bob good Rep

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head of freedom cocks 4 24

gaetz 8? primaried flanked by McC?

Riggleman (just on msnbc?]beat by this pow mofo pending

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an 8 24

Bob Good (R-VA) — the far-right House Freedom Caucus chair — lost his reelection bid Thursday after a recount confirmed Virginia state Sen. John McGuire's win, according to Politico.

The Associated Press (AP) reports, "Election officials previously certified a narrow McGuire win in the June 18 primary, by 374 votes out of nearly 63,000 cast. But with the margin of victory at just six-tenths of a percentage point, Good was entitled to a recount."

Veteran Capitol Hill journalist Jamie Dupree on June 19 reported that the top GOP House leaderwas "confident about his chances to maintain his seat, despite being down in a razor-thin vote count in the Republican primary for Virginia's 5th Congressional district."

Good — who supports Donald Trump in his bid for reelection — lost the former president's support when he originally endorsed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' 2024 presidential campaign.

Even traveling to Manhattan to defend the MAGA hopeful in his hush money criminal case did not win back Trump's loyalty, as the former president has made this support for McGuire clear.

Per AP, Good "thanked those who voted for him and supported his reelection campaign" in a Facebook post Thursday night.

"While I am disappointed in the ultimate outcome, it has been my distinct honor to serve as the congressional representative for Virginia’s 5th District over the past 3.5 years," the Virginia lawmaker wrote.

*Politico's report is available at this link. The Associated Press' report is here.

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an 6 24

Trump has created a civil war within his own MAGA movement amid a crucial election year that could decide whether he ends up in the White House or the big house, the New York Times reported Monday.

His controversial endorsement snub of Freedom Caucus chair Rep. Bob Good (R-VA) has divided his loyal MAGA backers — known for their allegiance to the Trump party line — in a critical swing state in the upcoming election.

“It shows the weakness of MAGA and the Trump coalition,” political scientist David Richards told the Times. “There are a lot of egos trying to leverage Trump to their advantage. If that’s all you have going and you don’t have a big policy difference, that’s going to lead to some really weird splits.”

The egos in question belong to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Trump's former campaign strategist Steve Bannon.

While Greene, a staunch supporter of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy who was ousted with a helping vote from Good, is delivering stump speeches for his Trump-endorsed opponent John J. McGuire, Bannon remains resolutely in Good's corner, the Times reports.

Tensions mounted last week when these two MAGA celebrities hosted competing events delivering their characteristic vitriol on for two opposing Republicans battling for one congressional seat.

ALSO READ:[Republicans weaponizing ignorance is a dangerous game

“We need loyalists,” Greene reportedly barked at a crowd of a dozen voters in a Virginia parking lot. "[Good] kicked Trump when he was down."

Down the road, Bannon appeared next to Good at a much larger event outside a local court house where he told the crowd, "They think you’re a bunch of morons who don’t count."

The Times argues this rift between two major MAGA bigwigs could spell trouble for Trump as he tries to reclaim the White House in 2024.

ALSO READ: Republican dodo birds have a death wish for us all

"The back-to-back events last week pitting some of the most famous MAGA figures against each other have highlighted how strange this civil war of a primary has become," writes reporter Annie Karni.

"It has splintered the MAGA movement and the G.O.P. itself and highlighted the shifting alliances, personal feuds and chaotic maneuvering that have come to define the party as much as any ideological or policy position."

And the stakes are high for Trump, who faces two federal court case he could theoretically kill should he regain authority over the Justice Department in 2025.

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context, they tossed her

'Sophomoric ranting': Conservative calls out MTG’s 'preposterous' crusade against non-MAGA Republicans - Alternet.org

'Disinformation': Greene pushes pro-Putin propaganda in 'war on Christianity' rant - Alternet.org

after two top Republican House committee chairmen said Russian propaganda has made its way into Congress and “infected” some in the GOP base, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) spread demonstrably false pro-Russia talking points about a “war on Christianity” while defending and promoting President Vladimir Putin.}:

“It is absolutely true we see, directly coming from Russia, attempts to mask communications that are anti-Ukraine and pro-Russia messages, some of which we even hear being uttered on the House floor,” House Intelligence Chairman Mike Turner told CNN on Sunday, as NBC News reported. Republican House Foreign Affairs Committee chair Michael McCaul, NBC added, “told Puck News that he thinks ‘Russian propaganda has made its way into the United States, unfortunately, and it’s infected a good chunk of my party’s base.”

On Monday, Congresswoman Greene, who strongly opposes any U.S. funds for military aid to Ukraine and has threatened to oust Mike Johnson as Speaker if he moves to assist Ukraine, once again praised Putin.

“Let’s talk about what this really is,” Greene said to far-right MAGA messenger Steve Bannon, the former Trump campaign CEO and White House advisor.

“This is a war on Christianity. The Ukrainian government is attacking Christians, the Ukrainian government is executing priests. Russia is not doing that,” Greene falsely declared.

“They’re not attacking Christianity. As a matter of fact, they seem to be protecting it. So that’s something else that’s clear and obvious to many people that are looking closely at what’s going on.”

Last month The Tablet, a nearly 200-year old UK-based Catholic weekly reported, “The International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance said that 30 Ukrainian priests had been killed by Russian forces.” It also detailed accounts of several Ukrainian priests who allegedly had been tortured, including one who allegedly was “Tortured to death by Russian soldiers.” The full statement from the IRFBA was published by the U.S. Dept. of State.

“Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine is exterminating religious freedom, signaling a return by Moscow to Soviet-era levels of persecution of faiths, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church has said,” Newsweek reported, also last month. “The Kyiv-based Institute for Religious Freedom (IRF) said in February 2023 that, in the first 12 months of the war, the Russian military had destroyed, damaged, or looted at least 494 religious buildings, theological institutions, and sacred sites, with the figure estimated to be higher today.”

Voice of America has also documented alleged killings of Ukrainian clergy by Russian forces.

Hours before Greene’s remarks to Bannon, U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY), pointing to a Washington Post piece on the two GOP chairs warning about Republicans promoting Russia propaganda, said: “Even leading Republicans say Marjorie Taylor Greene is parroting Putin and Russia’s disinformation. She must be exposed and her irresponsible behavior must be stopped.”

He also said Monday, “we need to stop Marjorie Taylor Greene from repeating Putin and Russia’s talk[ing] points!!”

Last year Newsweek reported Greene “has become a Russian state media darling by mirroring some of the Kremlin’s views on the war in Ukraine,” and noted she “has featured prominently on Russian state TV and in state media publications for her remarks on the war and has been accused of parroting Kremlin propaganda.”

Watch Greene’s remarks below or at this link.rep ~ trump twt]

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an 4 24

although the GOP is now often considered and referred to as the party of Donald Trump, the far-right corner of US Congress has become what Trump world officials consider a threat to a second term for the former president, according to The Daily Beast.

Many times "the first line of defense" during Trump's presidency, the House Freedom Caucus (HFC), once led by former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows — who was charged alongside Trump in the Georgia election interference case — the group is now led by a Republican congressman many MAGA insiders do not consider an ally.

US Rep. Bob Good (R-VA) originally drew Trump's ire in the early stages of 2024 election campaigning, when he backed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for president over the MAGA hopeful.

Per the Beast, a source "close to Trump said the former president realizes Good begged him for an endorsement, 'and then turned around and endorsed DeSantis.'"

Good backed Trump immediately after DeSantis dropped out of the race, but the endorsement has yet to change the way those in Trumpworld views the Virginia lawmaker. In fact, according to the report, "the former president’s orbit was 'pissed' when the Freedom Caucus made Good its next chairman."

The Beast notes Trump senior adviser Chris LaCivita told a local Virginia news outlet recently, "Bob Good won’t be electable when we get done with him."

Aside from the caucus chair's tarnished relationship with the ex-president's camp, the report also notes "a Trumpworld source told The Daily Beast that it’s not just Good who has set off alarm bells for Trump and his allies; other figures, like Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX)—another DeSantis endorser who has taken a prominent role in the Freedom Caucus—are a sign that the HFC won’t have the same relationship it once had with Trump should he win the White House."

The Beast reports, "Yes, the HFC has always had disagreements with Trump. But during his presidency, defending Trump became a primary function of the group. It’s why one of the group’s founders, Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI), mutually agreed to leave the group when he decided to support Trump’s impeachment."

US Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) — who was kicked out of the caucus in 2023, deemed the group under Good's direction, “one of the most dangerous things to Trump’s next administration."

Good has also faced recent criticism from other GOP House members — some of whom are actively campaigning against the caucus chair for his opponent, John McGuire. Perhaps, unfortunately for the caucus chair, McGuire is an unwavering Trump supporter.

"The HFC has an identity crisis," a Trump source emphasized to the Beast. "Some want to be Trumpy, some want to oppose the speaker, some want to make deals. There’s no identity."

*The Daily Beast's full report is available here (subscription required).

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3 24 an

there’s a maGA FREEDOM CAUCUS NOW?

House Speaker Mike Johnson has been working hard to keep his job to escape the same fate as his predecessor, US Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), amid months of attempting to negotiate with Democrats on government spending despite constant criticism from far-right colleagues.

In addition to juggling threats of his ouster from certain members, the speaker is also challenged with the fact some members are actively campaigning against each other. According to CNN, Johnson told his GOP colleagues to "cool it" during the lawmakers' retreat earlier this month.

Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good (R-VA) on Thursday took to X (formerly Twitter) to blast a few of "his House Republican colleagues who backed his primary challenger," according to Politico.

Per the news outlet, "The battle goes against Johnson’s entreaties for Republicans to refrain from campaigning against each other in primaries, as the party tries to keep its control of the lower chamber."

Good wrote, "The RINOs who hosted a DC fundraiser for my opponent last night are going to vote for the massive uniparty spending bill on the House floor without having time to read it. Shows how he would vote if he were in Congress with them."

The Virginia lawmaker also tagged the GOP members, including, US Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA), US Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA), US Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-TX), US Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), US Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT), and US Rep. Derrick Van Arden (R-WI).

Similarly, US Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) last week went against GOP leaders' "pleas" by campaigning against his fellow Republican House member, Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) for a far-right "pro-gun social media influencer."

Last month, Politico reported as Johnson faces several obstacles that "include twin government funding deadlines, a twice-punted surveillance fight and growing concerns that Republicans are poised to lose House control in November," several GOP members, like Good, threaten "consequences" for the Louisiana lawmaker if he makes the wrong move.

As GOP House members, like McCarthy, US Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) — most recently, Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO), and others, announce their retirement, threatening an already razor-thin Republican majority, Good couldn't care less.

The Freedom Caucus chair told CNN last month, "Why don't you survey the country and see if there is any brain to drain in Congress. Congress has a 20 percent approval rating. Most of what we do to the country is bad. I think the retirements are a wonderful thing.… I have no concerns, zero concerns. We probably need a few more retirements."

In January, Good was one of the far-right members among about a dozen others who told reporters, according to the New York Times, that despite a potential government shutdown, the bipartisan spending deal Johnson and US Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) reached was "unacceptable."

rep. Bob Good (R-Virginia), who is chairman of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, was recently chased out of a store that sells merchandise promoting former President Donald Trump, and one witness of the exchange posted video of the confrontation online.}:

In the video, which was posted to X/Twitter by Daily Beast congressional reporter Reese Gorman, Good is seen having a tense conversation with a woman who identified as the shop's owner. As she filmed the congressman on her own phone, she repeatedly instructed him to leave and accused him of "hijacking" the store's opening for his reelection campaign.

"Is this not a pro-Trump store? You're saying that only some Republicans are welcome?" Good asked.

"Bob, seriously, stop this. This is embarrassing," the store owner said. "What you did in the text that you sent out, you made it sound like this is your event, you put President Trump's image on your text and you said that everyone was invited, and you sent it out to your big list, and then you actually wanted donations for it."

"You're being dishonest," Good responded. "I said to come support President Trump at the Trump store, I will be there... And the invitation—"

"It does look like it's your event. Let's stop parsing words here, OK? This is not the 5th District, this is my private shop. And you all are trespassing. So please leave," she said.

"So just to be clear, I'm not welcome to come to the Trump store?" said Good, who continued to stay put.

"Not at this point, not when you pull this type of shenanigans. You're trying to hijack my store without permission to do your campaigning," the store owner said. "You're trying to interrupt, actually, another event."

According to Breitbart, the event Good disrupted featured Virginia state delegate John McGuire (R), who is running in a primary election against Good. The store owner accused Good of standing outside of her store after he was kicked out and attempting to prevent people from entering.

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an 2 24

When 2024 arrived, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-California) was gone from Congress. McCarthy was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2006 midterms, but after being ousted as speaker in October 2023, he obviously lost his desire to remain a congressman. And instead of serving out the rest of his term, McCarthy made December 31 his final day in the House.

According to Politico reporters Ally Mutnick and Olivia Beavers, McCarthy and his allies are planning revenge against the Republicans who are responsible for him being ousted as speaker.

Far-right Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) triggered a "motion to vacate" that led to a full House vote on McCarthy, and seven Republicans joined Gaetz in voting to oust him as speaker. Collectively, they are known as the "Gaetz Eight" on Capitol Hill, and Mutnick and Beavers report that McCarthy ally Brian O. Walsh is "overseeing an attempt to recruit primary challengers" against them.

"Behind the scenes," the Politico journalists report in an article published on February 1, "McCarthy allies have identified three of the Gaetz Eight as the most vulnerable in primaries — and thus, the ripest targets: Reps. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), Bob Good (R-Va.) and Eli Crane (R-Ariz.). Mace and Good already have strong challengers, but Crane still lacks a compelling prospective candidate to take him on. That quiet work shows McCarthy's appetite for payback remains intense, even months after his October ouster as speaker and December departure from Congress."

Mutnick and Olivia Beavers continue, "It also illustrates that even out of office, the former speaker and his supporters can make life miserable for his detractors — a further sign that the House GOP power struggle between burn-it-down hardliners and more establishment conservatives is alive and well."

Walsh's thirst for revenge was evident in a statement to Politico.

The McCarthy ally said of the Gaetz Eight, "These traitors chose to side with Nancy Pelosi, AOC and over 200 Democrats to undermine the institution, their fellow Republicans and a duly elected speaker. There must be consequences for that decision.”

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an 1220

although the coronavirus pandemic has killed over 300,000 people in the United States, the far right is full of COVID-19 deniers who continue to downplay the pandemic's severity. One of them is congressman-elect Bob Good, who described COVID-19 as a "phony pandemic" during aDecember 12 speech at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C. proud boys? stop steal?}:

Good praised a crowd of supporters, many of whom weren't wearing masks, for realizing "that this is a phony pandemic." The far-right Republican told the crowd, "It's a serious virus, but it's a virus. It's not a pandemic. It's great to see your faces. You get it. You stand up against tyranny."

But COVID-19 is not only a pandemic — it is the world's most severe health crisis since the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918/1919. According to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, COVID-19 has killed over 1.6 million people worldwide. And many medical experts are warning that the pandemic is entering its deadliest period yet.

Rep.-elect Bob Good calls the pandemic ‘phony.’ Covid-19 has killed more than 300 in his district. https://t.co/cAIY7TSN2i

— Post Local (@Post Local)1607972838.0

Holy shit. Congressman-elect Bob Good of Virginia starts speaking and immediately proclaims, "this looks like a gro… https://t.co/SMP8zipQ9p

— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar)1607805230.0

Earlier this year in a GOP congressional primary in Virginia's 5th Congressional District, Good defeated Rep. Denver Riggleman — whom he attacked for not being socially conservative enough and for officiating a gay wedding. And after defeating Riggleman in that primary, Good went on to defeat Democrat Cameron Webb in the general election.

Riggleman, who will leave the U.S. House of Representatives when Good is sworn in on January 3, 2021, has slammed Good for his irresponsible comments about COVID-19. The outgoing congressman, in an interview with the Washington Post, noted that his 83-year-old grandmother was hospitalized with COVID-19-related pneumonia and that his father, stepmother and daughter's boyfriend have also been infected with COVID-19.

Riggleman told the Washington Post, "when you put out disinformation like this, it goes from pandering to possibly endangering others. There's a pandemic. I think sometimes, there's an overreaction by governors. Sometimes, there's an under-reaction by governors. But it doesn't change the fact that there's a pandemic."

Webb, a doctor who treats coronavirus patients at the University of Virginia Medical Center, called out Good as well, tweeting, "I've seen firsthand the devastation COVID-19 causes." And Webb denounced Good's comments as "irresponsible and dangerous."

I’ve seen firsthand the devastation COVID-19 causes. The fact is—even here in VA—the pandemic is surging right now.… https://t.co/2kItdCd1gM

— Dr. Cameron Webb (@Dr. Cameron Webb)1607814557.0

Post reporters Meagan Flynn and Laura Vozzella note that although hospitalizations from COVID-19 "are up 18% in Virginia since last week," Good has "continued to encourage masklessness and reject the need for any restrictions."

FROM YOUR SITE ARTICLES

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https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a36741995/tucker-carlson-january-6-fbi-republicans/

...Sedition Caucus within the Republican minority in the House of Representatives. Here is a good place to start if you’re formulating a roster.

Reps. Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Thomas Massie (Ky.), Andy Harris (Md.),Lance Gooden (Tex.), Matt Gaetz (Fla.), Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.), Louie Gohmert (Tex.), Michael Cloud (Tex.), Andrew S. Clyde (Ga.), Greg Steube (Fla.), Bob Good (Va.) and John Rose (Tenn.). Lauren Boebert (Colo.), Barry Moore (Ala.), Ralph Norman (S.C.),Matthew M. Rosendale (Mont.),Chip Roy (Tex.), Paul A. Gosar (Ariz.), Warren Davidson (Ohio), Scott Perry (Pa.), Jody Hice (Ga.) and Mary Miller (Ill.).

My favorites among the bunch are the 10 Republicans who previously voted for awarding the gold medal [to capitol police?] who flipped to vote "no" on Wednesday. What a noble clutch of primates they are. And while some of the names are those of familiar space aliens, there are some newbies in there with whom I was not familiar. For example, there's Mary Miller of Illinois, who wasn’t in office for a week before she started quoting Hitler....

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