Early on in the Trump administration, it was popular to use the metaphor of frogs being boiled. The idea was that people didn’t perceive the seriousness of the threat Trump posed because, like frogs who are put into a pot of cold water with the temperature raised gradually, the danger wouldn’t be perceived until it was too late. Frogs, boiled.
This is personal. I lost half my family in the Holocaust. Exactly my sentiment: I will not get boiled. Brandy Lee explicitly told us this years ago. Some of us listened. As Americans, every single non-fascist, it is our responsibility to point at and call out the fascists in our government. The way we non-fascists do not get boiled is to NOT give the enablers and cowards who hover around the fascists a pass. The cowards and enablers are just as complicit.
I just forwarded a copy of today's letter to my postcard group, which meets every Tuesday morning. We will be sending postcards to all our Republican elected officials here in the gerrymandered state of Wisconsin.
Trump persists in stepping on the accelerator as the only remedy to feed his unsatiable grab for power and solve his legal problems. His current rant is a naked, full-throated bellow demanding a complete coup d'état. As long as Trump maintains the loyalty of his MAGA base, his GOP colleagues will remain weak kneed and spineless.
As Trump turns up the heat, the short game becomes more imperative. The DOJ is now more compelled than ever to press charges of insurrection as Trump lays out a menu of evidence.
My question is a simple one. In lieu of Trump’s organizing of January 6th and his recent statement about suspending our Constitution, how is he allowed to run for President according to the 14th amendment?
Outstanding essay. We took the threat to democracy presented by the many unsuitable midterm candidates as a call to action, and we responded. Yesterday's demand for the end of American democracy by the increasingly deranged and desperate former guy is another call to action, perhaps an even more urgent one. If we responded to the former, we can certainly respond, perhaps with even more energy, to the latter.
I live in a very blue state (that nevertheless has a full measure of trumpistas, election deniers, Proud Boys wanna-bes, and other assorted crazies). I'd suggest that in addition to what JV suggests, we also contact our D congresscritters and demand not only their forceful, unequivocal repudiation of the former guy's fascist rant but also their ongoing repetition of the message: that the rant is a direct threat to democracy, and politicians who will not strongly oppose that threat are themselves threats to our democracy. Don't just put out a single press release or do a single interview. Make it a road show, an ongoing outgoing message, that the public hears over and over again. Even the most compelling point or repudiation is quickly lost in the noise and BS that constantly floods the zone, as one notorious anti-democratic convicted felon put it. The repetition is key to getting the broader audience to take in the message.
I know, the White House has already put out a surprisingly strong and blunt repudiation. That's good. It's no reason every single other representative of the people, all of whom have sworn to defend the Constitution, cannot and should not speak up loudly, now, forcefully, and continually, until the fascist threat has been eliminated.
I don't think it's "open to a benign interpretation," but I've already had a couple of online discussions with well-meaning people who believe that this wasn't a direct threat and/or excuse Trump because there's no logic in what he says. I respond (1) that I see no "if" in his words, so he's effectively saying that these things *should* happen, and (2) what he says may not be logical, but there's a coherence to it, and it's consistent with previous (what's the best word here?) utterings. Read or listen to the speeches of history's most dangerous demagogues. They aren't big on logic as we understand it, but they sure were effective.
Many of us are struggling to understand just how much trouble we're in, and even resisting that understanding. What I understand better and better is why so often, in so many situations, people wait till it's too late to act and only later do the survivors look back and say "We should have known."
Dec 4, 2022·edited Dec 4, 2022Liked by Joyce Vance
This is such an important column that I upgraded to "paid" just to be able to comment--and of course because of all the amazing work you do here.
One downside to having recently self-sorted, trading representation by Vicky Hartzler, Josh Hawley and Roy Blunt for Ilhan Omar, Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, is that I no longer have Republicans to call on these issues.
I tried, though--I went to Vicky Hartzler's website this morning to send an email asking that question, and discovered that she is no longer accepting constituent emails. Instead, she refers consitituents to Josh Hawley! Now, she is leaving office in a month, and I'm sure there has to be a transition period, but she is still voting, potentially on things like the Electoral Count Act, and as far as I know, taxpayers are still paying her staff. Is this kind of thing typical for a retiring Congressperson? Is it unreasonable to anticipate that someone would still be looking at her emails? Over a year ago, she changed her phone message to say, "if you wish to express an opinion on legislation or an issue, please visit our website at...."
Yes! I posted on Twitter to Sen Cruz and Sen Cornyn. They have never responded to my hundreds of calls, emails, and tweets from 2015 on -- betting I won’t get a response today, but I’ll keep pushing. I also tweeted this column!
Joyce is totally correct here. A full court press of the GOP is called for. Even the persons who answer the phones for their undemocratic GOP office holders will take note— believe it or not— though they probably will remain silent publicly…
I imagine most Republicans will try like hell not to go on the record, not because they agree with the former president, but because when your opponent is shooting himself in the foot, don’t get in his way - or thereabouts. They know he’s going down, but if they try and give him a shove, they’ll lose his voters.
Maybe I’m giving the disgraced ex-president too much credit, knowing full well his lack of subtlety of thought and precise language. But I noticed he wasn’t calling for the suspension, ignoring , or altering of our Constitution. He called for its TERMINATION. That’s a horse of a different color. I’m sure Trump will ride it into the ground.
Joyce what you have written are the modern day version of the lanterns and the ringing bells of the Old North Church. It’s up to all of us to take action and I for one will. Where I live my Governor and Senators and Congress man are all Democrats but the have a voice that everyone can hear. No matter who it is they must be petitioned to speak. Thanks for this!
We live in the growing fascist state of Florida. I have contacted my two Senators Rubio and Scott and our frightening governor de Santis and received rote responses that are completely unresponsive to my questions. I support our local and state Democratic party but writing to Republicans is less than effective. Thank you Joyce Vance for all you do.
This is personal. I lost half my family in the Holocaust. Exactly my sentiment: I will not get boiled. Brandy Lee explicitly told us this years ago. Some of us listened. As Americans, every single non-fascist, it is our responsibility to point at and call out the fascists in our government. The way we non-fascists do not get boiled is to NOT give the enablers and cowards who hover around the fascists a pass. The cowards and enablers are just as complicit.
I just forwarded a copy of today's letter to my postcard group, which meets every Tuesday morning. We will be sending postcards to all our Republican elected officials here in the gerrymandered state of Wisconsin.
YES!!!! While I know that Shelby, Tuberville, Ivey and Britt will not answer me, I WILL contact them now.
Trump persists in stepping on the accelerator as the only remedy to feed his unsatiable grab for power and solve his legal problems. His current rant is a naked, full-throated bellow demanding a complete coup d'état. As long as Trump maintains the loyalty of his MAGA base, his GOP colleagues will remain weak kneed and spineless.
As Trump turns up the heat, the short game becomes more imperative. The DOJ is now more compelled than ever to press charges of insurrection as Trump lays out a menu of evidence.
My question is a simple one. In lieu of Trump’s organizing of January 6th and his recent statement about suspending our Constitution, how is he allowed to run for President according to the 14th amendment?
Outstanding essay. We took the threat to democracy presented by the many unsuitable midterm candidates as a call to action, and we responded. Yesterday's demand for the end of American democracy by the increasingly deranged and desperate former guy is another call to action, perhaps an even more urgent one. If we responded to the former, we can certainly respond, perhaps with even more energy, to the latter.
I live in a very blue state (that nevertheless has a full measure of trumpistas, election deniers, Proud Boys wanna-bes, and other assorted crazies). I'd suggest that in addition to what JV suggests, we also contact our D congresscritters and demand not only their forceful, unequivocal repudiation of the former guy's fascist rant but also their ongoing repetition of the message: that the rant is a direct threat to democracy, and politicians who will not strongly oppose that threat are themselves threats to our democracy. Don't just put out a single press release or do a single interview. Make it a road show, an ongoing outgoing message, that the public hears over and over again. Even the most compelling point or repudiation is quickly lost in the noise and BS that constantly floods the zone, as one notorious anti-democratic convicted felon put it. The repetition is key to getting the broader audience to take in the message.
I know, the White House has already put out a surprisingly strong and blunt repudiation. That's good. It's no reason every single other representative of the people, all of whom have sworn to defend the Constitution, cannot and should not speak up loudly, now, forcefully, and continually, until the fascist threat has been eliminated.
I don't think it's "open to a benign interpretation," but I've already had a couple of online discussions with well-meaning people who believe that this wasn't a direct threat and/or excuse Trump because there's no logic in what he says. I respond (1) that I see no "if" in his words, so he's effectively saying that these things *should* happen, and (2) what he says may not be logical, but there's a coherence to it, and it's consistent with previous (what's the best word here?) utterings. Read or listen to the speeches of history's most dangerous demagogues. They aren't big on logic as we understand it, but they sure were effective.
Many of us are struggling to understand just how much trouble we're in, and even resisting that understanding. What I understand better and better is why so often, in so many situations, people wait till it's too late to act and only later do the survivors look back and say "We should have known."
This is such an important column that I upgraded to "paid" just to be able to comment--and of course because of all the amazing work you do here.
One downside to having recently self-sorted, trading representation by Vicky Hartzler, Josh Hawley and Roy Blunt for Ilhan Omar, Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, is that I no longer have Republicans to call on these issues.
I tried, though--I went to Vicky Hartzler's website this morning to send an email asking that question, and discovered that she is no longer accepting constituent emails. Instead, she refers consitituents to Josh Hawley! Now, she is leaving office in a month, and I'm sure there has to be a transition period, but she is still voting, potentially on things like the Electoral Count Act, and as far as I know, taxpayers are still paying her staff. Is this kind of thing typical for a retiring Congressperson? Is it unreasonable to anticipate that someone would still be looking at her emails? Over a year ago, she changed her phone message to say, "if you wish to express an opinion on legislation or an issue, please visit our website at...."
Yes! I posted on Twitter to Sen Cruz and Sen Cornyn. They have never responded to my hundreds of calls, emails, and tweets from 2015 on -- betting I won’t get a response today, but I’ll keep pushing. I also tweeted this column!
Joyce is totally correct here. A full court press of the GOP is called for. Even the persons who answer the phones for their undemocratic GOP office holders will take note— believe it or not— though they probably will remain silent publicly…
Thank you, Joyce, for keeping us informed and giving us ideas on how to respond so we can keep our sanity.
I imagine most Republicans will try like hell not to go on the record, not because they agree with the former president, but because when your opponent is shooting himself in the foot, don’t get in his way - or thereabouts. They know he’s going down, but if they try and give him a shove, they’ll lose his voters.
Maybe I’m giving the disgraced ex-president too much credit, knowing full well his lack of subtlety of thought and precise language. But I noticed he wasn’t calling for the suspension, ignoring , or altering of our Constitution. He called for its TERMINATION. That’s a horse of a different color. I’m sure Trump will ride it into the ground.
Joyce what you have written are the modern day version of the lanterns and the ringing bells of the Old North Church. It’s up to all of us to take action and I for one will. Where I live my Governor and Senators and Congress man are all Democrats but the have a voice that everyone can hear. No matter who it is they must be petitioned to speak. Thanks for this!
We live in the growing fascist state of Florida. I have contacted my two Senators Rubio and Scott and our frightening governor de Santis and received rote responses that are completely unresponsive to my questions. I support our local and state Democratic party but writing to Republicans is less than effective. Thank you Joyce Vance for all you do.
Great idea Joyce! I'm spreading the word!