The second anniversary of January 6 was desecrated upon the floor of the US House of Representatives by a violent altercation between two of the extremists who sought to topple American democracy. The disgraced Donald Trump who incited the insurrection alongside his treacherous and disloyal agents burned up the phone lines engineering McCarthy’s Potemkin speakership in name only. The dim-witted and hollow demagogue from Bakersfield, California, whose talent for debasement is only equaled by his capacity for abasement, glowed as extremists chanted “USA! USA! USA!” at the hour of his empty triumph through appeasement that would beggar the imaginations of his 54 predecessors. If John Quincy Adams was known as the “great sage” during his service in the US House then Kevin McCarthy should be considered its “tiniest fool.”
Certainly, out if all the blather, the argy and the bargy and the erosion of personhood and the bottom-of-the-barrel strongarming and the doltish crowing, what rose, soared and resonated, with echoes still resounding, were the words, the bearing, the confidence-inspiring and calming presence of one Hakeem Jeffries.
I applaud Pelosi's speakership and am glad she turned over the reins to the next generation of Democratic leaders. Jeffries is a remarkable choice. Chuck Schumer, who personally recruited Sinema, should take note and do the same.
Hakeem Jeffries speech was perfect in tone & content. Share it with everyone who has lost hope or stopped paying attention. Jeffries is exactly what America needs right now and I give extra thanks to Nancy Pelosi who recognized and nurtured his talent. Hope feels good.
I hope we are indeed beginning the uphill battle to pull back on the reins of this autocratic, fascist movement. I fear we are still a long way away from stopping it. One thing I cannot get out of my brain and visual memory - besides the horror of the violence, brutality, and murder the January 6 insurrectionists implemented against Capitol and Metro police - is that some of them wandered through the Capitol spreading their urine and feces on the walls and floors! If you watch some of the videos from that day, some of them are screaming to the police, “This is our House.”. Who pisses and shits in their own house? What kind of depraved human does that? It makes me nauseous to even think about. And those are the sorts of people who currently have control of the House of Representatives. Those are the sorts of people McCarthy negotiated with and capitulated to to gain control of the majority gavel. It’s a hollow podium he’s going to be beating that gavel against. A podium that is likely filled with excrement and other filth that must be cleaned and sterilized before our democracy will be safe again.
Hakeem Jeffries is a man who is not at all afraid of a fight, and that is what these next two years will be. I am dismayed that America has given power to people like McCarthy, Greene & Gaetz and that Trump’s reach is still long. I hope the next two years goes by fast. God help us, because we have difficult days ahead and may God help Hakeem Jeffries. He will need the prayers and support of all of us.
Great piece Steve and right on target as usual. Hakeem Jeffries knocked my socks off with that speech. He spoke words that I could only think. Between the two speeches it's not hard to distinguish who is the true leader and who is an ass kissing, hollow back of the pack kind of person. I am certain that everyone who reads you are committed voters. Committed to our country and fellow citizens.
Jeffries' alphabetical listing of the differences between what the Democrats offer this country and the world and what Republicans offer this country and the world is something that should be emblazoned on every wall in America, and burned into the hearts and minds of every American: "American values over autocracy; benevolence over bigotry; the Constitution over the cult" and on and gloriously on. If that speech doesn't make you proud to be a Democrat — proud to be a member of the PEOPLE FIRST party — then you got off on the wrong planet!
I continue to be mesmerized by your command of the language partnered with your ability to hit the nail on the head and drive it flush with a single blow--“whose talent for debasement is only equaled by his capacity for abasement”. Thank You!
The next two years will be awful. I remind myself constantly that the majority was obtained through gerrymandering, lying and subterfuge (Santos) and Democratic strategic errors (AZ 1, CO 3). It was not a mandate from the American people. The time will go by and it will be painful. I remain hopeful 2024 will have a different result and we will have learned from our mistakes.
I appreciate your words about Mr. Jeffries, who does hopefully speak to a brighter future in American politics. Right now, however, it’s very hard to be optimistic. After all, is there any doubt at all that the REAL power in the House will now rest with MTG, Boebert, Gaetz, Massie, Perry, Donalds, Biggs, Gosar and the rest of the Sedition Caucus? We are in for a very rough couple of years.
As always, Steve, you hit exactly the right note. McCarthy will be powerless and perhaps lose his title sooner rather than later. If we can weather this two year storm, I will remain hopeful. I think we can.
Knockout essay, Steve. Huzzah, and may Mr Jeffries live up to all that this country now needs of him. It is indeed a lot.
Certainly, out if all the blather, the argy and the bargy and the erosion of personhood and the bottom-of-the-barrel strongarming and the doltish crowing, what rose, soared and resonated, with echoes still resounding, were the words, the bearing, the confidence-inspiring and calming presence of one Hakeem Jeffries.
I applaud Pelosi's speakership and am glad she turned over the reins to the next generation of Democratic leaders. Jeffries is a remarkable choice. Chuck Schumer, who personally recruited Sinema, should take note and do the same.
Loved his A to Z too
Hakeem Jeffries speech was perfect in tone & content. Share it with everyone who has lost hope or stopped paying attention. Jeffries is exactly what America needs right now and I give extra thanks to Nancy Pelosi who recognized and nurtured his talent. Hope feels good.
I hope we are indeed beginning the uphill battle to pull back on the reins of this autocratic, fascist movement. I fear we are still a long way away from stopping it. One thing I cannot get out of my brain and visual memory - besides the horror of the violence, brutality, and murder the January 6 insurrectionists implemented against Capitol and Metro police - is that some of them wandered through the Capitol spreading their urine and feces on the walls and floors! If you watch some of the videos from that day, some of them are screaming to the police, “This is our House.”. Who pisses and shits in their own house? What kind of depraved human does that? It makes me nauseous to even think about. And those are the sorts of people who currently have control of the House of Representatives. Those are the sorts of people McCarthy negotiated with and capitulated to to gain control of the majority gavel. It’s a hollow podium he’s going to be beating that gavel against. A podium that is likely filled with excrement and other filth that must be cleaned and sterilized before our democracy will be safe again.
Hakeem Jeffries is a man who is not at all afraid of a fight, and that is what these next two years will be. I am dismayed that America has given power to people like McCarthy, Greene & Gaetz and that Trump’s reach is still long. I hope the next two years goes by fast. God help us, because we have difficult days ahead and may God help Hakeem Jeffries. He will need the prayers and support of all of us.
Great piece Steve and right on target as usual. Hakeem Jeffries knocked my socks off with that speech. He spoke words that I could only think. Between the two speeches it's not hard to distinguish who is the true leader and who is an ass kissing, hollow back of the pack kind of person. I am certain that everyone who reads you are committed voters. Committed to our country and fellow citizens.
No worry about that. Good luck Hakeem.
Education matters!
Hakeem Jeffries:
BA, Political Science, SUNY Binghamton, Graduated with High Honors
Masters in Public Administration, Georgetown University
Law School, NYU, Magna Cum Laude, Served on Law Review
Kevin McCarthy:
BA, Marketing, Cal State Bakersfield
MBA, Cal State Bakersfield (Did he fail the Economics classes or even take them?)
We know who is better qualified and it is not Kevin McCarthy.
This was good and full of hope. It will be a difficult two years, but there is light.
Jeffries' alphabetical listing of the differences between what the Democrats offer this country and the world and what Republicans offer this country and the world is something that should be emblazoned on every wall in America, and burned into the hearts and minds of every American: "American values over autocracy; benevolence over bigotry; the Constitution over the cult" and on and gloriously on. If that speech doesn't make you proud to be a Democrat — proud to be a member of the PEOPLE FIRST party — then you got off on the wrong planet!
I continue to be mesmerized by your command of the language partnered with your ability to hit the nail on the head and drive it flush with a single blow--“whose talent for debasement is only equaled by his capacity for abasement”. Thank You!
To Hakeem Jeffries, Hope and Justice. A Leader we trust.
The next two years will be awful. I remind myself constantly that the majority was obtained through gerrymandering, lying and subterfuge (Santos) and Democratic strategic errors (AZ 1, CO 3). It was not a mandate from the American people. The time will go by and it will be painful. I remain hopeful 2024 will have a different result and we will have learned from our mistakes.
I appreciate your words about Mr. Jeffries, who does hopefully speak to a brighter future in American politics. Right now, however, it’s very hard to be optimistic. After all, is there any doubt at all that the REAL power in the House will now rest with MTG, Boebert, Gaetz, Massie, Perry, Donalds, Biggs, Gosar and the rest of the Sedition Caucus? We are in for a very rough couple of years.
As always, Steve, you hit exactly the right note. McCarthy will be powerless and perhaps lose his title sooner rather than later. If we can weather this two year storm, I will remain hopeful. I think we can.