Imagine a scenario where an army of progressives disguise themselves as Republicans

[Hardkill]

Let's say that about half of the Republicans in Congress turned out to be secret liberals/progressives and helped the Democrats in Congress pass major pieces of liberal/progressive legislation for the country:

Major Policy Shifts:

• Passage of significant liberal/progressive legislation, potentially including universal healthcare, climate action, gun control, and more.

• A significant shift in the country's policy direction, potentially leading to a more progressive society.

 

Republican Party Upheaval:

• A civil war within the Republican Party, with conservative members feeling betrayed and seeking to purge the secret liberals/progressives.

• Potential splits or rebranding within the party, with some members forming a new, more moderate party.

 

Democratic Party's Reaction:

• Initial shock and surprise, followed by delight and potential attempts to capitalize on the situation.

• Potential efforts to work with the secret liberals/progressives to pass even more legislation.

 

Public Reaction:

• Widespread surprise and confusion, with some people feeling betrayed and others celebrating the unexpected turn of events.

• Potential increases in political engagement and activism, as people respond to the new political landscape.

 

Historical Precedent:

• This scenario would be unprecedented in modern American politics, with no clear historical analogue.

• Potential comparisons to historical events like the Civil War-era Republican Party's shift towards abolitionism or the 1960s Democratic Party's shift towards civil rights. 

 

Consequences for the Country:

•  Potential improvements in areas like healthcare, education, and the environment, depending on the legislation passed.

• A more divided and potentially volatile political climate, with some people resisting the changes and others embracing them.

 

This scenario would be a game-changer for American politics, leading to significant policy shifts and a potential realignment of the political landscape.

 

Edited August 5 by Hardkill

[ryandesreu]

This is a fantasy. A conspiracy of hundreds of officials is impossible without leaks and wouldn't produce a positive result. This would lead to more riots, assassinations, and distrust in the government.

I am with the overall vision but not the process.

[Raze]

There is no realistic way to do that. If anything it’s the opposite, progressives have been deceived multiple times by a candidate who campaigned on progressive beliefs and did a 180 degree change when they got in office.

A better tactic would be democrats running on overwhelmingly popular positions, but they largely won’t because many of those challenge corporate power.

[Alex4]

That would be a mistake. It would be fuel to the most hardcore conservatives who constantly spout conspiracy theories.  We need to make the mule move forward, but without suffocating it.

 

4 hours ago, Raze said:

There is no realistic way to do that. If anything it’s the opposite, progressives have been deceived multiple times by a candidate who campaigned on progressive beliefs and did a 180 degree change when they got in office.

A better tactic would be democrats running on overwhelmingly popular positions, but they largely won’t because many of those challenge corporate power.

Conservatives also tend to change their policies once they are elected. Let's say that both liberals and conservatives, when they come to power, get a reality check and that’s when they have to implement realistic policies.

[Hardkill]

I get what you guys are saying, but what if there were secret progressives who pretended to be hardcore right-wing GOP politicians and were okay with serving only one term? 

That way, the right wing mega donors and the whole party wouldn't be able to do anything about it.

Also, I would love to see the shock and anger from every right-winger and GOP leader in the nation:

"Betrayal of conservative values and principles."

"A coup within the Republican Party."

"A new era of bipartisan cooperation and progress."

"A betrayal of trust and a violation of campaign promises."

"RINO Apocalypse"

"The Great Betrayal"

"Liberal Wolves in Sheep's Clothing"

"The Secret Progressive Coup"

Sean Hannity: "This is a betrayal of the highest order! We need to clean house and restore conservative values!"

Tucker Carlson: "The Republican Party is being hijacked by progressives. It's time for a new party that truly represents conservative America."

Breitbart News: "Secret Progressive GOP Candidates Infiltrate Congress: A Betrayal of Conservative Values"

Fox News: "GOP Leaders Under Fire for Allowing Progressive Infiltration"

[Hardkill]

If an even larger amount of new secret progressive GOP candidates get elected to Congress after purging the previous ones, pundits and conservative media might react with:

 

1. Sheer panic: A sense of desperation and hopelessness, feeling that the party is being overrun by progressives.

2. Existential crisis: Questioning the very survival of the Republican Party and conservatism as a viable force in American politics.

3. Accusations of infiltration: Claims that progressives are engaged in a deliberate, coordinated effort to infiltrate and take over the party.

 

4. Calls for radical action:

      Demands for drastic measures, such as:

      Purging entire state parties or local organizations.

      Implementing strict ideological litmus tests for candidates.

      Creating a new, more rigidly conservative party.

 

5. Conspiracy theories: Speculation about shadowy forces, donors, or organizations secretly backing the progressive candidates.

6. Blame-shifting: Pointing fingers at:

• Party leaders for failing to prevent the infiltration.
• Moderate Republicans for enabling the progressives.
• Democrats for allegedly colluding with the progressive Republicans.

7. Crisis mode: A state of emergency, with pundits and media outlets sounding the alarm and urging conservatives to mobilize and take action.

8. Rethinking the party's approach: Some might advocate for reevaluating the party's strategy, messaging, and policies to appeal to a broader audience and prevent further infiltration.

 

Notable reactions could include:

Sean Hannity: "This is a catastrophic failure of leadership! We need a complete overhaul of the party!"

Tucker Carlson: "The Republican Party is no longer a viable vehicle for conservatism. It's time to consider a new party."

Breitbart News: "PROGRESSIVE INVASION: GOP Leaders Fail to Stop Secret Progressive Takeover"

Fox News: "CONSERVATIVE CIVIL WAR: Party Leaders Under Fire as Progressives Gain Ground"

Edited August 7 by Hardkill

[Treewatcher]

"Imagine a scenario where sawblades started to fall out of the sky and chop your family members right in front of you and you were chained down so you couldm't do anything 😨😨"

 

You are funny man. This is straight from the subconscious brain that creates nightmares. The part of the brain that imagines the worst case scenario so that it can protect itself from it.

Nothing wrong with it, just seems like yours has gone to overdrive from probably trauma, stress and news.

Ego at full throttle which will use it to justify bad behaviors.

[Leo Gura]

Imagine an army of 1000 Jesuses wearing business suits all secretely working on Wall Street to save us from the evils of rampant capitalism.

[Leo Gura]

@Hardkill If you have to lie to your voters to get yourself elected to do the opposite of what you promised them, it's hard to imagine a greater evil/corruption.

[Hardkill]

2 hours ago, Leo Gura said:

@Hardkill If you have to lie to your voters to get yourself elected to do the opposite of what you promised them, it's hard to imagine a greater evil/corruption.

Yeah, but in politics, you have to do whatever it takes to win as long as it is legal.

Hell, the FBI, CIA, and various police officers have had to use all kind dirty tactics including undercover work to catch all kinds of criminals.

Besides, corruption has always been a major part of politics. In fact, there's been nothing more evil and corruption than Trump, MAGA, and the Republican party. For decades, they've been a radical insurgency who have completely backstabbed every one of their constituents! 

Trump and all of the GOP elites hate this country and look at all of their constituents with complete and utter disdain. Every time they successfully enact a big tax cut policy and other lavish gifts for the rich white racist elites and the corporate tyrants, they celebrate it by saying "Those stupid voters who voted for us really thought that we were going to pass policies that would be helpful to them and their families. It's always easy to trick those dumb rednecks or those disgusting blue collar workers into voting against their best interests. Ahahahahaa!!!!!" 

Edited August 8 by Hardkill

[Leo Gura]

16 minutes ago, Hardkill said:

Yeah, but in politics, you have to do whatever it takes to win as long as it is legal. 

Or...

You can act with integrity and accept the consequences.

[Hardkill]

1 hour ago, Leo Gura said:

Or...

You can act with integrity and accept the consequences.

That's that same naivety that Michelle Obama said "When they go low, we go high."

I say play hardball first and damn the consequences. Only make pragmatic compromises in Congress when you can’t what you want done from playing hardball.

How did that work out for the Democratic party during Obama's presidency when they didn't do enough to stop the gerrymandering starting in 2010, didn't do enough building a real liberal/progressive activist movement to counter the growing threat of the radical right, and didn't do enough to stop a monster like Trump from coming to power?

How did that work out for all of the mainstream media out there who inadvertently helped Trump get elected president in 2016 and have in fact been complicit in letting the right-wing media get away with their extreme right-wing activism for decades all because they’ve been trying to be “fair and balanced”? 

 

Edited August 8 by Hardkill

[ryandesreu]

What do you mean they wouldn't be able to do anything about it? There would be war in the streets and assassinations.

What would they do after the term limits were up? Red MAGA would get voted back in and things would be even worse.

[Hardkill]

1 hour ago, ryandesreu said:

What do you mean they wouldn't be able to do anything about it? There would be war in the streets and assassinations.

What would they do after the term limits were up? Red MAGA would get voted back in and things would be even worse.

I doubt there would be war on the streets when virtually every progressive policy that they would pass would be popular and beneficial in the long run. Most Americans especially in this day and age like most liberal/progressive policies. 
 

Think about how incredibly popular the progressive policies of the Square Deal, the New Freedom, New Deal, and Great Society programs were during each of their respective times were even though most Americans have either been moderates or conservatives. 
 

Besides, most Americans are getting totally sick and tired of the Republican and conservative policies in this current age. Most people also no longer want the any neoliberal ideas or policies. This is not no longer the conservative era of politics like it was in the 80s, 90s, or early 2000s. People were hoping that Obama would usher in era a new long lasting era of liberal/progressive politics in America, but he and the Democratic Party let us down with that during the mid 2010s. Most Americans want to go back to having something similar to that of FDR.

Edited August 10 by Hardkill

[Bobby_2021]

On 8/7/2024 at 10:13 AM, Raze said:

There is no realistic way to do that. If anything it’s the opposite, progressives have been deceived multiple times by a candidate who campaigned on progressive beliefs and did a 180 degree change when they got in office.

A better tactic would be democrats running on overwhelmingly popular positions, but they largely won’t because many of those challenge corporate power.

I agree. 

Progressives have to let go of this idea to trigger the conservatives. That's only giving them more food for reacting to, and they will take it up. 

It will make even the moderates to lean to the conservative side.

[Schizophonia]

You're incredibly full of yourself.