I’ll try to make this short and sweet, and encourage you to watch the included video. The news this evening that should give us all some wind under our wings is that Senator Cory Booker delivered a record setting, impassioned plea for Democratic values on the floor of the Senate. The record for the longest floor speech had been held by Strom Thurmond, in DEFENSE of segregation and denying full rights to all Americans! The very idea of a black person serving on either side of Capitol Hill but especially in the Senate was HATEFUL to Thurmond. However Thurmond no longer has the record. A black man, Senator Cory Booker from New Jersey spoke eloquently and for longer than Thurmond did.
Unlike Thurmond’s hateful rhetoric, Booker spoke of values that this country has always aspired to even as it’s fallen short of fulfilling them. He directly called out Trump, Musk and their enablers. Their desire to to cut crucial programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid that so many tens of millions of Americans rely on – to give yet another tax break to billionaires. Booker called them out big-time. I’ve written at times how the GOP seems to have a secret pill they take each day to avoid feeling shame but you know what? I think Booker just might have gotten through to some of them.
We rank and file Democrats have been angry about the lack of pushback on Trump, Musk/DOGE and Republicans aren’t the only ones dealing with angry constituents these days. Someone, and it sure as hell wouldn’t be Chuck Schumer (Please, PLEASE step aside Chuck!) had to stand up and make people take notice. Booker has just done so, and now WE have to have his back. WE need to keep the pressure on our other Democratic leaders to repeat so many points Booker made. One thing in particular I loved was his pointing out Trump claiming he loves Americans (non-rich ones) but his ACTIONS say otherwise. Booker had certainly earned a rest after yielding the floor but he stayed on the Hill to do an interview with Rachel Maddow and I couldn’t help but think during his speech he ‘channeled’ her “Don’t watch what they say – watch what they DO” mantra.
I’ve had times where I was awake for 24 hours or more straight. Sometimes with a fair amount of activity but always with some time to sit down and rest. Or hit the bathroom and drink all the water I needed. To whammo a sandwich here and there. A Senator doing what Booker did doesn’t get to do that. Other than yielding for a question they are mostly stuck in place at or within arm’s reach of their podium and having to talk. Booker didn’t resort to nonsense like reading the rules of poker or other crap either. He spoke coherently and passionately about what Trump has done so far, intends to keep doing and how by god it’s NOT RIGHT! In fact it defies what has made America what it’s been and despite flaws we have been great for much of our history. He pointed out how what’s happening is exactly what the founders tried to prevent when our Constitution was written and adopted. He called out fellow Senators and those over in the House for ceding Congress (which was from the beginning envisioned as the most powerful branch of government) their authority.
Technically Booker’s floor speech wasn’t a filibuster but practically speaking it had the same effect. As long as he held the floor the Senate couldn’t conduct any other business. I’m a huge fan of The West Wing TV series and more than once today I thought about the Stackhouse Filibuster’ episode. A cranky old Democratic Senator wanted a small amount for autism research for children added to a bill that was supposed to be about children. However, negotiations had been concluded and the Deputy Chief of Staff (Josh) told him no – so Stackhouse took the floor and started talking. Josh’s assistant figured out Stackhouse’s grandson had autism, hence his holding the Senate and Congress hostage because everyone was slated to head out of town.
Once the President knew what was really going on he went on a tirade about grandfathers and “You WILL NOT mess with the grandchildren.” In the end they figure out how to help the Senator but the big moment is when he’s asked to yield for a question – would he believe it was actual help or an attempt to screw him? As Josh and Press Secretary C.J. explain in emails about why they were still in DC it made for a powerful few minutes of TV. The title of this is a paraphrase of what C.J. wrote to her father asking his indulgence for not having made it home (to Indiana) to help him celebrate his birthday. Please watch this:
Senator Booker has given us a ‘Stackhouse’ moment. He ended as he began saying it was a time to cause what the late, GREAT John Lewis spent a lifetime advocating – making some “Good Trouble.” I for one say to everyone still discouraged it’s past time to get up off the freaking mat and join Senator Booker and create a groundswell of ‘Good Trouble’ that turns into a tidal wave. The kind envisioned in the REAL Bobby Kennedy’s Ripple of Hope Speech six decades ago.
Zoomers, if you can spare a donation, it will keep us trekking through cyberspace from planet to planet and psychotic news story to psychotic news story. We just need a little green energy to keep going on our (now) nine year mission and who knows how long it will take to get rid of Trump? Thanks. Ursula
Rage rage rage against the dying of the light! Dylan Thomas
Either phucking resist or go get a goddamn Maga hat so we know who the nazi sympathizers are. Either way YOU EVIL PHUCKERS ARE GOING DOWN. It’s only a matter of time.
The West Wing was on the air for six seasons. During the first season, I left one job for another, my mother passed away, and the new job had odd hours. I don’t think I watched anything for those six years. Subsequently I have seen a fe clips which have given me great respect for the show. But I hadn’t seen this one. Thank you for it.
I’m definitely old enough to remember when Republicans were (pretty much) human. That hasn’t been true for long enough that many adults don’t remember those days. This brings it all back.