Adam Schiff Writes an Open Letter to His GOP Colleagues and It Is Lit.

[kpete]

Schiff minces no words here.

Washington Post

“This is a moment of great peril for our democracy. Our country is deeply divided. Our national discourse has become coarse, indeed, poisonous. Disunity and dysfunction have paralyzed Congress.

And while our attention is focused inward, the world spins on, new authoritarian regimes are born, old rivals spread their pernicious ideologies, and the space for freedom-loving peoples begins violently to contract. At last week’s Munich Security Conference, the prevailing sentiment among our closest allies is that the United States can no longer be counted on to champion liberal democracy or defend the world order we built.

For the past two years, we have examined Russia’s interference in the 2016 election and its attempts to influence the 2018 midterms. Moscow’s effort to undermine our democracy was spectacularly successful in inflaming racial, ethnic and other divides in our society and turning American against American.

But the attack on our democracy had its limits. Russian President Vladimir Putin could not lead us to distrust our own intelligence agencies or the FBI. He could not cause us to view our own free press as an enemy of the people. He could not undermine the independence of the Justice Department or denigrate judges. Only we could do that to ourselves. Although many forces have contributed to the decline in public confidence in our institutions, one force stands out as an accelerant, like gas on a fire. And try as some of us might to avoid invoking the arsonist’s name, we must say it.

I speak, of course, of our president, Donald Trump.”





MORE:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/adam-schiff-an-open-letter-to-my-republican-colleagues/2019/02/21/9d411414-3605-11e9-af5b-b51b7ff322e9_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.7f765cecc403
VIA:
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/2/21/1836760/-Adam-Schiff-Writes-an-Open-Letter-to-Hid-GOP-Colleagues-and-It-Is-Lit?utm_campaign=trending

[kpete]

1. More:

To my Republican colleagues: When the president attacked the independence of the Justice Department by intervening in a case in which he is implicated, you did not speak out. When he attacked the press as the enemy of the people, you again were silent. When he targeted the judiciary, labeling judges and decisions he didn’t like as illegitimate, we heard not a word. And now he comes for Congress, the first branch of government, seeking to strip it of its greatest power, that of the purse.

Many of you have acknowledged your deep misgivings about the president in quiet conversations over the past two years. You have bemoaned his lack of decency, character and integrity. You have deplored his fundamental inability to tell the truth. But for reasons that are all too easy to comprehend, you have chosen to keep your misgivings and your rising alarm private.

That must end. The time for silent disagreement is over. You must speak out.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/adam-schiff-an-open-letter-to-my-republican-colleagues/2019/02/21/9d411414-3605-11e9-af5b-b51b7ff322e9_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.7f765cecc403

[pangaia]

13. YES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go get those fuckers, Adam !!!!!!!!

[Fuzzpope]

36. Full text available here for sharing.

https://justpaste.it/3w95v

[Luciferous]

59. Thanks for the link

[Iliyah]

2. I'm pretty sure majority . . .

of Republicans did not read the letter. They don't care.

[volstork]

20. They are compromised as well.

They care very much-- about their own sorry hides...

[vlyons]

27. They are too busy

taking bribes from lobbyists, calling Evangelicals and white supremacists for campaign contributions, calling Wall St for jobs forrelatives and cronies.

[lastlib]

38. and they don't read.

especially words that have more syllables than "money" and "power".

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. I hope that the Republicans will heed his very wise words.

He has obviously given this a great deal of thought and his conclusions are not to be doubted.

The ball is now in their court. May they choose wisely.

[SergeStorms]

50. All that remains of the republican party...

is Trump's base. Of course they're scared. They're scared of losing their phony-baloney jobs, and the only "republicans" left are firmly in Trump's pocket. They can never win campaigning for the 'old' republican's votes, they no longer exist. That's why they back Trump, but even then they can't possibly win with only his "base". So many people have left the republican party that it's impossible to win with only Trump's cult. They're half-way between a cold sweat and a shit, as the old saying goes. The republican party is doomed, and they have Donald Trump to thank for that.

[ProfessorPlum]

66. +1 for the phony-baloney jobs reference

and I hope you are right about the doom of the GOP

[mcar]

4. A great opEd!

[marked50]

5. Will go down in history as one of the most Important and Key words in protection of our Democracy.

Spread it far and wide..

[sharedvalues]

8. I hope so.

[backabby-blue]

6. We can not elect another nationalist

It would be bad for democracy world wide. Not a left nationalist or a right nationalist. Also, we need to elect someone not afraid to call out dictators.

[Harker]

7. Calm, measured words

are a nice counterpoint to Trumpsky's vicious rantings.

[Achilleaze]

58. Yes indeed

sanity

[watoos]

9. The only thing that matters to Republicans,

is getting re-elected.

[BigmanPigman]

17. ...and getting as much $$$ as possible, even if illegal.

[lastlib]

39. Are there no republikans in Congress who are not COWARDS?

(I guess I answer my own question.......)

[Pluvious]

10. Boom goes the dynamite

A real leader won't shy away from making the opening shot.

And he's privy to a lot of undisclosed shit don't forget

[JudyM]

11. This should make headlines. As if. Hopefully they will not use this as evidence of bias in his

committee investigations.

[EveHammond13]

12. this is for history. carved in stone.

[Cha]

14. Thank You, Adam Schiff!

[rufus dog]

15. I have a slightly different take

Politicians by nature are opportunists.

Schiff is getting out in front of this train wreck, thus solidifying his cred.

[marylandblue]

24. Huh? He's been leading the parade against Trump for 2 years now.

[rufus dog]

28. Agreed, but this one is directly calling him out.

He sees the intel, other Dems aren't jumping out front, Schiff is and will be rewarded.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

29. Schiff is challenging Reps

Adam Schiff is appealing to any Republicans who may exist among the Russiapublicans. He is both challenging them to stand up and providing them the necessary cover -- country over party -- to do so.

[Mme. Defarge]

30. If we as a people are that cynical

we are lost.

[defacto7]

33. Nothing like a fresh breath of cynicism to wipe up

the mess that unchecked patriotism causes. We can't have that.

(sarc)

[ProudProgressiveNow]

16. KR NT

[4TheArts]

18. Hot damn!

That's the approach we need. If rethugs denigrate him for the words, let him speak this again, even louder.

[LakeArenal]

19. Schiff for anything 2020.

[smirkymonkey]

21. Wait, why isn't Schiff running for President?

He would have my vote.

[Luciferous]

60. Maybe he will? I also think he would make an excellent AG.

[RainCaster]

22. The Russian trolls went crazy on that one!

Did you see the comments in the WaPo about this letter?

[Blecht]

23. The Democratic Party has some awesome leaders right now

Now if we can only get people to vote, and make sure their votes are counted. Then we can maybe climb out of this mess.

[raging moderate]

25. Adam Schiff for President.

This letter is magnificent.

[RDANGELO]

26. Very well said.

[Progressive2020]

31. Schiff Is A Statesman

He is that rare thing in contemporary politics- a true Statesman. Most politicians are game players, but Schiff's words are for history, not just the next news cycle. We need more people in government like Adam Schiff.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

32. Revenge motivated arsonist

with a fiendish twitter fetish.

[defacto7]

34. Adam Schiff is my God for the day!

Yeah, I'd vote for that for president.

[lunatica]

35. No mincing words behind the layered language of diplomacy

Any one of us could have written that letter if we were good at writing letters. It’s refreshing. No mincing words or flowery language to soften the intended message. Yet there is no harshness. Just truth.

I like that.

[Grammy23]

37. I really like Adam Schiff. He is calm, rationale and unflappable.

So glad he is involved with uncovering that Rusher thing.

I just hope it is not too late to save us.

[Progressive Jones]

40. Adam Schiff Forever! nt

[democratisphere]

41. Spoken like a true leader and future POTUS.

ADAM SCHIFF, great for America and our Democracy.

[Honeycombe8]

43. Would he run? Hmmmmm. nt

[democratisphere]

44. I believe ADAM SCHIFF will run for POTUS someday.

Right now he has his hands full investigating drumpf et al.

[Honeycombe8]

46. If he doesn't run now, it would be 20 years before he could win.

8 years for the Dem President takes us to 2028. A Democrat will likely not win after 8 years of Democratic Presidency. So 8 years of Republicans again takes us to 2036.

So...he probably will never run. But he could. He'd be about 75.

He could become the next House Speaker, though, if Pelosi retires in a few years. 3rd in line to the Presidency.

[democratisphere]

47. After drumpf and all the other redumbliCONs involved in corruption

are indicted, there will no longer be redumbliCON Presidents forever quite some time. Joe Biden will be our next President in 2020, then Adam Schiff will win in 2028.

[True Blue American]

53. Perfect for House Speaker!

[Honeycombe8]

42. Holy sh*t. A letter for the history books. nt

[Hulk]

45. Call him out!

History is being made, and lets at least be proud of our part in it.

[Hekate]

48. KnR

[onetexan]

49. Powrrful &so well worded

Schiff understands the gravity of the sotuation we're in right now with this russian puppet in power. Calling the spineless repugs out is the best way to shame them to grow one.

[OnDoutside]

51. He knows what's coming, but I sense this letter shows how worried he is that Repubs still will not

react.

[True Blue American]

52. That letter

Contains the words of a true Leader!

Thank you for publishing!

Funny thing, the longer I stay at DU, not read or listen to the constant hate lies the better I feel!

Anyone else feel that way? I think we are the Majority because so many have just tuned it all out as they go their busy ways! We just need to encourage those who are sick and tired to vote in new.

[Martin Eden]

54. Absolutely Spot-On!

Did Schiff's GOP colleagues listen and understand?

[Botany]

55. " ... the arsonist's name, I speak, of course, of our president, Donald Trump."

Yup.

[Achilleaze]

56. Wake up and support America, republicans

or go to Hell for your treason against the USA

[oasis]

57. Adam Schiff is a treasure. nt

[Uncle Joe]

61. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread kpete.

[klook]

62. Very important letter. Everybody should read the whole thing.

It’s not that long, but it’s powerful. See post 36 for link to full text.

[Blue Owl]

63. The Arsonist!

[shenmue]

64. HOLY SHIT

[UCmeNdc]

65. Will the Republicans wake up and trust their own eyes?

[LiberalLovinLug]

67. I wonder if the Republicans are actually all-in for a new civil war?

Because it sure seems that way. They must know where this will lead to with their continued silence and capitulation. But if many of them are up to their eyeballs in Russian collusion then they may feel they have nothing to lose. It makes me wonder if they think that in the end, when the dust settles, and the bodies are all cleaned up off the streets, a new military government, led by Trumpist Generals, will create a strict, police state, where dissension is illegal for "national security" reasons. And new concentration camps set up for political prisoners. And the press, other than Fox State News, is shut down or just taken over. And the internet is policed much like in China and Russia. And Trump declares himself President, foregoing the usual election procedure also for "national security" reasons.

And then some of these top GOP traitors will get plum jobs in the new American fascist dictatorship, with powers they could only dream of, as opposed to sitting in a prison cell listening to President Kamala Harris give the SOTU

[DFW]

68. This is putting the truth to paper in terms maybe not seen since a 33 year old did it 243 years ago.

This is language similar to what Thomas Jefferson wrote about George III in a certain Declaration adopted in 1776, and even Jefferson didn't attack the royalist supporters of King George as forcefully as he could have. Schiff lays out here who the collaborators are, and leaves them no cover. Good. They deserve none.

[proud patriot]

69. Thank you Adam Schiff

[stillcool]

70. may I have some more please?