The Atlantic: It would only take two U.S. senators to help end the "shithole era

[iluvtennis]

Link to tweet

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/01/have-you-no-sense-of-decency/550502/?utm_source=atltw

[elleng]

1. 'Have you no sense of decency?

It’s the question that the members of the Republican majority in the Congress—51 senators, 239 representatives—might bear in mind, in the “shithole” era.

If only two of those senators would stand up against Donald Trump, with their votes rather than just their tweets or concerned statements, they would constitute an effective majority.

With the 49 Democratic and independent senators, these two would make 51 votes, which in turn would be enough to authorize real investigations. They could pass a formal resolution of censure. They could call for tax returns and financial disclosure. They could begin hearings, on the model of the nationally televised Watergate hearings of 45 years ago.

They could behave as if they took seriously their duties to hold the executive branch accountable. They could make a choice they know will be to their credit when this era enters history — as did the Republicans who finally turned against their own party’s President Nixon during the Watergate drama, as did the Democrats who finally turned against their own party’s President Johnson over the Vietnam war, as did the Republicans who finally turned against their own poisonous Senator McCarthy in the episode that gave rise to “Have you no sense of decency?” more than 60 years ago. They could spare themselves the shame that history attaches to people who did the wrong thing, or nothing, or kept looking the other way during those decisive periods.'

[iluvtennis]

4. Well said.

[Sophia4]

6. Thank you.

Trump has demonstrated his racism several times now -- very clearly.

It is unacceptable that our president, as president of such a diverse nation, is such a racist. Republicans belong to the party of Abraham Lincoln. How can they ignore such an affront to so many Americans and to our entire country?

[pangaia]

2. No. They have no decency.

[NoMoreRepugs]

3. They are Repukes... that means

Party over Country every time.

[msongs]

5. how so? nt

[renate]

7. I don't know why Corker and Flake wouldn't change parties; they could still vote the same way

There's nothing preventing them from continuing to vote for the things Republicans like, all while switching parties to get real investigations going in the House and (although it seems better than the House's) the Senate.

Why don't they do it? I'd love to know whether the two of them have discussed it and come with some reason not to, because goodness knows they'd be hailed as heroes by 1) the majority of the population and 2) history.

[torius]

8. They love the Great Shitholio

[smirkymonkey]

9. K&R