Thread by @dcpetterson

Realistically, what is likely to happen if Republicans take over one or both Houses of Congress next month?

The most consequential thing is a lot of theater and no substantive legislation. The economy will grind to a halt, and very likely Ukraine will lose US support.

1/13

Withdrawing support for Ukraine will immensely harm US foreign relations. Our allies will know we can't be counted on and indeed will begin to fear (for good reason) we'll withdraw from all of our diplomatic and military commitments. Our standing in the world will collapse.

2/13

Of course, Republicans will blame that collapse on Biden, and the "news" media will likely back them up.

How will Republicans tank the US economy? They will make frightening demands in every budget bill, and attach them to every debt ceiling increase.

3/13

They've already telegraphed what some of their demands will be: national ban on reproductive rights, a ban on contraceptives, bans on same-sex marriage and all LGBTQ+ rights, for starters. Ending SocSec and Medicare. Maybe give state legislatures control over all elections.

4/13

Now, Biden has a spine of adamantium. None of these bills will get signed, and they'll all get vetoed. So it's "just" theater. But it has real-world effects: expect prolonged government shutdowns and possibly default on America's debt payments.

5/13

That last thing has never, ever happened. Interest rates would go through the roof. Treasury bills (and savings bonds) will become worthless. China may call in some of the multi-trillion-dollar debt we owe them, and we won't be able to pay. The world economy may collapse.

6/13

This is a true nightmare scenario, but Republicans are already threatening to do just that if they don't get their demands met.

And that's not all. There will be endless fake investigations and hearings into insane QAnon theories, accomplishing nothing.

7/13

The Executive Branch will be crippled by having Administration officials constantly forced to testify before House or Senate committees on the most ridiculous and frivolous matters.

If Republicans take the House, there will be weekly impeachments.

8/13

Name any or every Administration official, from FBI agents to the President and VP, and everyone in between. I expect a Republican House to impeach them all, multiple times.

They're even likely to start impeaching judges appointed in the last two years by President Biden.

9/13

Of course, the impeachments won't go anywhere. As we saw, it takes a 2/3 vote in the Senate to remove anyone impeached, and that won't happen. But the Senate is Constitutionally required to hold an impeachment trial, no matter how absurd the "charges" are. Which means,

10/13

... business in the Senate will grind to a halt, regardless of whether Republicans take the Senate or not. So even though the faux-impeachments are no more than profane theater, they will occupy much of the two years until 2024. No legislation will pass.

11/13

And if Republicans do take the Senate, we won't see any more federal judges appointed, because Republicans will refuse to hold and hearings or votes on any of Biden's nominees. Hope real hard another SCOTUS slot doesn't open up.

12/13

Again, Biden will not negotiate with these political terrorist activities and demands--and again, the media is likely to blame him for all the damage this does.

That's what to expect. It's truly terrifying.

You can help stop it. You know how.

13/13

PS. Note that none of this requires Republicans to kill the filibuster. That won't change anything, because even if they do, and force insane bills through Congress, Biden will veto them. So Republicans are not likely to bother with that.

VOTE!
GET OTHERS TO THE POLLS!
MAKE A PLAN!
MAKE SURE YOU'RE REGISTERED!
WROTE POSTCARDS!
CONTRIBUTE TO DEMOCRATS!

#VoteBlue!

We can stop this. YOU have to do your part!