This past week I had occasion to catch Lawrence O’Donnell on MSNBC, which was unusual in itself. You see, I cut the cable some time back because I objected to the idea that I could not pick and choose which channels I wished to subscribe to, but the cable company could, and they charge far too much for the quality of TV programming.
But because I had an unscheduled stay in a Baton Rouge hospital and because I was bored, I turned the TV on and caught O’Donnell and what he said really resonated with me when I reflected on the state of our political representation.
O’Donnell was talking about how Liz Cheney passed the test of putting country over politics when she chose to swim against the current of today’s Republican Party. Put another way, she chose patriotism over party in leading the hearings about the January 6 insurrection – and let’s be honest about it: it was precisely that and not a peaceful tour of the Capitol. She knew that by co-chairing that committee, she was effectively ending her political career in the Republican Party. Yet, she chose country over party, principles over a certain career in politics.
But when O’Donnell started talking about passing the test of country over politics, it started me to mentally clicking off the names of all those who have failed that test so miserably and of those who have met – and passed – the test.
Mitt Romney, Adam Kinzinger, Dick Cheney, James Lankford (who is credited with negotiating a bipartisan border compromise that Trump and Mike Johnson killed) and a handful of other Republican members of the House and Senate have passed the test.
Sadly, most others have not. Mitch McConnell famously said during Obama’s first term of office that his goal was to make Obama a one-term president by blocking any of his programs. Period. Never mind the merits of any Obama proposal, he was against it on principle. Funny word, principle from a man who is devoid of same. Further evidence can be readily seen in the ham-handed manner in which he torpedoed not one, but two Supreme Court appointments by Obama.
Then there is Gym Jordan, who never saw a conspiracy he didn’t like.
But closer to home, we have our own charlatans in Congress who seem to know no depths to which they are not willing to stoop to hold on to their jobs, country be damned.
Where to start? Oh, where indeed?
I guess I’d have to start with Mike Johnson, the evangelical who long ago sold his soul in return for he House speakership. And to whom was his soul auctioned to? None other than the devil himself, one Donald Trump. Now entrenched in his seat of pseudo-power (we do know who the real power is, do we not?), its politics over country. Every. Single. Time.
John Kennedy. Oh, Lordy me, what better example could you hold up as a shining example of a political whore? He sells himself as some sort of caricature of Will Rogers when he can be better described as the love child of Droopy Dog and Foghorn Leghorn – but most certainly not one who would put country before party, or statesmanship before cheap grandstanding schtick.
And as for Clay Higgins, all I can say about him is he has no moral compass whatever. He just mouths off whatever pops out of that cavernously empty head of his. His utterances generally have no context or relevance to anything. And if anyone – anyone – knows of any legislation that he has introduced, please so advise. I’d love to know.
Steve Scalise is another one who fails the test. Whatever it takes for him to do or say in order to remain in office, to hold on to any vestige of power and prestige, he’s up for it. Check his voting record. It speaks for itself on the question of whether he comes down on the side of politics or country.
So, the next time you hear a member of Congress pontificate on some pending bill, ask yourself how their position squares up with what’s best for the country and why they feel that way. Then ask yourself what their motivation might be for those convictions.
Instead of liking or disliking the way they comb their hair or the slick answers they give in sound their bites, ask yourself if they pass the test.
Louisiana Voice 
It seems that more and more elected politicians favor party over country and pursuing one’s own political aspirations is seen as more acceptable (or is it me?). I blame social media -one can say anything (even our AG) that is false and folks who want to believe it or don’t know any better do.
It’s a deeply concerning shift and departure from the reasons we were founded and from the lessons of heroes heard in the classroom and literature, while granted we weren’t privy to the whole picture of a hero, such as the example that Jefferson kept slaves. We had a lot to learn back then; now there seems a prevailing unwillingness to learn in case it might harm one’s personal standing and this has included not wanting others to read or learn about uncomfortable topics or truth. (Support your local library!)
Good article, however I was concerned about the ‘unscheduled stay in a Baton Rouge hospital ‘ and hope all is well.
As for D/FW Texas, adverts for either presidential candidate are essentially nonexistent. Kamala’s failure to saturate the state is questionable given the election date. She certainly has enough funding… Any idea why?
The mega battle is Cruz and Allred. Allred personally speaks in his adverts while Cruz has others verbalize his missives. The worst Cruz can do is Criticize Allred for, allowing boys in girls bathrooms and dressing rooms & allowing boys to participate in girls sports. He doesn’t qualify how this related to the entire trans community a couple of years ago when students could use the facilities of the sex they’d chosen. He did vote to approve the law concerning trans sports. Sadly, no polls!
I’ve decided that everyone has missed Frump’s two notable qualities that are overshadowed by the 99.999999% of his overwhelming negative qualities. HE NEITHER SMOKES NOR DRINKS. I wish he would amp up to become a true 100 per-center!