Another point...Trump will forgive anyone, once. But they know you can never cross him a second time. Thats how he builds a loyal cult...people who cross him feel grateful for being welcomed back, but then know they have to stay within the lines. Creates absolute obedience.
Yes, and those who will not stand up for values and principles are cowards, as evidenced by the current crop of GOP Congress members. Following the lead sled dog with your nose up his @$$ just to get a better bowl of dogfood is not following principles or values.
I say this with a smile, but I would love it if you never again mention one of "man's best friends" in the same sentence with a cruel-dangerous-disgusting-horrifying evil. Thanks
I agree that we have to keep our hearts open. Most people base decisions on emotions or survival and not on logic or news. If we start by making well-meaning people feel bad, they're never going to listen. I've found that my Trumper friends care about others, but don't have much information. They're surprised to learn that Putin murders people and has nukes pointed at us. All they see is Trump and Putin shaking hands and smiling, which they figure creates peace. It takes a lot of patience and self-discipline to speak with them. Until they prove otherwise, I begin with the assumption they have good intentions. Then I consider what we have in common, set aside party politics and stick to the facts. For instance, my Trumper neighbor is a friendly trucker, so we talk about the effect of high gas prices on his business, which leads to the Iran war, etc. To save democracy, we have to build bridges any way possible.
There are people who are fed a steady stream of dis/misinformation. It’s gone on for years with no one stopping it.
The United States 🇺🇸 may have had to reach this level of threat to our way of life, our Constitutional Rights - to realize how much of a threat the dis/misinformation spew presents to the country through it’s lying to our People.
The AI slop coming out of the White House over the weekend did NOT represent the United States in a way any President in the past, of either party, would have thought was appropriate or acceptable- yet NO ONE STOPPED IT.
No one from the White House protected the American people from the President’s tirade or blocked our opponents from seeing the very public display that was ……
Thank you for doing this hard and critical work. I am as my husband says , a hopeless lefty liberal, who has the utmost respect for you and I read you everyday… your son has every reason to be grateful to have you as his father
I think of MAGA voters walking away from Trump the way I think of a friend leaving a bad relationship. It takes some people longer to see what’s in front of them and we need to show grace and compassion when they finally do. Adam, I don’t think I’ve ever voted for a Republican in my life. But I would vote for you any day for any office!
Thank you for this Adam. I needed to hear this. My anger made it difficult to accept people who were MAGA and changed their minds. This has been so awful to navigate. I am 70 years old and still having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that all of this happened in the United States!
Thank you. One thing I can say (and I mean it as a compliment) is that you are a true conservative Republican. There is nothing conservative about what Donald Trump and his followers are doing. I say this as a liberal Democrat who lived in your district and always voted for your opponent. I have been a big fan of yours ever since you served on the January 6 committee.
Thanks Grant! I appreciate that, and appreciate you voting even if it wasnt for me! Thankfully you were outnumbered! But youre right, true conservatives should want to PAY for what they spend, have a good solid govt that takes care of people, and win the wars they fight, and fight only when absolutely necessary and with allies. Have a good day
This is a big country and everyone is welcome under the tent . As John Lewis said..we’ve all arrived here in many different ways but now we’re all in the same boat” and I would add that the boat’s name needs to be USS Democracy!
This is a message we all need to hear. It is no longer about liberal vs right wing. It’s democracy or autocracy. And people who have come out of the cult and awakened and have the courage to reconsider should absolutely be welcomed to the pro democracy movement. We don’t have to agree on every policy, but we do have to agree about keeping a representative government!
On a different topic, I just read a good article in a mainstream rag about the rise of the far right in German Germany. Why do we -correctly - call it far right when it pertains to Germany or le pen in France, but the very same ideology here in the United States via MAGA it’s not correctly labeled as far right by the media? Is there a way we can raise awareness about this? That maga is a radical anti democratic belief system.
Since the January 6 committee I have understood your primary statement to be , “ we can have differences about the details, but first we have to save the democracy “ that’s why I have followed, appreciated and applauded you ever since.
Adam - Well said! As someone who is married to a person who has a completely different political stance than me debating is our love language during election time. ;)
Adam, I think this is one of your most important columns to date. I have been posting the same sentiment on every "FAFO" social media posting I find. Currently, it's the comments on the GOP cattle ranchers finding themselves devastated by Trump's importation of cheap beef in a desperate bid to keep prices from skyrocketing before the midterms. The comments taunt, "Have the day you voted for." Yes, we felt betrayed by Jan. 6, and all the other abominations to come out of MAGA. Yes, schaudenfreude feels good. But it's biting off our nose to spite our face. Sun Tsu said you have to give your enemies an avenue to escape, or they fight with 10 times more desperation when surrounded. Jesus Christ said we have to forgive. We don't have to like MAGA, but take their vote where we can get it. If all we are seeking is retribution, are we any better than Trump?
Adam, I really enjoy reading your posts and listening to your videos. You and HRC are our national heroes. I have a big concern and would like your feedback. In the midterms, let’s say reason wins the day. We take over both houses. Yay for us and the country. Now we must clean up the mess created by the lunatics. Oye vey. Shit.
The grown ups have to reverse, fix, repair, rebuild… it all. It will be time consuming, tedious, and very expensive. The plan for doing this will have to be ready to be in place in November. And work in concert with the plan to address a $40T debt.
Where is Solomon when you need him?
We can’t borrow more. It will have to come from tax increases. Aside from the rich paying their fair share and impeachment/holding Trump accountable… The people who voted in favor of ousting this clown car will be held accountable for the most monumental tax increase in world history, regardless of the fact that it must be done to keep us out of the New Dark Ages.
Where does that leave us in 2028?
Not to be a Debbie Downer, especially since I’m normally a pretty glass-half-full kind of gal. But we have to be ready for the blowback that will happen in 2027.
It does make me mad/sad when it's not until it hits someone personally that they begin to change their mind. It's a matter of expediency, not principle--unlike you, Adam, who puts principles ahead of personal gain. But you're right, we'll take them however we can get them, and then maybe we can also enlighten them. Thanks for all you do.
I thank you daily and I am a life long Democrat! My parents lived thru the Depression years and my Great grandmother lost everything she owned and I heard this constantly as a child, so no way could I ever be anything but a Democrat! But we are headed in the same Direction again!😢
To be honest I wasn't sure how I felt about you until I saw you on the January 6th Committee. I always read that you were a non-partisan kind of rep but also saw you voted against/for what I considered against the countries best interest on occasion. Now I see you as an individual who values integrity and has been transparent about your past decisions and current standings. I would feel comfortable voting and campaigning for you in any office you would so choose to run for. If you aren't an elected official in 2028 whatever administration is in power would be remissive if they didn't ask you to be a cabinet member (Defense, State, maybe even Chief). We seriously need way more Adam Kinzingers.
I don’t understand the anger when people change their minds. I changed my mind about abortion in 2022. I had been pro-life for many years but it hit me really hard when I realized that the politicians, who were protesting so loudly about protecting the unborn, didn’t really care about the children. If they did, they would do anything to make it safer for the children in school who are being targeted by gunmen. They moan and weep for the unborn then make it so easy for anyone to stockpile ammunition for any reason. It’s insane.
I really understand your change of mind… and of heart ❤️.
So have I.
I keep thinking that this really difficult situation has been badly presented by Pro-life supporters.
For fifty years their message has been “doom” for those who disagree with them. I believe a greater effort should be made for understanding. Not only understanding of what a woman is challenged with, but understanding her lack of knowledge about the love of God and the spiritual support He provides to all. Maybe Pro-choice would choose life with this knowledge. 💕🙏🏻💕
Boy did I need this column today because I am losing hope every time I hear of another crazy ass thing that he’s doing and nobody is even thinking about stopping him makes me want to cry for my children and grandchildren. I say God bless you, Adam every single time I read your column.
Your stand has been admirable from the days of the 1/6 commission. You carved out a stand for democracy when partisan dogma was omnipresent. I am a republican and proud to be one. The flaw you identified predates the 1/6 riot. It’s not a party or ideal, it’s clinging to democracy as the cornerstone of America. In 1776 we railed against a monarchy. Now those years later we need to do it again. Let’s be clear. Trump is not a republican., he’s an autocrat, a megalomaniac, and a control freak. He claims Republican bona fides, while attempting to tear down the fabric of our democracy.. We are watching that with this election cycle so in some, we loudly denounce autocracy, and we loudly denounce efforts to dismantle the fabric of our democracy that’s our cause, and you are helping to champion it.
Adam, I think you are great! I just subscribed but I’ve been reading and listening to you since the whole Jan 6 disaster. I’m a Democrat but I vote for you for president!
Sally S - There are days when I sometimes wonder how our country would be different if people voted for the candidate and not just because of the letter behind the name? Would have been really helpful in 2016 but sometimes we have to see just how ugly it can get (and watch losing everything we earned) before some people wake up (and I don’t think that is being woke).
Another point...Trump will forgive anyone, once. But they know you can never cross him a second time. Thats how he builds a loyal cult...people who cross him feel grateful for being welcomed back, but then know they have to stay within the lines. Creates absolute obedience.
Yes, and those who will not stand up for values and principles are cowards, as evidenced by the current crop of GOP Congress members. Following the lead sled dog with your nose up his @$$ just to get a better bowl of dogfood is not following principles or values.
I say this with a smile, but I would love it if you never again mention one of "man's best friends" in the same sentence with a cruel-dangerous-disgusting-horrifying evil. Thanks
Michael Cohen is an example of this.
Michael can’t help it. It must be hard to go through life with no moral compass.🧭 And shame on me. He’s an easy target.
He’s a thug, a cheap thug
Who/What else wd Trump hire to be his ‘Fixer’?
I was just thinking that
I agree that we have to keep our hearts open. Most people base decisions on emotions or survival and not on logic or news. If we start by making well-meaning people feel bad, they're never going to listen. I've found that my Trumper friends care about others, but don't have much information. They're surprised to learn that Putin murders people and has nukes pointed at us. All they see is Trump and Putin shaking hands and smiling, which they figure creates peace. It takes a lot of patience and self-discipline to speak with them. Until they prove otherwise, I begin with the assumption they have good intentions. Then I consider what we have in common, set aside party politics and stick to the facts. For instance, my Trumper neighbor is a friendly trucker, so we talk about the effect of high gas prices on his business, which leads to the Iran war, etc. To save democracy, we have to build bridges any way possible.
So true, but I can’t for the life of me understand their ignorance.
Esp when we have SO many portals of *accurate info today & for decades.
- to be ‘blind’ to Putin’s horrible actions of decades now … ??
and to rely on a simple photo of smiles & handshakes?
Such VERY selective & simplistic ‘analysis’ I question the moral &/or intellectual honesty of.
But yes, one must be gracious & accepting of positive change.
Many Americans don't read books, magazines or news.
There are people who are fed a steady stream of dis/misinformation. It’s gone on for years with no one stopping it.
The United States 🇺🇸 may have had to reach this level of threat to our way of life, our Constitutional Rights - to realize how much of a threat the dis/misinformation spew presents to the country through it’s lying to our People.
The AI slop coming out of the White House over the weekend did NOT represent the United States in a way any President in the past, of either party, would have thought was appropriate or acceptable- yet NO ONE STOPPED IT.
No one from the White House protected the American people from the President’s tirade or blocked our opponents from seeing the very public display that was ……
What????
Absolutely. I can't wait for the day he chews Michael Cohen up and spits him out. It WILL happen.
"he chews Michael Cohen up"
Trump eats shit? Who woulda knowed!
Insanity?
Thank you for doing this hard and critical work. I am as my husband says , a hopeless lefty liberal, who has the utmost respect for you and I read you everyday… your son has every reason to be grateful to have you as his father
Thank you so much sandra!
I agree!
Grateful and proud.
I'll say it again. You're a classic act Adam, and your heart for democracy is genuine.
Thank you for saying this!
I think of MAGA voters walking away from Trump the way I think of a friend leaving a bad relationship. It takes some people longer to see what’s in front of them and we need to show grace and compassion when they finally do. Adam, I don’t think I’ve ever voted for a Republican in my life. But I would vote for you any day for any office!
Thank you for this Adam. I needed to hear this. My anger made it difficult to accept people who were MAGA and changed their minds. This has been so awful to navigate. I am 70 years old and still having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that all of this happened in the United States!
Doesnt mean you have to forgive, but its important to not reject them if we want to win!
Thank you. One thing I can say (and I mean it as a compliment) is that you are a true conservative Republican. There is nothing conservative about what Donald Trump and his followers are doing. I say this as a liberal Democrat who lived in your district and always voted for your opponent. I have been a big fan of yours ever since you served on the January 6 committee.
Thanks Grant! I appreciate that, and appreciate you voting even if it wasnt for me! Thankfully you were outnumbered! But youre right, true conservatives should want to PAY for what they spend, have a good solid govt that takes care of people, and win the wars they fight, and fight only when absolutely necessary and with allies. Have a good day
This is a big country and everyone is welcome under the tent . As John Lewis said..we’ve all arrived here in many different ways but now we’re all in the same boat” and I would add that the boat’s name needs to be USS Democracy!
Well said!
This is a message we all need to hear. It is no longer about liberal vs right wing. It’s democracy or autocracy. And people who have come out of the cult and awakened and have the courage to reconsider should absolutely be welcomed to the pro democracy movement. We don’t have to agree on every policy, but we do have to agree about keeping a representative government!
Absolutely. We can have debates, but first we need to guarantee that... WE CAN HAVE DEBATES
On a different topic, I just read a good article in a mainstream rag about the rise of the far right in German Germany. Why do we -correctly - call it far right when it pertains to Germany or le pen in France, but the very same ideology here in the United States via MAGA it’s not correctly labeled as far right by the media? Is there a way we can raise awareness about this? That maga is a radical anti democratic belief system.
Since the January 6 committee I have understood your primary statement to be , “ we can have differences about the details, but first we have to save the democracy “ that’s why I have followed, appreciated and applauded you ever since.
God bless you and yours.🙏🏻
Exactly so! :-)
Adam - Well said! As someone who is married to a person who has a completely different political stance than me debating is our love language during election time. ;)
Adam, I think this is one of your most important columns to date. I have been posting the same sentiment on every "FAFO" social media posting I find. Currently, it's the comments on the GOP cattle ranchers finding themselves devastated by Trump's importation of cheap beef in a desperate bid to keep prices from skyrocketing before the midterms. The comments taunt, "Have the day you voted for." Yes, we felt betrayed by Jan. 6, and all the other abominations to come out of MAGA. Yes, schaudenfreude feels good. But it's biting off our nose to spite our face. Sun Tsu said you have to give your enemies an avenue to escape, or they fight with 10 times more desperation when surrounded. Jesus Christ said we have to forgive. We don't have to like MAGA, but take their vote where we can get it. If all we are seeking is retribution, are we any better than Trump?
Well said. I dont want to pretend Im perfect at it, i find myself sometimes FAFO'ing, but Im trying to be better
Same.
Adam, I really enjoy reading your posts and listening to your videos. You and HRC are our national heroes. I have a big concern and would like your feedback. In the midterms, let’s say reason wins the day. We take over both houses. Yay for us and the country. Now we must clean up the mess created by the lunatics. Oye vey. Shit.
The grown ups have to reverse, fix, repair, rebuild… it all. It will be time consuming, tedious, and very expensive. The plan for doing this will have to be ready to be in place in November. And work in concert with the plan to address a $40T debt.
Where is Solomon when you need him?
We can’t borrow more. It will have to come from tax increases. Aside from the rich paying their fair share and impeachment/holding Trump accountable… The people who voted in favor of ousting this clown car will be held accountable for the most monumental tax increase in world history, regardless of the fact that it must be done to keep us out of the New Dark Ages.
Where does that leave us in 2028?
Not to be a Debbie Downer, especially since I’m normally a pretty glass-half-full kind of gal. But we have to be ready for the blowback that will happen in 2027.
It does make me mad/sad when it's not until it hits someone personally that they begin to change their mind. It's a matter of expediency, not principle--unlike you, Adam, who puts principles ahead of personal gain. But you're right, we'll take them however we can get them, and then maybe we can also enlighten them. Thanks for all you do.
I thank you daily and I am a life long Democrat! My parents lived thru the Depression years and my Great grandmother lost everything she owned and I heard this constantly as a child, so no way could I ever be anything but a Democrat! But we are headed in the same Direction again!😢
YEP!
To be honest I wasn't sure how I felt about you until I saw you on the January 6th Committee. I always read that you were a non-partisan kind of rep but also saw you voted against/for what I considered against the countries best interest on occasion. Now I see you as an individual who values integrity and has been transparent about your past decisions and current standings. I would feel comfortable voting and campaigning for you in any office you would so choose to run for. If you aren't an elected official in 2028 whatever administration is in power would be remissive if they didn't ask you to be a cabinet member (Defense, State, maybe even Chief). We seriously need way more Adam Kinzingers.
I don’t understand the anger when people change their minds. I changed my mind about abortion in 2022. I had been pro-life for many years but it hit me really hard when I realized that the politicians, who were protesting so loudly about protecting the unborn, didn’t really care about the children. If they did, they would do anything to make it safer for the children in school who are being targeted by gunmen. They moan and weep for the unborn then make it so easy for anyone to stockpile ammunition for any reason. It’s insane.
Well said, Alice.
I really understand your change of mind… and of heart ❤️.
So have I.
I keep thinking that this really difficult situation has been badly presented by Pro-life supporters.
For fifty years their message has been “doom” for those who disagree with them. I believe a greater effort should be made for understanding. Not only understanding of what a woman is challenged with, but understanding her lack of knowledge about the love of God and the spiritual support He provides to all. Maybe Pro-choice would choose life with this knowledge. 💕🙏🏻💕
Absolutely. I am not in favor of willy-nilly abortions but the ban on abortions hurts many women through no fault of their own.
Boy did I need this column today because I am losing hope every time I hear of another crazy ass thing that he’s doing and nobody is even thinking about stopping him makes me want to cry for my children and grandchildren. I say God bless you, Adam every single time I read your column.
Your stand has been admirable from the days of the 1/6 commission. You carved out a stand for democracy when partisan dogma was omnipresent. I am a republican and proud to be one. The flaw you identified predates the 1/6 riot. It’s not a party or ideal, it’s clinging to democracy as the cornerstone of America. In 1776 we railed against a monarchy. Now those years later we need to do it again. Let’s be clear. Trump is not a republican., he’s an autocrat, a megalomaniac, and a control freak. He claims Republican bona fides, while attempting to tear down the fabric of our democracy.. We are watching that with this election cycle so in some, we loudly denounce autocracy, and we loudly denounce efforts to dismantle the fabric of our democracy that’s our cause, and you are helping to champion it.
Adam, I think you are great! I just subscribed but I’ve been reading and listening to you since the whole Jan 6 disaster. I’m a Democrat but I vote for you for president!
Thank you so much Cathy, and welcome to the comments!
You have been steadfast to your principles no matter the cost. Your son has a hero for a father.
I’ll vote for you regardless of party Adam.
Well it wont be as a Republican. They torched their morals
👍
Sally S - There are days when I sometimes wonder how our country would be different if people voted for the candidate and not just because of the letter behind the name? Would have been really helpful in 2016 but sometimes we have to see just how ugly it can get (and watch losing everything we earned) before some people wake up (and I don’t think that is being woke).
Agree