I thoroughly agree. One of the most baffling things about this presidency (and there have been so many baffling things) is the deafening silence from fellow politicians. Thankfully, Cory Booker has taken a stance. So has Jamie Raskin and so have a few others. But it should be *everyone* who doesn’t want an authoritarian government. Everyone should speak up, and loudly too!
Can you name any Democrats who have not spoken out loudly and often against Trump's abuses? To my knowledge Mary Peltola was the only one sitting on the fence, and she lost her seat in the house.
They don't get to make those decisions though. What you're calling a lack of opposition is more accurately described as journalistic malpractice in the sources you are reading. Someone who regularly speaks out against Trump in their committees, and on the floor, who sends correspondence to their constituents highlighting the dangers of trumpism, who speaks out about the problem at their campaign rallies and when they get a chance to appear on the media is not being "deafeningly silent".
Maybe time to stop paying the NYT? It is understandable why the european papers wouldn't cover the American political news super closely.
Lisa is to the GOP what Joe Manchin was to the Democratic Party. The thing is when Joe Manchin stepped down he was replaced by hard line right wing Trump supporter Jim Justice. If Lisa Murkowski resigns she won't be replaced by a Cory Booker type Democrat, she will also be replaced by a hard line right wing Trump supporter.
There are few people who were more disappointed than me when Lisa voted to confirm RFK Jr. but the ones we need to resign are the ones who are lock step with Trump, not the ones who are least party line.
Excellent tirade, Liz. Here in Aotearoa-New Zealand (I have to spell it out to show the middle finger to the racist men who want me to stop)our Trump-lite leaders mirror yours. All I have is my rage and the words to express it, to make submissions against their fuckery and get out on the streets
the way i CACKLED at the mel robbins podcast, and kept cackling throughout this entire piece 🪦 thank you for making me laugh, educating me and firing me up!! the world needs more of you 🫶
I strongly disagree. First, as Emerson White said, if she resigned, she would be replaced by a hardline Republican. More importantly, I praise Lisa for her candor in acknowledging that she's afraid, that we're all afraid, and nobody knows what to do to contain Trump, to push back against fascism. I view her acknowlegement that she, like the rest of us, is afraid is the first step. What she's really saying in her response to her constituents is that there's no simple answer, that she's trying to figure out how to push back. It's not that she's afraid politically. In 2010, when a Tea Party candidate beat her in the primary, she won through a write-in vote. Politicfally, she has the backing of her constitutents. She's afraid personally because Don is nothing less than any Mafia Don. If he says "Off with her head," then she truly has reason to fear for her safety, just as Tony Fauci does for his heroic work during one pandemic after another. So, instead of saying, as you did, "If you're afraid, you should quit." I would say, "Your fear is understandable and I thank you for your candor. It is hard to overcome fear, especially when it seems insurmountable. Your admission that we are all afraid can be a rallying cry. Driving us into fear-filled paralysis is precisely what Trump and his lackeys want, but if can't overcome that fear, then we know where we're headed. Please work with other members of the Senate, Republicans and Democrats alike, to acknowledge their fear so they can pull each other up and out of it, so they can act cohensively to defeat the greatest threat the world is facing, and certainly the greatest our Democracy has ever faced. We are with you one hundred percent."
I appreciate your empathy and compassion, but the plane is crashing and we need politicians to act like it. The danger is that people lose faith in the governemnt entirely, and that by trying to maintain peace these politicians are going to create more chaos
Saying you appreciate my empathy and compassion is condescending. I suggest you try to think about what I said. She's opened up about how "we're all afraid" and hhow nobody knows what to do. That's the place on which she can build a platform. We should be encouraging her, not suggesting that she resign. I think you're dead wrong. And being condescending doesn't help.
didn’t think i could any more angry this week!!
didn’t have politicians trauma dumping on their constituents on my bingo card this week
My first reaction was “thank god at least someone in the GOP is freaked out”
And then I thought about it. And then I almost had a stroke from PURE RAGE.
same omg same i went from like awww to WTF
It was a real fuckin journey
They could do the bare minimum, but instead they continue to demonstrate their lack of utility. Everyone should be replaced
bernie and aoc can stay BUT THAT IS IT
Bernie can go he old 😜
Liz this piece is brilliant and needs to go viral
❤️❤️❤️
I thoroughly agree. One of the most baffling things about this presidency (and there have been so many baffling things) is the deafening silence from fellow politicians. Thankfully, Cory Booker has taken a stance. So has Jamie Raskin and so have a few others. But it should be *everyone* who doesn’t want an authoritarian government. Everyone should speak up, and loudly too!
i totally agree. the absence of reaction to fascism is more dystopian than the fascism itself
Can you name any Democrats who have not spoken out loudly and often against Trump's abuses? To my knowledge Mary Peltola was the only one sitting on the fence, and she lost her seat in the house.
I’m sure they are. The problem is that their opposition is barely audible, let alone visible.
Reading the newspapers (NYT and European papers in my case) it looks as if everyone is either agreeing or only whispering in opposition.
They don't get to make those decisions though. What you're calling a lack of opposition is more accurately described as journalistic malpractice in the sources you are reading. Someone who regularly speaks out against Trump in their committees, and on the floor, who sends correspondence to their constituents highlighting the dangers of trumpism, who speaks out about the problem at their campaign rallies and when they get a chance to appear on the media is not being "deafeningly silent".
Maybe time to stop paying the NYT? It is understandable why the european papers wouldn't cover the American political news super closely.
I think you and I are on the same side here, although I wouldn’t go so far as to claim journalistic malpractice.
I’m bowing out of this conversation now - I have no energy to debate, especially not with people online. Have a good day.
Lisa is to the GOP what Joe Manchin was to the Democratic Party. The thing is when Joe Manchin stepped down he was replaced by hard line right wing Trump supporter Jim Justice. If Lisa Murkowski resigns she won't be replaced by a Cory Booker type Democrat, she will also be replaced by a hard line right wing Trump supporter.
There are few people who were more disappointed than me when Lisa voted to confirm RFK Jr. but the ones we need to resign are the ones who are lock step with Trump, not the ones who are least party line.
GOP should be GOPS - grand old party of sycophants
Excellent tirade, Liz. Here in Aotearoa-New Zealand (I have to spell it out to show the middle finger to the racist men who want me to stop)our Trump-lite leaders mirror yours. All I have is my rage and the words to express it, to make submissions against their fuckery and get out on the streets
the people who got us in this mess cannot get us out of it!!
Hundred per cent.
🎯🎯
the way i CACKLED at the mel robbins podcast, and kept cackling throughout this entire piece 🪦 thank you for making me laugh, educating me and firing me up!! the world needs more of you 🫶
so glad we can laugh together
💥💥 Thisssss! 👏🏽
Thank you for this. This is brilliant!
ily!!!
Yes!!! 🙌🏻 You always put into words exactly what I’m feeling before I can fully articulate it! Thank you!!
I strongly disagree. First, as Emerson White said, if she resigned, she would be replaced by a hardline Republican. More importantly, I praise Lisa for her candor in acknowledging that she's afraid, that we're all afraid, and nobody knows what to do to contain Trump, to push back against fascism. I view her acknowlegement that she, like the rest of us, is afraid is the first step. What she's really saying in her response to her constituents is that there's no simple answer, that she's trying to figure out how to push back. It's not that she's afraid politically. In 2010, when a Tea Party candidate beat her in the primary, she won through a write-in vote. Politicfally, she has the backing of her constitutents. She's afraid personally because Don is nothing less than any Mafia Don. If he says "Off with her head," then she truly has reason to fear for her safety, just as Tony Fauci does for his heroic work during one pandemic after another. So, instead of saying, as you did, "If you're afraid, you should quit." I would say, "Your fear is understandable and I thank you for your candor. It is hard to overcome fear, especially when it seems insurmountable. Your admission that we are all afraid can be a rallying cry. Driving us into fear-filled paralysis is precisely what Trump and his lackeys want, but if can't overcome that fear, then we know where we're headed. Please work with other members of the Senate, Republicans and Democrats alike, to acknowledge their fear so they can pull each other up and out of it, so they can act cohensively to defeat the greatest threat the world is facing, and certainly the greatest our Democracy has ever faced. We are with you one hundred percent."
I appreciate your empathy and compassion, but the plane is crashing and we need politicians to act like it. The danger is that people lose faith in the governemnt entirely, and that by trying to maintain peace these politicians are going to create more chaos
Saying you appreciate my empathy and compassion is condescending. I suggest you try to think about what I said. She's opened up about how "we're all afraid" and hhow nobody knows what to do. That's the place on which she can build a platform. We should be encouraging her, not suggesting that she resign. I think you're dead wrong. And being condescending doesn't help.