Tuesday’s Forum
Steven L. Taylor
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Tuesday, April 14, 2026
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6 comments
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About Steven L. Taylor
Steven L. Taylor is a Professor Emeritus of Political Science and former College of Arts and Sciences Dean. His main areas of expertise include parties, elections, and the institutional design of democracies. His most recent book is the co-authored
A Different Democracy: American Government in a 31-Country Perspective. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas and his BA from the University of California, Irvine. He has been blogging since 2003 (originally at the now defunct Poliblog).
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So we have two Congressmen (one of each party) resigning due to their scandals.
Rep. Tony Gonzales to resign from Congress amid backlash over sexual misconduct allegations
Swalwell to resign from Congress
It is clear that the balanced dual decision was a political one, not a moral one. Which says a lot about our political leadership regardless of party.
Which leaves out the real question: Why can’t these assholes have the discipline (and basic morality) to keep their zippers up?
@Scott:
Sort of the sex-scandal-resignation equivalent to the near-simultaneous ratification of Alaska and Hawaii.
@Scott:
Except that Gonzales’ misconduct came to light months ago.
So an alternate take is that the Republican controlled House would not vote to expel Gonzales until they had the offsetting vote to expel Swalwell, which was to happen promptly upon Congress reconvening this week.
With the expulsion writing on the wall, each asshole resigned.
Outrage from MAGA Republicans forced Trump take down his Ai slop depicting a pedophile (himself) as Jesus.
Dang, cancel culture is out of control. Too bad Trump bowed to the antiwoke mob. This is why Magyar won.
No wonder Dems keep winning elections in 2025-26, when the right is so condescending, sanctimonious, and humorless. Whatever happened to free speech? Bring back comedy!
@DK: icwhdt. lol.
Instead of America “being back,” Trump has crossed the Rubicon by exposing the limits of US power.
Actual power is being able to get others to do what you want without using force.. and obviously in the case of Iran, nothing was achieved even with the use of force.
And there’s no going back.
Great job, Republicans!