One of the three key reasons I left the Republican Party over twelve years ago is its tendency to make things up. Aided and abetted by radio talk show hosts and the Fox prime time line-up, whose primary mission is misinformation not news, the party became more distasteful to me. I have noted before the outgoing president did not create this untruthful bent, but he has certainly shown how to leverage it more.
Now, with social media allowing less fettered information to proliferate, conspiracy theories have found an accepting home. This is not just my opinion. In an article in Business Insider by T. Porter called “GOP Senator Ben Sasse warned that the QAnon conspiracy theory movement is destroying the Republican Party,” he rakes the now-Trump Party over the coals. Here are a few paragraphs, with a link below.
“Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska has warned in an op-ed in The Atlantic that the QAnon conspiracy theory movement is destroying the GOP.
‘We can dedicate ourselves to defending the Constitution and perpetuating our best American institutions and traditions, or we can be a party of conspiracy theories, cable-news fantasies, and the ruin that comes with them,’ writes Sasse of the GOP.
Adherents of the QAnon conspiracy theory believe, groundlessly, that a cabal of Satan worshipping child abusers control the world. Followers of the movement were on the front line of the Capitol riots, in which a police officer and a rioter who had shared QAnon slogans on social media were killed.
Swaths of the GOP have embraced the movement, and Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has openly backed the movement. Republican Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska has warned that the QAnon conspiracy theory movement is destroying the GOP in a blistering op-ed for The Atlantic.“
We must confirm our sources (and check other sources) when we espouse information, especially the more sensational. We must ask more why questions of people who are articulating things that are too sensational to be true. We must summon a few seconds of courage to say, “I don’t agree with that” or “I don’t see how that could be true.”
Truth has become a victim in the last four years. Among many poor legacies to choose from, one that will linger on is Trump’s escalation of the term “fake news.” The biggest purveyor of fake news in America convinces unsuspecting followers that others are lying. And, that may be the worst conspiracy of all.
musingsofanoldfart 
Reblogged this on Filosofa's Word and commented:
With no less than two newly-elected Republican members of Congress being followers of the QAnon conspiracy theory group, one wonders what the Republican Party is becoming. Turns out, at least one Republican Senator has an answer and it doesn’t bode well for the future of the GOP. Our friend Keith tells us the story …
Thanks Jill. This message needs to get out. Sasse will be dismissed as a RINO as he has before, but it speaks volumes that truthtellers are persona non grata in the Trump Party.
My pleasure, Keith! It was an important message and needs to be shouted from the rooftops. The GOP doesn’t need any outside force to destroy it … it is eating itself from within.
Jill, Senator Rand Paul said yesterday if they convict Trump in an impeachment trial it will destroy the GOP. Too late Senator. It is long past gone. This exercise would be an attempt to save it. Keith
I’m surprised there is a Trump (GOP) Party still in existence. The Nov. election should have virtually wiped it off the map–but it didn’t. There are too many Orange iDJiTs in America, and in the world. There is no rationale to it, just a bunch of ignoramusi who get their rocks off by fighting democracy, rather than trying to make it better.
I haven’t heard security reports saying anything about the invaders masturbating in the halls of Congress, though other potty acts have been reported. I’m betting there was more than a few trillion sperm released in the hallowed halls thatbday, all those baby Repuglyorangegarbagecans never to become even fetuses. They should all be hung as abortionists.
Rawgod, now that is a visual image I could have done without. One of the insurrectionists said he was not a terrorist. Wrong again. Of course he is a terrorist. And, he is a damn fool to take the outgoing president at his word. Keith
Sorry if I upset you, that wasn’t my intention. I was just trying to make the insurgents look as bad as I possibly could, and that was what came to mind.
Really, they were quite tame as mobs go, despite being responsible for at least 5 deaths. Nobody went berserk, and most actions seemed to be coordinated. Mobs are wild, and uncontrollable.
Rawgod, no worries. The bodily functions part, reported and unreported, I could have left out of my imagery. Keith
Sasse’s concern is valid. If we end up with a splinter between the Q***n wing and the Romney/Sasse wing (which, mind you, is still quite conservative, but not conspiratorial), that could put Republicans at risk in a number of places. Including some places where they might not expect to be at risk under normal circumstances.
Brendan, true. I did see where QAnon Congresswoman Lauren Boebert just lost her communications directors. Too many WTF moments trying to dress up QAnon BS coming from her boss. To your point, the Republicans began to realize the gerrymandering efforts they did in various states early in the last decade have hurt them, as they saw rational candidates get beaten by the extreme portion of the party. That will continue to happen, I am certain. Keith
I have a loathing of Conspiracy Theorists, a visceral one, be they on the Right, The Left, or any other grouping.
Arguably since Humanity start to live together in communities these Conspiracy Lies have caused many wars, and other deaths and miseries. There is a monumental Human capacity for absorbing rubbish because it suits prejudices, acts as a salve to injured pride and makes the adherents think they are superior because they know something others don’t.
Folk on the Left/Liberal wings would do well to appreciate their skewed notions of what happened to both Kennedys and at 9/11 and the resulting cottage industries in books etc made the business ‘respectable’ again, and allowed The Right to run with their own outpourings. And they got Trump.
Roger, I am with you on the loathing. Your historical references have merit. Many a good person has been maligned by conspiracy theories and some have replaced the facts. Trump has counted on that. Keith
The late Vincent Bugliosi wrote a seminal work ‘Reclaiming History
The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy’ in which he tears apart all conspiracies, as an experienced DA goes into the events surrounding those days in Dallas and chastises conspiracy constructors as causing the folk of the USA to lose face in History.
In the wake of Trump that was rather prophetic.
And if anyone says Vincent Buglios was an establishment plant, he also wrote a later and far more inflammatory book ‘The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder’ in which he laid out a case for prosecution under USA laws over Bush’s handling of Iraq.
Again since Trump Bush seems mild.
Both are worth a read, or a listen on audio since a narrator conveys the author’s acerbic tone.
Roger, quite interesting. You may recall the Clintons were accused of murdering Vince Foster, an aide, who actually committed suicide. His sister (I believe) blisters people who raise this issue as she notes how depressed her brother was and that he was taking medication.
Senator John McCain was leading eventual president George W. Bush going into the SC primary in 2000. Then, one of Bush’s campaign folks leaked an untrue story that McCain fathered Black child out of wedlock. The true story is he and his wife Cindy adopted a dark-skinned Indian American girl. McCain lost SC and the nomination, as a result.
Both of these conspiracies can still be found on the web is you look for them. Neither of them are true. Keith
[fake voice]But these ones are alternative facts, those are OK!![end fake voice]
FC, so true. I read yesterday that the five biographers of the outgoing president met after he won in 2016 and before the inauguration four years ago. They each predicted with eerie accuracy that he would never accept losing claiming it was stolen from him. They went on to predict a move to more authoritarian rule and noted people do not realize how “screwed up” he is. But, they are only his biographers, so what do they know? Keith
Whoever was responsible for the idea that “anyone can do it [governing/legislating]” should should be hung upside-down on the wall in every capitol/governor’s house for their bad example.
Grr I just realized that came out wrong: _picture_ should be hung upside-down… not the person (people) themselves.
FC, what many did not realize is the former president oversold his capabilities. He has never had a boss beside his father. No Board of Directors, no Chairperson. So, he has tended to flout the laws and ethics of good governance. Business writers said he was a great seller, but a horrible manager. Good management takes patience, compassion, trust, characteristics he ;lacks. Keith