I think the level of outrage and emotion over this symbolic vote is sky high because we are all experiencing a relentless assault against our freedoms, constitution and rule of law, patriotic pride, safety and security, retirement, values, and community that is almost unbearable. And we know more is coming, and won't stop. I would not have made the same vote. But I am pointing all my energy and outrage at the force behind it all. 47 and his handlers and sycophants and master Putin. (There MUST be a pee tape or worse.) I am grateful DAILY for Chrissy's tireless, principled, informed work. Crushing her with misdirected rage will not help us. She is on our side with all her heart, soul and brains. Thanks for writing this, Jessica.
You are correct - the anger is the cumulative assault with absolutely no regard for the rule of law - let alone basic human decency - and what has been a seemingly inept Democratic leadership.
I voted for Chrissy twice before moving to Oregon. I like her. A lot. I do NOT believe she should be primaried. I DO believe she is hearing all of this loud and clear.
The ball is now in her court. It is how she moves forward from this. Jeffries has made it clear they should NOT support the Republican's totally partisan continuing resolution. They need to allow the government to shut down - and LOUDLY explain why.
I think this will be a make-or-break vote and I sincerely hope EVERY Democrat votes against it.
Well said Susan. And I agree with you 💯. I was disappointed in her vote for sure but feel from the beginning the outrage is surely fueled more by the relentless assault of all the things you listed. It crushes your spirit. We constantly look for little wins, little points of light to keep us from the dark abyss of defeat. She, and many of her colleagues in Congress, seem to be tone deaf to a degree around just how unbearable this is for her constituents, for many across the country. And what doesn’t help for sure is the relative perceived weakness of Democratic leadership. I’m grateful too for her tireless efforts. Her administrative staff is the best I’ve experienced - ever. And like you, I’ll have my say with Chrissy (I’ve yet to send an email or call…wanted to wait until things died down a bit) but the real issue for me going forward is pointing energy and outrage at the gargantuan force behind 47. I came across information yesterday which highlighted the possibility and potential of voting machine manipulation where at a predefined threshold of votes allows the tabulation to begin flipping the votes. It’s all written in the algorithm coding. And so you can envision the kind of system this creates and just the “force” behind it.
Thanks for your thoughts, Susan. I agree that there are better places to put our energies, and I KNOW what you are doing. BTW -- I now have a CCMF bumper sticker on my car.
I am not an overly political person. I vote Democrat because they are the lesser of two evils. That being said. I see the Democratic party as being fractured between the centrists and progressives. It seems to be the focal point of the mixed messages. This is a new day with new rules and I for one am ready for real change. The dems need to stick together. All I can say is the Republicans would never have voted against their own.
We, the Democratic Party, have always been "the big tent" and that's messy. There is no doubt that there is a schism between our factions. I am curious about what "real change" looks like for you.
Morning Jessica, I will be very honest with you. I lean towards the progressive way of thinking. I admire the Bernie sanders, Jasmine Crocketts, the AOC,'s. I'm 71 and spend a great deal of time on TikTok. I don't think the younger generations are impressed with the status quo. Many have expressed the need for a 3rd party perhaps they are right. As long as the dems are divided and republicans remain in lockstep this will be an uphill fight. Just my humble opinion and ty for reaching out.
Carol - I have never been on TikTok but I know that's where the kids are! And we need to find ways to message them there. As for a third party....the electoral system is designed for two parties. Laws in every state make running on anything other than a major party ticket an issue of ballot access. SOME smaller places (like Vermont and Maine) are able to circumvent the problem of ballot access, but most, like Pennsylvania, make it very difficult for anyone to successfully challenge from a third party. Normally, they act as spoilers.
The problem with the far left is twofold - messaging which tends to alienate more people than it embraces, and implementation of the boldest ideas. Take the ACA -- back when that was being negotiated, and we held majorities, there were many of us who wanted it to include a public option (aka Medicare for All) - but there were too many hurdles, most of which flew under the radar. And while it's thought of as a left-wing idea, Medicare for All was something Nixon wanted back in the 60's.
What we are going to have to do is get on the same page, find a voice and a messaging set and then find SOMEONE to be THE VOICE of the party -- I'd like Pete Buttigieg for that -- every day, on the airwaves, presenting the opposition position.
Ty for your response Jessica. I agree 3 parties would be difficult. I suggest more older americans get on TikTok and just listen to what the younger generations have to say. After all it will be the world that they will have to live in. BY the way I posted Bernies speech the link on you tube . It was amazing.
Carol -- I HEAR YOU and I think we need content creators who can reach the kids and energize them, and get them out THIS YEAR at protests, as well as working for local candidates.
I mentor a young woman at work who likes to tell me "the TikTok side" and what I hear is a lot of misinformation, conspiracy theories, and outright nonsense. It's very concerning to me.
Oh Jessica,I don't think there are any easy answers right now. All each of us can do is continue to fight the good fight. Enjoy your weekend and remember to breathe.
If this was A mistake I might give her the same pass but it is not. She continues to “feel sorry” for Speaker Johnson and continues to try to work in a bipartisan way even though the Republicans are not working in good faith with the democrats. This is a new day with new rules. She may want the old ways but that is not reality therefore her continued efforts feel like a betrayal to her base and very naive. We KNOW her bipartisan efforts will not be reciprocated and we don’t want her to try anymore until and unless they prove they can be trusted. She needs to know this. She needs to stop trying as hard as that is and demonstrate that she will fight for us. She needs to remember the horror she felt when she first ran and stop both sides rationalizing. She won’t get another chance!!
Lani - If you recall, back in '18, you and I had a discussion about how Chrissy would vote on impeachment. That conversation was at a rally in Phoenixville. Then, and now, you are a purist. In the decades I've known you, that's how you've always been. I respect that you hold dear to your values. I just see more gray than you do.
I don't know how I would have voted, however, I gave it some thought about Chrissy's. This is where I landed, which has not been popular on most socials. At every town hall, she has a power point which includes the ground rules. It reads:
Meeting Norms
We will:
1 Treat each other with respect and leave titles at the door.
2. Us our time wisely by sticking to the agenda
3. Address any conflict by dealing with the issue, not the person
4. We will discuss policy, not politics
I wasn't surprised that she voted the way she did. I don't see her holding her constituents to a different standard than she would a colleague. This vote was a preformative act by the majority leader (whom I loathe). This vote doesn't matter to me. What does matter are our shared values on women's health, gay marriage, human rights, saving Social Security, supporting Ukraine. Respecting one another which some say is 'woke'...FFS yes then I'm woke.
I'm not a 100%er. I will never agree with anyone 100% of the time. I still support her. Thanks for your blog.
Thank you so much for you thoughtful comment. It IS hard to agree with anyone 100% of the time, and as you point out, Chrissy has always shared our most important values.
The thing that makes me angry is that Republicans (especially MTG and Boebert) heckled Biden and that was just fine and dandy but they are so quick to censure a black man standing up to actual fascism. I am not saying absolutely that I will stop supporting her, but I am deeply disappointed.
I think they wouldn't have done it to anyone. It's all perfromative BS. The Dems chose not to go after MTG and B, they could have. I understand that people are disappointed but when the rubber hits the road, she has done a great job for us. People are saying she was being political which I do not believe. I know her and she's not like that. So this is something that everyone has an opinion on. I was disappointed until I thought about it and then found a way to get beyond that. I don't see anyone on the political landscape that I'd prefer to Chrissy. I respect your feelings.
I agree with your ultimate point, I don't see anyone to support instead. Of course it's performative. But how does it look that dems can't be united in opposition? We need to perform as well. Acting like rules apply when they haven't for years. It's normalizing behavior. I still like her, I'm not stopping supporting her yet, but I think calling her out on this is right.
@ekrst - The GOP is OF COURSE racist, misogynistic, homophobic, etc etc etc. They are also very accepting of bad behaviour on the part of their members -- for example, incumbents have run while under indictment, or after conviction, and the House GOP couldn't care less.
I agree that we should be united in opposition AS the opposition party.
She still has my vote. I just cannot ignore the overall good she has done and does. Plus I believe she truly has integrity. We so lack that in our government now. And there are SO many others who deserve my energy fighting against them. Just not “falling on my sword” for this.
At this time, I still intend to vote for Chrissy, as I am a fan. I'm not one of those suggesting she be primaried...talk about shooting yourself in the foot. However, I do think she made a serious mistake with her vote and unfortunately, it will haunt her.
Agreed. I don't think the people calling for Chrissy to be primaried, or, as I've seen elsewhere, searching for a third party candidate, understand that either would ensure that the House seat would be won by the Rethuglican.
As much as I want to be understanding, the Republicans are violating the constitution at every turn, they are stripping away people’s rights, destroying people’s lives and taking away our livelihoods. Their unelected, chainsaw wielding, ketamine loving, robot is dismantling the federal government from the inside out. I’m not sure she’s comprehending the gravity of the moment. But if she keeps heading in the direction of playing by the rules, while they’ve made it clear there are none, she’s going to find herself out of a job. Not because we will vote her out, but because the congress will no longer exist. As it is, they have no power since the president is acting as a king. But yeah, I mean cool, cool, just keep standing on your moral high ground while ignoring all the destruction to those why rely on the government. Whether for work, social safety nets or basic human rights. And this is why they say the Democrats are out of touch with the American people. In the words of the great John Lewis “Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America”.
I hope that’s the case. But this was not a good look for her and the other 9. And it’s getting harder and harder to defend this Democratic Party to my disenfranchised voting age kids 18,21 and 25. There is not much in this party that reflects them or their values. AOC, Bernie, Jasmine Crockett, Maxwell Frost, Al Green are who they’re connecting with. Those who are willing to get in a little good trouble to stand up for their constituents who are in need. It would be interesting to see if she would do a meeting with the young voters to hear their issues.
But here’s my question for your kids. Are they willing to do the work to get their candidates elected? When I talk to people your kids’ ages, I hear a lot of anger, but what I don’t hear is a willingness to (1) run for local office (and yes, young people can certainly run for municipal offices) (2) canvass for candidates they like, (3) sign petitions to get candidates on the ballot or (4) get involved with the party at the local level to help get the kind of candidates they want.
Not only Chrissy, but every Democratic I know is not only willing to meet with young people, but would LIKE to. The problem is that the kids don’t show up. Chrissy, for example, has held Town Halls every few months for her full tenure — she speaks and takes questions. And if you look at the pictures from the events, you’ll see a dearth of young people.
A lot of my time is spent with the resistance — and we ALWAYS try AS HARD AS WE CAN to get young people to come to rallies and protests, to write letters and postcards to their elected representatives at all levels, and we can’t get them to engage.
I don’t know what the overall answer is, but if your kids are local to me, and they want to get involved, private message me their email addresses, and I’m happy to offer them all sorts of options. There are local protests and rallies several times EVERY week.
I am still not sure that her vote was wrong. I do not believe that shouted responses to a scheduled speaker such as is a constant at so many higher education forums nation wide. When a speaker such as der Fuehrer starts piling lie after lie, one more dangerous than the other, protesters should just stand and start to walk out. Der Fuehrer, a narcissist could surely hurl all sorts of epithets at the departing, who could then respond in kind.
Thank you to all who succinctly expressed what a disgrace this vote was. For me, issues were triggered by siding with the abuser against the abused and thank heavens Rep Green seems to have a strong (double entendre intended) C/constitution.
I understand why Chrissy voted as she did, and I can still support her because she is otherwise terrific. However, our country is under assault. The other party is marching in lockstep all over the Constitution only taking breaks to crap on it in unison. This is no time for decorum. It is a time for unified ACTION. This should have been an "I am Spartacus" moment. They blew it. (Btw, that would have made for excellent television!)
I understand her thought process. I do not agree with it. Yes, I yearn for the days when Democrats and Republicans actually worked together to solve problems. Yes, I would like to see some semblance of decorum in the House and Senate chambers. But it cannot continue to be one-sided. The whole concept of "They go low, we go High" has brought us to this state.
I understand the good she has done but the rules of the game have changed. She made a really poor choice and she needs to understand that. Our fractured political scene is becoming more fractured by the day.
We need more Al Green's on our side to keep calling out the lies.
As we discussed yesterday, the world used to be a much better place -- for working together, for cursive writing, for math AND ALL THE REST. We do need more Al Greens. And while that type of candidate could win where you live now, that candidate could not win in Chesco.
My thoughts align with yours. When I read that she voted to censure, I wasn't surprised, given her military background. She was taught to respect our institutions, including the OFFICE of the presidency (if not its inhabitant.) She believes in the established rules of decorum in government settings. I'm not going to condemn her for one action, guided by her personal beliefs.It wasn't a vote.
At the risk of offending some people... I think Chrissy did the right thing. I trust her sense of ethics, and voting in Congress is part of her job, not ours. Shouting at a speaker who has the floor is wrong if we believe in discourse and process. We didn't approve of "You lie" shouted at Pres. Obama, right? Sen. Slotkin then had the floor, in the media at least, and her rebuttal was very effective. I don't agree with Carville that Dems should play dead, but they have to be careful not to give the neo-deep state excuses to crack down. The pressure points Dems have now are courts, Congress, and constituents. They should use them all strategically. In Congress specifically they need to oppose bad bills and propose good bills to benefit Americans, get press attention on them, and peel off R colleagues who are, justly, afraid of their constituents' ire. Shouting at Trump, much as he may deserve it, just distracts from the necessary process, which has to work quickly and perhaps somewhat quietly.
Thank you for your thoughtful post, Jessica. I completely agree with you about every aspect. I also emailed Chrissy the next morning and let her know I was disappointed but stood by her because of the great work she's doing. The Democrats need to stop making everything a purity test. This is an incredibly difficult time we're living through. We are all humans and we need to start giving each other some grace.
Thanks for providing the Representative with a platform to provide an explanation, but "WE HAVE RULES" and "LACK OF DECORUM"?
The esteemed Representative Houlahan voting Thursday to censure Rep. Al Green for his protest during Trump's address to Congress has left many with worse foreboding than the election results.
This administration has broken all the rules, usurping the power of our elected representatives in Congress, implementing the manifesto that is Project 2025, dedicated to intense nationalism, mass appeal, and dictorial rule only to dismantle our democracy, then broadcast their criminal acts and Nazi propaganda to 36.6 million viewers, here and around the world while DEMOCRATS SAT AND WATCHED.
I'd say the 'lack of decorum' is the Representative's in chastising the defiant Representative Green, “It’s worth it to let people know that there are some of us who are going to stand up against this president.” instead of joining his resistance and opposition, and then getting on a plane to give credence to the Guatanoma Bay Detention Center, this administration's clearest disregard for our laws and constitution. The very definition of a concentration camp for the anonymous deportation of migrants without federal statutes used for transfer, their immigration status, criteria, or period of detainment.
“Secretly transferring people from the United States to Guantánamo without access to legal representation or the outside world is not only illegal, it is a moral crisis for this nation,” said Deepa Alagesan, senior supervising attorney at the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP)
You and the Pennsylvania 6th District may look kindly on her body of her work, and forgive her this one, but history will not.
Robin, your last line is key here, about Chrissy's body of work. I posted the Inquirer article on my Facebook page yesterday, and the people there responding by yelling Off with her head! are all from outside our district and have no clue about all of the work she's done for our district or country, or what a decent and ethical person she is. A person is more than just one misguided vote. I figured right away that her military background came into play with her decision.
One friend, a prominent music journalist from NY, said that we need to primary her and elect an AOC. Really?!? In Chester County?!? Our county was settled by Plain People: Quakers and Anabaptists, Scotch-Irish, and Welsh, and we do not turn out people like AOC just because of the overall culture and demographic here. That is not our personality. (I learned that as a toddler, the daughter of 2 parents, professionals who grew up in or near Philadelphia and moved to East Fallowfield Twp. when I was a baby. I had to code switch a lot before I knew the expression for it.)
In fact, we tried for decades to elect a Democrat here, back when the county was part of 3 IIRC Congressional districts, and people who think it would be so easy to primary her and elect someone more progressive are delusional. She is the right person to represent this district, and the calls on her Facebook page, likely from people who never read her email updates or listen to her town halls, for her to be primaried and to be ashamed of herself are just ugly, and some even sociopathic.
Btw, her audio town hall the other day was incredible. The law professor who spoke about the cases being brought -- and won -- against the administration was phenomenal. That is where we are winning, not by yelling. Rep. Green's speech yesterday was wonderful, as was Bernie's in Wisconsin. Look for them if you haven't seen them.
Thank you for saying this so much more eloquently than I ever could have, Rochelle. I've lived here in ChesCo for 40 years, and remember well those times when Democrats were completely shut out of the conversation. And I agree about the outsiders' voices eclipsing the more moderate voices here in the county... we need to stay the course with Chrissy. She's an exceptional leader with the experience to back her decisions. While we may not agree with all of them (I certainly had my moments with Obama... ) she's proven time after time that she's the best person for the job here. And, thanks for speaking up. It's not easy to be a voice of dissent in these times.
I think the level of outrage and emotion over this symbolic vote is sky high because we are all experiencing a relentless assault against our freedoms, constitution and rule of law, patriotic pride, safety and security, retirement, values, and community that is almost unbearable. And we know more is coming, and won't stop. I would not have made the same vote. But I am pointing all my energy and outrage at the force behind it all. 47 and his handlers and sycophants and master Putin. (There MUST be a pee tape or worse.) I am grateful DAILY for Chrissy's tireless, principled, informed work. Crushing her with misdirected rage will not help us. She is on our side with all her heart, soul and brains. Thanks for writing this, Jessica.
You are correct - the anger is the cumulative assault with absolutely no regard for the rule of law - let alone basic human decency - and what has been a seemingly inept Democratic leadership.
I voted for Chrissy twice before moving to Oregon. I like her. A lot. I do NOT believe she should be primaried. I DO believe she is hearing all of this loud and clear.
The ball is now in her court. It is how she moves forward from this. Jeffries has made it clear they should NOT support the Republican's totally partisan continuing resolution. They need to allow the government to shut down - and LOUDLY explain why.
I think this will be a make-or-break vote and I sincerely hope EVERY Democrat votes against it.
Well said Susan. And I agree with you 💯. I was disappointed in her vote for sure but feel from the beginning the outrage is surely fueled more by the relentless assault of all the things you listed. It crushes your spirit. We constantly look for little wins, little points of light to keep us from the dark abyss of defeat. She, and many of her colleagues in Congress, seem to be tone deaf to a degree around just how unbearable this is for her constituents, for many across the country. And what doesn’t help for sure is the relative perceived weakness of Democratic leadership. I’m grateful too for her tireless efforts. Her administrative staff is the best I’ve experienced - ever. And like you, I’ll have my say with Chrissy (I’ve yet to send an email or call…wanted to wait until things died down a bit) but the real issue for me going forward is pointing energy and outrage at the gargantuan force behind 47. I came across information yesterday which highlighted the possibility and potential of voting machine manipulation where at a predefined threshold of votes allows the tabulation to begin flipping the votes. It’s all written in the algorithm coding. And so you can envision the kind of system this creates and just the “force” behind it.
Thanks for your thoughts, Susan. I agree that there are better places to put our energies, and I KNOW what you are doing. BTW -- I now have a CCMF bumper sticker on my car.
I am not an overly political person. I vote Democrat because they are the lesser of two evils. That being said. I see the Democratic party as being fractured between the centrists and progressives. It seems to be the focal point of the mixed messages. This is a new day with new rules and I for one am ready for real change. The dems need to stick together. All I can say is the Republicans would never have voted against their own.
We, the Democratic Party, have always been "the big tent" and that's messy. There is no doubt that there is a schism between our factions. I am curious about what "real change" looks like for you.
Morning Jessica, I will be very honest with you. I lean towards the progressive way of thinking. I admire the Bernie sanders, Jasmine Crocketts, the AOC,'s. I'm 71 and spend a great deal of time on TikTok. I don't think the younger generations are impressed with the status quo. Many have expressed the need for a 3rd party perhaps they are right. As long as the dems are divided and republicans remain in lockstep this will be an uphill fight. Just my humble opinion and ty for reaching out.
Carol - I have never been on TikTok but I know that's where the kids are! And we need to find ways to message them there. As for a third party....the electoral system is designed for two parties. Laws in every state make running on anything other than a major party ticket an issue of ballot access. SOME smaller places (like Vermont and Maine) are able to circumvent the problem of ballot access, but most, like Pennsylvania, make it very difficult for anyone to successfully challenge from a third party. Normally, they act as spoilers.
The problem with the far left is twofold - messaging which tends to alienate more people than it embraces, and implementation of the boldest ideas. Take the ACA -- back when that was being negotiated, and we held majorities, there were many of us who wanted it to include a public option (aka Medicare for All) - but there were too many hurdles, most of which flew under the radar. And while it's thought of as a left-wing idea, Medicare for All was something Nixon wanted back in the 60's.
What we are going to have to do is get on the same page, find a voice and a messaging set and then find SOMEONE to be THE VOICE of the party -- I'd like Pete Buttigieg for that -- every day, on the airwaves, presenting the opposition position.
Ty for your response Jessica. I agree 3 parties would be difficult. I suggest more older americans get on TikTok and just listen to what the younger generations have to say. After all it will be the world that they will have to live in. BY the way I posted Bernies speech the link on you tube . It was amazing.
Carol -- I HEAR YOU and I think we need content creators who can reach the kids and energize them, and get them out THIS YEAR at protests, as well as working for local candidates.
I mentor a young woman at work who likes to tell me "the TikTok side" and what I hear is a lot of misinformation, conspiracy theories, and outright nonsense. It's very concerning to me.
I'm sorry I don't have a better answer for you.
Oh Jessica,I don't think there are any easy answers right now. All each of us can do is continue to fight the good fight. Enjoy your weekend and remember to breathe.
Jessica
If this was A mistake I might give her the same pass but it is not. She continues to “feel sorry” for Speaker Johnson and continues to try to work in a bipartisan way even though the Republicans are not working in good faith with the democrats. This is a new day with new rules. She may want the old ways but that is not reality therefore her continued efforts feel like a betrayal to her base and very naive. We KNOW her bipartisan efforts will not be reciprocated and we don’t want her to try anymore until and unless they prove they can be trusted. She needs to know this. She needs to stop trying as hard as that is and demonstrate that she will fight for us. She needs to remember the horror she felt when she first ran and stop both sides rationalizing. She won’t get another chance!!
Lani - If you recall, back in '18, you and I had a discussion about how Chrissy would vote on impeachment. That conversation was at a rally in Phoenixville. Then, and now, you are a purist. In the decades I've known you, that's how you've always been. I respect that you hold dear to your values. I just see more gray than you do.
I think Chrissy got the message. I welcome her to our new reality! New Rules.
I don't know how I would have voted, however, I gave it some thought about Chrissy's. This is where I landed, which has not been popular on most socials. At every town hall, she has a power point which includes the ground rules. It reads:
Meeting Norms
We will:
1 Treat each other with respect and leave titles at the door.
2. Us our time wisely by sticking to the agenda
3. Address any conflict by dealing with the issue, not the person
4. We will discuss policy, not politics
I wasn't surprised that she voted the way she did. I don't see her holding her constituents to a different standard than she would a colleague. This vote was a preformative act by the majority leader (whom I loathe). This vote doesn't matter to me. What does matter are our shared values on women's health, gay marriage, human rights, saving Social Security, supporting Ukraine. Respecting one another which some say is 'woke'...FFS yes then I'm woke.
I'm not a 100%er. I will never agree with anyone 100% of the time. I still support her. Thanks for your blog.
Thank you so much for you thoughtful comment. It IS hard to agree with anyone 100% of the time, and as you point out, Chrissy has always shared our most important values.
The thing that makes me angry is that Republicans (especially MTG and Boebert) heckled Biden and that was just fine and dandy but they are so quick to censure a black man standing up to actual fascism. I am not saying absolutely that I will stop supporting her, but I am deeply disappointed.
I think they wouldn't have done it to anyone. It's all perfromative BS. The Dems chose not to go after MTG and B, they could have. I understand that people are disappointed but when the rubber hits the road, she has done a great job for us. People are saying she was being political which I do not believe. I know her and she's not like that. So this is something that everyone has an opinion on. I was disappointed until I thought about it and then found a way to get beyond that. I don't see anyone on the political landscape that I'd prefer to Chrissy. I respect your feelings.
I agree with your ultimate point, I don't see anyone to support instead. Of course it's performative. But how does it look that dems can't be united in opposition? We need to perform as well. Acting like rules apply when they haven't for years. It's normalizing behavior. I still like her, I'm not stopping supporting her yet, but I think calling her out on this is right.
@ekrst - The GOP is OF COURSE racist, misogynistic, homophobic, etc etc etc. They are also very accepting of bad behaviour on the part of their members -- for example, incumbents have run while under indictment, or after conviction, and the House GOP couldn't care less.
I agree that we should be united in opposition AS the opposition party.
She still has my vote. I just cannot ignore the overall good she has done and does. Plus I believe she truly has integrity. We so lack that in our government now. And there are SO many others who deserve my energy fighting against them. Just not “falling on my sword” for this.
Yup.
At this time, I still intend to vote for Chrissy, as I am a fan. I'm not one of those suggesting she be primaried...talk about shooting yourself in the foot. However, I do think she made a serious mistake with her vote and unfortunately, it will haunt her.
Agreed. I don't think the people calling for Chrissy to be primaried, or, as I've seen elsewhere, searching for a third party candidate, understand that either would ensure that the House seat would be won by the Rethuglican.
As much as I want to be understanding, the Republicans are violating the constitution at every turn, they are stripping away people’s rights, destroying people’s lives and taking away our livelihoods. Their unelected, chainsaw wielding, ketamine loving, robot is dismantling the federal government from the inside out. I’m not sure she’s comprehending the gravity of the moment. But if she keeps heading in the direction of playing by the rules, while they’ve made it clear there are none, she’s going to find herself out of a job. Not because we will vote her out, but because the congress will no longer exist. As it is, they have no power since the president is acting as a king. But yeah, I mean cool, cool, just keep standing on your moral high ground while ignoring all the destruction to those why rely on the government. Whether for work, social safety nets or basic human rights. And this is why they say the Democrats are out of touch with the American people. In the words of the great John Lewis “Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America”.
I think you'll find that when it comes to the votes that have impact, she will vote with the party.
I hope that’s the case. But this was not a good look for her and the other 9. And it’s getting harder and harder to defend this Democratic Party to my disenfranchised voting age kids 18,21 and 25. There is not much in this party that reflects them or their values. AOC, Bernie, Jasmine Crockett, Maxwell Frost, Al Green are who they’re connecting with. Those who are willing to get in a little good trouble to stand up for their constituents who are in need. It would be interesting to see if she would do a meeting with the young voters to hear their issues.
But here’s my question for your kids. Are they willing to do the work to get their candidates elected? When I talk to people your kids’ ages, I hear a lot of anger, but what I don’t hear is a willingness to (1) run for local office (and yes, young people can certainly run for municipal offices) (2) canvass for candidates they like, (3) sign petitions to get candidates on the ballot or (4) get involved with the party at the local level to help get the kind of candidates they want.
Not only Chrissy, but every Democratic I know is not only willing to meet with young people, but would LIKE to. The problem is that the kids don’t show up. Chrissy, for example, has held Town Halls every few months for her full tenure — she speaks and takes questions. And if you look at the pictures from the events, you’ll see a dearth of young people.
A lot of my time is spent with the resistance — and we ALWAYS try AS HARD AS WE CAN to get young people to come to rallies and protests, to write letters and postcards to their elected representatives at all levels, and we can’t get them to engage.
I don’t know what the overall answer is, but if your kids are local to me, and they want to get involved, private message me their email addresses, and I’m happy to offer them all sorts of options. There are local protests and rallies several times EVERY week.
💯
I am still not sure that her vote was wrong. I do not believe that shouted responses to a scheduled speaker such as is a constant at so many higher education forums nation wide. When a speaker such as der Fuehrer starts piling lie after lie, one more dangerous than the other, protesters should just stand and start to walk out. Der Fuehrer, a narcissist could surely hurl all sorts of epithets at the departing, who could then respond in kind.
Thank you!
Thank you to all who succinctly expressed what a disgrace this vote was. For me, issues were triggered by siding with the abuser against the abused and thank heavens Rep Green seems to have a strong (double entendre intended) C/constitution.
I understand why Chrissy voted as she did, and I can still support her because she is otherwise terrific. However, our country is under assault. The other party is marching in lockstep all over the Constitution only taking breaks to crap on it in unison. This is no time for decorum. It is a time for unified ACTION. This should have been an "I am Spartacus" moment. They blew it. (Btw, that would have made for excellent television!)
Sharon you KNOW how I feel about "I am Spartacus". I'm thinking we need bumper stickers so we can have that movement from the ground up.
I understand her thought process. I do not agree with it. Yes, I yearn for the days when Democrats and Republicans actually worked together to solve problems. Yes, I would like to see some semblance of decorum in the House and Senate chambers. But it cannot continue to be one-sided. The whole concept of "They go low, we go High" has brought us to this state.
I understand the good she has done but the rules of the game have changed. She made a really poor choice and she needs to understand that. Our fractured political scene is becoming more fractured by the day.
We need more Al Green's on our side to keep calling out the lies.
As we discussed yesterday, the world used to be a much better place -- for working together, for cursive writing, for math AND ALL THE REST. We do need more Al Greens. And while that type of candidate could win where you live now, that candidate could not win in Chesco.
I will expect to see more censures then! That is a disgrace. She should not have voted that way.
Chrissy told Mike that there SHOULD be more censures, and he just lied to her face. I hope that we retake the House next year, and then clean it.
My thoughts align with yours. When I read that she voted to censure, I wasn't surprised, given her military background. She was taught to respect our institutions, including the OFFICE of the presidency (if not its inhabitant.) She believes in the established rules of decorum in government settings. I'm not going to condemn her for one action, guided by her personal beliefs.It wasn't a vote.
Thank you!
At the risk of offending some people... I think Chrissy did the right thing. I trust her sense of ethics, and voting in Congress is part of her job, not ours. Shouting at a speaker who has the floor is wrong if we believe in discourse and process. We didn't approve of "You lie" shouted at Pres. Obama, right? Sen. Slotkin then had the floor, in the media at least, and her rebuttal was very effective. I don't agree with Carville that Dems should play dead, but they have to be careful not to give the neo-deep state excuses to crack down. The pressure points Dems have now are courts, Congress, and constituents. They should use them all strategically. In Congress specifically they need to oppose bad bills and propose good bills to benefit Americans, get press attention on them, and peel off R colleagues who are, justly, afraid of their constituents' ire. Shouting at Trump, much as he may deserve it, just distracts from the necessary process, which has to work quickly and perhaps somewhat quietly.
Thank you, Nathaniel.
Agreed!
Thank you for your thoughtful post, Jessica. I completely agree with you about every aspect. I also emailed Chrissy the next morning and let her know I was disappointed but stood by her because of the great work she's doing. The Democrats need to stop making everything a purity test. This is an incredibly difficult time we're living through. We are all humans and we need to start giving each other some grace.
Thank you, Alison, and I know that Chrissy will appreciate your email.
Thanks for providing the Representative with a platform to provide an explanation, but "WE HAVE RULES" and "LACK OF DECORUM"?
The esteemed Representative Houlahan voting Thursday to censure Rep. Al Green for his protest during Trump's address to Congress has left many with worse foreboding than the election results.
This administration has broken all the rules, usurping the power of our elected representatives in Congress, implementing the manifesto that is Project 2025, dedicated to intense nationalism, mass appeal, and dictorial rule only to dismantle our democracy, then broadcast their criminal acts and Nazi propaganda to 36.6 million viewers, here and around the world while DEMOCRATS SAT AND WATCHED.
I'd say the 'lack of decorum' is the Representative's in chastising the defiant Representative Green, “It’s worth it to let people know that there are some of us who are going to stand up against this president.” instead of joining his resistance and opposition, and then getting on a plane to give credence to the Guatanoma Bay Detention Center, this administration's clearest disregard for our laws and constitution. The very definition of a concentration camp for the anonymous deportation of migrants without federal statutes used for transfer, their immigration status, criteria, or period of detainment.
“Secretly transferring people from the United States to Guantánamo without access to legal representation or the outside world is not only illegal, it is a moral crisis for this nation,” said Deepa Alagesan, senior supervising attorney at the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP)
You and the Pennsylvania 6th District may look kindly on her body of her work, and forgive her this one, but history will not.
You may be right, but remember, a battle is not the war.
Robin, your last line is key here, about Chrissy's body of work. I posted the Inquirer article on my Facebook page yesterday, and the people there responding by yelling Off with her head! are all from outside our district and have no clue about all of the work she's done for our district or country, or what a decent and ethical person she is. A person is more than just one misguided vote. I figured right away that her military background came into play with her decision.
One friend, a prominent music journalist from NY, said that we need to primary her and elect an AOC. Really?!? In Chester County?!? Our county was settled by Plain People: Quakers and Anabaptists, Scotch-Irish, and Welsh, and we do not turn out people like AOC just because of the overall culture and demographic here. That is not our personality. (I learned that as a toddler, the daughter of 2 parents, professionals who grew up in or near Philadelphia and moved to East Fallowfield Twp. when I was a baby. I had to code switch a lot before I knew the expression for it.)
In fact, we tried for decades to elect a Democrat here, back when the county was part of 3 IIRC Congressional districts, and people who think it would be so easy to primary her and elect someone more progressive are delusional. She is the right person to represent this district, and the calls on her Facebook page, likely from people who never read her email updates or listen to her town halls, for her to be primaried and to be ashamed of herself are just ugly, and some even sociopathic.
Btw, her audio town hall the other day was incredible. The law professor who spoke about the cases being brought -- and won -- against the administration was phenomenal. That is where we are winning, not by yelling. Rep. Green's speech yesterday was wonderful, as was Bernie's in Wisconsin. Look for them if you haven't seen them.
Thank you for saying this so much more eloquently than I ever could have, Rochelle. I've lived here in ChesCo for 40 years, and remember well those times when Democrats were completely shut out of the conversation. And I agree about the outsiders' voices eclipsing the more moderate voices here in the county... we need to stay the course with Chrissy. She's an exceptional leader with the experience to back her decisions. While we may not agree with all of them (I certainly had my moments with Obama... ) she's proven time after time that she's the best person for the job here. And, thanks for speaking up. It's not easy to be a voice of dissent in these times.