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An open letter to the House and Senate: Can you hear us now? [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-03-02
I’ve been writing and calling my Senators and Congressmen regularly since January 20th, and largely getting crickets in response. After the February 28th debacle, I decided to broaden my reach by publishing this Diary in the hope that folks will borrow from it when contacting their own elected representatives.
To the 535 sitting Senators and Congressmen who took an oath to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic,” I implore you to deal with the domestic enemy who is doing everything possible to bring our Constitutional democracy to an end.
How's that press release coming along -- the one where you disavow Trump's personal allegiance to Vladimir Putin and reassure the world that America still stands with our ally, Ukraine?
And while you're communicating with the press, now would be a great time to talk about the censure resolution you're drafting against Trump and Vance for their disgraceful treatment of President Zelenskyy on February 28, 2025. (Bonus if you're serving in the House: you could also tease your upcoming Articles of Impeachment!)
I was a "duck and cover" kid in the 1960s-1970s, so when Trump went into full unhinged verbally abusive dad mode (IYKYK) and shouted at President Zelenskyy, "YOU ARE GAMBLING WITH WORLD WAR III" my blood ran cold. I was, as the kids say, triggered AF.
You know deep down that it is in fact Trump and Vance who are gambling with World War III -- gambling with all our lives, and for what? So that Trump can 1) feel like a winner; 2) accumulate more personal wealth; and 3) stay out of prison. Because those three goals are behind everything that Trump has done since he first slouched toward Washington to be inaugurated. (h/t W.B. Yeats)
If not now, when will you finally take the Trump regime's criminal intent seriously?
Yes. Criminal intent. Please familiarize yourself with 18 U.S. Code § 208 - Acts affecting a personal financial interest. It spells out in black and white how employing Elon Musk and allowing him to loot the Treasury for his own personal gain is against the law. In fact, under 18 U.S. Code § 216 - Penalties and injunctions, you’ll see that the consequences for violating Section 208 include fines and prison for both Trump and Musk.
Our allies (well, they’re still our allies as of the date I’m writing this) are speaking loudly and clearly against Trump and Vance's unforgivable emotional meltdown and harangue directed at President Zelenskyy on February 28, 2025.
If February 28th was not your last-straw moment, then where is the line for you? If not now, when, exactly, does your oath of office take precedence over your party affiliation or your visceral fear of what might happen if you displease your new dictator?
Have you forgotten that Trump is not your boss? That the Congress is in fact a co-equal branch of government and is not subordinate to the Executive?
Congress must stop sitting on its hands while Trump dismantles the government. It is urgent that you start repairing the damage Trump and Vance have caused to our international reputation and relationships with our allies.
Senators, Congressmen: You are in a unique position to be able to show the world that despite all appearances, you will not go down without a fight. That you will reverse course — that you will not allow America to become the irredeemable, benighted autocracy that is currently forming.
If you are keeping silent right now because you are afraid of being shot by one of Trump's Proud Boy goons, I am not going to gaslight you and say that it’s an unreasonable fear. Heavily armed right wingers in red baseball caps are scary and unpredictable. Maybe you even need an armed security detail. I know those are expensive but if money is tight, you could always start a GoFundMe to make it happen. (Bet your constituents would throw in!)
Failing that, you could always take a page from Musk’s book and start carrying a baby around as a human shield during public appearances.
Whatever you decide you need to do to feel safe doing your job is fine with me as long as you get back to work supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
If you can’t or won’t do that, please resign and let someone take your place who will.
ACT NOW, SENATORS, CONGRESSMEN -- WHILE YOU STILL HAVE A VOTE.
Dear Reader, if I have moved you to contact your representatives in Congress, the phone number for the Capitol Switchboard is 202-224-3121. You can also find a link to your representatives’ email portals here: House of Representatives / Senate.
Finally, if you agree with what I’ve written here, please: PLAGIARIZE AT WILL.
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