To the extent that “Republicans now believe that the arrests are politically motivated, and that Democrats are defecting against longstanding political norms” is true, that’s strong evidence that they’re becoming smarter, since it would be typical-for-them stupidity to believe (or act like they believe, which is close enough in this context) otherwise.
I’m puzzled by your first paragraph. You’re suggesting that up until now it has been typical for the Republican Party to believe and claim that Democrats are acting sincerely in the best interests of the US and of democracy and aren’t politically motivated?
I have to say that that isn’t particularly how it’s looked to me.
Do you have concrete examples where Republicans (on the whole) treated things the Democrats were doing as sincere and well-intentioned and reasonable where in fact (according to your opinion, or later consensus as more information emerged) they were politically motivated / antidemocratic / contrary to political norms?
To the extent that “Republicans now believe that the arrests are politically motivated, and that Democrats are defecting against longstanding political norms” is true, that’s strong evidence that they’re becoming smarter, since it would be typical-for-them stupidity to believe (or act like they believe, which is close enough in this context) otherwise.
I do distinguish those.
I’m puzzled by your first paragraph. You’re suggesting that up until now it has been typical for the Republican Party to believe and claim that Democrats are acting sincerely in the best interests of the US and of democracy and aren’t politically motivated?
I have to say that that isn’t particularly how it’s looked to me.
Do you have concrete examples where Republicans (on the whole) treated things the Democrats were doing as sincere and well-intentioned and reasonable where in fact (according to your opinion, or later consensus as more information emerged) they were politically motivated / antidemocratic / contrary to political norms?