To the Editor:

The quest of the Republican Party for ideological purity has produced the likes of Gym Jordan, the Ham-and-Cheesy twins (Margie Greene, Lauren Boebert), Matt Gaetz, Ron DeSantis, George Santos, and Paul Gosar. All of them emulating the chaos-master, Donald Trump.

Pin-the-tail on the Speaker remains a favorite pastime of the Republican House Freedom Caucus, to punish his debt-ceiling negotiations in May, and revel in their non-governing, retaliatory disfunction.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) is using a “senatorial hold” on the issue of abortion travel reimbursements for military personnel stationed in non-choice states, halting all military promotions and nominations including General Eric Smith’s to lead the Marine Corps. Tuberville refused a phone call from Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to discuss the matter, explaining that he “has no time to speak to the Secretary today, and will not have time over the weekend.”

Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) admitted that he doesn’t care if the “Biden crime family” information is true or not. He just wants a public spectacle. Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) basically admitted that the Biden investigations are payback for Trump’s impeachments, and House Repos proposed “expunging” the record. As is often done for flaky child offenders.
The Freedom Caucus declared that anyone fact-checking them and calling out their mendacities infringe their First Amendment Right (to lie). However, they are entitled under the same Rights to spout the latest Q-phantasms about Democrats. Apparently, only Republicans have First Amendment Rights.

In a House Oversight Committee hearing, trying to prove that Hunter Biden got a “sweetheart” deal with the FBI/DOJ (it was in line with others with the same accusations), Margie Greene triumphantly announced that the DOJ had failed to prosecute Hunter for criminal violation of the Mann Act as a sex trafficker.

She solemnly warned the audience to exercise “parental control,” and proceeded to show naked pictures of a man, who is not and never was a public servant, and listed some of his dubious choices. Because he had bought a plane ticket for a partner for a DC rendezvous, Margie insisted he thereby created a prostitute and crossed state lines for the purposes of sex.
However, the Mann Act, originally passed in 1910, was amended in the 1970’s-2000’s, in part to distinguish forced sex travel across state lines from consensual adult assignations. She claimed the “biased” DOJ failed to prosecute under a 1910 criminal statute that had been amended, consequently nullifying her argument.

Such are the deep concerns that Republicans prioritize over the interests of American families.

Kelly Scoles,
Fillmore, Ca.