Brian, didn’t you know that Gaetz promised Fetterman he wouldn’t rape another child if he became AG?

copernicussees.bsky.social•63 days ago

Most of us don't see hiring sadistic sociopaths to execute/murder other sadistic sociopaths isn't some kind of moral improvement. The GOP sees more violent death as better death.

profbarbour.bsky.social•63 days ago

Serious question: What’s the point of doing that? Republicans get their base all riled up because their base likes be riled. I don’t want to be riled and I can read what Gaetz is for myself. I won’t be more sickened because Hakeem Jeffries is mad & if he tries to rile me, I’m changing the channel.

ecouragement.bsky.social•63 days ago

So the “Christian” wants to kill people, do I have that right?

katebluboomer.bsky.social•63 days ago

"Vengeance is mine," so saith Moses Mike

oblivionwithbells.com•63 days ago

Republicans: HOW DARE HE NOT KILL MORE PEOPLE

blupotluv.bsky.social•63 days ago

I wish I could respond to Johnson’s tweet.

able-baker.bsky.social•63 days ago

Little passant rape enabler 😡

zenosanalytic.bsky.social•56 days ago

this guy never misses a chance to prove how bad a christian he is.

jtll24.bsky.social•63 days ago

‘Kennedy- I can’t stop sucking the President Elect dick to deflect PedoGaetz

-Johnson- I’m the biggest orange oral pleaser than anyone because I’m speaker of the house

run-dzeiher-run.bsky.social•63 days ago

So Pro-life they demand executions!!

webrant.bsky.social•63 days ago

Fascism, as it acquires the power to protect more corruption, requires the normalization of sociopathy for the intimidating examples of state murder it depends upon for control.

https://bsky.app/profile/brianbeutler.bsky.social/post/3ldyvczk5d22y

zecat123.bsky.social•63 days ago

Is it possible that people are more open to resolute conservatism than resolute liberalism

blc1962.bsky.social•63 days ago

And Musks Little Johnson didn’t want things to end with Gaetz because my money is on him being a closet pervert and he didn’t want the stories to end.

kerravon.bsky.social•63 days ago

Pretty sure Dem electeds were saying *something* about the allegations even before the report came out.

dailytrix.bsky.social•63 days ago

Brian's whole brand is "Democrats suck."

corgiseveryhour.bsky.social•63 days ago

He's kind of not wrong

ncbears.bsky.social•63 days ago

and it won't matter that some of the families whom the GOP is "defending" asked for the murderers to have their death sentences commutate to life without parole. (Also, shouldn't Johnson believe that Jesus will ultimately rule on the murderers' fates?)

amosfamous.bsky.social•63 days ago

Which families?

garyschulz.bsky.social•63 days ago

Thoughts and prayers only go so far.

dbfulton.bsky.social•63 days ago

Writing it ambiguously enough that one might think they are being released from prison.

beemow.bsky.social•63 days ago

Republicans constantly call Democrats pedophiles and groomers for protecting LGBTQ children and Democrats continue to act as if the Republicans are their friends

shellyfrankenstein.bsky.social•63 days ago

as though they ever protected us

cyanescens.bsky.social•63 days ago

I’m the parent of a trans minor. The Democrats have done a great job protecting LGBTQ people in Oregon and many other blue states too. I’d encourage you to read the rest of my posts in the thread I’m sharing

https://bsky.app/profile/cyanescens.bsky.social/post/3ldz6afhlb22x

daror.bsky.social•63 days ago

It’s life in prison you dipsh@t. Are you so obsessed with death you are wholly disappointed! So much for the party of pro-life.

ianrobo.bsky.social•63 days ago

so then no one should publish a word trump says at these things and Trump as a narcissist would hate that, but the rest of the media is so weak

experimental22.bsky.social•63 days ago

I mean, wouldn't it be fair to describe Mike Johnson as perfectly fine with child rape? And probably because of his Christianity?

abhinary.bsky.social•63 days ago

Not to mention the fact that trump let in and RELEASED more “violent criminals,” murderers and let in a saudi terrorist who killed Americans at an FL air force base.🤷🏼‍♀️
trump released “58,184 noncitizens with criminal records, including 8,620 violent criminals and 306 murderers;” from custody.

wolfesghost.bsky.social•63 days ago

GOP out there fully under the belief that an Arkham style mass escape is waiting to happen.

st9f.bsky.social•63 days ago

Donold's little johnson has quite a vocabulary.

devilishlydo.bsky.social•63 days ago

I will never understand why people think being in prison for a decade and then being executed is somehow a harsher punishment than living a long life in prison and dying full of suffering and regrets. I'd be begging for the gas within a year.

tumescentnumpty.bsky.social•63 days ago

floydsweirdmind.bsky.social•63 days ago

Only the most backward countries still have the death penalty. Trump had thousands of Taliban terrorists released...

pjtinker.bsky.social•63 days ago

Memo: To lil’ Johnson and Pappy Dingleberry
Re: Recently announced clemencies

President Biden does not a rat’s ass what you think about this issue.

blackironfitter669.bsky.social•63 days ago

This will be Pelosi's legacy.

schlotrvlr.bsky.social•63 days ago

For fuck's sake, I understand the criticism and even agree w/ the OP, but also literal historic legislation was passed that helped lift the nation out of an economic pit many countries are still dealing with. Can we give the people who aren't fascists & do some good a little credit once in a while?

blackironfitter669.bsky.social•63 days ago

It would be easier if they didn't turn around and throw a grenade in everybody's foxhole the next day. Btw, she didn't do shit once Biden was elected. The heavy lifting was done by a handful of Senators.

schlotrvlr.bsky.social•63 days ago

You're not wrong and I'm not defending Pelosi herself. It's the notion nothing gets done that's simply not true.

schlotrvlr.bsky.social•63 days ago

She'll have both good and bad in her legacy is my point, like most imperfect humans. I'm not happy with her either, but it does a disservice to just throw the baby out with the bath water.

gbrianjackson.bsky.social•63 days ago

Many replies to this post illustrate the communications gap. People earnestly responding to the Republican attack, explaining why the prisoners aren’t actually being released, etc. The conversation is driven by the Republican attack, with our side reduced to ineffective counter arguments

csilberman.bsky.social•63 days ago

It's Schumer's expert 3-dimensional checkers strategy, along with Jeffries' "saying anything only shows we don't understand what's important to the working class." Both of which are 100% Dem consultant approved.

cobbdouglas.bsky.social•63 days ago

My father in law believe Biden let these criminals out of prison. Johnson’s tweet is meant to imply that. People who consume only right wing media will go into the next election thinking murderers were set free by democrats.

meemawsezwhut.bsky.social•63 days ago

Republikkkans are nuts

neozerox4.bsky.social•63 days ago

The fact that so many actual pedophiles turn out to be republicans should be something dems are jumping at the chance to attack the GOP over, and they simply refuse to do anything about that fact

ricyrick87.bsky.social•63 days ago

I agree with this, but it's pretty depressing when there was that whole Q-anon fever towards exposing pedophiles, and knowing that maga is so warped they don't care about actual, literal pedophiles, is enough to wonder if that kind of attack would do anything

neozerox4.bsky.social•63 days ago

It couldn’t hurt, the fact that so many of the GOP are willing to defend him despite everything they know about him should be broadcasted everywhere. No more decorum, no more civility, it’s time for the dems to treat the GOP they way the GOP treats them

ricyrick87.bsky.social•63 days ago

100% agree that there needs to be a gloves off approach, Dems could learn so much from the small, younger, progressive base they have (for now)

rationalpear.bsky.social•63 days ago

chance anyone in Dem leadership is preparing a major campaign against trump for pardoning the jan6 convicts? zero?

simonluger.bsky.social•63 days ago

Every Democrat should be on TV saying "Odd that Speaker Johnson claims to be a Christian, yet demands we turn away immigrants and kill people. The only thing Christian about him is the anti-porn addiction software he shares with his son".

grovvypippin.bsky.social•63 days ago

No, every Democrat should be on TV saying that President Trump wanted a sex trafficker for AG. That’s YOUR message. Stop responding to THEIR message.

anniegt.bsky.social•63 days ago

I think Democrats should absolutely point out the "pro-life" party being A-OK with the death penalty. AND that the "Christian" party wanted to hide the sex offender/pedophile in their midst.

gbrianjackson.bsky.social•63 days ago

You are absolutely correct. This is a good example of why Democrats are terrible at this. Pointing out hypocrisy or logically inconsistent positions is an abstract, emotionless argument that persuades no one. Meanwhile we ignore obvious opportunities for emotionally resonant arguments.

schlotrvlr.bsky.social•63 days ago

Meh, Dems could push back harder on their holy Christian act. It's not an either or. Would probably be best coming from Christian Dems, but they don't point out the hypocrisy of their purity bullshit enough. Johnson wanted to keep the report hidden from the public, a child sex predator of their own.

ericallyn.bsky.social•63 days ago

"This is a slap in the face to the families who have suffered immeasurably ... "

"... and whose stated wishes we're ignoring because we don't actually give a fuck about them."

shelley-og-jc.bsky.social•63 days ago

Mike Johnson learned his Christianity from the Catholics and their ability to bob and weave around the raping of boys.

rrtrent892.bsky.social•63 days ago

I don’t blame 6M people for not showing up in 24.

imaprivate.bsky.social•63 days ago

FFS can’t Democrats AT LEAST hire a PR agency?!!

This “we’re above the fray” tactic is INSANE!!!😤

kittlieder.bsky.social•63 days ago

It won't change until Democrats get rid of their billionaires. The opportunity to draw the contrast has never been stronger.

sarahvb.bsky.social•63 days ago

I have come to the conclusion that they say nothing because they know that even if they hit, they'll get hit back and worse. They never have a followup. It's not in them.

I think they just want to be left alone to govern and don't like doing politics as it currently exists. So they just don't.

andyroz.bsky.social•63 days ago

Do they understand what "commutes" means? It sounds like they think it means "pardons", which would not be the first time we see these guys not understand the meaning of words.

annabellelecter.bsky.social•63 days ago

You could actually buck the trend.

annabellelecter.bsky.social•63 days ago

The Groups are finding other distractions to whine about. Welcome to not just the Democrats, but the whole ecosystem where good actions are punished and Democrats are responsible for Matt Gaetz's perversions.

mseraphimsl.bsky.social•63 days ago

Those 37 people are going to kill again, just as soon as they get out of prison in the year never.

hollysbirds.bsky.social•63 days ago

Communications 101 teaches us if you say it over and over people believe it must be true. Dems have way too many lawyers and policy wonks who simply refused to do what is necessary to win. We need to to run working class candidates, and all these folks can be their advisors and administrators.

holliwinters57.bsky.social•63 days ago

Those people will still be in prison for the rest of their life. They were not pardoned even though the GOP will make you think so.

ethicsshouldmatter.bsky.social•63 days ago

Especially since Mike Johnson has said he is absolutely 100% pro-life. Wouldn't that mean not killing anyone?

paul.ofthenorth.ca•63 days ago

He's a Republican Christian. They live by different rules.

Jesus did come out against the death penalty, but said nothing on abortion, or being gay

https://youtu.be/SZ2L-R8NgrA?si=QlBptBZdg8g-fbjl

wordlebacon.bsky.social•63 days ago

"pro life"

its-me-t.bsky.social•63 days ago

till birth.

krmckenney.bsky.social•63 days ago

If any these criminals were Republicans they would make them President. #SMH

dmlundeen.bsky.social•60 days ago

This doesn’t seem like nothing to me, just for example.

https://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5401

elmjoe17.bsky.social•63 days ago

Look at the " Christians " with blood lust asking to kill others. Interesting...

heartlesscreatures.bsky.social•63 days ago

Every time Trump's Little Johnson lies a white woman gets an abortion.

catsworking.bsky.social•63 days ago

And Republicans have not one word about the stupidly violent thugs who climbed the Capitol walls, broke in and ransacked the place looking for THEM so they could fuck them up or kill them. Trump says he's putting all of them back out on the streets, too. No problem with that at all?

rockwils1.bsky.social•63 days ago

It's a disease.

stiffelman.bsky.social•63 days ago

Ain’t this mug supposed to be a Christian? WTAF!?

isensiel.bsky.social•62 days ago

Not so "Pro-Life" are they after all?

edwarddavid.bsky.social•63 days ago

It's only an effective strategy when the nation is populated with bigoted, reactionary, nationalist ignoramuses.

scohoe.bsky.social•63 days ago

they do say [boilerplate about billionaires] and also [more boilerplate about trump] and then say how that's not something that should happen in america.

donnafaye.bsky.social•63 days ago

Also--someone should do some research on the kinds of murders that receive the death penalty and those that do not. In general, there is little discernable difference in "heinousness," and many of society's most "notorious" defendants receive life sentences.

mikeloomis.bsky.social•63 days ago

I will also bet that a pretty high percentage of people reading that don't know what clemency means and believe that clemency means Biden let them out of prison

haganista.bsky.social•63 days ago

"When they go low, we go take another nap."

the4one7.bsky.social•63 days ago

Outrage from the pro-life christian nationalist party for commuting federal death row prisoners to life in prison without parole. While they cover up and remain silent about statutory rape, illicit drug use, and corruption from one of their own.

garyschulz.bsky.social•63 days ago

The Democratic Party needs a total leadership housecleaning. There must be some strong Democrats somewhere.

wwr.bsky.social•63 days ago

The child rapist did oust his predecessor, so…

tsavage.bsky.social•61 days ago

We really need to make politicians that lie criminals.

brettmillernwa.bsky.social•63 days ago

Democrats don't have to be terrible people, like many Republican politicians. But decent human beings can still be aggressive fighters, politically.

mitchsolomon.bsky.social•63 days ago

Being aggressive is not a good or bad trait. It is simply a means to achieve goals. Here’s an example of passivity and inaction in service of the terrible https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/978689.They_Thought_They_Were_Free

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply