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(Thread) More Impeachment Stuff
Yesterday I posted Impeachment 201, the advanced course:
Q: Why Are Some Congressional Dems Not (yet) Ready to Talk Impeachment?
Congresswoman Lauren Underwood explains (a must listen for the IMPEACH NOW OR ELSE crowd.)
Yesterday I posted Impeachment 201, the advanced course:
Q: Why Are Some Congressional Dems Not (yet) Ready to Talk Impeachment?
Congresswoman Lauren Underwood explains (a must listen for the IMPEACH NOW OR ELSE crowd.)
1/ Underwood explains in a fabulous podcast / interview with @karaswisher on her podcast: mobile.twitter.com/karaswisher.
h/t @EtlingJames
You can listen or, if you prefer Twitter Cliff Notes, keep reading.
In 2018 Lauren Underwood was elected in a traditionally GOP district . . .
h/t @EtlingJames
You can listen or, if you prefer Twitter Cliff Notes, keep reading.
In 2018 Lauren Underwood was elected in a traditionally GOP district . . .
@karaswisher @EtlingJames 2/ Illinois 14 has only elected one Democratic Congressman, and he served a single term.
Her district had never elected a person of color, never elected a man, and never elected a young person.
In 2018, Lauren Underwood became the youngest black woman ever elected to Congress.
Her district had never elected a person of color, never elected a man, and never elected a young person.
In 2018, Lauren Underwood became the youngest black woman ever elected to Congress.
@karaswisher @EtlingJames 3/ She unseated a 4-term Tea Party Republican with 57% of the vote.
The GOP wants her seat back. For the Democrats to hold the House, representatives like Underwood need to be re-elected.
She says she won because she understands her constituents.
The GOP wants her seat back. For the Democrats to hold the House, representatives like Underwood need to be re-elected.
She says she won because she understands her constituents.
@karaswisher @EtlingJames 4/ The district is part suburban, part rural.
Her constituents don’t like Trump. They find his language offensive. They care about health care and safe schools. They’re disgusted by the need for active shooter drills.
But they shut down when you say “Russia" . . .
Her constituents don’t like Trump. They find his language offensive. They care about health care and safe schools. They’re disgusted by the need for active shooter drills.
But they shut down when you say “Russia" . . .
@karaswisher @EtlingJames 5/ They don't want to hear "Russia" so you can’t even get to “investigation” or “impeachment.”
Because Dems had written off / didn't try in this district, when she knocked on doors, it had been 10 years since a Democrat had been around.
Because Dems had written off / didn't try in this district, when she knocked on doors, it had been 10 years since a Democrat had been around.
@karaswisher @EtlingJames 6/ Her constituents understand corruption and they see Team Trump defying the laws, for example, in refusing subpoenas (even though they don’t think there should BE an investigation.)
To them, impeachment talk and the investigation look like a Democratic power grab.
To them, impeachment talk and the investigation look like a Democratic power grab.
@karaswisher @EtlingJames 7/ Underwood doesn’t respond to the news of the day, because her constituents don’t care about Trump’s latest tweet.
She works for her constituents so she needs to talk directly to them about issues they care about. She now even avoids national cable news.
She works for her constituents so she needs to talk directly to them about issues they care about. She now even avoids national cable news.
@karaswisher @EtlingJames 8/ National news would lure her with promises that they’d talk about what matters to her constituents, but they'd spend a few minutes on issues, and then want to talk about that days' drama.
So she talks to her constituent directly in person/ town halls, and through local news.
So she talks to her constituent directly in person/ town halls, and through local news.
@karaswisher @EtlingJames 9/ Her constituents want to know what she’s doing to get them affordable health care.
She has to be careful with how she presents health care bills. Her constituents are suspicious of things that are “free” or “for all,” so she talks about “modernizing” the health care system.
She has to be careful with how she presents health care bills. Her constituents are suspicious of things that are “free” or “for all,” so she talks about “modernizing” the health care system.
@karaswisher @EtlingJames 10/ She worries that Democrats don’t package their ideas in a way that appeals to swing voters. She has to avoid Democratic hashtags and describe what the bill actually does.
And now for the big question: Why hasn't Lauren Underwood called for an impeachment inquiry?
And now for the big question: Why hasn't Lauren Underwood called for an impeachment inquiry?
@karaswisher @EtlingJames 11/ Underwood hasn’t called for impeachment because, in her words, “we need to act in a way that brings our communities with us.”
The "with us" part is key.
She says needs to see where the court cases go (she notes that the House is winning a lot of these court cases).
The "with us" part is key.
She says needs to see where the court cases go (she notes that the House is winning a lot of these court cases).
@karaswisher @EtlingJames 12/ Her district thinks Democrats are only worried about Russia and Trump and not the issues that matter to them.
The GOP is already after her seat and attacking her, so, to keep her seat, she is talking about bills she has introduced and supports.
The GOP is already after her seat and attacking her, so, to keep her seat, she is talking about bills she has introduced and supports.
@karaswisher @EtlingJames 13/ Both FDR and Lincoln also felt it was important not to move too far ahead of public opinion. (I’m citing my own books.)
Because they were careful not to move too far ahead of public opinion, Lincoln & FDR often frustrated those farther to the left on the political spectrum.
Because they were careful not to move too far ahead of public opinion, Lincoln & FDR often frustrated those farther to the left on the political spectrum.
@karaswisher @EtlingJames 14/ Lincoln and FDR were also two of our most talented presidents who successfully advanced a progressive agenda.
Toward the end of her interview, @LaurenUnderwood implied that some Democrats are in a bit of a bubble. (She was speaking to a San Francisco audience.)
Toward the end of her interview, @LaurenUnderwood implied that some Democrats are in a bit of a bubble. (She was speaking to a San Francisco audience.)
@karaswisher @EtlingJames @LaurenUnderwood 15/
[Well Dang. All through this thread I wrote "Lauren Underwood" instead of @LaurenUnderwood ]
Having just written biographies of FDR and Lincoln, I was struck most by Underwood's phrase "with us" in: “we need to act in a way that brings our communities with us."
[Well Dang. All through this thread I wrote "Lauren Underwood" instead of @LaurenUnderwood ]
Having just written biographies of FDR and Lincoln, I was struck most by Underwood's phrase "with us" in: “we need to act in a way that brings our communities with us."
@karaswisher @EtlingJames @LaurenUnderwood 16/ Yes there are liberal bubbles and echo chambers. Bubbles and echo chambers are dangerous because things start to seem obvious that are not, actually, obvious. To succeed, progressives need include as many people as possible.
@LaurenUnderwood has something to teach us.
End/
@LaurenUnderwood has something to teach us.
End/
@karaswisher @EtlingJames @LaurenUnderwood Underwood should be applauded for what she has done, not criticized as an inferior “leader” because she hasn’t transformed her constituents into thinking a particular way. That’s what cult leaders do.
She has limited face time with each voter, and has to use her time wisely.
She has limited face time with each voter, and has to use her time wisely.
@karaswisher @EtlingJames @LaurenUnderwood I made a very silly typo earlier.
Her district never elected a woman. Duh right ?
Her district never elected a woman. Duh right ?
@karaswisher @EtlingJames @LaurenUnderwood All my threads are also blog posts. You can view this one here: terikanefield-blog.com/why-some-congr…
