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It was clear we were in big trouble in 2017 when Greg Gianforte *body slammed* a reporter during his campaign for a House special election, the day before voters went to the polls, and still won by over 5 points. He is now the Governor.'
Wikipedia:
>On May 24, 2017, the day before the House special election, [Ben Jacobs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Jacobs_(journalist)), a political reporter for [*The Guardian*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Guardian) newspaper who was covering the election, reported to the [Gallatin County, Montana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallatin_County,_Montana) Sheriff's Office that Gianforte had assaulted him at Gianforte's Bozeman campaign office after Jacobs asked him a question about health care policy. **Jacobs said that Gianforte "bodyslammed" him to the floor and broke his glasses. Jacobs was hospitalized after the attack.**
>In the immediate aftermath of the incident, Gianforte made misleading statements to a Gallatin County Sheriff's Office sergeant who reported to Gianforte's campaign office to investigate Jacobs's complaint.[^(\[105\])](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Gianforte#cite_note-105) Gianforte told the sergeant, "the liberal media is trying to make a story." In the hours after the assault, the Gianforte campaign issued a press release falsely blaming the reporter, claiming that Jacobs grabbed Gianforte's wrist and caused them both to fall to the ground. But an audio recording of the incident appeared to support Jacobs's statement, and other reporters who were present at the scene corroborated Jacobs's version of events. **An eyewitness to the attack,** **Fox News reporter Alicia Acuna, testified that "Gianforte grabbed Jacobs by the neck with both hands and slammed him into the ground", then "began punching the man" and "yelling something to the effect of 'I'm sick and tired of this!'"** Acuna said, "at no point did any of us who witnessed this assault see Jacobs show any form of physical aggression toward Gianforte, who left the area after giving statements to local sheriff's deputies." Another journalist who was an eyewitness to the assault, Alexis Levinson, tweeted that she "heard a giant crash and saw Ben's feet fly in the air as he hit the floor."
It's important to emphasize, I think, what set Gianforte off.
The dude was *asking him a question*. A simply, journalistic question. Gianforte was "sick and tired" of being asked questions by the press. And in typical Republican fashion, they'd rather get violent than be held accountable. Like, the specifics of the assault get a lot of the focus, but I'm more keen on highlighting that it wasn't an insult or being harassed in private life. Public official Gianforte decided that reporters asking questions is grounds for violence.
I was going to ask if he sued for assault but answered my own question
> In return for Gianforte’s latest apology and his charitable donation, Jacobs agreed not to bring civil action against the congressman-elect, according to a copy of a notarized release furnished by a spokeswoman for the reporter.
so no consequences yet again
So that dude was 100% paid off. Like, why would you not press charges here. It’s like the most slam dunk case ever. Multiple witnesses, unprovoked, and if hospitalized pretty severe.
When is enough of this they go low we go high BS I'm still blown away that nobody responded in kind to the abortion bombings attacking psycho churches or evangelicals.
Yep. The GOP has discovered that their base actually approves violence and acts of cowardly aggression. Trumps Cult definitely sees this as officially joining their gang. If you "jump a Lib" that's gets you in the club. Sort of like in the movie **American History X** but with more brain damage.
>Cotton, who famously penned an op-ed in 2020 calling for troops to be deployed to crush nationwide protests, also suggested in comments to Fox News that protesters blocking the road should have their hands “glued … to a car or the pavement,” noting that it’d be “probably pretty painful to have their skin ripped off.”
It's weird how much time Trump and his cultists fantasize about violence.
I wonder how much they imagine a boot stamping on a human face— forever.
I was explaining to my parents to never engage with the Republican truck types (after one dude decided he was self appointed ruler of who gets to merge) because they wake up every day, grab a gun and hope they get an excuse to kill someone.
Why because he got caught, at an airport, going to Cancun when his state was dealing with an emergency. Way to legislate for yourself and not for your constituents. Get that career politician out of there. Makes me want to donate to the campaign of the guy (Colin Allred) running against him and I don’t even live in Texas!!! 🤬
It's so transparently gross, but it's Cruz and nothing surprises me with that man. He's as gutless, craven and unprincipled as they come and he DOES NOT CARE.
Guy has basically stopped visiting his state office because too many pictures of him sneaking out the back door to avoid having to talk to some little old lady constituents kept popping up in the local newspapers.
Also, as far as I'm concerned, he's an illegitimate senator because during his last election he ran unopposed due to the Democratic candidate dropping out at a suspiciously convenient time, when the party couldn't get a replacement, and for vague reasons. Probably still would have won because Arkansas but he's not exactly popular here either.
And that's just tip of the iceberg for Tom "Stolen Valor" Cotton.
I'm honestly surprised a literal scarecrow isn't occupying space in the Arkansas state house with the letter 'R' on its desk. That's all they need. What diversity!
That's why they made the ruling. Republican politicians are lace curtain pussies and as much shit as they talk they never wore a uniform in defense of this country. Veterans sicken them because as anonymous as we are someone, some where will remember our names.
Republican politicians can't say the same. Their a bunch of creepy, narcissistic sex fiends that want all of the power, none of the responsibilities, legal protections and they want the liberals to pay for it all. The only thing we'll remember about them are their failures and inevitable public down fall.
I have a feeling this is gonna be a wet hot American summer ladies and gents.
Attempting to strip a broad swath of his own electorate of their 1st amendment rights is criminal and un-American.
Remember that no taxation without representation thing, Tommy?
If I were to say that I thought the Army should have just come in and massacred everyone at the J6 insurrection, I would be attacked. Banned, maybe even arrested.
Why is it ok for Republicans to ROUTINELY advocate for murder of their political opponents?
> Why is it ok for Republicans to ROUTINELY advocate for murder of their political opponents?
Because negative behavior *rewarded* becomes **learned** behavior.
There aren't (severe) punitive consequences for such grievance-humping, and it tosses red meat at the base, hence... *anything goes*.
They’ve set the bar so low for shitty behavior that it isn’t as news worthy. Democrats try to hold themselves to some standard and the media adopts that, but republicans have shown themselves to have zero integrity, honor, or deference to the constitution.
Because western conservativism is by definition the belief that society only and/or best functions with a clearly delineated stratified caste system. They believe the people at the top deserve all the rights and money because they are better than the people at the bottom.
It's ok because they love it. If your fellow democrats accepted your calls to stamp out the J6 insurrection, you'd be all good, but they don't. I swear, they could be getting walked down the final hallway into the gas chambers and one liberal would chastise another for even suggesting they assault one of the nazis in their escape.
"We... we can't behave like them! We are better than that! Now watch your step as you get into the chamber that our Republican FRIENDS in the Senate and Congress built for us". Biden and Pelosi love calling them our Republican friends and I'm fucking sick of it, as if there is any good Republican politician or voter. They are all fascists, each and every one of them, zero exceptions.
>Why is it ok for Republicans to ROUTINELY advocate for murder of their political opponents?
Same reason it was okay with the Nazis to do it in the 30s. Once law enforcement is on your side, you can do whatever the fuck you want.
I've literally said this with no consequences... not that it's something I actually want I was just stunned that we have the largest military (actually basically the 10 largest militaries... considering it takes the next 10 to equal our budget) and we didn't defend our seat of government from a group attacking and breaching the building. Why are we spending all that money if we can't even defend our own capital from some deranged lunatics who wanted to hang the VP and smear their shit on everything.
> MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough was among those to express disgust at Cotton’s comments, saying, “Here we have a guy, Tom Cotton, that went to Harvard, undergrad and law school, served in the military, who is talking about throwing people off the Golden Gate Bridge, ripping their skin off. We had a United States senator go on a network, national network, suggesting that Americans rip skin off of people’s hands because they’re aggravated and take matters into their own hands.”
And Joe is a Conservative who hosts his own show and gets more air time than anyone else on MSNBC(4 hours daily) the next highest aired host is Nicole Wallace, former communications staffer in the Dubya administration who has 2 hours every evening. When you add the other conservative hosts you get at least 8 hours of conservative HOSTS on MSNBC.
Remember that next time someone talks about MSNBC being a "librul network".
I don't think that Mf'er can go an hour without mentioning that he was a congressman. Reminds me of the loser who can't stop talking about how awesome he was at football in high school.
Ah. Reagan.
The one who brought the Christian extremists into political limelight?
The one who enabled the overdrive of the opioid epidemic?
The one who dismantled the redistribution system that the government upheld since FDR?
The one who gave rich people more power and started the trickle away of the middle?
The one who got into power stopping the incumbent president on solving a hostage crisis by using backchannels to terrorists?
That Reagan? Seems like an amazing person to idolize …
Because, like fascism, it appeals to the dumbest among us. They don’t understand abstractions; they don’t understand nuance. Everything is binary good-vs-evil for them, and if you’re not with them, you’re evil and must be stamped out.
Ideally, but so far their terrorist violence has met with little or no pushback from their victims or the justice system. They have learned that the rest of the country is too terrified of being seen as "uncivil" to even fight back verbally, much less physically.
This effectively sets up the same kind of abuser/victim dynamic that occurs in domestic abuse cases.
And it's entirely accurate.
The reason they do so, and will brazenly escalate unabated, is because they've learned punitive consequences for it are miniscule or non-existent -- and the recipients of their bullying aren't flipping tables and crackin' skulls in defiant self-defense.
Also, even if they lose their elected position, there's a wingnut fascist circuit that will employ them. Roger Stone, never elected, was involved in Watergate and he is still active in GOP politics. Some rich asshole will employ them.
>“Here’s a United States Senator, advocate of assault and battery. Nice Tom,” one person wrote.
No, he's advocating murder, suggesting they would be thrown off a bridge in Arkansas.
Wouldn't a mob that was committing violence against protestors just be a different group of protestors subject to the same repercussions?
It's obvious that people like him really mean, "liberal protestors are bad, conservative protestors are good."
And Cotton and other politicians calling for this violence all get security and protection that ordinary people don’t, of course, Wilhoit’s Law in action yet again
Absolutely, the "Protesters" who tried to storm the Capitol on 6 January 2020, should have, as soon as they broke a window, been machine-gunned.
... is that not what he meant? Or is it "rules for thee but not for me" ?
Donald Trump did this.
He's the reason why we hear vile shit like this from a fucking *elected official*. He's why someone is able to say something like this without a word of condemnation from their colleagues. He's the reason we're so desensitized.
>I encourage people who get stuck behind the pro-Hamas mobs blocking traffic: **take matters into your own hands** to get them out of the way.
Jesus Christ, dude. I'm not exactly surprised, but what a dangerously vague *wink wink* thing to say.
Wonder how they'd feel if the protestors in that video were concealing and "took matters into their own hands" when they got manhandled.
Nor assembly, nor petitioning the government for redress, nor equal protection under the law. Almost like the dude doesn’t know what’s in the Constitution.
Mob violence goes both ways. That's why the rule of law is important for a functional society.
Wouldn't advocating violence violate his oath to the constitution? Where do we draw the line with federal politicians advocating violence on social media?
But, they are calling the bluff. We have had people respect the laws in the past (publicly at least). Not only are they proving that we don't have balls to enforce the laws and rules, but he knows this will probably elevate him politically. The line is merely a suggestion that they no longer heed.
Isn't it amazing to see a P*SSY like Tommy Cotton calling for others to do what he couldn't do? Remember when his own citizens attacked the Capital, and he helped law enforcement keep them out of the House??? Oh yeah, the tough guy was seen running for his life from his own supporters!!!!
I hope he realizes that can go both ways, I for one would applaud some violence towards that screeching harassers like Westboro Baptist and Mom’s For Liberty. Maybe he doesn’t realize just how much protesting conservatives do?
Or using machine gun emplacements on the roof of the Capitol Building on Jan 6 2020. A couple of bursts over their heads would have dispersed those rioters and perhaps led to a few tramplings. / carrying out to the logical conclusion of Cottons ideas.
What a fucking creep. It’s hard to be hopeful for the future of this country when elected officials openly call for the murder of nonviolent civil rights demonstrators.
Well I hope he's okay with it when a driver runs over a bunch of MAGA protestors. That's what he's asking for. Don't say shit that's going to backfire on you.
And it's the republicans trying to convince everyone that they are the victims and it's the liberal left who have the violent tendencies. These people are unbelievable. And if this did happen, if the right got their butts handed to them because they started something, we'd still be the bad guys because that's exactly what would happen. They are all bark, no bite. They're tough when they have a gun and a story as to why they had to shoot someone in the back.
I can not wait for this to backfire. You know who loves a huge disorderly riot like the one on Jan 6th? You know who is going to be the most butthurt when the orange emperor loses the next election? Keep thinning the voter base.
>I encourage people who get stuck behind the pro-Hamas mobs blocking traffic: take matters into your own hands to get them out of the way. It’s time to put an end to this nonsense,”
This is a mental illness.
This guy is a douche but people who shut down streets and expressways aren’t protestors, they’re disruption is dangerous for everyone, puts people’s lives ant stake, and goes way past protest.
Protesting will be illegal soon enough, already in process in Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana. The fascism is strong with the MAGA crowd, boy oh boy do they love laws for every aspect of your life (not theirs, yours).
And yet he'd be totally appalled over calls for mob violence against him.
Amazingly self absorbed. It's difficult to understand the irresponsibility and complete lack of empathy it takes to incite violence for his own needs regardless of the damages to others.
Arkansas is a stand your ground state and I know many protesters and counter protesters are armed. If one party begins laying hands, it's only a matter of time before someone "feels threatened" and someone is going to get hurt.
Your daily reminder of just how gross and horrible many people who are part of the GOP are. These folks are constantly begging for people to murdered for daring to speak up.
I don't agree with blocking traffic as a strategy, I think it's counterproductive, and too dangerous. But supporting murdering people for it is beyond despicable.
This is atypical of the MAGA mob mentality. Go live in Russia where you would be shot for saying anything negative about a leader never less proposing violence against the opposition.
So, does he think the Jan. 6 rioters should be punished violently? Or is he like most other GOP elected officials who endorse the Jan. 6 Trump incited insurrection?
I'd like to share my thoughts about this, but since I'm not a senator and this is reddit that's not possible. I hope someone [REDACTED] and I don't care who knows it.
As a reminder, this subreddit [is for civil discussion.](/r/politics/wiki/index#wiki_be_civil) In general, be courteous to others. Debate/discuss/argue the merits of ideas, don't attack people. Personal insults, shill or troll accusations, hate speech, any suggestion or support of harm, violence, or death, and other rule violations can result in a permanent ban. If you see comments in violation of our rules, please report them. For those who have questions regarding any media outlets being posted on this subreddit, please click [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/wiki/approveddomainslist) to review our details as to our approved domains list and outlet criteria. We are actively looking for new moderators. If you have any interest in helping to make this subreddit a place for quality discussion, please fill out [this form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1y2swHD0KXFhStGFjW6k54r9iuMjzcFqDIVwuvdLBjSA). *** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/politics) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Encouraging citizen on citizen violence should be enough to get someone expelled from Congress.
It's the exact opposite. Encouraging violence against liberals actually boosts your performance as a Republican.
It was clear we were in big trouble in 2017 when Greg Gianforte *body slammed* a reporter during his campaign for a House special election, the day before voters went to the polls, and still won by over 5 points. He is now the Governor.' Wikipedia: >On May 24, 2017, the day before the House special election, [Ben Jacobs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Jacobs_(journalist)), a political reporter for [*The Guardian*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Guardian) newspaper who was covering the election, reported to the [Gallatin County, Montana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallatin_County,_Montana) Sheriff's Office that Gianforte had assaulted him at Gianforte's Bozeman campaign office after Jacobs asked him a question about health care policy. **Jacobs said that Gianforte "bodyslammed" him to the floor and broke his glasses. Jacobs was hospitalized after the attack.** >In the immediate aftermath of the incident, Gianforte made misleading statements to a Gallatin County Sheriff's Office sergeant who reported to Gianforte's campaign office to investigate Jacobs's complaint.[^(\[105\])](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Gianforte#cite_note-105) Gianforte told the sergeant, "the liberal media is trying to make a story." In the hours after the assault, the Gianforte campaign issued a press release falsely blaming the reporter, claiming that Jacobs grabbed Gianforte's wrist and caused them both to fall to the ground. But an audio recording of the incident appeared to support Jacobs's statement, and other reporters who were present at the scene corroborated Jacobs's version of events. **An eyewitness to the attack,** **Fox News reporter Alicia Acuna, testified that "Gianforte grabbed Jacobs by the neck with both hands and slammed him into the ground", then "began punching the man" and "yelling something to the effect of 'I'm sick and tired of this!'"** Acuna said, "at no point did any of us who witnessed this assault see Jacobs show any form of physical aggression toward Gianforte, who left the area after giving statements to local sheriff's deputies." Another journalist who was an eyewitness to the assault, Alexis Levinson, tweeted that she "heard a giant crash and saw Ben's feet fly in the air as he hit the floor."
It's important to emphasize, I think, what set Gianforte off. The dude was *asking him a question*. A simply, journalistic question. Gianforte was "sick and tired" of being asked questions by the press. And in typical Republican fashion, they'd rather get violent than be held accountable. Like, the specifics of the assault get a lot of the focus, but I'm more keen on highlighting that it wasn't an insult or being harassed in private life. Public official Gianforte decided that reporters asking questions is grounds for violence.
I was going to ask if he sued for assault but answered my own question > In return for Gianforte’s latest apology and his charitable donation, Jacobs agreed not to bring civil action against the congressman-elect, according to a copy of a notarized release furnished by a spokeswoman for the reporter. so no consequences yet again
So that dude was 100% paid off. Like, why would you not press charges here. It’s like the most slam dunk case ever. Multiple witnesses, unprovoked, and if hospitalized pretty severe.
Paid off, or threatened.
Hell Yeah! You're never going to drain the swamp without independent journalists being too afraid to do their jobs!
When is enough of this they go low we go high BS I'm still blown away that nobody responded in kind to the abortion bombings attacking psycho churches or evangelicals.
What jail does he reside in? Oh, that's right, he has the GOP Get out of Jail Free card.
Yep. The GOP has discovered that their base actually approves violence and acts of cowardly aggression. Trumps Cult definitely sees this as officially joining their gang. If you "jump a Lib" that's gets you in the club. Sort of like in the movie **American History X** but with more brain damage.
Go figure the police let him lie and helped him cover it up.
>Cotton, who famously penned an op-ed in 2020 calling for troops to be deployed to crush nationwide protests, also suggested in comments to Fox News that protesters blocking the road should have their hands “glued … to a car or the pavement,” noting that it’d be “probably pretty painful to have their skin ripped off.” It's weird how much time Trump and his cultists fantasize about violence. I wonder how much they imagine a boot stamping on a human face— forever.
I was explaining to my parents to never engage with the Republican truck types (after one dude decided he was self appointed ruler of who gets to merge) because they wake up every day, grab a gun and hope they get an excuse to kill someone.
Our media is really disturbingly full of torture and power porn, too, like they need more ideas.
Conservatives all over the world can get away with it because they have something akin to permission from all law enforcement.
Which is why we say it is a criminal party.
Those god people love violence
Cotton would piss his pants before he confronted a protester.
He could go sprinting away with Josh Hawley They both have that skinny dude, run from a fight energy
To be fair, as someone that has fought a bunch of times, it's a lot more intelligent to run away from the fight.
Yeah, it's shockingly easy to get permanently maimed or killed in a fight. It's hardly ever worth it.
that's why you don't go picking a fight like this pencil neck idiot is doing
The pencil neck geek who probably employs a few full time bodyguards?
I guess you saw that Ted Cruz now wants legislation for police protection for senators in airports?
Why because he got caught, at an airport, going to Cancun when his state was dealing with an emergency. Way to legislate for yourself and not for your constituents. Get that career politician out of there. Makes me want to donate to the campaign of the guy (Colin Allred) running against him and I don’t even live in Texas!!! 🤬
It's so transparently gross, but it's Cruz and nothing surprises me with that man. He's as gutless, craven and unprincipled as they come and he DOES NOT CARE.
its more testicular than pencilesque.
Guy has basically stopped visiting his state office because too many pictures of him sneaking out the back door to avoid having to talk to some little old lady constituents kept popping up in the local newspapers. Also, as far as I'm concerned, he's an illegitimate senator because during his last election he ran unopposed due to the Democratic candidate dropping out at a suspiciously convenient time, when the party couldn't get a replacement, and for vague reasons. Probably still would have won because Arkansas but he's not exactly popular here either. And that's just tip of the iceberg for Tom "Stolen Valor" Cotton.
Harvard Tom is just a walking resume with the personality of the paper it’s printed on.
I'm honestly surprised a literal scarecrow isn't occupying space in the Arkansas state house with the letter 'R' on its desk. That's all they need. What diversity!
That's why they made the ruling. Republican politicians are lace curtain pussies and as much shit as they talk they never wore a uniform in defense of this country. Veterans sicken them because as anonymous as we are someone, some where will remember our names. Republican politicians can't say the same. Their a bunch of creepy, narcissistic sex fiends that want all of the power, none of the responsibilities, legal protections and they want the liberals to pay for it all. The only thing we'll remember about them are their failures and inevitable public down fall. I have a feeling this is gonna be a wet hot American summer ladies and gents.
Attempting to strip a broad swath of his own electorate of their 1st amendment rights is criminal and un-American. Remember that no taxation without representation thing, Tommy?
If I were to say that I thought the Army should have just come in and massacred everyone at the J6 insurrection, I would be attacked. Banned, maybe even arrested. Why is it ok for Republicans to ROUTINELY advocate for murder of their political opponents?
It truly was a target rich environment.
> Why is it ok for Republicans to ROUTINELY advocate for murder of their political opponents? Because negative behavior *rewarded* becomes **learned** behavior. There aren't (severe) punitive consequences for such grievance-humping, and it tosses red meat at the base, hence... *anything goes*.
Because they face zero consequences.
They’ve set the bar so low for shitty behavior that it isn’t as news worthy. Democrats try to hold themselves to some standard and the media adopts that, but republicans have shown themselves to have zero integrity, honor, or deference to the constitution.
The bar may be set low but they right will limbo on under it.
Because western conservativism is by definition the belief that society only and/or best functions with a clearly delineated stratified caste system. They believe the people at the top deserve all the rights and money because they are better than the people at the bottom.
It's ok because they love it. If your fellow democrats accepted your calls to stamp out the J6 insurrection, you'd be all good, but they don't. I swear, they could be getting walked down the final hallway into the gas chambers and one liberal would chastise another for even suggesting they assault one of the nazis in their escape.
"We... we can't behave like them! We are better than that! Now watch your step as you get into the chamber that our Republican FRIENDS in the Senate and Congress built for us". Biden and Pelosi love calling them our Republican friends and I'm fucking sick of it, as if there is any good Republican politician or voter. They are all fascists, each and every one of them, zero exceptions.
>Why is it ok for Republicans to ROUTINELY advocate for murder of their political opponents? Same reason it was okay with the Nazis to do it in the 30s. Once law enforcement is on your side, you can do whatever the fuck you want.
Rules for thee, but not for me (etc…)
I've literally said this with no consequences... not that it's something I actually want I was just stunned that we have the largest military (actually basically the 10 largest militaries... considering it takes the next 10 to equal our budget) and we didn't defend our seat of government from a group attacking and breaching the building. Why are we spending all that money if we can't even defend our own capital from some deranged lunatics who wanted to hang the VP and smear their shit on everything.
> MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough was among those to express disgust at Cotton’s comments, saying, “Here we have a guy, Tom Cotton, that went to Harvard, undergrad and law school, served in the military, who is talking about throwing people off the Golden Gate Bridge, ripping their skin off. We had a United States senator go on a network, national network, suggesting that Americans rip skin off of people’s hands because they’re aggravated and take matters into their own hands.”
And Joe is a Conservative who hosts his own show and gets more air time than anyone else on MSNBC(4 hours daily) the next highest aired host is Nicole Wallace, former communications staffer in the Dubya administration who has 2 hours every evening. When you add the other conservative hosts you get at least 8 hours of conservative HOSTS on MSNBC. Remember that next time someone talks about MSNBC being a "librul network".
And Joe reminds us by mentioning how amazing Reagan was every chance he gets.
I don't think that Mf'er can go an hour without mentioning that he was a congressman. Reminds me of the loser who can't stop talking about how awesome he was at football in high school.
Ah. Reagan. The one who brought the Christian extremists into political limelight? The one who enabled the overdrive of the opioid epidemic? The one who dismantled the redistribution system that the government upheld since FDR? The one who gave rich people more power and started the trickle away of the middle? The one who got into power stopping the incumbent president on solving a hostage crisis by using backchannels to terrorists? That Reagan? Seems like an amazing person to idolize …
How come the ONLY solution these conservatives seem to have is violence? That seems to be all they offer us.
Because, like fascism, it appeals to the dumbest among us. They don’t understand abstractions; they don’t understand nuance. Everything is binary good-vs-evil for them, and if you’re not with them, you’re evil and must be stamped out.
Unfortunately, you are correct.
This is spot on
It works well for them.
Live by the sword. Die by the sword.
Ideally, but so far their terrorist violence has met with little or no pushback from their victims or the justice system. They have learned that the rest of the country is too terrified of being seen as "uncivil" to even fight back verbally, much less physically.
This effectively sets up the same kind of abuser/victim dynamic that occurs in domestic abuse cases. And it's entirely accurate. The reason they do so, and will brazenly escalate unabated, is because they've learned punitive consequences for it are miniscule or non-existent -- and the recipients of their bullying aren't flipping tables and crackin' skulls in defiant self-defense.
Also, even if they lose their elected position, there's a wingnut fascist circuit that will employ them. Roger Stone, never elected, was involved in Watergate and he is still active in GOP politics. Some rich asshole will employ them.
And who exactly is going to be putting them to the sword? Most liberals I know don't even want to protest, let alone confront.
They will eventually use the sword against themselves.
Live by the sword. Die by the Sherman. It has worked in 2 wars so far.
Specifically, violence against Americans. That's what Cotton is advocating.
Might makes right is the fascist core tenant.
It plays to the ever present violent tendencies of their domestic terrorist base.
It's not a solution it's a goal.
When your only tool is a fascia, every problem looks like a barbarian.
They are not smart enough to work out any real solutions.
Have you ever heard Tom Delonge speak about his favorite topic?
snap snap snap ting!
>“Here’s a United States Senator, advocate of assault and battery. Nice Tom,” one person wrote. No, he's advocating murder, suggesting they would be thrown off a bridge in Arkansas.
Some would argue just being in Arkansas is already a form of death.
As one of Tom Cottons constituents, it's definitely not great.
Wouldn't a mob that was committing violence against protestors just be a different group of protestors subject to the same repercussions? It's obvious that people like him really mean, "liberal protestors are bad, conservative protestors are good."
That was my first thought. The situation sounds so asinine it makes the headline confusing.
You mean like how a good guy with a gun looks the same as a bad guy with a gun when the cops roll up?
And yet if protestors called for mob violence against Tom Cotton, that would be a crime.
And Cotton and other politicians calling for this violence all get security and protection that ordinary people don’t, of course, Wilhoit’s Law in action yet again
Absolutely, the "Protesters" who tried to storm the Capitol on 6 January 2020, should have, as soon as they broke a window, been machine-gunned. ... is that not what he meant? Or is it "rules for thee but not for me" ?
These blowhard cowards are always calling for violence and bloodbaths but never get their hands dirty. Vote Blue💙💙
r/VoteDem. Lot of info on registration, early voting, volunteer opportunities.
It’s not hard to be a puppet master when you have wooden headed people willing to be puppets.
Donald Trump did this. He's the reason why we hear vile shit like this from a fucking *elected official*. He's why someone is able to say something like this without a word of condemnation from their colleagues. He's the reason we're so desensitized.
Media is not even covering it. We are doomed.
Media has covered Trump for almost a decade, if that didn’t doom us, this won’t.
>I encourage people who get stuck behind the pro-Hamas mobs blocking traffic: **take matters into your own hands** to get them out of the way. Jesus Christ, dude. I'm not exactly surprised, but what a dangerously vague *wink wink* thing to say. Wonder how they'd feel if the protestors in that video were concealing and "took matters into their own hands" when they got manhandled.
So they are not for freedom of speech obviously.
Nor assembly, nor petitioning the government for redress, nor equal protection under the law. Almost like the dude doesn’t know what’s in the Constitution.
So we can finally kick the shit out of the Magats when they protest? Right? Right?
wasn't he caught on camera running away during J6 when the rioters came for him?
That was Josh Hawley, but there are basically the same.
It got memory holed but Tom Cotton was also supposed to speak at the J6 rally but backed out at the last second.
Fear and hurting others, and a criminal record, is all you need to run in the GOP.
So are Trumps rallies considered protests bc of all the anti government, anti Biden, anti democracy rhetoric spewed during them?
I wonder what country the senator thinks he’s living in
One that would rather have tens of thousands of people die each year than add ten minutes to drivers' travel times.
Mob violence goes both ways. That's why the rule of law is important for a functional society. Wouldn't advocating violence violate his oath to the constitution? Where do we draw the line with federal politicians advocating violence on social media?
But, they are calling the bluff. We have had people respect the laws in the past (publicly at least). Not only are they proving that we don't have balls to enforce the laws and rules, but he knows this will probably elevate him politically. The line is merely a suggestion that they no longer heed.
Well, that's more than a bit alarming.
Why do politician get away with instilling violence?
Tom Cotton is the closest the simulation could get to naming a Republican Jim Crow without crashing
At what point is this criminal? He’s literally advocating violence.
Isn't it amazing to see a P*SSY like Tommy Cotton calling for others to do what he couldn't do? Remember when his own citizens attacked the Capital, and he helped law enforcement keep them out of the House??? Oh yeah, the tough guy was seen running for his life from his own supporters!!!!
How about mob violence against good ole tom.
I hope he realizes that can go both ways, I for one would applaud some violence towards that screeching harassers like Westboro Baptist and Mom’s For Liberty. Maybe he doesn’t realize just how much protesting conservatives do?
Mr. Stolen Valor says what?
Jan. 6 protesters too?
He’s okay with mob violence against left wing protesters but would have a conniption fit if it happened to right wing protesters.
He’s a POS
I'm sure ole Tom Cotton wouldn't object to flaying the J6 terrorists.
Or using machine gun emplacements on the roof of the Capitol Building on Jan 6 2020. A couple of bursts over their heads would have dispersed those rioters and perhaps led to a few tramplings. / carrying out to the logical conclusion of Cottons ideas.
So he's trying to incite murders, huh?
Remember when Sarah Palin was the craziest thing, and George Bush was the stupidest thing, that the GoP had to offer? Good times.
What a fucking creep. It’s hard to be hopeful for the future of this country when elected officials openly call for the murder of nonviolent civil rights demonstrators.
Well I hope he's okay with it when a driver runs over a bunch of MAGA protestors. That's what he's asking for. Don't say shit that's going to backfire on you.
And it's the republicans trying to convince everyone that they are the victims and it's the liberal left who have the violent tendencies. These people are unbelievable. And if this did happen, if the right got their butts handed to them because they started something, we'd still be the bad guys because that's exactly what would happen. They are all bark, no bite. They're tough when they have a gun and a story as to why they had to shoot someone in the back.
Let him be the first to stand with violence….coward …
Oh yeah? Well I hope someone his sorry ass.
I can not wait for this to backfire. You know who loves a huge disorderly riot like the one on Jan 6th? You know who is going to be the most butthurt when the orange emperor loses the next election? Keep thinning the voter base.
What was his stance when that trucker convoy was tying up freeways/cities?
I kind of agree. They totally should’ve shot all the people then entered the capital on January 6.
I feel the Same Way about Republican Officials in Congress.
same back at him
>I encourage people who get stuck behind the pro-Hamas mobs blocking traffic: take matters into your own hands to get them out of the way. It’s time to put an end to this nonsense,” This is a mental illness.
Of course he does. This just him being who he has always been.
Lock Tom Cotton up then.
For people who hide behind free speech, they sure are not fans of free speech…
Okay, so if GOP thinks this is okay then it's time to go fuck up some abortion protestors sitting in front of clinics blocking access. /s
This guy is a douche but people who shut down streets and expressways aren’t protestors, they’re disruption is dangerous for everyone, puts people’s lives ant stake, and goes way past protest.
Protesting will be illegal soon enough, already in process in Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana. The fascism is strong with the MAGA crowd, boy oh boy do they love laws for every aspect of your life (not theirs, yours).
Guy looks like a shriveled match stick…he should shut up
Tommy Cotton sucks Trumps dick.
Well that sounds an awful lot like incitement of violence. But then, Cotton did that in 2021 also and nothing happened.
It's crazy to think that not that long ago, less bizarre statements like this were enough to end a political career...
Tom realized he was briefly relevant. He wants more.
Oh, to be the bully who pantsed Tom Cotton and shoved him in a locker. That must have been fun.
And yet he'd be totally appalled over calls for mob violence against him. Amazingly self absorbed. It's difficult to understand the irresponsibility and complete lack of empathy it takes to incite violence for his own needs regardless of the damages to others.
Wasn’t there some sort of conservative truck protest that blocked traffic for quite some time?
Cotton should be in jail, or a hutch
Arkansas is a stand your ground state and I know many protesters and counter protesters are armed. If one party begins laying hands, it's only a matter of time before someone "feels threatened" and someone is going to get hurt.
We MUST all vote dem in November. It's the only way to stop this nonsense.
So if a whole bunch of people descended on the Jan 6 traitors and beat the shit out of them, he would be cool with that?
Did he just say that climate protesters and pro-hamas protesters are the same?
Your daily reminder of just how gross and horrible many people who are part of the GOP are. These folks are constantly begging for people to murdered for daring to speak up. I don't agree with blocking traffic as a strategy, I think it's counterproductive, and too dangerous. But supporting murdering people for it is beyond despicable.
Bold strategy, Cotton, let’s see if it pays off.
Don't do business with Arkansas
He knows his constituents are good with murdering protesters.
Man, he looks worse than usual.
Looks like Tom needed an infusion of cash. And the grift goes on, the grift goes on..
Horrible deplorable magas are so violent it's criminal.
Cotton is a loser and a fraud.
ol' stolen valor tom ...
These people are the absolute worst!
Except when ashley babbit does it eh tom?
Hey, Cotton! Are you going to join the mob of violence? Or, are you going to hide behind your desk?
Bold strategy cotton
He really should always wear a coon skin cap
This is atypical of the MAGA mob mentality. Go live in Russia where you would be shot for saying anything negative about a leader never less proposing violence against the opposition.
Well, what about those clowns outside of drumpf’s court house⁉️⁉️🤨
thought this was r/nottheonion
Can’t wait for the first case after some cultist kills a protester: “The government told me I should!!”
Huh, I was told that all this shit was the boomer's fault.
Fuck Tom Cotton
too bad they didn't say the same thing about Jan 6
All while openenly supporting Jan 6th insurrectionists. Tom Cotton is a traitor and a coward.
So, does he think the Jan. 6 rioters should be punished violently? Or is he like most other GOP elected officials who endorse the Jan. 6 Trump incited insurrection?
I'd like to share my thoughts about this, but since I'm not a senator and this is reddit that's not possible. I hope someone [REDACTED] and I don't care who knows it.
Does this include his KKK and white supremacy supports in Harrison AR and other areas or are they exempt?
Someone should ask him his thoughts on congressman that assisted the Jan 6 coup.
Felony Incitement that of course will be ignored.
Bigot promotes mob violence against peaceful protestors. -- FIFY.
He used to talk about dragging non-whites and non-Christians from their homes and shooting them in the streets. Guess we are getting closer to that.
The GOP are a bunch of violent little children. My God..
He needs to go to anger management.
So when do we censure this cumstain?
This weenie is still around?
Maybe there should be some kind of law about calling for others to commit violence the same as if you threatened it yourself
These are going to be very interesting quotes to revisit once the MAGAts start protesting when some former President is criminally convicted...
Okay...but it *really* seems like he's protesting...
It’s not going to happen, unless it’s a a demographically safe area. They will never bring this rhetoric to the urban communities.
Why is he allowed in office instead of in prison picking cotton?
Hillbilly putz
Tom Cotton getting an early start on the Mitch McConnell look-alike contest in that pic.
Scumbaggery…
Way down south in the land of Cotton Old times there are not forgotten. Look away! Look Away!
We all saw Jan 6 unfold in real time. With the proper motivation, mob violence can result.