Alone Among Senate Democrats, Kirsten Gillibrand Is Standing Against Trumps Cabinet

[TomCADem]

Source: Slate

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is getting all kinds of props this week for being the only Democrat to vote against all Donald Trump’s appointments besides Nikki Haley for United Nations ambassador. High school student and Democratic activist Rachel Gonzalez tweeted out the news on Tuesday afternoon, imploring readers to remember Gillibrand’s votes “in 2020.” The tweet has been liked 81,000 times as of Thursday afternoon.

Insofar as hearts on a tweet can offer insight into the conventional wisdom of a political party, it seems like Gillibrand’s principled stance is setting her up as a recognizable Trump opponent if she decides to run for president, as many have speculated she might, in two years or so. The Senate, with its filibuster, is one of the only bulwarks the country has left against an authoritarian administration that is already following through on its most damaging campaign promises. Massive marches, like the ones that went down in hundreds of communities around the world the day after Trump’s inauguration, are good for keeping the people engaged and energized. But without leaders in office who will turn progressive, humane values into votes, the worst those people can imagine of a Trump regime will likely come to fruition.

That’s why liberals were incensed to learn that Sen. Elizabeth Warren, another oft-proposed 2020 presidential candidate, gave Ben Carson her vote to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Carson has never worked in government, knows not one thing about housing nor urban development, and has repeatedly expressed contempt for the marginalized and low-income Americans he’d be tasked with serving as HUD secretary. Thanks to the likes of Warren and fellow progressive darling Sen. Sherrod Brown, who claim Carson is better than any likely alternative because he’s never literally threatened to demolish the department he may lead, Carson now has a unanimous mandate from the Senate’s banking committee.

Gillibrand, meanwhile, is proving that she won’t back down from her beliefs, even if her vote is symbolic. She was the only senator, period, to vote against retired Gen. James Mattis for Secretary of Defense, on the grounds that federal law prevents a military leader from taking that civilian leadership post until she or he has been retired for seven years. (Mattis retired in May 2013.) The Senate had to pass a special waiver to allow Mattis to take on the role; Gillibrand and 16 other Democrats voted against it. When the waiver passed anyway, Gillibrand was the only one of the 17 who stood her ground.

Read more: http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2017/01/26/alone_among_senate_democrats_kirsten_gillibrand_is_taking_a_stand_against.html

[mobeau69]

1. I like her more and more all the time.

You go, girl!

[Flatpicker]

2. Just terrible.

Establishment Democrats need to get out of the way.
EW knew that this was a party line vote, so actually sticking up for her constituency, even if symbolic, should have been a given.

[Kingofalldems]

3. 2020

[Stellar]

4. You go girl! nt

[Joe Bacon]

5. Why is she standing alone?

For Christ's Sake, Senate Democrats! Get a CENSORED backbone like Kirsten has!

[Dustlawyer]

11. Donors made them do it, not a genetic defect in their spines.

[grantcart]

14. Mattis is seen as a rational block against Trump

on the military.

For example he was very strong against torture.

[Crash2Parties]

6. "even if her vote is symbolic" - Symbolism matters. So does keeping promises.

Also, I've noticed more and more people asking for sites where the votes are being tracked.

Apparently, no is finding any and the media is not at all interested in providing said accounting.

[mountain grammy]

7. She stood on that stage at the D.C. March

With her head high and fire in her eyes..she looked as mad as I am. I'm glad to see she is.

[Lucky Luciano]

8. I'm taking notice. nt

[pnwmom]

9. The same "progressives" who are so quick to criticize Elizabeth Warren now

were the ones who were swearing that IF ONLY she were running, they'd be happy to vote for HER.

No one is ever pure enough for some people. Sooner or later, Kirsten Gellibrand will do something "wrong" and these same people will turn on her.

[Cha]

10. Yes, I've been posting this.. Oh and how about the Independents?

Link to tweet

[MontanaMama]

12. Where is our line in the sand?

I'm done with shrugging our shoulders and choosing the lesser of two evils. By doing this and not obstructing these appointments, dem leaders are essentially rolling out the welcome mat to our destruction. After only one week of this disaster, I don't know if we can ever recover.

Mini-poot has a scheduled phone call with his BFF Putin this weekend. This isn't getting better any time soon.

[pnwmom]

13. People with that attitude helped DT get elected because they condemned

Hillary as the lesser of two evils.

She would have been infinitely superior as a President.

So much for that theory. I am ALWAYS going to vote for the lesser of two evils.

[leftynyc]

19. It's exactly THAT attitude

the got the degenerate into the white house. We had two choices and to call one "the lesser evil" because they don't align PERFECTLY with your stances, you become part of the problem.

[MontanaMama]

21. You're missing my point.

Senate Dems need to stop confirming these hideous appointees. They should NOT shrug their shoulders and say yes to these fools because they are the less evil than someone even crazier.

[leftynyc]

22. THAT I agree with (in principle)

The reality is they're going to get confirmed because they have enough GOP votes to shove them in there. The ONLY senator that has voted no on ALL of the degenerate's picks is the junior senator from NY - Kirsten Gillibrand.

[MontanaMama]

23. I think we're on the same side here...

I've called my Senators and asked for no votes on all of these monsters - not confident Dem Senator Testor will comply. Rethug Sentator Daines is a tRump humper and a lost cause.

I'm envious of those represented by Kirsten Gillibrand. THAT is brave and impressive leadership.

[leftynyc]

25. Definitely on the same side

I'm blessed to have both Gillibrand and Schumer (I know many liberals have problems with Chuck but on balance, throughout his career, he's been awesome) as senators.

[elmac]

15. I was hoping the Dems would stick together on something as simple as appointees

Remember the fascist blocked every one of Obama's appointees, they only got in by majority and bending the rules.

[ALBliberal]

16. Impressive Senator Gillibrand. Here's hoping your leadership and your

strong voice will be an example for all. I look forward to hearing more from this strong senator that stood stood up to these completely unfit and unqualified cabinet picks.

[SunSeeker]

17. Gillibrand is showing leadership. Hope her example shames the other Dems--and Independents. nt

[leftynyc]

18. Been posting my admiration for our junior senator

for quite a while now. She's great and one tough broad (that's VERY high praise from one NYer to another).

[tomp]

20. better than the others....

...still not in full opposition mode. she voted for haley.

Oppose EVERYTHING they put forward. They are illegitimate. They were obstructionists when obama was in.

[Rhiannon12866]

24. K&R for my senator! (Who was also my congresswoman - NY-20)

[still_one]

26. Bravo Sen. Kirsten Gellibrand. A lot of work to do