
Representative Liz Cheney lost her Wyoming primary election to Republican Harriet Hageman, a Trump-backed challenger, in an embarrassing fashion Tuesday.
Cheney was down by over 30 percentage points by the time she strolled out for her concession speech.
A speech, by the way, that kept in line with her consistent theme of a delusional anti-Trumper more concerned with drama and attention than the people she represents.
The Cheney speech tonight will be delivered in a picturesque spot outside Jackson. Veteran TV producer James Goldston, an adviser to the Jan. 6 committee, and a film crew are on hand here in Wyoming–as “a friend” of Cheney. From our CNN blog: https://t.co/hmtIbHI9Cm
— Jeff Zeleny (@jeffzeleny) August 17, 2022
Bye-Bye Liz Cheney – A Sad Primary Performance
While I’m not naive enough to think she’ll simply go away – after all, “There’s only room for one diva in Oz, and that is moi!” – Cheney’s defeat marks the winding down of the congressional career of one of the more conservative members of Congress led astray by an unhealthy obsession with one man.
And we’re going to miss some of these moments that show how unhealthy that obsession was and continues to be…
1. Slapped Jim Jordan
Reports surfaced last summer that Liz Cheney had slapped Representative Jim Jordan’s hand and screeched, “You f***ing did this!” when her colleague tried to help her during the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol.
“That f***ing guy Jim Jordan. That son of a bitch,” she purportedly ranted to General Mark Milley, according to book excerpts.
“While these maniacs are going through the place, I’m standing in the aisle and he said, ‘We need to get the ladies away from the aisle. Let me help you,'” she claimed Jordan (R-OH) said.
“I smacked his hand away and told him, ‘Get away from me. You f***ing did this,'” Cheney added.
Cheney told Jim Jordan “you f—ing did this” during Jan. 6 riot, book claims https://t.co/thRCYqBLtb pic.twitter.com/o6gstKathb
— The Hill (@thehill) July 15, 2021
2. Ousted From Her Leadership Role
In what was an early sign that Republicans were getting fed up with her shtick, Cheney was officially removed from her leadership role in the House GOP and continued bashing Donald Trump in a House speech hours before the vote and after her ouster.
And pretty much nobody cared:
Ken Buck is the only lawmaker watching Liz Cheney speak on the House floor. The rest cleared out.
— Annie Grayer (@AnnieGrayerCNN) May 12, 2021
RELATED: Marco Rubio Rips January 6 Commission: A ‘Complete Partisan Scam’
Called For Criminal Investigation of Trump
In her first interview following her ouster from leadership, Cheney continued to divide the Republican Party, calling for a criminal investigation into the former President.
“Certainly any president who did what we know this former president did has got to be investigated criminally,” she said.
“The American people have to know…and certainly any president who did what we know this former president did, has got to be investigated criminally.” – @Liz_Cheney
We need answers.
We need a Jan. 6 commission. pic.twitter.com/sQRXx8Usiv
— The Republican Accountability Project (@AccountableGOP) May 24, 2021
Embarrassed Kevin McCarthy at a Press Conference
During a 2021 press conference hosted by House GOP leadership on Capitol Hill, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy declared Trump “should” speak at CPAC, a conservative gathering.
Cheney wasn’t so sure, saying it should be up to CPAC and adding: “I’ve been clear on my views about President Trump and the extent to which following … January 6, I don’t believe that he should be playing a role in the future of the party, or the country.”
McCarthy, clearly displeased by her comments quipped, “On that high note…”
Q: Should Trump speak at CPAC?
House GOP Leader McCarthy: “Yes he should.”
House GOP Conference Chair Cheney: “That’s up to CPAC … I don’t believe that he should be playing a role in the future of the party or the country.”
McCarthy: “On that high note, thank you very much.” pic.twitter.com/eO1iY06RrA
— NBC News (@NBCNews) February 24, 2021
RELATED: Liz Cheney Accuses MAGA Republicans Of Being ‘Pro-Putin, Anti-Semitic, And White Nationalist’
Rewarded With January 6 Committee Promotion
In a move that signaled to anybody paying attention that Democrats were more than happy to use Liz Cheney, she was elevated to vice chairman of the Jan. 6 select committee by her anti-Trump colleagues.
It was a political ploy that allowed Democrats to pretend their panel was chaired by bipartisan lawmakers, and Cheney gleefully accepted the spotlight as the resistance party’s favorite lapdog.
NEWS: Rep. Liz Cheney R-WY has been named the Vice Chair of the special January 6th committee in the House. pic.twitter.com/hXUg4jstpK
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) September 2, 2021
Wyoming GOP Votes To No Longer Recognize Her As A Republican
In a sign of things to come for Liz Cheney in her primary, the Wyoming GOP voted to no longer formally recognize her as a member of the Republican Party.
“The Wyoming Republican Party will no longer recognize Liz Cheney as a member of the GOP in its second formal rebuke for her criticism of former President Donald Trump,” the Associated Press reported at the time.
By a vote of 31-29, “the Wyoming Republican Party will no longer recognize Liz Cheney as a member of the GOP.” https://t.co/eci9ofnbja
— David Gura (@davidgura) November 15, 2021
RELATED: Cheney Must Count On Anti-Trump, Democrat Votes For Re-election After Wyoming GOP Abandons Her
Hell No, Primary Voters Don’t Want Liz Cheney
In a sign of things to come, CNN ran a segment in which they asked Wyoming voters if they’d support the anti-Trump politician in her upcoming primary.
“Hell no!” one vociferous Trump supporter said, later adding Cheney had “done us dirty.”
Another pair of Wyoming voters expressed their opinion on Cheney, one saying “absolutely not” when asked if they would vote for her, while another suggested she already had “three [terms] too many.”
CNN goes to Wyoming to ask voters if they’re gonna vote for #LizCheney…
Hilarity ensues. ? ? ? ? pic.twitter.com/vycOAhA1dd
— Joe Dan Gorman?? #UltraMAGA 1776 (@ThatJoeDanGuy) July 30, 2022
Used a ‘Pretend Rancher’ to Help Her Campaign
Liz Cheney was mocked relentlessly for boasting of support in her Wyoming primary from “pretend rancher” Kevin Costner.
Cheney tweeted a picture of the “Yellowstone” actor sporting an “I’m For Liz Cheney” t-shirt.
“Real men put country over party,” she captioned the image.
Conservatives on social media had a field day with the tweet with many noting that Costner, who lives in Colorado, can be “for Liz Cheney” all he wants but can not cast a vote for her.
Hageman joined the chorus.
“Yellowstone is a good show, but Kevin Costner is a pretend rancher in a Hollywood production shot mostly in Montana, not Wyoming,” Hageman said. “And I’d bet that if he had to work a real ranch for a day, he’d call his agent to get him out of there.”
EXCLUSIVE: ‘Kevin Costner is a pretend rancher’: Liz Cheney’s GOP primary rival mocks her ‘Hollywood’ endorsement https://t.co/qoleNZ9DhH
— Daily Mail US (@DailyMail) August 2, 2022
Liz Cheney Uses Her Dad in Primary Ad
In keeping with that theme, Liz Cheney enlisted her Dad, Dick, to cut a primary campaign ad for her in desperation in which he called Trump a “coward” and said, “A real man wouldn’t lie to his supporters.”
“In our nation’s 246-year history there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our Republic than Donald Trump,” the former vice president stated.
Papa Cheney’s efforts perhaps allowed Liz to only lose by 30+ percentage points as opposed to say, 40.
Dick Cheney: “In our nation’s 246 year history, there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our Republic than Donald Trump.”
This is an ad Liz Cheney is now running for her failing. campaign. pic.twitter.com/eT7WyakSVs
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) August 4, 2022
Lindsey Graham Predicted Liz Cheney’s Primary Defeat – Sort Of
Perhaps the most embarrassing part is that Senator Lindsey Graham – who wanted Trump supporters shot during the Jan. 6 riot – predicted Cheney would be reduced to the garbage heap of history due to her obsession with the former President.
Graham said it’s impossible for the GOP to move forward without Trump as its leader, warning that those trying to “erase” the party of his presence might end up “getting erased.”
“The most popular Republican in America—it’s not Lindsey Graham, is not Liz Cheney, it’s Donald Trump,” he said.
“To try to erase Donald Trump from the Republican party is insane,” added Graham. “And the people who try to erase him are going to wind up getting erased.”
Lindsey Graham on Trump: “The people who are trying to erase him are going to wind up getting erased.” pic.twitter.com/oNxbjOLeF5
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 11, 2021
With the Wyoming primary results, the voters just erased Liz Cheney.
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