Welcome to Antifa, Rick Wilson
On Friday, leading never-Trumper Rick Wilson had a melt down on Twitter. It has dawned on him that the Select Committee investigating the January 6th insurrection may not be in a big enough hurry to enforce subpoenas served to Trump minions.
https://twitter.com/TheRickWilson/status/1446503202837442561?s=20
And he’s technically correct. I just don’t get why he thinks this means the party’s over; that Trump has beaten back an assault by weak-kneed congress critters and is now free to ramble on.
This is how the game is played in Washington.
Does he really think that the righteousness of the cause will cause a break in decorum? It didn’t happen when various intelligence agencies (over the past 50 years!) got caught doing bad things, and it hasn’t happened regarding an accounting of where all the money we spend on defense is actually spent. And how about that filibuster thing?
Here’s the Dems fear:
It’s late January 2024 and the Trumplicans are once again in charge. Congressman Darrell Issa, because he’s an attention-seeking asshole, gets whatever committee he’s on to issue a late Friday afternoon subpoena, demanding an appearance no later than 10am on Monday.
Circumstances beyond her control (weather, whatever) force Hillary Clinton to miss the deadline, and the Justice Department quickly dispatches US marshals to arrest her for failing to provide testimony on… wait for it… Benghazi.
Issa gets to appear at the perp walk, Clinton is held as a flight risk, and America really is Great Again.
Back to as the subpoena spins, 2021 edition...
Steve Bannon is waving his MAGA-engraved middle finger at the committee, making the absurd assertion that he’s protected by executive privilege. Since he was in no way affiliated with the executive branch of the government during the time period in question, I’m assuming Team Trump will be taking us into new legal territory by claiming that the Dear Leader’s aura is sacred.
Mark Meadows, the Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and Kash Patel, a Pentagon chief of staff are reportedly in negotiations with committee staff over terms of their compliance with the subpoenas, which is DC-speak for dragging the process out.
Trump’s ever-acerbic Dan Scavino Jr., the deputy chief of staff in charge of keeping the former president’s ignorance from appearing in social media, played a game of cat and mouse and was served on Friday.
Given that orders have come down from on high demanding non-cooperation, I’m sure Scavino will settle on a middle path, publicly telling the committee to shove their subpoena while privately engaging just enough to gum up the works.
We’ve seen this Trumpian shit show before, and it has served him well. Look for headline grabbing lawsuits, a profane rant at an Iowa MAGA rally, a special feature in Politico, and a parade of enablers grabbing slots on the Sunday talk shows.
The House Select committee’s Liz Cheney has promised via Twitter that subpoena enforcement is in the works, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Justice Department tasked with a symbolic legal case… after the December holidays.
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Ric Wilson’s public handwringing may or may not be political theater. He is a leader of the Lincoln Project, which has been the hub for never-Trumper money funding exiled Republican consultants and talking heads. And some damn-fine ads.
https://twitter.com/TheRickWilson/status/1446504808584728579?s=20
How can you not love the passion?
While I have little in common with him ideologically, he is entertaining and knows how to flaunt it, characteristics that make him a star.
Maybe donations are down. Maybe invites from Chuck Todd have been scarce. Maybe he thinks the sheer force of his will can bring the heavens crashing down on Mar a Lago. Maybe he’s just another Great White Savior looking for his moment of glory.
Welcome to the Antifa Green Room, Ric.
I’m your host, Doug Porter and at various points in my life I’ve been guilty of all of the above. Even though I’m a minor-leaguer in the world of politics, I got this job because I show up every day and work hard at what I can control.
As you can see, we’ve got an assortment of devices over next to the buffet, and the Wailing Wall Bar stays open round the clock. You’ve been selected to join our ranks so you can learn to chill while history takes its course.
You can stir the pot as needed, and gain more WiFi time (Did I forget to mention we’re limited to 15 minutes daily?) as people respond by doing things other than sending you money.
Demand for old white guys to lead charges up the hills of righteousness is down, so we’ve provided this place where they can feel like part of something bigger, even if it is imaginary.
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