By Jessie Seigel / May 20, 2024

House Speaker Mike Johnson at the Trump trial--with other members of the Red Tie Brigade
There are some weeks in which Republican self-serving hypocrisy is just too much to take. It is as if their party leaders think the public is made up of simpletons on whose forgetfulness or ignorance they can endlessly prey. Here are three recent examples.
Mike Johnson’s So-Called Crisis of Conscience
According to Associated Press (AP), Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson “wrestled over whether to lead the House in approving…desperately needed war-time aid for Ukraine [for its defense against Russia], as well as for Israel and other U.S. allies.” AP stated that the Speaker “prayed for guidance.” And afterwards, he told Republican Rep. Michael McCaul, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, “I want to be on the right side of history.”
In addition, in a press conference, Johnson declared, “History judges us for what we do.” He added, “I could make a selfish decision and do something that’s different, but I’m doing here what I believe to be the right thing.”
Because Marjorie Taylor Greene and other right-wing radicals had threatened to oust Johnson from the speakership if he permitted a vote, Arkansas Republican Rep. Steve Womack tried to dub Johnson a “profile in courage.”
But, as Maryland Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin commented: “This is a profile in delay.”
Johnson only agreed to permit a vote on the aid after months and months of refusing to do so—putting Ukraine’s survival and American interests in great jeopardy. The Speaker’s decision, finally, to “do the right thing” was in no way the result of a struggle of conscience.
Rather, he made sure he had the possible consequences covered first.
According to AP, Johnson presented his plan to Donald Trump—who infamously has invited Russia to “do whatever they hell they want” to Ukraine. Presumably, Johnson was obtaining Trump’s permission before acting. And apparently, Johnson managed to get it. Trump panned—and thus defused-- Marjorie Taylor Greene’s effort to evict Johnson from the speakership. We still don’t know what Johnson gave Trump in return.
In addition, Johnson had his own purely personal motivation for finally agreeing to a vote on the aid package. Noting that his son will begin at the Naval Academy this fall, he declared, “To put it bluntly, I would rather send bullets to Ukraine than American boys.” Based on his many months-long delays, it does not appear Johnson took that view until his own child could be affected. Never mind anyone else’s children.
But even more important, it is likely that Johnson got reassurance from Democrats that if he permitted the vote on the crucial aid package, and the radical right-wing attempted to oust him because of it, the Democrats would vote against the ouster. So, there was no profile in courage but, rather, a quid pro quo.
And of course, Mike Johnson’s conscience did not prevent him from joining the Red-Tie Brigade this last week.
The Red Tie Brigade Does Trump’s Bidding
What is the Red Tie Brigade? It’s a moniker coined for the Republican sycophants making pilgrimage to Donald Trump’s New York trial in order to show obeisance and act as his mouthpieces. They’ve shown up sporting uniform blue suits and Trumpian red ties, and spouting the attacks forbidden Trump by the judge’s gag order.
Trump has been charged with falsifying business records with the intent to violate federal campaign finance limits, unlawfully influence the 2016 presidential election, and commit tax fraud.
Judge Merchan imposed the gag order to prevent Trump from making public statements about witnesses, counsel, court staff and their family members that could interfere with the case. The largest concern was intimidation and endangering participants’ lives.
The Republican politicians who have come to New York have been shamelessly aping Trump’s tactic of accusing his opposition of what he does or would do if in power again. Outside the courthouse, they recite the intimidating statements the gag order forbid Trump to make. They repeat his claims that any charges brought against him are politically motivated. They even spout Trump’s precise words, calling the proceeding a witch hunt and a sham.
In addition to Mike Johnson, these Trumpists include Republican senators Rick Scott (Florida), JD Vance (Ohio), Tommy Tuberville (Alabama), and MAGA representatives Andy Biggs (Arizona), Lauren Boebert (Colorado), and Matt Gaetz (Florida), among others.
On Monday, Trump even had Chuck Zito, founder of the New York Nomads chapter of the Hells Angels, show up to give so-called moral support. Zito served time from 1985 to 1998 for drug conspiracy charges, and his Hells Angels chapter reputedly has been linked to the Gambino mafia crime family. One can add that to the intimidation factor.
For the most part, media speculation has been focused on the Red Tie Brigade’s motivations: that they are trying to stay in good with Trump for fear of being primaried or are auditioning for the vice-presidential spot on his ticket.
In the end, though, whether or not political ambition might be a factor is irrelevant. Their actions make it quite clear that these Republicans are deliberately opposing the rule of law and attempting to advance Trump’s fascist goals.
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito Flies the Insurrectionist Flag

The photo taken of the inverted flag that was flying in Justice Alito's yard.
Justice Alito displayed an upside-down flag outside his home on January 17, 2021-- only 11 days after the January 6, 2021 coup attempt, and three days before President Biden’s inauguration. Some of Alito’s neighbors have stated that the flag had actually been flying for a number of days before the 17th.
Although, traditionally, an inverted American flag is a symbol of emergency and distress, many of those attacking the Capitol on January 6, wielded such flags, co-opting its symbolism. And Alito’s display of such a flag just after the coup attempt and before Biden’s inauguration constituted a statement in support of the insurrectionists.
The “brave” Alito claimed he had no involvement in flying the flag. In an emailed statement to the Times, he laid it at his wife’s feet, stating: “It was briefly placed by Mrs. Alito in response to a neighbor’s use of objectionable and personally insulting language on yard signs.”
But there was no “personally insulting language.” Reportedly, the neighbor’s yard sign was an “anti-Trump” sign, and there was no indication that it included language personally attacking Alito or his wife.
Furthermore, if, as noted by Alito’s neighbors, the flag flew for a number of days, it was not “briefly” placed. Alito must have seen and been aware of it.
These are petty excuses in any event. Regardless of what neighbors might do, as a Supreme Court Justice, Alito has a duty to both appear and be impartial in adjudicating cases that come before the Court.
While the Alitos were flying that inverted flag, the Supreme Court on which Alito sits was still considering whether to hear a 2020 election challenge brought by Donald Trump. In the near future, the Court will rule on whether Trump has immunity for anything he did as president, including insurrectionist actions. That decision will affect whether Trump can be held accountable for trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election and his chances for re-election this year.
Alito and his wife did not place the flag upside down by accident. They had to know what they were supporting in doing so: insurrection. That’s a stand against democracy and against the rule of law which courts are supposed to uphold. A Justice who stands for insurrection--for violent overthrow of the government--does not belong on the Supreme Court at all.
Much of the media has characterized this and other unethical Court behavior as problematic only because the court is losing the public’s respect and trust. But Alito and his ilk don’t have to care about the public’s respect. They sit on the Supreme Court for life. Absent impeachment—which would be very difficult to accomplish in today’s environment--they have unrestricted power to advance their personal political goals--including violent overthrow of the government--without reference to the law, let alone the public's good opinion.
In applying the disparate tactics discussed above, Republican leaders in the Senate, the House, and on the Supreme Court appear to have taken to heart the H.L. Mencken aphorism: “No one ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the American public.”
Let’s hope they’re wrong.
Thank you for your comment. Jessie
Great, and truthful, quote by Mencken. Also, Alito has absolutely nothing to lose by his brazen actions. Sadly untouchable.