I was particularly impressed by Cheney and Kinzinger, the two committee members who will pay a price for their commitment to their country. They demonstrate that it's hard to do the right thing, when doing so will harm you - but they decided that the thing that would be harmed, the offices they hold, aren't worth holding if the price is …
I was particularly impressed by Cheney and Kinzinger, the two committee members who will pay a price for their commitment to their country. They demonstrate that it's hard to do the right thing, when doing so will harm you - but they decided that the thing that would be harmed, the offices they hold, aren't worth holding if the price is your conscience and commitment to the ideals the country was founded on. The scum like the empty McQarthy, so consumed by his desire for "success" that he's willing to turn that possible "success" into ashes, or Scalise, who was memorably described by someone who knew him well as "David Duke without the baggage, or the conscienceless little striver Stefanik, who probably didn't have a soul to sell, are all whistling past the political graveyard. Next year isn't going to happen the way they think it will, and they're not going to realize it till the walls fall in on them.
What struck me most about Kinzinger was his juxtaposition of his experiences being in the National Guard and having been called out for protests last summer and of being inside the Capitol during the Insurrection of 6 January: they are nowhere nearly the same thing. That was riviting.
Quite a few people choked up at the hearing yesterday, and they seemed sincere, and it was moving. Still, I hope this does not become the new standard for indicating serious concern. As swear words are most effective when used sparingly, so are displays of emotion. IMHO.
I agree, Becky. But I personally give Adam Schiff a pass, after watching him navigate the first impeachment hearing with great poise and determination.
As someone who was also choked up several times listening to the hearing on C-SPANradio while driving, I was very moved to hear the tears in the voices of those four police officers! I agree that when displays of emotion are used to manipulate, they are not effective; however, tears that rise unbidden - especially to the eyes of men who have been schooled to suppress them since they were toddlers - are a blessing.
As Adam Kinzinger has stated more than once, if this costs him his political seat, his life will go on. To some people, doing the right thing is important.
The only problem is that there seems to be a critical mass of sociopaths who not just lead the Ghastly Obstructionist Party but also are well placed further down the chute. The overtly deranged ones, such as Greene and Gaetz, will likely get their comeuppance (when is the latter going to be indicted for child sex trafficking?!?!) sooner or later but the ones at the top, whose lust for power is matched only by their utter lack of empathy, will not permit any change of their trajectory. And they have the sociopaths running the religious-fascism movements snuggled up to them in ways that mean that entire communities who are led by their "pastors" (such an apt term as it means a person who oversees sheep) will blindly and willingly go along with the demand that they "believe, don't think." My only consolation is that the megachurch movement seems to be declining, especially among the young, but there are still enough of these [expletives deleted] to do irreparable harm to the rest of us.
In fact, the Republicans and especially fanatical Republicans are in a distinct minority. There are enough of them to do irreparable harm, as they already have done. It is up to the majority to fight back (while we still can) and squelch the extremists that seek to destroy America. That is our patriotic duty!
The Republican Party and its supporters/believers are like a cancer on society. If we don't eradicate this cancer, it can overcome and "kill" us all.
Time is running it out so it is critical to get every Democrat, especially those in Congress to understand this. The time has come to pull out all the stops and put the future of America ahead of personal political ambitions. We can praise Cheney and Kinzinger for their willingness to put the country first, but I wonder why we cut some Democrats slack when they cautiously calculate their political fortunes at every turn. I'm not just talking about Sinema and Manchin.
Sorry for the long response Linda to your very relevant comment.
Don, thank you for this. You're correct, we need to pull out all the stops, and realize that we have the numbers to win if we refuse to sit down and accept defeat. In spite of all their destruction, lies, and dishonor, the Republicans are a minority party.
So well said, TC. I think The Lincoln Project should start airing short clips of The Watergate Hearings and President Nixon's resignation speech, as warning to all our Congressional Traitors.
I found it very satisfying that Officer Dunn related Kevin McCarthy's comments regarding his initial outrage at the insurrection, and said he'd appreciated them, yet was careful to make no mention about his about-face since then. He avoided being accused of political bias. However, Dunn later pointed out that of course the insurrection was political, and couldn't be interpreted in any other way - very riveting.
I agree, Cathy. His presentation was moving and intelligent, and the few clips that showed his reaction to others' presentations demonstrated his empathy.
I've seen ads from both the Linciln Project and Meidas Touch with this in it on Social Media. Lincoln Project tried to buy air time of Fox and it was rejected. Here's Midas' Twitter Profile.
TC, from your lips to God's ear. I think the hearings are going just fine. We're not having to listen to the din of the McCarthy clowns, and the panel is bipartisan, regardless of the whining of the mindless. I'm cautiously hopeful that, as time goes on, we'll see an investigation of the lack of response from the Pentagon, even Michael Flynn's brother, and other contributors who allowed the flames to spread for far too long. For everyone who believed that Nancy Pelosi blew it when she refused to hold a clown show, this is playing out in the best possible way, so far. I think this will benefit the Democratic cause.
I guess I just don't understand why those two are Republicans. The party has been sketchy for such a long time. I am having a hard time rallying for them as much as others. I certainly appreciate that they are sticking up for the truth here and going against their party, but they are still part of a party that is problematic to put it nicely.
You mean why they are STILL Republicans when the party has been hijacked by tRump, Koch, The Federalist Society, The Family, The Heritage Foundation, Faux News, Putin and, originally by Liz's dad, Dick Cheney? How this poisoned party will be cured is unknown. Amputation of the GQP gangrene may kill the whole party, or instead spread its venom. Our democracy needs 2 parties. Maybe a new one can start with just two courageous (but still very conservative) Americans.
I was moved by Kinzinger's emotions. That says a lot, right there. MORE Americans should be shedding tears. This is not over. Trump supporters will gaslight this moment.
I was particularly impressed by Cheney and Kinzinger, the two committee members who will pay a price for their commitment to their country. They demonstrate that it's hard to do the right thing, when doing so will harm you - but they decided that the thing that would be harmed, the offices they hold, aren't worth holding if the price is your conscience and commitment to the ideals the country was founded on. The scum like the empty McQarthy, so consumed by his desire for "success" that he's willing to turn that possible "success" into ashes, or Scalise, who was memorably described by someone who knew him well as "David Duke without the baggage, or the conscienceless little striver Stefanik, who probably didn't have a soul to sell, are all whistling past the political graveyard. Next year isn't going to happen the way they think it will, and they're not going to realize it till the walls fall in on them.
Gotta say, it gets right to me when a man gets choked up, as did Kinzinger.
What struck me most about Kinzinger was his juxtaposition of his experiences being in the National Guard and having been called out for protests last summer and of being inside the Capitol during the Insurrection of 6 January: they are nowhere nearly the same thing. That was riviting.
Schiff choked up as well. He apologized for his pauses to gather himself and then said...."Must be the day for Adams to get choked up."
Quite a few people choked up at the hearing yesterday, and they seemed sincere, and it was moving. Still, I hope this does not become the new standard for indicating serious concern. As swear words are most effective when used sparingly, so are displays of emotion. IMHO.
I agree, Becky. But I personally give Adam Schiff a pass, after watching him navigate the first impeachment hearing with great poise and determination.
As someone who was also choked up several times listening to the hearing on C-SPANradio while driving, I was very moved to hear the tears in the voices of those four police officers! I agree that when displays of emotion are used to manipulate, they are not effective; however, tears that rise unbidden - especially to the eyes of men who have been schooled to suppress them since they were toddlers - are a blessing.
Morning, Ellie!! Yes, the two Adams were quite emotional.
As Adam Kinzinger has stated more than once, if this costs him his political seat, his life will go on. To some people, doing the right thing is important.
The only problem is that there seems to be a critical mass of sociopaths who not just lead the Ghastly Obstructionist Party but also are well placed further down the chute. The overtly deranged ones, such as Greene and Gaetz, will likely get their comeuppance (when is the latter going to be indicted for child sex trafficking?!?!) sooner or later but the ones at the top, whose lust for power is matched only by their utter lack of empathy, will not permit any change of their trajectory. And they have the sociopaths running the religious-fascism movements snuggled up to them in ways that mean that entire communities who are led by their "pastors" (such an apt term as it means a person who oversees sheep) will blindly and willingly go along with the demand that they "believe, don't think." My only consolation is that the megachurch movement seems to be declining, especially among the young, but there are still enough of these [expletives deleted] to do irreparable harm to the rest of us.
In fact, the Republicans and especially fanatical Republicans are in a distinct minority. There are enough of them to do irreparable harm, as they already have done. It is up to the majority to fight back (while we still can) and squelch the extremists that seek to destroy America. That is our patriotic duty!
The Republican Party and its supporters/believers are like a cancer on society. If we don't eradicate this cancer, it can overcome and "kill" us all.
Time is running it out so it is critical to get every Democrat, especially those in Congress to understand this. The time has come to pull out all the stops and put the future of America ahead of personal political ambitions. We can praise Cheney and Kinzinger for their willingness to put the country first, but I wonder why we cut some Democrats slack when they cautiously calculate their political fortunes at every turn. I'm not just talking about Sinema and Manchin.
Sorry for the long response Linda to your very relevant comment.
Don, thank you for this. You're correct, we need to pull out all the stops, and realize that we have the numbers to win if we refuse to sit down and accept defeat. In spite of all their destruction, lies, and dishonor, the Republicans are a minority party.
So well said, TC. I think The Lincoln Project should start airing short clips of The Watergate Hearings and President Nixon's resignation speech, as warning to all our Congressional Traitors.
And air the video of what Kevin McCarthy said immediately after the Jan. 6 insurrection, compared with what he's saying now.
I found it very satisfying that Officer Dunn related Kevin McCarthy's comments regarding his initial outrage at the insurrection, and said he'd appreciated them, yet was careful to make no mention about his about-face since then. He avoided being accused of political bias. However, Dunn later pointed out that of course the insurrection was political, and couldn't be interpreted in any other way - very riveting.
So proud of Officer Dunn for calling it all what it is.
I agree, Cathy. His presentation was moving and intelligent, and the few clips that showed his reaction to others' presentations demonstrated his empathy.
I've seen ads from both the Linciln Project and Meidas Touch with this in it on Social Media. Lincoln Project tried to buy air time of Fox and it was rejected. Here's Midas' Twitter Profile.
https://twitter.com/MeidasTouch?s=20
Hey, Kelly. That gal was great..."Are you a pedophile?" over and over. Yes!
Meidas Touch is selling Q whistles "You too can interrupt a traitor's press conference with our new GQP Repellent whistles."
https://store.meidastouch.com/products/q-busters-whistle
This is great. They should join forces with the folks at Insurrectigone (overthrow your memory) and sell their wares in a package deal!
https://twitter.com/TheDailyShow/status/1392812116135063557?s=20
Had to buy several for gifts! Thank you!
Great idea!!!!
YES!!
And lists of what happened to Nixon supporters in Congress and lawyers after he left power
TC, from your lips to God's ear. I think the hearings are going just fine. We're not having to listen to the din of the McCarthy clowns, and the panel is bipartisan, regardless of the whining of the mindless. I'm cautiously hopeful that, as time goes on, we'll see an investigation of the lack of response from the Pentagon, even Michael Flynn's brother, and other contributors who allowed the flames to spread for far too long. For everyone who believed that Nancy Pelosi blew it when she refused to hold a clown show, this is playing out in the best possible way, so far. I think this will benefit the Democratic cause.
Yes, it was like a breath of fresh air to have a hearing with only functioning, serious- minded adults on the Committee.
I guess I just don't understand why those two are Republicans. The party has been sketchy for such a long time. I am having a hard time rallying for them as much as others. I certainly appreciate that they are sticking up for the truth here and going against their party, but they are still part of a party that is problematic to put it nicely.
You mean why they are STILL Republicans when the party has been hijacked by tRump, Koch, The Federalist Society, The Family, The Heritage Foundation, Faux News, Putin and, originally by Liz's dad, Dick Cheney? How this poisoned party will be cured is unknown. Amputation of the GQP gangrene may kill the whole party, or instead spread its venom. Our democracy needs 2 parties. Maybe a new one can start with just two courageous (but still very conservative) Americans.
I was moved by Kinzinger's emotions. That says a lot, right there. MORE Americans should be shedding tears. This is not over. Trump supporters will gaslight this moment.
They'll try, that's for sure, but no sane person ever expected Trumplicans to be moved.