So many documents are being released covering a variety of topics. The $hit is gathering to finally hit the fan. I think they are going to need a really big fan.
A profile in courage? That may be an overstatement. However, openly admitting an error in judgement is a decent thing to do, and I respect Kinzinger for his openness. He and Senator Cheney have my respect and thanks.
While I can appreciate Kinzinger's newfound change of heart & Cheney's fighting their party members, I can't help but feel like America is hurling to a new war on its own soil. What divides us in every area of life is driven by race & the inability to atone for it. The blatant disregard can't continue. All made worse by a pandemic. There has to be restitution & atonement. Period. This doesn't happen with what is going on in Congress now. Know that both their attitudes leave us no where but on that current path.
To call someone's action courageous is not the same thing as calling him blameless. I do not think it excuses his original vote on impeachment. And the phrase "profile in courage" perhaps suggests Kinzinger's character is imbued with courage, which goes too far. But I can appreciate that opposing a man with uncertain power who is openly vindictive takes courage.
I’ve gone back and forth on this issue in my head several times. I think it’s important to try to keep some perspective by first acknowledging that what we are experiencing politically is extreme & abnormal. Granted, the current dismal state of American politics has roots in past decades, but the wisdom of looking a gift horse in the mouth is in play.
It’s much easier to judge in hindsight than it is to understand the impact of events as they occur. As hard as it is to reconcile Cheney & Kinzenger’s voting records with their courage to finally stand up to tremendous pressure from their party & the inevitable loss of their political careers, they still deserve more than a little credit for doing it.
I’m a practical person. When I imagine where we would be today politically if Cheney & Kinzinger hadn’t drawn a line in the sand when they did, my imagination shudders. Although they contributed to the events that created a full-blown political crisis, they had the guts to take a stand for what’s right at the last moment when it still mattered. For that they deserve our gratitude.
While I understand that it's hard to speak up against the tide, there are so many things that are beyond the pale. The Movement Conservatives are actively working against essential components of a functioning democracy to which voting rights are central. I applaud both Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger for aggressively drawing the line at insurrection and seeking to hold all those involved accountable, including the former president. Still, their voting records show that they both support far too many initiatives that are harmful to a functioning democracy, particularly where crucial rights such as protecting voting rights are concerned. They voted in lock step with the GOP's agenda over 90% of the time. They are still Movement Conservatives, not traditional conservatives, but at least they do recognize and support the rule of law, and that's something.
I agree with you. To me your opinion is more thoughtful and not a result of bitterness. I’m hearing bitter voices criticizing Mr Kinzinger. To me, he is much more human now. The frowns n the photos of him are not ugly; they just reflect his empathy. A bleeding heart.
Behavior like this, choices like that, were once just normal human decency. That so many see them as courage now tells us we’re in deep trouble. But we knew that.
“History isn’t merely a passive assortment of dates, names, and events. It doesn’t accumulate like sedimentary rock. We shift it by the actions we take in the present.” I’m... well, that just rocked my world. I guess I have always thought of history as stagnant or, yes, like you said like rock. But, no, it’s not at all. I mean what happened happened, sure, but we learn more about it as time goes on as well as seeing the after effects which can tweak our perceptions and understanding. Thank you.
As far as I'm concerned, Adam Kinzinger is a profile in courage for the stand he has taken against the former president. He saw how other members of Congress did not have the courage to stand up to the former president and threw up his hands in disgust over this issue. It was obviously a step too far for Kinzinger to accept the direction that the former president was attempting to take the party he had aligned himself with.
I agree with Dan and Elliot that Kinzinger's public mea culpa was courageous. He was being courageous at that moment in time, even if he hadn't been before. If he came to this conclusion and felt the strong need to say so in an expedient, public, vulnerable way, there may be other inner dialogues taking place that could inspire him, and others not brave enough to admit their regrets, to move forward with veracity and conscience. Perhaps it was echoing the title of JFK's 'Profiles in Courage' that struck a chord for many who'd never deign to identify Kinzinger with the subjects of JFK's book, nor with JFK's own courage and heroism during World War II. I wish Kinzinger and his family safety, clarity and teflon in the face of the backlash tsunami coming their way. And I thank him from the bottom of my 2024-terrified heart for speaking up.
I agree with Dan and Elliot that Kinzinger's public mea culpa was courageous. He was being courageous at that moment in time, even if he hadn't been before. If he came to this conclusion and felt the strong need to say so in an expedient, public, vulnerable way, there may be other inner dialogues taking place that could inspire him, and others not brave enough to admit their regrets, to move forward with veracity and conscience. Perhaps it was echoing the title of JFK's 'Profiles in Courage' that struck a chord for many who'd never deign to identify Kinzinger with the subjects of JFK's book, nor with JFK's own courage and heroism during World War II. I wish Kinzinger and his family safety, clarity and teflon in the face of the backlash tsunami coming their way. And I thank him from the bottom of my 2024-terrified heart for speaking up.
It is indeed courageous to stand in opposition to one’s tribe and should be commended in this instance. The more we engage in civil conversation with people from other tribes, the more likely we are to learn from each other and possibly all of is get to a point of agreement.
If you've ever felt sad for something you said or did and offered an apology or not, wouldn't you be feeling regret? For those of us who've been through that a time or two--we don't have to tell anyone about it other than knowing it ourselves. But Representative Kinzinger did tell us--a far greater audience than needed. I would agree that he was courageous for having come to the conclusion and shared his regret later than what many of us may think would have been better or done more good.
So many documents are being released covering a variety of topics. The $hit is gathering to finally hit the fan. I think they are going to need a really big fan.
Simply admitting error and acting to correct course is noteworthy in my view, especially when it comes from folks with huge egos. Bravo for noting it
Representatives Kinzinger and Cheney have persistently modeled courage and integrity, despite receiving death threats because they uphold democracy.
A profile in courage? That may be an overstatement. However, openly admitting an error in judgement is a decent thing to do, and I respect Kinzinger for his openness. He and Senator Cheney have my respect and thanks.
While I can appreciate Kinzinger's newfound change of heart & Cheney's fighting their party members, I can't help but feel like America is hurling to a new war on its own soil. What divides us in every area of life is driven by race & the inability to atone for it. The blatant disregard can't continue. All made worse by a pandemic. There has to be restitution & atonement. Period. This doesn't happen with what is going on in Congress now. Know that both their attitudes leave us no where but on that current path.
To call someone's action courageous is not the same thing as calling him blameless. I do not think it excuses his original vote on impeachment. And the phrase "profile in courage" perhaps suggests Kinzinger's character is imbued with courage, which goes too far. But I can appreciate that opposing a man with uncertain power who is openly vindictive takes courage.
I’ve gone back and forth on this issue in my head several times. I think it’s important to try to keep some perspective by first acknowledging that what we are experiencing politically is extreme & abnormal. Granted, the current dismal state of American politics has roots in past decades, but the wisdom of looking a gift horse in the mouth is in play.
It’s much easier to judge in hindsight than it is to understand the impact of events as they occur. As hard as it is to reconcile Cheney & Kinzenger’s voting records with their courage to finally stand up to tremendous pressure from their party & the inevitable loss of their political careers, they still deserve more than a little credit for doing it.
I’m a practical person. When I imagine where we would be today politically if Cheney & Kinzinger hadn’t drawn a line in the sand when they did, my imagination shudders. Although they contributed to the events that created a full-blown political crisis, they had the guts to take a stand for what’s right at the last moment when it still mattered. For that they deserve our gratitude.
While I understand that it's hard to speak up against the tide, there are so many things that are beyond the pale. The Movement Conservatives are actively working against essential components of a functioning democracy to which voting rights are central. I applaud both Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger for aggressively drawing the line at insurrection and seeking to hold all those involved accountable, including the former president. Still, their voting records show that they both support far too many initiatives that are harmful to a functioning democracy, particularly where crucial rights such as protecting voting rights are concerned. They voted in lock step with the GOP's agenda over 90% of the time. They are still Movement Conservatives, not traditional conservatives, but at least they do recognize and support the rule of law, and that's something.
I agree with you. To me your opinion is more thoughtful and not a result of bitterness. I’m hearing bitter voices criticizing Mr Kinzinger. To me, he is much more human now. The frowns n the photos of him are not ugly; they just reflect his empathy. A bleeding heart.
Behavior like this, choices like that, were once just normal human decency. That so many see them as courage now tells us we’re in deep trouble. But we knew that.
“History isn’t merely a passive assortment of dates, names, and events. It doesn’t accumulate like sedimentary rock. We shift it by the actions we take in the present.” I’m... well, that just rocked my world. I guess I have always thought of history as stagnant or, yes, like you said like rock. But, no, it’s not at all. I mean what happened happened, sure, but we learn more about it as time goes on as well as seeing the after effects which can tweak our perceptions and understanding. Thank you.
As far as I'm concerned, Adam Kinzinger is a profile in courage for the stand he has taken against the former president. He saw how other members of Congress did not have the courage to stand up to the former president and threw up his hands in disgust over this issue. It was obviously a step too far for Kinzinger to accept the direction that the former president was attempting to take the party he had aligned himself with.
I agree with Dan and Elliot that Kinzinger's public mea culpa was courageous. He was being courageous at that moment in time, even if he hadn't been before. If he came to this conclusion and felt the strong need to say so in an expedient, public, vulnerable way, there may be other inner dialogues taking place that could inspire him, and others not brave enough to admit their regrets, to move forward with veracity and conscience. Perhaps it was echoing the title of JFK's 'Profiles in Courage' that struck a chord for many who'd never deign to identify Kinzinger with the subjects of JFK's book, nor with JFK's own courage and heroism during World War II. I wish Kinzinger and his family safety, clarity and teflon in the face of the backlash tsunami coming their way. And I thank him from the bottom of my 2024-terrified heart for speaking up.
I agree with Dan and Elliot that Kinzinger's public mea culpa was courageous. He was being courageous at that moment in time, even if he hadn't been before. If he came to this conclusion and felt the strong need to say so in an expedient, public, vulnerable way, there may be other inner dialogues taking place that could inspire him, and others not brave enough to admit their regrets, to move forward with veracity and conscience. Perhaps it was echoing the title of JFK's 'Profiles in Courage' that struck a chord for many who'd never deign to identify Kinzinger with the subjects of JFK's book, nor with JFK's own courage and heroism during World War II. I wish Kinzinger and his family safety, clarity and teflon in the face of the backlash tsunami coming their way. And I thank him from the bottom of my 2024-terrified heart for speaking up.
It is indeed courageous to stand in opposition to one’s tribe and should be commended in this instance. The more we engage in civil conversation with people from other tribes, the more likely we are to learn from each other and possibly all of is get to a point of agreement.
If you've ever felt sad for something you said or did and offered an apology or not, wouldn't you be feeling regret? For those of us who've been through that a time or two--we don't have to tell anyone about it other than knowing it ourselves. But Representative Kinzinger did tell us--a far greater audience than needed. I would agree that he was courageous for having come to the conclusion and shared his regret later than what many of us may think would have been better or done more good.