There are heroes and cowards all around us every day. Each of us carries the DNA for heroism and cowardice. Each of us has the capacity to rise to the occasion, as each has the capacity to shirk duty and obligation. Courage comes in many forms. Cowardice is singular.
Republicans are perfecting manufactured outrage, posturing and bellowing sound bites in their attempts to reinvent/rebrand/redefine America's "cowboy courage" for the 21st century.
The House is about to become the reality TV version of governance.
Cowards, yes...that’s what they are. They have chosen a path of deceit and duplicity. There is no courage in what they do...quite the opposite. Keep pushing back...that takes courage. “Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
He is a pathetic coward, indeed. And sadly, not the only one. The political field is checkered with them.... Mr. Pence, Mr. Hawley, and many. Many more.
The New Yorker has an interesting profile on McCarthy this week. He has no core beliefs other than an overweening desire to be speaker. He will say or do anything to achieve that goal. Watch out!
I agree with your assessment that Kevin McCarthy is a coward. However, you should include all the Republicans who fled and coward during the January 6th insurrection and still support the insurrectionists. I read there is friction in the Republican party in regards to who will rise to become the next speaker of the house. I use the word rise only because I am of limited knowledge not because I believe any current Republican can rise to any noble position. It is ironic that the Never Kevin faction and the pro Kevin faction are each accusing the other side of lying to their base. That thought not only brought a smile to my face but also a thunderous laugh because their party has been lying to their base so long that they no longer recognize the lies they all tell.
Cowardice is an infection and spreads fast if nor eradicated from the ranks. The Republican Party is full of cowards, there are only a few who I admire and their service to our nation has Summitted. I hope and pray they will continue their good fight and climb the next mountain in their future. However unfortunate, they will most likely have to climb the next mountain alone or as a third-party candidate because the Republican party can no longer stand with brave men and women or serve honorably.
Yes sir! good and not so good....embarrassing! Leadership has become a topic we shy away from, tune out and do not discuss. For the sake of the children and the future, thanks for your frank and candid words!
"Heroism and cowardice will always exist. Neither is possible without the other. Each is a measurement of strength and weakness that must be accounted for because without the accounting there can be no moral gravity. There can be no great deeds or transcendent moments without courage. Without courage, no ordinary day can ever become an exceptional one. Without courage, there can be no Rosa Parks. Without courage, there is no love because both are inexorably linked." Profound. I am printing this out, and will attach it to the wall above my computer.
McCarthy is a coward of the worst kind. Says something true and a few days later says the opposite. He sells out to the worst kind of politician to gain votes for himself. With this coward at the helm of the house we are in for two years of complete bullshit coming our way. Thanks Steve for doing a better job than I ever can in calling this guy out.
Unquestionably an accurate assessment of the feckless Mr. McCarthy, but my question is, if not him then who? Wouldn't it likely be someone even worse, as horrifying as that thought may be?
With or without McCarthy, we will be in a mess for at least the next two years. Unless those who participated in the Jan6 2021 coup are held accountable.
Rosa Parks: “Each person must live their life as a model for others.”
Steve Schmidt: "Without courage, there can be no Rosa Parks. Without courage, there is no love because both are inexorably linked."
Heroism vs. Cowardice: It is up to each of us to choose. Let us Rise Up!
Republicans are perfecting manufactured outrage, posturing and bellowing sound bites in their attempts to reinvent/rebrand/redefine America's "cowboy courage" for the 21st century.
The House is about to become the reality TV version of governance.
Cowards, yes...that’s what they are. They have chosen a path of deceit and duplicity. There is no courage in what they do...quite the opposite. Keep pushing back...that takes courage. “Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
He is a pathetic coward, indeed. And sadly, not the only one. The political field is checkered with them.... Mr. Pence, Mr. Hawley, and many. Many more.
The New Yorker has an interesting profile on McCarthy this week. He has no core beliefs other than an overweening desire to be speaker. He will say or do anything to achieve that goal. Watch out!
We are surrounded by “moral cowards”. We must always work hard to defeat them.
Just subscribed for 2023. Enjoy Steve and Heather Cox Richardson on a daily basis.
Kevin McCarthy the Wiley Coyote of the Republican Party.
I agree with your assessment that Kevin McCarthy is a coward. However, you should include all the Republicans who fled and coward during the January 6th insurrection and still support the insurrectionists. I read there is friction in the Republican party in regards to who will rise to become the next speaker of the house. I use the word rise only because I am of limited knowledge not because I believe any current Republican can rise to any noble position. It is ironic that the Never Kevin faction and the pro Kevin faction are each accusing the other side of lying to their base. That thought not only brought a smile to my face but also a thunderous laugh because their party has been lying to their base so long that they no longer recognize the lies they all tell.
Cowardice is an infection and spreads fast if nor eradicated from the ranks. The Republican Party is full of cowards, there are only a few who I admire and their service to our nation has Summitted. I hope and pray they will continue their good fight and climb the next mountain in their future. However unfortunate, they will most likely have to climb the next mountain alone or as a third-party candidate because the Republican party can no longer stand with brave men and women or serve honorably.
McCarthy is Machiavellian to the core. A soulless shadow of a man
Yes sir! good and not so good....embarrassing! Leadership has become a topic we shy away from, tune out and do not discuss. For the sake of the children and the future, thanks for your frank and candid words!
"Heroism and cowardice will always exist. Neither is possible without the other. Each is a measurement of strength and weakness that must be accounted for because without the accounting there can be no moral gravity. There can be no great deeds or transcendent moments without courage. Without courage, no ordinary day can ever become an exceptional one. Without courage, there can be no Rosa Parks. Without courage, there is no love because both are inexorably linked." Profound. I am printing this out, and will attach it to the wall above my computer.
McCarthy is a coward of the worst kind. Says something true and a few days later says the opposite. He sells out to the worst kind of politician to gain votes for himself. With this coward at the helm of the house we are in for two years of complete bullshit coming our way. Thanks Steve for doing a better job than I ever can in calling this guy out.
Cowardice is often accompanied by self-delusion. We will not be deluded or gaslit, thanks to clear-headed voices speaking out, like you Steve.
Unquestionably an accurate assessment of the feckless Mr. McCarthy, but my question is, if not him then who? Wouldn't it likely be someone even worse, as horrifying as that thought may be?
With or without McCarthy, we will be in a mess for at least the next two years. Unless those who participated in the Jan6 2021 coup are held accountable.