I've posted several recent tweets about the difficult process of grappling with my mixed Lebanese-American identity in the Trump era. It's the culmination of two years that have been a shock to the system for all of us... (1/10)
2. I'm increasingly questioning my assumptions about the future (and present) of our nation. Who are we as a people? How have we reached a point where children being slaughtered in schools and churches is tolerated? Where healthcare for the poor/sick funds tax cuts for the rich?
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THREAD―FAILED STRATEGY: HOW DEM LEADERS BUNGLED #Kavanaugh
I'm seeing a lot of blame going around so I want to provide some clarity on what I believe Dems did wrong. First and foremost, they failed to realize that the GOP would use their majority to seat Kavanaugh AT ALL COSTS.
THREAD―FAILED STRATEGY
Understanding that the GOP would not settle for anything less than Justice Kavanaugh, Democrats should have walked out of what they called a "charade" and a "sham." When you call something a sham and then participate in it, you're legitimizing it.
THREAD―FAILED STRATEGY
Democrats had ample reason to refuse to participate: Kavanaugh was nominated by a president who may have committed federal crimes. His records were being withheld. And so on. Simply applying the #MerrickGarland standard, Kavanaugh didn't merit a hearing.
I'm a proud Democrat, the party that sides WITH sexual assault victims, the party that believes girls and women, the party that trusts them and protects their rights.
To every rightwinger who responds by naming Democrats who have been accused of sexual assault and harassment over the years, YES, I default to believing the accuser.
I REPEAT: I default to believing women whether the accused is a Republican or Democrat. That includes all the "whatabout" names the right is throwing at me like Clinton, Ellison, etc. Bottom line: DEMOCRATS ARE NOT PERFECT BUT THEIR POLICIES ARE BETTER FOR WOMEN.
Dems should refuse to participate in what they've called "sham" #KavanaughHearings. They should release a joint statement that if #MerrickGarland was blocked FOR NO REASON, the #lodestar insurrection bars Trump from making lifetime appointments.
Yes, @KamalaHarris asked good questions. But that only sets up the narrative that #Kavanaugh was confirmed "despite a tough nomination process." He's being legitimized by this process. The GOP is pushing him through no matter what Dems do, so TAKE A STAND. Refuse to play along.
#TakeAKnee is a symbolic gesture, but an important one. #DemWalkout would be equally extraordinary. It would leave a permanent stain of illegitimacy on #Kavanaugh. Trump could be found guilty of obstruction, why are Dems participating in a hearing that could seat his defender?
I said this yesterday and I'll say it again today: Democrats are legitimizing #Kavanaugh by not walking out.
They should release a joint statement that until the #Mueller and #Cohen matters are resolved, Trump cannot appoint a #SCOTUS justice.
The GOP is hellbent on pushing the #KavanaughConfirmation through. If Democrats walked out and he were seated, he'd have far LESS legitimacy on the bench than if they went through the motions of what they called a "sham" proceeding.
No matter how sharp their questions, no matter how much they protest the rules and procedures and document dumps, Dems are ENABLING THE GOP in brazen court-stacking. Republicans STOLE #MerrickGarland's seat and are shoving rightwing justices through. WHY ARE DEMS PLAYING ALONG?
OK, rightwingers you want to talk logic? How about this: If keeping out all immigrants will prevent all immigrant crime, then taking away all guns will prevent all school massacres. Want to go with that argument?
"Most research says crime tends to decrease in areas where immigrants settle, whether they’re in the country legally or illegally." washingtonpost.com/news/fact-chec… My issue is with the right's inordinate focus on crimes by undocumented immigrants, while shrugging at school massacres.
If the right's aim is to protect loved ones, then why not take more drastic measures to stop gun violence by white males? Or is violence by undocumented immigrants somehow more egregious? Saying it's "preventable" is meaningless. So are school shootings, if you banned all guns.