In my distant childhood, one could actually understand how a politician could get away with---

[Atticus]

or benefit from---"talking out of both sides of their mouth".

Hard to imagine, I guess, but not only was there no internet, there were only three television stations and a lot of folks didn't have a set anyway. Even those who had a set and watched a nightly "news round-up" seldom saw anything more than the most important---i.e., sensational---national news.

The result was that most Congressional candidates and all those running for state or local offices could say they were "strongly in favor of" a proposal in one town and then, often the same day, insist they were "dead set against" the very same thing 75 miles away and not ever be challenged about their duplicity. ( In those days, 75 miles was at least an hour and a half away and few people ventured that far from home more than once or twice a year. )

So, that was then. What the hell is the reason for all the "flip-flops" and "one-eighties" the Republicans get away with these days?

They vote against bill's that build and repair roads, bridges and harbors---and hurry home to take credit for the repairs and the jobs created.

They insist that it is "totally inappropriate" for a black Democratic POTUS to fill a SCOTUS vacancy in the last year of his term---but cram through the approval of a white Republican POTUS's nominee mere weeks before the end of his term.

They vote against aid to Ukraine---and then not only insist on providing the aid, but criticize our POTUS for not sending more aid quicker.

The list of such transparent hypocrisies is endless, but that's enough to frame the questions: after 4 years of Trump, does lying really matter anymore? Is lying still considered wrong and the "gateway sin" to a career of more serious dishonesty?

Given that nearly everyone has access to dozens of diverse news sources, "I never knew that!" is no longer a credible excuse for re-electing these craven liars, so why does their "base" keep sending them back to us?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

1. A politician is a creature that can sit on a fence & keep both ears to the ground

Except that now tone-deaf RepuBullyCons only keep one ear open, their right ear. And they are getting beaten back bit by bit.

[SoCalDavidS]

2. We're A Nation Of MORONS

Around the world, other countries look upon us with disbelief.

[Midnight Writer]

3. I believe they have been "groomed" to accept all this nonsense.

I first noticed this when Rush Limbaugh first came out. He would sometimes contradict himself in the same sentence, and back up his outrageous statements with "evidence" that had nothing to do with his claims.

Some people just don't digest information the same as others. They only react to key words and phrases, much as a dog will react when he hears "treat" or "walk" or "squirrel" without understanding any other words around those.

[tblue37]

4. This!

Some people just don't digest information the same as others. They only react to key words and phrases, much as a dog will react when he hears "treat" or "walk" or "squirrel" without understanding any other words around those.