In response to letter concerning Schweikert protest
Posted
By John Anderson | Phoenix
It is funny that you label the protests at Rep. Schweikert's office as performative art, when every other thing, every utterance, every decree that comes from our president seems to fit that very definition
For those who missed civics class on the days that explained what the roll of congress is, there are three legs to the stool of government. Congress is one. The Doanld and his troop of “yes men” have unilaterally dismissed, fired, chopped and essentially taken a meat axe to the institutions of government. Many of these agencies were created by congress and if they are to be cut, they must be cut by congress. Thems the rules.
Rep. Schweikert is a member of that institution. As you say in your opinion piece, yes, he is supporting the president. But Schweikert cannot abdicate his responsibility to let the president abuse his power to do what is not his to do. The Donald is the president, not Louis IVX.
I do believe that the protests are the result of Schweikert failing to do his job, which is to stand up for what he was elected to do, advocate for what congress is mandated to do, not to slink into a corner and let the president steamroll over congress for fear of being primaried.
It is called courage, which is in very short supply these days, especially on the Republican side of the aisle.
Waving signs and yelling catchy slogans are all part of protesting. Jane Addams and the women suffragettes' movements, as well as John Lewis and the Civil Rights folks did the same.
So please don't dismiss these folks who rightly protest Schweikert for not doing his job as performance art. We elected the guy. If he ain't doing what he was elected to do, we the voters get to say so. It's that pesky “free speech” thing.
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