What happens when you’re arrested on suspicion of not being American enough?
These days, you gotta appreciate every little ray of sunshine you can find, and I think I found one in a recent post by the wonderful Professor Dr. Heather Cox Richardson, who I consider to be the Historian’s Historian. Richardson, with her vast knowledge of American history as a professor of the same, has consistently helped us navigate through some of the most troubled waters any of us has ever endured on her Substack Letters From An American. In her April 28 post, Cox recounted a recent speech delivered by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who seems to be emerging as one of the few high-profile Democrats who fully understands the vast scope of our dilemma. More importantly, he understands what is required of the Democratic party to have any hope of remaining relevant and capitalizing on the momentum of enraged dissent spreading like wildfire across the country.
In other words, Pritzker knows Democrats cannot afford to assume that all disgruntled and dismayed Americans will happily run back into their arms and vote blue just because they’re now mad at – or disillusioned with - Trump. Never, ever, assume. It’s not enough just to be a Democrat to be considered a viable alternative to the insanity; you have to be a Democrat with a viable plan of action who knows what the hell is going on. And who knows what it means that a 2028 presidential election is not guaranteed. At all.
As a matter of fact, I’ll go so far as to say that if there is an election in 2028, that means our side already won. Think about that one for a minute.
Says Richardson:
“Pritzker highlighted three ordinary Americans who are opposing the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” by building communities to protest, hanging an upside-down flag on the face of Yosemite National Park’s famous cliff El Capitan, and welcoming Vice President J.D. Vance to Sugarbush Resort in Vermont with a snow report calling attention to the administration’s attacks on veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ Americans, immigrant workers, and people of color. He urged Democrats to lead with the same passion.
“He listed the positions on which he wants Democrats to stand firm, beginning: “It’s wrong to snatch a person off the street and ship them to a foreign gulag with no chance to defend themselves in a court of law.” This is not about immigration, he said, but about the Constitution. “Standing for the idea that the government doesn’t have the right to kidnap you without due process is arguably the MOST EFFECTIVE CAMPAIGN SLOGAN IN HISTORY.”
“Today, it’s an immigrant with a tattoo. Tomorrow, it’s a citizen whose Facebook post annoys Trump. [italics and bold type mine]”.
I emphasized that last quote from Pritzker to emphasize the point that we are all at risk, not just our immigrant neighbors and friends. None of us is safe.
I also need to repeat what Pritzker said just before that italicized quote. One more time, J.B., if you will:
“Standing for the idea that the government doesn’t have the right to kidnap you without due process is arguably the MOST EFFECTIVE CAMPAIGN SLOGAN IN HISTORY.”
I think he may be right.
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Yes. Pritzker is the first prominent elected Democrat to say loud and clear that democracy itself is under attack, and we have to fight, "everywhere and all at once." I don't know why the Democrats in Washington keep dancing around, pretending it's 2015 and all we have to do is get out the vote. I would nitpick your argument regarding 2028 to this extent. It will be a sign of life in our democracy if we do have an election in 2028, but it will be meaningless if the leaders of this coup are not in jail or in court. It'll just be another dance.
Yes. Pritzker is the first prominent elected Democrat to say loud and clear that democracy itself is under attack, and we have to fight, "everywhere and all at once." I don't know why the Democrats in Washington keep dancing around, pretending it's 2015 and all we have to do is get out the vote. I would nitpick your argument regarding 2028 to this extent. It will be a sign of life in our democracy if we do have an election in 2028, but it will be meaningless if the leaders of this coup are not in jail or in court. It'll just be another dance.