Huge appreciation and wishes for success to Liz Cheney.
On this 78th anniversary of D-day we can only hope that the revelations made public to us this week will confirm truth and evidence so overwhelming that Merrick Garland & the DOJ will have a D-day of their own this month. 🌻
Jun 6, 2022·edited Jun 6, 2022Liked by Robert Reich
Yes, Congresswoman Cheney is shouldering a huge responsibility, but, both she, and Congressman Adam Kinziger have shown they have the integrity and the respect for our Constitution to serve the United States. I admire their courage. While I respectfully disagree with their politics. I have no respect for any of the retrumplicans. I sincerely hope they don't erupt in another display of anarchy.
This is the most significant challenge to our Democratic self government experiment ever. It is ironic that it is a Republican who holds the key to our defense, and has bravely stayed the course. I hope that Liz Cheney can prevail in her role, and that she and her family will be unharmed.
Jun 6, 2022·edited Jun 6, 2022Liked by Robert Reich
I will join with Dr Reich in appreciating Ms Cheney's service - and include honoring her as honorable, as well - but never willingly vote for her.
I deliberately >chose< the word "willingly," because I'm beginning to sense that as loyal Democrats, Democratically inclined independents, or even Social Democratic and Socialist allies, we may necessarily come to realize that appreciating Ms Cheney's service is a compelling signal that we've arrived at a really absurd condition in US politics. After all, honoring someone simply for abiding by their oath of office rather than support an attempted political coup is a >really low< standard, don't you think?
To me, there seems to be one, and only one valid and effective possible means of correcting the situation: vote the wankers out of office. But how can that be accomplished in this political environment, given that money is in charge? It would seem the probable solution is - at best - counterintuitive. Since, we can only work with and rely on a Republican like Ms Cheney if she remains in office, we need to see that she and like-minded Republicans remain in office.
However, whoever runs in the general election depends on who wins primary elections. The Republicans who win primary elections are elected by other Republicans. Here's the absurd, counterintuitive possible solution. We must register as Republicans and primary the current crop of bastard Republi-wankers sorry arses, so they're don't even have the option to run as Republicans. The best possible outcome would be that they'd attempt a 3rd party bid, just as George Wallace did in '68. It split the Democratic party. Southern Democrats voted Wallace and Nixon won. (In a similar manner, I could validly argue that Bill Clinton owes his entire political destiny to Ross Perot.) That's with the understanding that strategy could backfire if they've learned from history. They could turn the tables by mirroring the strategy. However, I'm inclined to believe that Manchin and Sinema >may< be evidence they wouldn't need to mirror anything, since they >may< be employing that kind of strategy in the first place.
The difference between Nixon and Trump is that Nixon faced a group of Senators who preferred the Constitution to the president's lies. Barry Goldwater told him to his face that he didn't have the Senate votes and that he didn't have Goldwater's vote. But Trump has no such cadre of Constitutional loyalists in his GOP. No one woman can block the flood. And the thousands of Trump supporters in the Red states will try their damnedest to put him in the White House again. Cry, the beloved country.
Not Watergate. The Republican House leadership will not participate. There will probably be no cross examination, except when the chair permits the prosecution to question hostile witnesses.
Will insurrectionists admit they were involved in a coup? If so, will they implicate others?
I saw and heard Navarro admit he was running a "Green Bay sweep" and that Trump and more than 100 members of Congress were involved. Need proof that the sweep was a coup and that others were involved. Substantiating evidence?
Through all of the lies and complicity of republicans in support of the Trump phony narrative I am most disgusted and insulted by the disregard for obvious election truth by Trump himself. The telephone recording of Trump shamelessly attempting to pressure Georgia Secretary of State Raffensperger by asking him to "find" enough votes was, for me, all the proof I need to support banning Trump from elected office FOREVER.
Nixon's pardon and the failure to prosecute him for his crimes laid the ground work for trump. That pardon said to the public that, as Nixon claimed, Presidents are above the law. We are now reaping a bitter harvest from that decision.
Rep. Cheney, if you are reading this, thank you so very much for your courage and integrity in standing firm to defend our Constitution! At a time when it is easy to feel ashamed for our country, you make me proud to be an American.
Nixon was more devious and disruptive than generally acknowledged. According to a recent column in the Washington Post by Woodward and Bernstein, Nixon sabotaged the 1972 presidential campaign of Sen. Edmund Muskie into oblivion because he thought Muskie would be the hardest Democrat to beat. Indeed, Nixon beat the eventual nominee George McGovern in a landslide. But, the authors acknowledge that Trump is worse.
What is less commented on about Trump's lies of a stolen election is that he has made it easier for Republicans in Congress to obstruct Biden's efforts to govern. An overwhelming majority of Republicans now believe the 2020 election was stolen and Biden is an illegitimate president, and they are therefore unwilling to support any action he takes as president. Perhaps Mitch McConnell is secretly thanking Trump for this.
Yes, Liz Cheney has shown great courage, and she has a heavy burden. I can imagine that Trump will be sending out instant comments that the testimony is all lies and a partisan "witch hunt." The committee, and Liz Cheney must make a special effort to be dispassionate and objective.
I think it's a little early to commend Liz Cheney for her service on the Committee on January 6, 2021, until we see how the hearings and the results of the play out. Undeniably, she has served the committee members well but we need to learn a bit more about what her service has entailed and what the committee's findings and recommendations are. To me, the case is an open and shut one (and it was an open and shut one even before the committee's work began). The former president took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the rule of law and he preceded to ignore his oath--as though he had never taken such--and repeatedly defy the Constitution, rule of law, and precedents leading to the culmination of his "career" in public service (what?) on January 6, 2021 and the start of his career as an insurrectionist (I prefer traitor). (I suppose one could argue that the Oath of Office is a mere formality, something like the frosting on the cake, but the intent is, I believe, more than formality and public show, it is a symbolic and serious affirmation of the way things are to go...and never did with Trump. I believe that a good portion of the American public does not expect that justice will be fully served on Trump; after all he has a great track record of evading his duties and responsibilities, placing the blame on others, demeaning those within and without the GOP, and substituting lies and deceit for a search for truth and justice. He will most probably once again waltz away from his planned and nearly successful coup and remain what he really is: a traitor to his country. I think we're all certain of that. However, if the Committee (and Liz Cheney) have done their jobs and uncovered the truth fully and fairly, they will have done a service to the country. If we want a nation (and leaders) who want to follow the guiding principle behind good governance, we have to expect that for once in a long while, our leaders--irrespective of party affiliation and family legacy--will seek the truth no matter where it leads. This is absolutely no time for party politics but, for some of our leaders, that is regrettably the only thing the know. Let's hope that Liz Cheney and the rest of the committee know a bit more about good governance as well.
Aye right ! No such blatant criminality has ever been rained down on our nation or people by a sitting president . Not to mention the national divisiveness which he has fomented . It boggles my mind that ANYONE can gaze upon & listen to lil donnie and place an iota of trust in he, his persona or rhetoric . Woe the day when the criminals are in charge ! That is the legacy of the frump administration. Along with the baring of the underbelly of his questionable supporters . He IS a criminal. He DOES represent a low point in our nation's government and history . And he NEEDS to be called on the carpet and prosecuted to the full extent of the law for his blatant crimes . He was raised with the silver spoon in his yap . Raised with a notion of entitlement and a self serving nature . He is actually the personification of the social strata infecting our nation and people. Come on folks, he IS the 1% ! Our nation and people NEED to take a stand against such . I hope Liz Cheney stands up for WE THE PEOPLE .
Thanks for this cogent synopsis of our compelling need to stand up for the rule of law. I have contributed repeatedly to Rep. Cheney just because of her position in this case. Integrity should be rewarded, not trashed with calls for lockstep party unity. I hope the Wyoming voters don't punish her as Trump demands. And I hope AG Garland and the DOJ are readying their case. They need to do their jobs.
Huge appreciation and wishes for success to Liz Cheney.
On this 78th anniversary of D-day we can only hope that the revelations made public to us this week will confirm truth and evidence so overwhelming that Merrick Garland & the DOJ will have a D-day of their own this month. 🌻
Yes, Congresswoman Cheney is shouldering a huge responsibility, but, both she, and Congressman Adam Kinziger have shown they have the integrity and the respect for our Constitution to serve the United States. I admire their courage. While I respectfully disagree with their politics. I have no respect for any of the retrumplicans. I sincerely hope they don't erupt in another display of anarchy.
Excellent analysis of what Liz Chaney is facing - my hope is that DOJ indicts and prosecutes "one man crime wave" tRump after all is said and done!
This is the most significant challenge to our Democratic self government experiment ever. It is ironic that it is a Republican who holds the key to our defense, and has bravely stayed the course. I hope that Liz Cheney can prevail in her role, and that she and her family will be unharmed.
I will join with Dr Reich in appreciating Ms Cheney's service - and include honoring her as honorable, as well - but never willingly vote for her.
I deliberately >chose< the word "willingly," because I'm beginning to sense that as loyal Democrats, Democratically inclined independents, or even Social Democratic and Socialist allies, we may necessarily come to realize that appreciating Ms Cheney's service is a compelling signal that we've arrived at a really absurd condition in US politics. After all, honoring someone simply for abiding by their oath of office rather than support an attempted political coup is a >really low< standard, don't you think?
To me, there seems to be one, and only one valid and effective possible means of correcting the situation: vote the wankers out of office. But how can that be accomplished in this political environment, given that money is in charge? It would seem the probable solution is - at best - counterintuitive. Since, we can only work with and rely on a Republican like Ms Cheney if she remains in office, we need to see that she and like-minded Republicans remain in office.
However, whoever runs in the general election depends on who wins primary elections. The Republicans who win primary elections are elected by other Republicans. Here's the absurd, counterintuitive possible solution. We must register as Republicans and primary the current crop of bastard Republi-wankers sorry arses, so they're don't even have the option to run as Republicans. The best possible outcome would be that they'd attempt a 3rd party bid, just as George Wallace did in '68. It split the Democratic party. Southern Democrats voted Wallace and Nixon won. (In a similar manner, I could validly argue that Bill Clinton owes his entire political destiny to Ross Perot.) That's with the understanding that strategy could backfire if they've learned from history. They could turn the tables by mirroring the strategy. However, I'm inclined to believe that Manchin and Sinema >may< be evidence they wouldn't need to mirror anything, since they >may< be employing that kind of strategy in the first place.
The difference between Nixon and Trump is that Nixon faced a group of Senators who preferred the Constitution to the president's lies. Barry Goldwater told him to his face that he didn't have the Senate votes and that he didn't have Goldwater's vote. But Trump has no such cadre of Constitutional loyalists in his GOP. No one woman can block the flood. And the thousands of Trump supporters in the Red states will try their damnedest to put him in the White House again. Cry, the beloved country.
Not Watergate. The Republican House leadership will not participate. There will probably be no cross examination, except when the chair permits the prosecution to question hostile witnesses.
Will insurrectionists admit they were involved in a coup? If so, will they implicate others?
I saw and heard Navarro admit he was running a "Green Bay sweep" and that Trump and more than 100 members of Congress were involved. Need proof that the sweep was a coup and that others were involved. Substantiating evidence?
Through all of the lies and complicity of republicans in support of the Trump phony narrative I am most disgusted and insulted by the disregard for obvious election truth by Trump himself. The telephone recording of Trump shamelessly attempting to pressure Georgia Secretary of State Raffensperger by asking him to "find" enough votes was, for me, all the proof I need to support banning Trump from elected office FOREVER.
I disagree with every public stance Ms. Cheney has taken but I admire her commitment to the constitution and the rule of law.
We must hold Trump accountable for his actions or next time will be worse.
Nixon's pardon and the failure to prosecute him for his crimes laid the ground work for trump. That pardon said to the public that, as Nixon claimed, Presidents are above the law. We are now reaping a bitter harvest from that decision.
Rep. Cheney, if you are reading this, thank you so very much for your courage and integrity in standing firm to defend our Constitution! At a time when it is easy to feel ashamed for our country, you make me proud to be an American.
Nixon was more devious and disruptive than generally acknowledged. According to a recent column in the Washington Post by Woodward and Bernstein, Nixon sabotaged the 1972 presidential campaign of Sen. Edmund Muskie into oblivion because he thought Muskie would be the hardest Democrat to beat. Indeed, Nixon beat the eventual nominee George McGovern in a landslide. But, the authors acknowledge that Trump is worse.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2022/06/05/woodward-bernstein-nixon-trump/
What is less commented on about Trump's lies of a stolen election is that he has made it easier for Republicans in Congress to obstruct Biden's efforts to govern. An overwhelming majority of Republicans now believe the 2020 election was stolen and Biden is an illegitimate president, and they are therefore unwilling to support any action he takes as president. Perhaps Mitch McConnell is secretly thanking Trump for this.
Yes, Liz Cheney has shown great courage, and she has a heavy burden. I can imagine that Trump will be sending out instant comments that the testimony is all lies and a partisan "witch hunt." The committee, and Liz Cheney must make a special effort to be dispassionate and objective.
I think it's a little early to commend Liz Cheney for her service on the Committee on January 6, 2021, until we see how the hearings and the results of the play out. Undeniably, she has served the committee members well but we need to learn a bit more about what her service has entailed and what the committee's findings and recommendations are. To me, the case is an open and shut one (and it was an open and shut one even before the committee's work began). The former president took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the rule of law and he preceded to ignore his oath--as though he had never taken such--and repeatedly defy the Constitution, rule of law, and precedents leading to the culmination of his "career" in public service (what?) on January 6, 2021 and the start of his career as an insurrectionist (I prefer traitor). (I suppose one could argue that the Oath of Office is a mere formality, something like the frosting on the cake, but the intent is, I believe, more than formality and public show, it is a symbolic and serious affirmation of the way things are to go...and never did with Trump. I believe that a good portion of the American public does not expect that justice will be fully served on Trump; after all he has a great track record of evading his duties and responsibilities, placing the blame on others, demeaning those within and without the GOP, and substituting lies and deceit for a search for truth and justice. He will most probably once again waltz away from his planned and nearly successful coup and remain what he really is: a traitor to his country. I think we're all certain of that. However, if the Committee (and Liz Cheney) have done their jobs and uncovered the truth fully and fairly, they will have done a service to the country. If we want a nation (and leaders) who want to follow the guiding principle behind good governance, we have to expect that for once in a long while, our leaders--irrespective of party affiliation and family legacy--will seek the truth no matter where it leads. This is absolutely no time for party politics but, for some of our leaders, that is regrettably the only thing the know. Let's hope that Liz Cheney and the rest of the committee know a bit more about good governance as well.
Aye right ! No such blatant criminality has ever been rained down on our nation or people by a sitting president . Not to mention the national divisiveness which he has fomented . It boggles my mind that ANYONE can gaze upon & listen to lil donnie and place an iota of trust in he, his persona or rhetoric . Woe the day when the criminals are in charge ! That is the legacy of the frump administration. Along with the baring of the underbelly of his questionable supporters . He IS a criminal. He DOES represent a low point in our nation's government and history . And he NEEDS to be called on the carpet and prosecuted to the full extent of the law for his blatant crimes . He was raised with the silver spoon in his yap . Raised with a notion of entitlement and a self serving nature . He is actually the personification of the social strata infecting our nation and people. Come on folks, he IS the 1% ! Our nation and people NEED to take a stand against such . I hope Liz Cheney stands up for WE THE PEOPLE .
I will be glued to my television throughout the hearings of the Jan 6 committee, and record it all.
Thanks for this cogent synopsis of our compelling need to stand up for the rule of law. I have contributed repeatedly to Rep. Cheney just because of her position in this case. Integrity should be rewarded, not trashed with calls for lockstep party unity. I hope the Wyoming voters don't punish her as Trump demands. And I hope AG Garland and the DOJ are readying their case. They need to do their jobs.