A group comprised primarily of former Democrat senators published an op-ed in The Washington Post this week urging current members of the GOP-led Senate to defend democracy.
“As former members of the U.S. Senate, Democrats and Republicans, it is our shared view that we are entering a dangerous period, and we feel an obligation to speak up about serious challenges to the rule of law, the Constitution, our governing institutions and our national security,” they wrote.
Retiring Sen. Jeff Flake shared the column on Twitter Monday.
Important words from a bipartisan group of former Senatorshttps://t.co/moZ7rebMOh
— Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) December 11, 2018
Why do the 44 senators — 32 of whom are Democrats — feel this way? Is it because Senate Democrats hijacked Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings months earlier for political purposes? Or it because some GOP senators have faced rape threats for standing up for what’s right?
It’s neither. The mostly Democrat former senators worry about the state of democracy in America because of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into still-unproven Russian collusion.
“We are on the eve of the conclusion of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation and the House’s commencement of investigations of the president and his administration,” they wrote. “The likely convergence of these two events will occur at a time when simmering regional conflicts and global power confrontations continue to threaten our security, economy and geopolitical stability.”
“It is a time, like other critical junctures in our history, when our nation must engage at every level with strategic precision and the hand of both the president and the Senate.”
Mueller report will be filled with lies! Dershowitz predicts Mueller report will be politically ‘devastating’ for Trump, but rebuttal will be ready https://t.co/c50ojXVFd3
— Mike (@Mike73340046) November 26, 2018
Without citing any specific proposals, the former senators then urged their counterparts in the current GOP-led Senate to “plac[e] our country, democracy and national interest above all else.”
“[W]hen constitutional crises have threatened our foundations, it has been the Senate that has stood in defense of our democracy. Today is once again such a time,” they claimed.
“Regardless of party affiliation, ideological leanings or geography, as former members of this great body, we urge current and future senators to be steadfast and zealous guardians of our democracy by ensuring that partisanship or self-interest does not replace national interest.”
What remains unclear is what “constitutional crisis” they were referring to. Because of the group’s mostly Democrat, partisan makeup, the assumption by most is that the former senators were referring to the president’s alleged attacks on democracy.
According to the left, the president’s criticism of the media, failed Trump Tower deal, concerns about the FBI’s corruption, alleged ties to top Russian officials and scathing excoriation of Mueller’s investigation are all threats to American democracy.
But according to conservatives, the real constitutional crisis is that created by Mueller’s investigation, which they’ve steadfastly argued is an illegal “witch hunt” whose very existence is predicated on corruption of the highest order.
Newt Gingrich absolutely shreds Mueller probe: It’s not an investigation, it’s a ‘Trump destruction project’ https://t.co/XvivIG7i0v pic.twitter.com/6cA6rWRg4L
— Conservative News (@BIZPACReview) December 6, 2018
Not only was the investigation launched in part because of a fraudulent dossier pieced together at the bequest of Democrats, but the investigation itself has been riddled with corruption since day one.
Last year a member of Mueller’s team was discovered to have discussed pursuing an “insurance policy” against President Donald Trump’s potential election. Reports also emerged showing that the special counsel only hired Democrats to assist him in his investigation.
The op-ed by 44 ex-senators made reference to none of these issues, which in turn might explain why so many on social media refuse to take their concerns about democracy seriously.
Look:
“Defending democracy” in a Constitutional Republic. @washingtonpost is full of idiots. https://t.co/fX9Vt1QUDH
— Occupy Donkey❌ (@occupydonkey) December 11, 2018
— space octopus (@OhMeadhbh) December 11, 2018
If you are a humanities or social science major who thinks you can BS your way through a 2 page paper by using words that say nothing, let me tell you where you are headed…. the life of a former US Senatorhttps://t.co/h2ZayZVwEG
— Slippery Pete (@SlpryPete) December 11, 2018
Curious: Has anyone looked up how many of these former senators are lobbyists or work for lobbying firms? https://t.co/CpT4VIdUeF pic.twitter.com/sXJ9E9hPaV
— Shane Goldmacher (@ShaneGoldmacher) December 11, 2018
They’re not even making a clear argument or really taking an identifiable stand on anything
— Rightbrain Kurt (@rightbrainkurt) December 11, 2018
The “core” of defending democracy involves accepting the results of elections and the peaceful transition of power. Let us hear from them on that
— coffeehound (@coffeehound2) December 11, 2018
Senators should defend democracy in the face of blatant attempt by Democrats to manufacture a constitutional crisis.
— Airborne Veteran (@rsteade) December 11, 2018
Yeah, this piece states that these (EX) Senators (32 Dems, 10 Repubs & 2 ind,) state that they should set aside partisan politics and stand together . That is , in my opinion, CODE for cave in to what the Democrats want. It all sounds good but it will bite us in the end unless…
— Thomas Garrett ? (@TommyFolkston61) December 11, 2018
Not lopsided at all… (and the object of their ire never changes… it’s always Trump, Trump, Trump) “The senators — 32 Democrats, 10 Republicans and two independents…” https://t.co/WSVCpJ7CHm
— Defund NPR PBS & NEA (@Jarjarbug) December 11, 2018
32 DEMOCRAT…yep..32…and…10 Conservative (think Bill Kristol type)…and 2 Independent EX senators advise senate to put aside party lines if there is a constitutional crisis
The liberals love this advice….and follows the NYTimes op-ed a couple of months ago
NO THANK YOU
— Mavis J (@MavisJ1) December 11, 2018
32 Democrats 10 Republicans 2 Independents. Not exactly a balanced group.
— Eric Bond ???? (@EricBond_) December 11, 2018
The group’s lopsided “bipartisan” makeup doesn’t appear to be helping.
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