Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri is going rogue in his plans to oppose final certification of the Electoral College vote next week. By rogue, I mean Mitch McConnell wants him to get in line and move on from the 2020 election and Hawley is ignoring him. McConnell even addressed the issue in a call that Hawley very conveniently was absent from. It’s not going to change the results of the election, but it is interesting that Hawley is sold bold and brash as to go against Leader McConnell. Any thoughts of as to what Hawley is thinking here? Is he crazy? Or could this kookiness pay off for him politically down the line? 

Hawley faces heat from Senate Republicans over Electoral College plansThe Missouri senator missed a Thursday call where Mitch McConnell asked him to explain his plans, emailing colleagues later instead.www.politico.com

Look for him to run in 2024. He's gambling to win the vote of the far right extremists, just like Trump did.

He is playing to that very loud voice in the Republican party -- question becomes will that group still be "Republican" after Trump leaves office? Will they vote en masse again?

It’s a very interesting question but I think the answer is simple - be seen as supporting Trump and you get Trump’s support and all his voters support. Who cares that it undermines democracy. Maybe it’ll smarten people up and get them to solidify the democratic institutions and prevent a future catastrophe. Let’s hope.

You guys are right. I guess what amazes me is I thought Mitch McConnell had more control over his party.

The “Mitch Factor”’is an interesting issue - will he have the power to pull back the reigns of the Republican Party or is it going to be this very strange, populist party he has become? Next few weeks are not just about Biden but in many many ways about the Republican Party as well.

Here’s a reflection

Pence Welcomes Futile Bid by G.O.P. Lawmakers to Overturn ElectionVice President Mike Pence signaled his support as 11 Republican senators and senators-elect said that they would vote to reject President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.'s victory.www.nytimes.com

⬆️ Other Republican Senators and Mike Pence have joined Hawley in his futile plan to overturn the election.

As I said earlier, I thought Mitch McConnell had more control over his caucus than this. Crazy.

Once one Senator objects it doesn't matter how many others object. Often in voting if it doesn't change the outcome a number of Senators are "allowed" to vote the opposite of the party for political reasons. You see this quite often with Senators Murkowski and Collins on the Republican side.

⬆️ Trump had an hour long phone call with the Georgia Secretary of State hoping overturn the results. Craziness.

To me, the most damning quote:

And there’s nothing wrong with saying, you know, um, that you’ve recalculated. - Trump

The whole of the Republican Party needs to be tossed out.

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USAToday fact checked that and it wasn’t failure to support Lincoln’s win, but to withdraw from the union.

Fact check: Congress expelled 14 members in 1861 for supporting the ConfederacyClaims that congressmen were expelled in 1861 for not supporting Abraham Lincoln's election are false.www.usatoday.com

Related conversation: Reps. Ted Lieu of California and Kathleen Rice of New York write letter to FBI seeking investigation into Donald Trump’s phone call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger 

So damning. It's like there's no level of low that he won't sink to. Same with his supporters in the house and Senate.

It needs to hit the reset button for sure. The GOP is unhinged right now. You know they're unhinged when Mitch McConnell has lost control of the vehicle.