The better Democratic congresspeople are skipping the state of the union address, because Democratic leadership is stepping on their leverage if they went. A Democratic Party leadership worthy of the name would be using the incredible leverage of a moment of national attention with the fascist Republican president in the room to show that the malicious, illegal, treasonous Trump/Musk regime is unacceptable and needs to go.
Instead, from Rep. Jeffries’s letter to colleagues:
Given my responsibilities in the House, I plan to attend the speech, along with other members of the Democratic leadership, to make clear to the nation that there is a strong opposition party ready, willing and able to serve as a check and balance on the excesses of the administration.
The decision to attend the Joint Session is a personal one and we understand that members will come to different conclusions. However, it is important to have a strong, determined and dignified Democratic presence in the chamber. The House as an institution belongs to the American people, and as their representatives we will not be run off the block or bullied.
Bolding mine.“Dignified” means no disruptions. It means let the empire carry on, because that’s more important than wielding official and persuasive powers assertively to stop fascist saboteurs, more important than striking when the iron is hot. (‘Cause, y’know, if Democrats did that, the public might start getting ideas.) It shows how establishment Democrats act as anti-leaders in order to squelch populist power… even if it means losing to fascism and climate doom.
We cannot afford a splintered opposition to fascist Republicans. That’s how representative societies fall. We need Democrats to unify behind proudly assertive progressive leadership. Call your congressperson. Demand that they change the way they do politics!
And there’s no going back to the way things were in 2015. That’s how we got here in the first place. Biden tried precisely that, and look where that got us. If we make it to 2026 and some billionaires, tech bros, banksters, etc. still find the Democratic Party acceptable enough to keep funding it, we will fail.
Also: ImpeachTrumpAgain.org