The Party of Corruption

How corrupt does a Republican have to be for the Republican Party to oust him? Pretty fucking corrupt.

Once upon a time, the Republican Party was somewhat responsible and was ready to impeach President Richard Nixon over Watergate, forcing his resignation, but this isn’t the 1970s anymore.

The Republican Party refused to impeach and convict Donald Trump, both times the House impeached him, despite the fact he was recorded extorting the president of a foreign nation by withholding U.S. military aid in exchange for a political favor, and for his part in a seditious attempt to overturn an election and have himself installed as a dictator. A few Republicans did vote to impeach and convict him but most refused to defend our nation from a corrupt president.

The Republican Party is refusing to apply ethical rules to the Supreme Court or even question the corruption of Clarence Thomas. Several on the Senate committee holding hearings on forcing ethics on Supreme Court justices have the same sugar daddy as Clarence Thomas.

Speaker Kevin McCarthy is refusing to pressure George Santos to step down despite 13 criminal indictments over his corruption. The Republican House is refusing to oust Santos.

So it’s kinda surprising that Texas Republicans impeached state Attorney General Ken Paxton today over allegations of bribery, unfitness for office, and abuse of public trust. The impeachment temporarily removes him from office pending a state Senate trial that could lead to his permanent ouster.

Paxton has been under investigation for years and says the impeachment is “political theater” based on “hearsay and gossip, parroting long-disproven claims,” and an attempt to disenfranchise voters who elected him to a third term last November. Yeah, but Texas voters are dumb enough to reelect Greg Abbott and Ted Cruz. Being elected to office doesn’t give you the right to be corrupt, even in Texas.

In 2020, Paxton’s top aides accused him of abuse of office to benefit a wealthy donor. They alerted the FBI, which investigated Paxton but refused to press charges. Four of the aides were fired and filed suit alleging retaliation. After reaching a $3.3 million settlement, Paxton pressed for the payment to come out of the state’s budget.

The committee recommending impeachment released a memo Friday that said, “But for Paxton’s own request for a taxpayer-funded settlement over his wrongful conduct, Paxton would not be facing impeachment.”

Along with a dozen Democratic votes, a conviction in a state senate trial will require 19 Republican votes. Paxton’s wife, Angela Paxton, is a state senator. He has other friends in the state senate as well. Governor Greg Abbott has been silent, but Donald Trump hasn’t.

Trump “truthed” on Truth Social, “It is the Radical Left Democrats, RINOS, and Criminals that never stop. ELECTION INTERFERENCE! Free Ken Paxton, let them wait for the next election!”

He’s also been supported by Donald Trump Jr, former White House aide Stephen “Baby Goebbels” Miller, MAGA goon Charlie Kirk, and Ted Cruz, who tweeted, “Ken has been the strongest conservative AG in the country. No attorney general has battled the abuses of the Biden admin more ferociously — and more effectively.”

Paxton, as Texas Attorney General, literally sued Pennsylvania for voting for President Biden. Of course, the case was rejected by the courts.

Of 146 House members present, 121 voted to impeach Paxton, which is more than the majority required. Experienced watchers of the Texas Legislature predict the Senate will fail to get a conviction. One Republican legislator said that several members had received telephone calls from Paxton “personally threatening them with political consequences in their next election.”

Ken Paxton is a corrupt goon and was even present during the insurrection on January 6. He spoke at Trump’s rally that day.

Paxton is further evidence that the Republican Party is the party of corruption.

Note: After drawing today’s cartoon, I made a bacon double cheeseburger with a fried egg along with fries, and then went into a food coma and forgot I needed to finish this blog. That’s why it’s so late. Oh, my god, I make a good bacon, egg, and cheeseburger.

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