I'm really over the sob story of Trump officials whining about being harassed. Guess what, it goes with the territory. 1/ washingtonpost.com/local/dc-polit…
I'm sure historians can recount the tales for us of this happening in history. We can start with President Grant labeling the people who would yell at him while having a cigar at the Willard "lobbyists" 2/
Protesters have time and time again shut down Washington. In 1971 people who lived in the Watergate where trapped by protesters angry about Nixon and War. 3/
I remember having my office at the think tank shut down during the World Bank protests. I was screamed at by a protester for being a "globalist" 🤷♀️
As a hill staffer I was yelled at. I'd be home for a visit and tell people I worked in the Obama administration and get a few choice words. But guess what? 5/
THESE PEOPLE WERE ANGRY BECAUSE THEY CARE ABOUT THEIR COUNTRY. They aren't after you. They are using the voice that they have in the country that gave them that right. 6/
To a fault, when my bosses experienced this, they were polite. They said "thank you for sharing your opinion." They listened. They did not say "I speak ignoramus," @KellyannePolls, they took it. Because that's their job. 7/
By using their voice--whether it's interrupting your coffee, or at spin class--they are doing something we fought for: to not go to jail for telling you off to your face. They are getting into #goodtrouble. They are Citizening. 8/
All the Trumpers out there whining might think about doing some good Public Servanting and TAKE IT. Take it, because I AM YOUR BOSS AND YOU WORK FOR ME. 9/
Now, that doesn't mean anyone deserves harm, threats to their families, or anything that amounts to a crime. That's over the line. But it does tell you something... 10/
People are angry. And if you think it's because we are "sick" like @newtgingrich said then you're missing the point of America and those people who got pissed enough to throw some tea into Boston Harbor...the Brits called them "sick" too. 11/
So count on it to continue. Sense someone is scowling at you at school drop off? That's me. I'm not going to stop. So you have some choices: 1) Listen. And realize you have the best, and hardest job there is. And it's a privilege to be there. 12/
2) Toughen up and dig in. One day you'll realize you're on the wrong side of history, but not now. If you decide to stay longer at the office you can do something productive, like reunite families you ruined maybe. 13/
3) Leave. You had the chance to serve but if it's too hard, that's ok. Even doing it well can destroy people physically and mentally. But whatever you do, don't blame us. We're doing our job and saying it to your face. Like real Americans. 14/14
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
see, those of us in the #nationalsecurity world know that you consider rape a #humanrights thing and a little more fluffy than the big toys you all usually write about. But that's exactly the point, and why you should take the message that is being sent to you. 2/
The @NobelPrize was awarded to Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad for their efforts to end sexual abuse AS A WEAPON OF WAR.
So you guys cover wars, right? So where is the discussion of this? From what I can see, you didn't even cover it. 3/
The fact that this woman has stepped forward--and the response for Kavanaugh and the White House--shows they still don't get it.
Dr. Ford was not slowed down by Kavanaugh. She achieved great things. But the point is that there are a million Kavanaughs out there. 1/
It is possible that this event was so insignificant to Kavanaugh that he doesn't remember it because he was too drunk. On the other hand, this is etched in Dr. Ford's mind. Every time a professor talked down to her, a person got a promotion she did not. It came back to him. 2/
she talks about how it came up in her own marriage. This is a feeling MOST WOMEN UNDERSTAND. And we're over it. And crazy thing about it, we don't have faith you will apply the same treatment to us as you do to yourself mainly because this demonstrates that you don't. 3/
Sheryl Sandberg and @jack have just gotten started at #SSCi but a few opening thoughts:
1) important to remember that right now, taking things down is what defines success for social media platforms. that is not a sustainable business model. 2/
2) criticisms of the platforms have been extensive and warranted, but the fact is, not many people left. 3/
Context: one of the top stories about America that our embassies tell is about Martin Luther King. And they don't just tell the "I have a Dream" part. They tell the Selma and Memphis parts too. This is a critical message for our country. 2/
Because MLK protested against his government. He fought to change his government. That is the American story: Standing up against your government. There is almost no other part of the world you can do that without fear of losing everything. 3/
Here is a thread about some rude protesters who probably should have just stayed home and written letters which of course is just NOT what Americans do. 1/
The first is a shoemaker who led riots, hung stuff from trees and set it on fire. He also followed the dude he was protesting to his house and pushed him to step down. We named a beer after one of the people he hung out with. 2/ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loyal_Nine
and these trollops? they WALKED IN THE STREET ALONE. Ladies do NOT do that. They stood outside of a dude's house for days on end with obnoxious banners. 3/ loc.gov/collections/st…