Way To Go, Congressmen
I have you some more names to add to the list of congresscritters not attending the Trump inauguration.
I live in Republican Pete Olson’s district. Yeah, well, he’s never heard of you either. He is completely indistinguishable from his desk. Plus, he walks and talks funny. He got elected because Phil Gramm loves, loves, loves him.
I live less than 1/4 of a mile outside of Congressman Al Green’s district so ole Bubba and I adopted him, and he cheerfully adopted us back. We both talked to him last night and he was still undecided whether or not to attend the inauguration. At 7:00 this morning Congressman Green called Don and said he has decided not to attend.
Here’s his press release:
“Today, we celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; on Friday, President-elect Trump will be sworn-in. For some time, I have been hearing from many constituents with varying points of view on the question of whether I will attend the inauguration. My response is Dr. King was right when he indicated: On some issues ‘cowardice asks the question, is it safe? Expediency asks the question, is it politic? Vanity asks the question, is it popular? But, conscience asks the question, is it right? And there comes a time when we must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but one must take it because it is right.’
“I will not attend the inauguration because conscience says it is the right thing to do.”
Then, an hour ago, Congressman Joaquin Castro announced that he will not attend. His press release says …
“Every American should respect the office of the presidency and the fact that Donald Trump will be the 45th President of the United States. But winning an election does not mean a man can show contempt for millions of Americans and then expect those very people to celebrate him.
“I come from a family and a place, Texas, where respect is a fundamental value – respect for people regardless of what they look like, where they were born, or whether they share your view of the world. Donald Trump has shown an utter lack of respect for so many Americans. His attack on civil rights hero John Lewis is the latest example.
“I will not attend this year’s inauguration ceremony. However, I will be in Washington to greet constituents who are traveling to our nation’s capital for the proceedings. I respect their choice to attend.”
God Bless Texas today.
UPDATE: Congressman Lloyd Doggett (Corrected)—
I will not be attending the inauguration this Friday.
We are sending a message to Mr. Trump. Respect, like Pennsylvania Avenue, is a two-way street. Instead of uniting our country, his continued unprecedented, unpresidential actions are further dividing it. By repeatedly taking the lowest road, he is not showing respect for the highest office. We are in for a long struggle that must strategically utilize every nonviolent opposition tool available.
Thumbs up to both of these gentlemen!! Choosing the “right” thing to do is the right thing to do!! HOORAY!!
1You can accept that we’re stuck with the bugger but you don’t have to show up and applaud. Extensive use of the sick bag would distract those around you anyway.
Latest forecasts say it may well rain on Donnie’s parade (in the afternoon and evening, at least) but be dry and warmer for the good folks on Saturday. (You might say “Someone up there likes us,” but if that were the case we wouldn’t need the protest march.)
2Sometimes the response is like a wave. It starts out as a ripple then turns into a tsunami. God bless those who do the right thing as Dr.King said. As for the rain, our latest forecasts are tending towards water falling from the sky right about the time of the swearing in and the speech. Frankly there is just not enough room in that crowd for umbrellas. There will be a lot of jostling and adjusting and some folks are just plain going to leave. Those are the ones who will be really getting the message.
3What if they gave an inauguration and nobody came?
We can hope.
Maggie, are they also forecasting lightning? ‘Cause there will be some people there who should be concerned about a good smiting.
4Rain? Oh noes, Donnie will have the frizzies. Thanks Obama! 😀
5A big “Thank you!” to those who will not attend. I could not attend without showing it disrespect to the person who will be inaugurated, Cheeto-Benito.
I proudly flew my American flag yesterday, but will not fly it Friday. I considered flying g it at half mast, or with black bunting, but that is not appropriate either, to my thinking.
6Lloyd Dogget, not Dogged.
7Whoops, Lloyd Doggett, not Lloyd Dogget or Dogged.
8All of these wonderful people seem to be House members. Is there a senator on the list??? I keep hoping to see one.
9Allow me to remind those in the Congress and elsewhere who are still contemplating whether or not they will attend the inauguration. You have been invited to attend but are not required to attend.
According to Miss Manners, when one turns down an invitation one is not required to explain why. A simple: “I regret I can not attend. Thank you for thinking of me and I hope your event is a happy one.”, is all that proper etiquette demands.
Any explanation beyond that implies some kind of guilt or will reveal feelings best left unspoken.
10Lloyd is our Representative. He’s always been a class act and keeps getting reelected despite GOP efforts to redistrict him.
11The latest I saw was that the list of non attendees is near 50. Very good for them. 70 yo Toddler has hired people to fill empty seats, sort of like his presser cheerleaders. A heavy downpour would be nice. It will clean the streets and bright sunshine will greet those wonderful marchers Saturday. That ought to prove to the Christianist types that god likes liberals/progressives best. Bwahahahahahaha!!!
Here in Minnesota temperature will be in the low 40s and clear skies for the Women’s March in St. Paul. Yes, 40s in Minnesota in January. More proof of the god thing.
12It may or may not rain on Donnie– oh, for a good smiting– but umbrellas are prohibited in the ticketed area, and may be prohibited in the other public areas, so folks could get wet, aww.
If you can suppress knowledge of who’s coming in, this is an interesting article about the rapid transition in the White House living quarters on an inauguration day:
13https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/local/white-house-transition/
Hooray for “Landslide” Lloyd. Al and Joaquin are great too, but I knocked on doors for Lloyd Doggett in 1984, so he holds a special place in my heart.
14My Rep Kurt Schrader will not be attending, having met DJT and not being impressed. Also, too, he stated, declining to “freeze my ass off” during the inauguration. Yes, he really said that! Woot!
15Kurt’s a good man. And he’d freeze his ass off for almost anyone else, I’m sure. Way to go, Kurt!
16