Summary

Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell claims Republicans fear criticizing Donald Trump due to threats against them and their families.

He says Trump’s social media attacks provoke harassment, forcing lawmakers to consider costly security measures. This fear, he argues, is eroding GOP support for Ukraine and discouraging opposition to Trump’s policies.

Other figures, including Liz Cheney and Mitt Romney, have echoed these concerns. Elon Musk has also pressured Republicans by funding primary challenges.

Some GOP lawmakers reportedly faced FBI warnings of credible death threats for opposing Trump-backed nominees.

    • kescusay@lemmy.world
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      10 days ago

      Yep. Fascism doesn’t work without a dedicated cult of personality, and that’s exactly what Trump has with his legion of MAGA asshole-idiots who are willing to commit violence for their messiah.

  • Nightwingdragon@lemmy.world
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    10 days ago

    Some GOP lawmakers reportedly faced FBI warnings of credible death threats for opposing Trump-backed nominees.

    I’m not saying it’s not entirely true because we’ve been hearing about this for years. But given who is in charge of the FBI now, I wonder how many of these “credible threats” are actually credible vs. how many of them are actually just made up by Patel to make sure they stay in line.

    That said, it’s one thing for a civilian to not want to put themselves in a position where they could be harmed. They didn’t sign up for that. Civilians are largely in no position to do anything about it. But Senators and Representatives? This is literally what they fucking signed up for. This is what we grossly overpay them for. This is why we spend so much for their security. We elected these people and empowered them to do what we can’t.

    Maybe if we start seeing a couple of these town halls full of angry people exercising their 2nd Amendment rights live and in real time, they might get the message.

    • ilinamorato@lemmy.world
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      10 days ago

      I wonder how many of these “credible threats” are actually credible vs. how many of them are actually just made up by Patel to make sure they stay in line.

      Well, he only just took office this week, and this crop of death threats have been reported for a month or so now. But I absolutely believe that Patel is going to try to return the FBI to its J. Edgar Hoover days of gathering komprimat on every single person in the country. We’re gonna need another MEDBURG soon.

  • pathos@lemmy.world
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    10 days ago

    This is called ‘stochastic terrorism’. Publicly painting people in the most outrageous light until some of your acolytes feel called upon to realize the supposedly non-commital threats you made.

    Fuck Trump. Fight the fascists.

  • RattlerSix@lemmy.world
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    10 days ago

    The tough-talking pro-gun people who, when your kid gets shot at school, says more guns are the answer, won’t stick up for your kid or anything else out of fear that someone might send them a threatening message for doing so.

      • AntelopeRoom@lemm.ee
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        9 days ago

        Basically, lawmakers just advance the interests of whoever is most likely to kill them, real great country we have here.

        • Treczoks@lemmy.world
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          9 days ago

          What has become of watering the good old tree of democracy? Are those politicians afraid it might be their turn? Tsk, tsk.

  • Raiderkev@lemmy.world
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    10 days ago

    Pretty soon they’re going to be terrified of everyone for the same reason. Grow a spine, and do what’s right for your country, not Krasnov

    • WagyuSneakers@lemm.ee
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      10 days ago

      If a death threat makes you back down I want you out of my government. I’d consider it on par with treason or like a soldier going AWOL in combat.

      Maybe we should make them more afraid of us than of them? If that’s what they’re signaling works.

  • Treczoks@lemmy.world
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    10 days ago

    Wait until the threats against them for criticizing Trump and those for not protecting their subsidies and pork barrels cross the equilibrum and start to shift the balance.

  • JaggedRobotPubes@lemmy.world
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    10 days ago

    It’s easy. You call him a fat little bitch who sucks at everything and who only won because Republicans are all idiots.

    And that’s playing it neutral. If you like, you can start leaning into it a little.