# Thread for watching GOPers stand up for crime **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 4, 2019, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-watching-gopers-stand-up-for-crime/827210 "2019-01-04T19:42:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-watching-gopers-stand-up-for-crime/827210/1 "2019-01-04T19:42:15Z")
Russia is alleged by all of our intelligence agencies to have interfered in our elections, a foreign adversary striking a blow at the heart of our Democratic system. The GOP response? Don’t get too curious. Let’s _investigate the FBI for bias_ for daring to look into it. About that- the firing of James Comey was the impetus for the Mueller investigation, because firing the guy investigating Russian interference while the POTUS is suspected of cooperating with said interference was a case of possible obstruction of justice. GOP response? Put Comey on trial. Trump tweeted a thousand times his displeasure with Jeff Sessions recusing himself from the Russia investigation (after demanding loyalty from the former head of the FBI and asking him to cover up the Flynn allegations, a guy who was _taking bribes from Turkey in exchange for policy concessions_, not to mention lying about his contacts with Russia) eventually firing him and replacing him with a not-Senate-confirmed large wiener accommodating toilet salesman who has been openly critical of the Mueller investigation. Probably a double act of obstruction of justice, getting rid of the guy who won’t end the investigation and replacing him with somebody who maybe will. Legislation is demanded to protect the investigation to allow justice to run its course. GOP reaction? Naaaahh, it’ll be fine, no worries. Now, with Trump threatening to keep the government shut down for years because our 240+ year old democratic system won’t provide him with the green light to build his monument to hatred of Mexico, a country that is one of our biggest trading partners and which should be our closest ally, the GOP’s response is to not allow the possibility of breaking the impasse with a veto-overriding compromise because they won’t allow Senate votes on the matter at all. No democracy for you, America! As the GOP becomes ever more clearly an anti-democratic criminal organization headed by a Russian asset determined to sabotage our country, either by destroying our alliances, wrecking our foreign markets with tariffs, dividing our population with rampant lies, destroying our budget with debt, shutting down the government and stoking hatred with our neighbors, all while the POTUS openly profits from his office, again without sparking the curiosity of his GOP comrades, I thought it would be appropriate to launch a thread documenting GOP figures who stand up and defend crimes and/or anti-democratic authoritarianism. Here it is. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-watching-gopers-stand-up-for-crime/827210/2 "2019-01-04T19:56:03Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > , I thought it would be appropriate to launch a thread documenting GOP figures who stand up and defend crimes and/or anti-democratic authoritarianism. Here it is. Oops. mis-read thread. old age strikes. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-watching-gopers-stand-up-for-crime/827210/3 "2019-01-04T20:00:54Z")
The GOP is quite effectively a crime syndicate at this point. That’s about it, really. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-watching-gopers-stand-up-for-crime/827210/4 "2019-01-04T20:08:12Z")
> [@](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) on Monday dismissed federal charges implicating President Trump in crimes committed by his former lawyer, saying that he doesn’t care about the argument made in a court filing by the Southern District of New York because Trump is a good president.“I don’t care, all I can say is he’s doing a good job as president,” Hatch said in an interview with CNN, before adding that he’s not bothered by the filing because he doesn’t think Trump was involved in crimes. [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/420704-hatch-i-dont-care-if-prosecutors-are-arguing-trump-broke-the-law](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/420704-hatch-i-dont-care-if-prosecutors-are-arguing-trump-broke-the-law) ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-watching-gopers-stand-up-for-crime/827210/5 "2019-01-04T20:32:15Z")
The Republican-run Senate functions like the Roman Senate. ---
**Author:** ![Anny\_Middon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Anny\_Middon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anny_Middon)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-watching-gopers-stand-up-for-crime/827210/6 "2019-01-04T20:44:07Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > The Republican-run Senate functions like the Roman Senate. So when Trump is on the ground, bleeding from 23 stab wounds inflicted by senators, and mutters, “You, too, \_\_\_\_”, whose name will fill in the blank? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-watching-gopers-stand-up-for-crime/827210/7 "2019-01-04T20:48:01Z")
… Rafael? Like father, like son, I see…" (expires) \ ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-watching-gopers-stand-up-for-crime/827210/8 "2019-01-04T20:56:14Z")
> [@Anny\_Middon](#): > > So when Trump is on the ground, bleeding from 23 stab wounds inflicted by senators, and mutters, “You, too, \_\_\_\_”, whose name will fill in the blank? Booker? Bernie? Barrasso? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-watching-gopers-stand-up-for-crime/827210/9 "2019-01-04T21:06:33Z")
Trump calls a cold-blooded murderer a hero. > **[Trump and the Green Beret charged with murder](https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-trump-soldier-murder-afghanistan-20181217-story.html)** > > Trump's tweet about a Special Forces officer who killed an Afghan prisoner is no help to military justice. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-watching-gopers-stand-up-for-crime/827210/10 "2019-01-04T22:13:12Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Booker? > > Bernie? > > Barrasso? No, needs to be an ostensible ally. Caesar wasn’t surprised that Cassius stabbed him, just his good friend Brutus. ---
**Author:** ![SingleMalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/singlemalt/32/3961_2.png) [@SingleMalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SingleMalt)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-watching-gopers-stand-up-for-crime/827210/11 "2019-01-04T22:18:16Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > No, needs to be an ostensible ally. Caesar wasn’t surprised that Cassius stabbed him, just his good friend Brutus. “And you, uh… it’s Eric, right?” ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-watching-gopers-stand-up-for-crime/827210/12 "2019-01-05T00:15:49Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Booker? > > Bernie? > > Barrasso? Bueller? Bueller? ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-watching-gopers-stand-up-for-crime/827210/13 "2019-01-05T00:28:48Z")
You too, Ivanka? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-watching-gopers-stand-up-for-crime/827210/14 "2019-01-05T00:31:50Z")
> [@SingleMalt](#): > > “And you, uh… it’s Eric, right?” [heavy, rasping breathing] “Eric, I am your father.”[/heavy, rasping breathing] “I KNOOOOOOOW!!!” _resumes stabbing_ ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-watching-gopers-stand-up-for-crime/827210/15 "2019-01-05T00:52:11Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > [heavy, rasping breathing] “Eric, I am your father.”[/heavy, rasping breathing] > > “I KNOOOOOOOW!!!” _resumes stabbing_ Okay, we have the thread winner here. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-watching-gopers-stand-up-for-crime/827210/16 "2019-01-05T17:30:28Z")
Best assassination in history. Ok, this quote is from the elections forum in a discussion of breaking the impasse by removing McConnell as majority leader: > [@Is there any way that Senate Republicans can override Mitch McConnell?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-that-senate-republicans-can-override-mitch-mcconnell/827231/7): > > > [@Is there any way that Senate Republicans can override Mitch McConnell?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-that-senate-republicans-can-override-mitch-mcconnell/827231/7): > > > > Of course, the chances of that happening are less than nil. As **flurb** noted, McConnell is providing cover for the slime. Plus, the longer this clusterfuck goes on, the longer it is before the House lands on trump like a pile of neutronium. If any part of the intent of the shutdown is to retard the progress of the House, and Senate GOPers know this, isn’t that obstruction of justice? Wouldn’t the entire GOP Senate caucus be participating in it? ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-watching-gopers-stand-up-for-crime/827210/17 "2019-01-05T17:55:56Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > Best assassination in history. > Ok, this quote is from the elections forum in a discussion of breaking the impasse by removing McConnell as majority leader: > > If any part of the intent of the shutdown is to retard the progress of the House, and Senate GOPers know this, isn’t that obstruction of justice? Wouldn’t the entire GOP Senate caucus be participating in it? Obstruction of justice is interference with a criminal investigation. Obstructing the political process is not the same as obstruction of justice. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-watching-gopers-stand-up-for-crime/827210/18 "2019-01-05T19:03:31Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > If any part of the intent of the shutdown is to retard the progress of the House, and Senate GOPers know this, isn’t that obstruction of justice? Wouldn’t the entire GOP Senate caucus be participating in it? No reason for the shutdown to prevent the House from doing investigating. They can pass a CR every morning before 9, and hold committee hearings the rest of the day. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-watching-gopers-stand-up-for-crime/827210/19 "2019-01-05T21:59:56Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/420704-hatch-i-dont-care-if-prosecutors-are-arguing-trump-broke-the-law](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/420704-hatch-i-dont-care-if-prosecutors-are-arguing-trump-broke-the-law) When he was up on the shuttle, they should have pushed him out of the airlock. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-watching-gopers-stand-up-for-crime/827210/20 "2019-01-05T22:29:24Z")
Bill Nelson (D-FL) (when in the House) and Jake Garn (R Sen-Utah) rode on shuttle flights, not Hatch. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-watching-gopers-stand-up-for-crime/827210.md?page=2)