What Are They Afraid Of?

March 2, 2025

Video after video has emerged showing Republicans at their own town hall meetings defiantly refusing to ask questions posed by their constituents. At these packed events, people voice their growing fears about what is happening, from support for veterans being demolished to the possibility of the ACA being overturned to thousands upon thousands of federal workers being fired by an unelected government worker.

The Republicans, in response, claim those town halls have been filled with “paid Democrat operatives,” which is ludicrous for two reasons. One, since when are Democrats organized enough to execute something on this scale across the country? And two, where is the money for THAT coming from? Paid? You got receipts, Speaker Johnson?

Proof isn’t exactly necessary for the GOP, who have, to a person, staunchly rejected all evidence to this point from science about vaccines, to reproductive medicine (abortion IS healthcare), to data about immigration, to data about which states receive the most welfare benefits. I am not holding my breath that Speaker Johnson will actually show proof of his claim about Democrats filling Republican town halls, because it doesn’t exist.

Watching Rubio in the Oval Office on Friday was horrifying. Yes, the whole spectacle was abominable, but Rubio in particular raised some concerns. He looked, as Rep. Eric Swalwell put it, like Trump was some “crazy ass pops who was embarrassing (him) on (his) first date.” Rubio shrank into the couch like he wanted to disappear, his face a rictus of barely concealed alarm, his body clenched, collapsing in on itself. Minutes after that Oval Office display, that same guy who showed such thinly veiled dismay posted enthusiastic “thanks” to Trump for his “courage” in standing up for America.

And then he gets on teevee and stammers out some meek defense about waiting to hear what Putin has to bring to the negotiation table, all bristly when the anchor asks valid questions about whether Trump is aligning with Russia.

What is going on?

Why is Rubio acting so strange?

Why are all these GOP reps so blatantly and blithely turning away from the facts that are staring everyone right in the face? Why is the defense so weak but the language so consistent? It’s all admiring of Trump, complimentary, fawning, groveling at the feet of this one massive orange turd who has never ONCE shown loyalty to ANYONE. Not once.

They’re never going to be repaid for their loyalty. That’s not how he operates. He will throw a patsy under the bus faster than you can say “Kremlin.” THAT is what the evidence shows.

What gives with these people? And it is not just men–there are plenty of women out there shilling for this cheat as well.

I didn’t think there was enough KoolAid in the world to slake these thirsty degenerates.

Let’s go back to Rubio for a minute.

His whole demeanor was not one of disagreement, it was fear. It was outright shame, a crestfallen body language communication of “what have I done?” That he cannot speak out against this evil happening right in his face suggests something else, something more profound.

They are being threatened. Their families are being threatened. Not just their position in government, which of course is tenuous, with this clown in charge–their lives. Their safety.

Bullies like Trump rule through violence. It is the same way that any oppressor dominates–through violence and the threat of violence. The intertwined systems of oppression all share the same mechanism; violence. And it’s not just direct threats that the Orange Menace might come after someone–he doesn’t lift a finger. He has his followers do any and all dirty work. That’s how he operates. There is blood lust among his supporters that originates from their sense of entitlement, is stoked by advancements by non-white, non-male people, and then inflamed by Trump’s rhetoric stating that the “bad guys”–immigrants, women, Black people, disabled people–are ruining their way of life.

I suspect, however, these threats might be more direct, and perhaps more connected to Trump’s team than simply the wildfire effect used in his followers. This is speculation, supported by some anecdotal reporting I won’t cite here because it’s word-of-mouth. If I see direct quotes, I’ll update this. Until someone speaks up and states that they have been threatened, I’m not claiming this is fact.

But wow, it sure looks like it. You can practically hear knees knocking and spines chattering as these wimps toe the line with their overlord.

I remember the days when the Republican party looked like they had integrity. I remember thinking that it was the party of “adults,” of real grown-ups, of maturity and respect.

Now? Now it’s a bunch of sniveling cowards.