This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!
Last week I wrote to about 30 friends and acquaintances whom I know to be politically engaged. I was asking for help to defeat Kevin McCarthy and marginalize the die-hard MAGA people in Congress,
This is not an effort organized by a party or a PAC or a political club. It's just me, and now a growing number of others, who've noticed that quite a large majority of the House of Representatives, including many Republicans, would like to leave all the MAGA nonsense behind and get on with governing. But in his quest to gain the Speakership, Kevin McCarthy is making one concession after another to the far-right "Freedom Caucus" in exchange for their votes on January 3.
If Democrats follow tradition, casting all their votes as a bloc for their party leader, McCarthy will likely prevail. And that small minority fringe of die-hard MAGA supporters will be empowered to dominate and produce two more years of bitter partisan gridlock.
The solution here is as obvious as it is difficult to achieve:
Democrats joining with a group of moderate Republicans would have enough votes to elect a moderate Republican Speaker -- one whose only obligation would be to governing.
This is not so far-fetched as it may seem. We know that Republican congressman Don Bacon of Omaha has voiced his willingness to "work with Democrats to put in an agreeable Republican.” That would be if Democrats would be willing to work with him. Speaking for dozens of his non-MAGA moderate colleagues, he added "We're tired of being pushed around (by the Freedom Caucus).” The potential for a cross-party alliance is there.
So how does it happen?
Writing to your Congressperson and to minority leader Hakeem Jeffries would certainly be helpful. But the immediate challenge is to get the proposal into the media narrative. In order for D's to vote for an R, they need to know they'll have voters' support. And support builds from public discussion. That's where we come in.
It's a ripples in the pond strategy -- each stone making the ripples bigger and more numerous until someone notices and writes a column or hosts a discussion on their TV show.
if you’ haven’t already done so, please write to these three media personalities and invite them to interrupt the cycle of dire predictions to consider this possible alternate scenario.
Jennifer Rubin: jennifer.rubin@washpost.com
Michael Moore: mike@michaelmoore.com
Rachel Maddow: rachel@msnbc.com
Here’s a brief sample message which you can copy or improvise on so you don't have to start from scratch.
Instead of Kevin McCarthy, a moderate Republican could be elected Speaker of the House on January 3 if Democrats were to vote with centrist Republicans. This possibility has been mentioned a couple times by Rep. Don Bacon (R, NB), who heads a group of about 90 "Main Street Republicans" in the House. Mr. Bacon has said they're "tired of being pushed around" by the MAGA extemists who are demanding concessions from Mr. McCarthy in exchange for their support.
Would you please consider **(writing a column about) (discussing in your newsletter) (hosting a discussion on your show about) ** the potential for forming a cross-party alliance to counter the dominance of irrational fringe extremists in Congress? We all know reasons why such a move may be unlikely. So rather than dwell on that, it would be constructive to have a conversation focused on how this could be accomplished. Thank you.
** writing a column about -- to Jennifer Rubin
discussing in your newsletter -- to Michael Moore
hosting a discussion on your show about -- to Rachel Maddow
Several people have forwarded my post from last week to their contacts, and two have told me that their contacts have in turn forwarded it to theirs. If you know anyone who might be interested in this proposal, please also forward that email to them. Thanks.
The ripples are spreading, but there's very little time. The holidays will be a huge distraction, and January 3 is only 4 weeks away.
Each of us has our own little light. And even as it dims with age we can still let it shine with others to counter the darkness that seems so pervasive.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!