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.
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!
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.
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!😢
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 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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Michael Cohen is an example of this.
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!
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
Exactly so! :-)
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.🙏🏻
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!
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 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!
I’ll vote for you regardless of party Adam.
Well it wont be as a Republican. They torched their morals
👍
You have been steadfast to your principles no matter the cost. Your son has a hero for a father.
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.
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.
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.