Watching and monitoring isn't enough
We have not yet seen - other than some isolated moments - a courageous and coordinated stand by our representatives in Washington DC to halt the machine that is rolling over our Constitution.
Like many of you, I’m sure, I’ve been making my calls, sending letters and emails, signing petitions. These are critically important actions, demonstrating the attention of constituents is on the illegal and unconstitutional actions of this administration.
And, like many of you, I’m sure, I find myself increasingly frustrated with the responses I receive. Both of my Senators and my Congressperson are Democrats. While they acknowledge the awful actions of the administration, too often they fail to commit to action of their own.
Here are some samples.
I will keep your thoughts in mind should the House consider any legislation that would impact our nation’s system of checks and balances or executive overreach. And please know that my office is monitoring the President’s executive actions and pursuing all routes Congress can take to ensure they do not go unchecked when they harm the [N]th District.
While the president has a right to nominate candidates of his choice, the Senate is not meant to be a rubber stamp. I will be exercising my duty as a senator to question all nominees about their qualifications and their on-the-record opinions that I believe to be dangerous.
However, if Republicans choose to confirm Vought, I will be watching closely to hold him accountable to the law, to the American people, and to making life better for ordinary families across the country— not just the billionaires and giant corporations.
I’m thinking of my constituents with friends, family, and loved ones in Ukraine. My heart is with the Ukrainian people who only want peace but are being forced to endure a brutal war. Please know that I am closely following the situation and will continue to do everything in my power to ensure the United States is doing its utmost to provide the necessary support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.
That’s a lot of watching, following, and monitoring - and not a lot of action. To be fair, one of our Senators has demanded that Musk (at least) testify before Congress about the illegal and dangerous firings of federal employees and access to private data. And our Congressional Representative signed the amicus brief supporting the case to stop the administration from gutting the Consumer Protection Bureau.
What we have not yet seen - other than some isolated moments - is a courageous and coordinated stand by Democrats to halt the machine that is rolling over our Constitution. In the Senate, there have already been more than 400 “unanimous consent” requests supported by Democrats since the inauguration.
Agreement on any question or matter before the Senate that sets aside a rule of procedure to expedite proceedings. Many requests for unanimous consent (u.c.) are routine but if any senator objects, the request is rejected. https://www.senate.gov/about/glossary.htm#U
Objecting to unanimous consent requests stops proceedings, and is a last resort. But if we are not here in last resort land now, when will we be? Are we seriously waiting for actual legislation in the House before recognizing that our system of checks and balances is already under attack?
I recommend the Democracy Index as a way to track the most important assaults on democracy:
We, the People, must keep the pressure on our elected officials to do their jobs: protect the Constitution they swore to uphold. We must keep reminding them that doing so can be messy, loud, and risky. It takes courage and unity. They have been invested with power and privilege for this reason, and this only: to do what is right.
Kudos to those who have stepped up, who disrupted the address to Congress with truth, who will not sit by and “monitor” as the situation grows ever more dire.
And to those who have not, yet, we offer insistence that they step into this moment with all the courage of those they ask to fight on behalf of our country, of those they ask to be first responders to any disaster.
We will be there with them. We have no other place to be more important than this.
