This is what I've been saying! We've had all these stories where Democratic reps/senators have sadly reported that they weren't allowed in whatever federal building the DOGE people were destroying at the time. It's like... go in anyway! Make them arrest you! Regular "median voter"-type Americans aren't going to bat an eye at Schumer holding another stern and somber press conference outside a federal building, even if it gets mainstream coverage, but they'll sure notice him getting led out in cuffs on the orders of someone with no constitutional authority. It hasn't broken through to most regular Americans that we just went through a coup because *the Dems are not acting like it was a coup.*
I get why most of our current Dem leadership won't do this (cowardly, ineffectual, still counting on rules and norms to save us), but I don't understand why no one will do it even for more crass political reasons, to get a ton of publicity and raise their profile. If some unknown Dem rep called their bluff and made Musk's goons drag him out they'd be instant frontrunners for 2028.
I don't think it's surprising that people who owe their power to getting elected and working in a legislature think that the way you make change is by winning elections and passing bills. Their attitude towards other means of social change, like large social movements, street protest, civil disobedience tends to be pretty dismissive. Elected Democrats are willing to make an exception for Rosa Parks and John Lewis, but that's my point, as a protester, you'd need to be Rosa Parks or John Lewis to get any respect from these people.
During the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, I had lots of opportunities to interact with elected Democrats about that issue, and they were pretty generally of the opinion that people marching down the street and shouting - and especially people getting arrested - were kind of silly and misguided. "You want to end the war? Elect more Democrats!" they'd say. Not my opinion, but it definitely was theirs.
This is making me weep right now, for the sheer beauty of it. One person with a voice, doing what they can in a purposeful way. Thank you for sharing this story.
I'm going to check this out today, hoping to learn something new:
I agree elected Democrats need to do more to make people understand what Trump/Musk are doing to the government, but they also need the support of ordinary voters who should be out in the streets to protest this carnage.
I love the simplicity and directness of his language, elected Democrats tend to talk in tired phrases like "This raises serious concerns", phrases that normal people do not use in conversation.
Silly protester, going limp and letting the cops arrest him. Everybody knows you've got to go at the cops with a flag pole and a fire extinguisher if you want to win any respect (from Frank.)
If that is what Democrats are supposed to learn from, as a Republican that will make me happy as Democrats will never be politically relevant again in my lifetime.
This is what I've been saying! We've had all these stories where Democratic reps/senators have sadly reported that they weren't allowed in whatever federal building the DOGE people were destroying at the time. It's like... go in anyway! Make them arrest you! Regular "median voter"-type Americans aren't going to bat an eye at Schumer holding another stern and somber press conference outside a federal building, even if it gets mainstream coverage, but they'll sure notice him getting led out in cuffs on the orders of someone with no constitutional authority. It hasn't broken through to most regular Americans that we just went through a coup because *the Dems are not acting like it was a coup.*
I get why most of our current Dem leadership won't do this (cowardly, ineffectual, still counting on rules and norms to save us), but I don't understand why no one will do it even for more crass political reasons, to get a ton of publicity and raise their profile. If some unknown Dem rep called their bluff and made Musk's goons drag him out they'd be instant frontrunners for 2028.
I don't think it's surprising that people who owe their power to getting elected and working in a legislature think that the way you make change is by winning elections and passing bills. Their attitude towards other means of social change, like large social movements, street protest, civil disobedience tends to be pretty dismissive. Elected Democrats are willing to make an exception for Rosa Parks and John Lewis, but that's my point, as a protester, you'd need to be Rosa Parks or John Lewis to get any respect from these people.
During the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, I had lots of opportunities to interact with elected Democrats about that issue, and they were pretty generally of the opinion that people marching down the street and shouting - and especially people getting arrested - were kind of silly and misguided. "You want to end the war? Elect more Democrats!" they'd say. Not my opinion, but it definitely was theirs.
Once Democrats in the senate and house begin showing some spine, I 'may' resume donating, but certainly not until.
Alternate headline: Former Punter Resists, Democratic Congresspeople Punt
This is making me weep right now, for the sheer beauty of it. One person with a voice, doing what they can in a purposeful way. Thank you for sharing this story.
I'm going to check this out today, hoping to learn something new:
https://ash.harvard.edu/events/organizing-and-mobilization-during-democratic-backsliding/
I agree elected Democrats need to do more to make people understand what Trump/Musk are doing to the government, but they also need the support of ordinary voters who should be out in the streets to protest this carnage.
They're not really giving us much to support. Their entire program so far has really been "well what do you expect us to do?"
Not super inspiring.
I love the simplicity and directness of his language, elected Democrats tend to talk in tired phrases like "This raises serious concerns", phrases that normal people do not use in conversation.
I highly recommend more Democrat woke, resistance, TDS and MDS!
Signed,
Donald J. Trump and MAGA.
Silly protester, going limp and letting the cops arrest him. Everybody knows you've got to go at the cops with a flag pole and a fire extinguisher if you want to win any respect (from Frank.)
If that is what Democrats are supposed to learn from, as a Republican that will make me happy as Democrats will never be politically relevant again in my lifetime.
I've read enough history to know their goal was once "Thousand year Reich", now it's down to "The remaining years of an elderly man's lifetime."
And speaking of history, the Nazi occupation of France was just about four years long. Nice, round number, huh?