Wednesday, January 07, 2026

GOP: 'This isn't rocket science'

The current Republican talking point on Venezuela is don't worry we know how to do this. "We know what works and what doesn't work. Sure, there's some rough edges, or whatever like that, but we're smart enough to figure this out. This isn't rocket science," said Sen. Jim Justice.

Posted by retort at 02:39 PM | 45 COMMENTS | permalink

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Taking over a neighboring country is much harder than rocket science, which is a proven science with mathematical certainties that we have had a whole lot experience and success while doing it. The people involved in rocket science are well trained and aware of the consequences. Toppling a neighboring country's leadership, especially in a surprise lone-wolf fashion, is a move we have struggled to succeed at and involves theorizing about what the reactions of others may be. Many of those impacted by the toppling are regular citizens, with no choice, whose reaction will vary.

Comments

"We know what works and what doesn't work"

Jesus.

I'd like to see the evidence.

#1 | Posted by Zed at 2026-01-07 11:26 AM

They're doing such a bang up job here.

#2 | Posted by SirRudolf at 2026-01-07 11:27 AM

"We know what works and what doesn't work"

Like tariffs?

Nuclear strikes on hurricanes?

Injecting bleach?

#3 | Posted by Zed at 2026-01-07 11:27 AM

They don't know anything. This is Hubris Unbound.

They think they have a plan.

Everybody's got a Plan until they get Punched in the Face.

This is not going to be pretty.

They ways this could unravel are too numerous to count.

#4 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2026-01-07 11:38 AM

"We know what works and what doesn't work"

Sounds a lot like these famous last words:

"Hey Mom.. watch this!"

And

"Hold my beer!"

#5 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-01-07 11:55 AM

What the hell do national Republicans these days know about rocket or any kind of science, so that they could compare?

As far as a rocket science comparison, there's always the (ex)Nazi connection. The GOP doesn't mind neo-Nazis at all now.

#6 | Posted by Dbt2 at 2026-01-07 11:57 AM

Thanks magat scum

#7 | Posted by truthhurts at 2026-01-07 12:22 PM

""We're gonna end up with a democracy that works well. I mean, the people of Venezuela have lived under a democracy before, and they want a democracy," Sen. Rick Scott said. "

Should say, "biggest crook in Congress; committed biggest Medicare fraud in history!

#8 | Posted by danni at 2026-01-07 12:22 PM

Republicants. Complete and utter failures at everything.

#9 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-01-07 12:22 PM

"We're gonna end up with a democracy that works well. I mean, the people of Venezuela have lived under a democracy before, and they want a democracy," Sen. Rick Scott

Wait a minute! I thought Republicans hated democracy!

#10 | Posted by Whatsleft at 2026-01-07 12:32 PM

Jim Justice should tend his own garden, with the financial disasters, foreclosures, fines, asset seizures and his reported negative net worth. Looks like he failed investments and cost many people a lot of trouble...

#11 | Posted by catdog at 2026-01-07 12:55 PM

Come on, MAGA. Step up.

Agree with the man that Venezuela will be no trouble at all.

I can assure you that if you don't speak up some sincere fascist will put you on a list to be dealt with later.

#12 | Posted by Zed at 2026-01-07 12:59 PM

The GOP is hellbent on destroying America in the Heritage Foundations never ending quest to satiate the greed of Wall Street billionaires.

So the party that refuses to help the middle class with groceries, rent, health care, retirement or education by crying poor is willing to spend hundreds of billions to pay for oil companies imperialism.

Congrats GOP...you own this turd.

#13 | Posted by Nixon at 2026-01-07 01:01 PM

The old MAGA enthusiasm is not what it was.

Apparently not much appetite for Trump's South American jihad.

Be nice if they helped do anything about save for show their bellies like castrated dogs.

#14 | Posted by Zed at 2026-01-07 01:13 PM

Listening to David Frum tear apart the oil argument is very enlightening

Let's just say it ain't happening

#15 | Posted by truthhurts at 2026-01-07 01:29 PM

The last time the repubs knew what works and what doesn't was when Eisenhower was President.

#16 | Posted by Yodagirl at 2026-01-07 01:31 PM

I know it didn't go well in the past, but it will be different this time now that I'm doing it!

~The arrogant fool

#17 | Posted by horstngraben at 2026-01-07 01:35 PM

FA&FO! Indeed. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

#18 | Posted by john47 at 2026-01-07 01:50 PM

Actually rocket science is much simpler than running a country, it is straight up physics and math based in facts. Running a country is far more moving and ever changing parts.
The fact that the GOP hasn't figured this out is worrisome.
Remember Trump promised to repeal and replace Obamacare back in 2015. Then it was, "Who knew healthcare was so hard.". Then in 2024 it was that he had the concept of a plan, after having a decade to work on it. And that is just health care, one little facet of running a country.

#19 | Posted by MBlue at 2026-01-07 01:57 PM

US will control Venezuela oil sales 'indefinitely', official says
www.bbc.com

... The US will control sales of sanctioned Venezuelan oil "indefinitely" as it prepares to roll back restrictions on the country's crude in global markets, the White House said.

Officials said sales were expected to start with 30 million to 50 million barrels of oil and the revenue would be controlled by the US government in order to maintain leverage over the Venezuelan government. ...


#20 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-01-07 02:08 PM

It seems Republicans have forgotten the Iraq invasion/occupation.....I expect history to repeat itself but this is ridiculous! Republican bulls**t is on a loop just repeating over and oveer but I hope they don't hang Maduro!

#21 | Posted by danni at 2026-01-07 02:10 PM

Republicans say government doesn't work and then prove it.

#22 | Posted by lee_the_agent at 2026-01-07 02:11 PM

"US will control Venezuela oil sales 'indefinitely', official says"

The Party of Rape is expanding their victim list beyond fifteen year old girls.

#23 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-07 02:11 PM

Yeah, it's called theft.

#24 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2026-01-07 02:12 PM

Like tariffs?

#3 | Posted by Zed at 2026-01-07 11:27 AM | Reply

Speaking of, you told us that the tariffs were going to sink the economy,How did that prediction end up?

Oh, and you said when we bombed the Iran Nuclear plant that it would start WW3. How did that prediction end up?

In other words you have zero credibility so STFU.

#25 | Posted by fishpaw at 2026-01-07 02:13 PM

Yeah, it's called theft.

#24 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2026-01-07 02:12 PM | Reply | Flag:

I don't think you or any other Dems should be using the word theft right now.

#26 | Posted by fishpaw at 2026-01-07 02:14 PM

Theft with Violence.

That's all this is.

What happens if Venezuela and its people elect another Socialist or demand the return of Maduro?

Or Worse, they Sabotage their own infrastructure to Thwart the Americans?

Long running Insurgencies are a Latin American tradition.

#27 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2026-01-07 02:18 PM

Speaking of, you told us that the tariffs were going to sink the economy,How did that prediction end up?
#25 | Posted by fishpaw

Ten straight months of manufacturing declines is how it's shaping up.
Go on, tell us that's why that's actually a win for America.
Go on.

#28 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-07 02:44 PM

We just invaded another Iraq because of oil. In the end that oil will prove to be incredibly expensive! In Iraq we helped them set up a democracy with a Parliament and that Parliament refused to privatize the oil fields so the oil remains the property of the Iraqi people; so now we're going to let the Venezuelan people decide what they do with their oil?? American leaders stupidly think that if we throw out the thugs like Maduro then the people will wekcome our corporate thugs like Exxon.

#29 | Posted by danni at 2026-01-07 02:45 PM

I don't think you or any other Dems should be using the word theft right now.
#26 | Posted by fishpaw

I think he means because it's the anniversary of Democrats stealing the 2020 election.
I think.

These guys aren't big on explaining what triggers their emotions to make them start crying about Dems.

#30 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-07 02:51 PM

Did someone say tariffs?

"Without tariffs, and all of the TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS we have already taken in, our Country would be completely destroyed, and our military power would be instantly obliterated,"
-Dementia Don

#31 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-01-07 02:53 PM

I don't think you or any other Dems should be using the word theft right now.

#26 | POSTED BY FISHPAW

Donald Trump is a thief, a liar, and a pervert.

Any more advice?

#32 | Posted by Zed at 2026-01-07 02:54 PM

Speaking of, you told us that the tariffs were going to sink the economy

#25 | POSTED BY FISHPAW

Tariffs are sinking the economy.

You do live here, don't you?

#33 | Posted by Zed at 2026-01-07 02:56 PM

Oh, and you said when we bombed the Iran Nuclear plant that it would start WW3.

#25 | POSTED BY FISHPAW

You have me confused with someone else. I guess. Maybe it's simple lying.

Going to volunteer for military service in Venezuela? You or your adult children? Have any children?

#34 | Posted by Zed at 2026-01-07 02:59 PM

"This isn't rocket science."

JFC...what an appallingly stupid analogy.

No, dumbass, it's far more complicated that 'rocket science'. (which is also something republicans have absolutely no working knowledge of...)

#35 | Posted by Angrydad at 2026-01-07 02:59 PM

You do live here, don't you?

In reality?

No. Most Trumpers are comfortably living in the Republican plantation of alternative facts.

#36 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-01-07 03:00 PM

5 | POSTED BY FISHPAW

I sincerely wish to know what your MAGA Neocon understanding of what war is. Maybe then I would comprehend why you seem so fond of them.

#37 | Posted by Zed at 2026-01-07 03:03 PM

I guess this is a bigger story than the muder in Minneapolis?

#38 | Posted by sentinel at 2026-01-07 03:05 PM

I guess this is a bigger story than the muder in Minneapolis?

#38 | POSTED BY SENTINEL

You read my mind.

POSTED BY FISHPAW

ICE just murdered an American citizen. Then lied about it.

You MAGA Neocons love war so damned much that you'd like to start on in your own country.

#39 | Posted by Zed at 2026-01-07 03:08 PM

You MAGA Neocons love war so damned much that you'd like to start on in your own country.

#39 | POSTED BY ZED

Their new country is called:

The Donald J Trump Memorial of Venezuela.

#40 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-01-07 03:21 PM

Some thoughts on the oil

1. Venezuela is one of the largest debtor nations. Their debt is paid by oil revenues. As such, is America going to cut out China and Europe and American companies that are owed those revenues from past debt?
2. The price of oil is ~ $58/barrel, meaning oil companies' profits are marginal. That means who would want to invest in Venezuela?
3. Venezuelan oil will take 10s, if not hundreds of billions of dollars in investment to upgrade their oil infrastructure. Given no. 2 who will be paying for that? The oil companies would, OBVIOUSLY, prefer investing in sure things like NATURAL GAS in the US or Canada
4. Venezuelan oil is, if understand correctly, "dirty oil" meaning a lot of refining, meaning limited options for buyers
5. The reconstruction of Venezuelan oil fields/pipelines/infrastructure will take massive investment, over MANY years. Who will provide security for this work? Who will do this work? This will require roads and schools and power grids to enact-essentially nation building. Who will do that? Seriously WHO?
6. Cutting out our traditional allies will cut them out of the investment, meaning WHO will foot the bill?
7. After all of this reconstruction, what will prevent the Venezuelans from just seizing control of the assets again? Keep in mind this will take years, so is a President AOC or President Vance committed to war with Venezuela 5 or 10 years from now?
8. The world is switching to other sources of energy, oil will be less and less needed a decade from now, which means the price of oil will NEVER rise to a point where this is profitable.
9. How will China and Russia and OPEC react to this? China has heavily invested in Venezuela; will they just surrender their investments? How will OPEC react to the US undercutting their income?
10. Given the likelihood that China or Cuba or Socialist Venezuelans will NOT like America stealing its oil, they WILL sabotage those efforts. How is security guaranteed that will permit reconstruction.

I guarantee you the above is far more analysis than has been done by the Piggy administration.

#41 | Posted by truthhurts at 2026-01-07 03:28 PM

Speaking of, you told us that the tariffs were going to sink the economy,How did that prediction end up?
#25 | Posted by fishpaw

Jim Beam on line 1

#42 | Posted by truthhurts at 2026-01-07 03:29 PM

Oh, and you said when we bombed the Iran Nuclear plant that it would start WW3.
#25 | POSTED BY FISHPAW

You do realize that Iran is very likely feverishly building bombs as we speak, right?

#43 | Posted by truthhurts at 2026-01-07 03:31 PM

Oh, and you said when we bombed the Iran Nuclear plant that it would start WW3.
#25 | POSTED BY FISHPAW

WW3 started about ten years ago, and Republicans are on Russia's side.

#44 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-07 03:36 PM

Trailer Park Boys - rocket appliances

#45 | Posted by qcp at 2026-01-07 03:59 PM

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