Profiles in courage, 2022 edition

 Four days ago, in response to the Republican National Committee's Politburo-like characterization of the January 2021 riot as "legitimate political discourse," Mitt Romney tweeted, "Shame falls on a party that would censure persons of conscience who seek truth in the face of vitriol.  Honor attaches to Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger for seeking truth even when doing so comes at great personal cost."  Today Romney said he had exchanged texts with the RNC chair Ronna McDaniel, who is his niece, but declined to criticize her, calling her "a wonderful person and doing her very best."

Since the riot, Chris Christie has maintained that Trump is responsible for inciting the violence, a position he repeated on Sunday to Jonathan Karl.  But today he slithered away from it, telling Hugh Hewitt, "I don't think he intended that specific act" [breaking into the Capitol].  "Words matter, Hugh.  Words matter under the law."  But as Reagan would say, "Facts are stupid things."

Trump is a big fan of Joe Rogan, you will be astonished to learn, but he wishes the podcast star would stop apologizing for all the racist remarks he was caught making.  "Don't let them make you look weak and frightened" was his sage advice.  Of course, it's not just the racism that endears him to 45.  Two days ago his comedy routine about telling a story to "an eight-year-old retarded boy" was hauled out for an airing, and today we were treated to sleazy remarks about various women and trans people ("just latching onto this need to get attention").  His Chinese accent is also hilarious, apparently.  A platform even worse than Spotify has reportedly offered a hundred million dollars for his commentary.

"We saw it happen -- it was a violent insurrection for the purpose of trying to prevent the peaceful transfer of power after a legitimately certified election."  That was Mitch McConnell.  Will the RNC exile him like a couple of mere representatives?  Will he change his mind tomorrow?  Stay tuned.

Ron Johnson from Wisconsin was a regular Inspector Javert on the subject of Hillary Clinton's private email server during the 2016 campaign, but when asked about the hundreds of official documents stolen or destroyed by Trump he said he'd have to "read up more."  John Cornyn and Chuck Grassley were equally unable to comment.  

Tom Williams tweeted this picture of Andrew Clyde (the one without a mask) barricading a door against the ordinary citizens who wanted to engage him in political discourse on January 6, 2021.  But the Georgia Republican, who doesn't know when to shut up, chose today to attack politicians who "side with criminals" against "our brave men and women in blue."  The family of Brian Sicknick could not be reached for comment.

Not to be outdone for sheer chutzpah, Matt Gaetz announced his opposition to the bill which would end mandatory arbitration for workplace sexual harassment and allow victims to demand a court hearing.  Most of his accusers were too young to hold jobs.

As for Ron DeSantis, the man who would be president was asked whether he agrees with Trump or Pence and bravely responded, "I'm not. I..." before hurrying off to an immigration event.  But he promises to investigate GoFundMe because it will no longer allow fundraising for the anti-vax rioters who have made Ottawa unendurable.  Because a dispute in Canada is exactly what Florida should be spending public money on.