A DIVISIVE ADDRESS: PRESIDENT TRUMP’S PARTISAN SPEECH

On Tuesday evening, March 4, the President gave a joint address to Congress. Historically, these joint addresses target issues that bring our nation together. Yet rather than seeking unity, Trump presented a campaign speech which was, as PBS described it, unrelentingly partisan. It was also very misleading as usual. According to analysts’ reports, there were at least 26 questionable claims within it.

During the President’s speech, Democrats tried various protest tactics such as holding signs, shouting out remarks, and even walking out. Although these efforts had limited effect, it is important to remember that our Constitutional right to free speech protects such actions.

Following the President, Senator Elissa Slotkin’s offered the Democrat’s Response. She pointed out that rather than focusing on lowering prices and helping to strengthen the middle class, Trump was undermining our government to give more tax breaks to billionaires. The senator also said that the President is picking fights with our global allies and cozying up to our greatest political enemies. She also implied that this ham-fisted approach to governing is increasing the risk of a recession and the potential for wider global conflict.

Hearing Senator Slotkin vocalize what we have all seen unfold in the past six weeks, just reinforces the fact that Trump and the Republican Party do not support Democracy and will not defend our Constitutional rights.

STANDING UP FOR FREE SPEECH: OUR VOICES MUST BE HEARD

That is one of the reasons why we support Teresa Borrenpohl’s remarks and actions at last week’s local Town Hall. No American should fear being singled out, forcibly removed, and ultimately silenced for speaking out.

Voters all over the country are echoing the outrage expressed at the KCRCC Townhall. Voters are telling their GOP legislators to stand up to Trump. In response, the Republican National Committee recently told its members to cancel future in-person town halls. In other words, rather than facing public outrage, they are telling GOP legislators to avoid their constituents.

We cannot let them get away with this. To quote our friend Justice Jim Jones: “The people must make it perfectly clear that policies counter to their best interests will not be tolerated. The people must get engaged, to let the politicians know that what they prize the most — keeping their prestigious offices — can only occur when they follow the public will.”

In line with this sentiment, the Kootenai County Democrats gathered this week to write more than 120 cards and letters to our legislators. Your Kootenai County delegation will hand deliver them this weekend while we are in Boise for the Frank & Bethine Church Gala.

Here is an even more effective way to be heard.

According to the NY Times, phoning your representatives works even better than writing them. The reason is they closely track the total number of callers they hear from and the opinions they express. Plus, hearing the voices of their constituents has a greater impact than reading emails or letters.

To make calling easy, I recommend 5 Calls which is an app you can download to your cell phone. The app helps voters contact their congressional representatives. It is an easy and effective way to make a political impact. Thank you to Beth Miller for alerting me to it.

To download and install the app, go to the app store on your phone and search for 5 Calls. Then open the app and enter your zip code. Once it knows your zip code, the app lists your representatives and presents their contact information. Then the app presents a list of issues you can choose to speak about. When you select an issue from the list, 5 Calls displays the background information related to that issue. Then one more click takes you to a page with a natural sounding telephone script that reads as if you are making it up.

If you are still nervous about calling, remember that you will be speaking to a voice mail recorder or, at most, an office staffer. So, there is no need for you to worry. So, respectively raise your voice. The person on the other end of the line is unlikely to argue with you.

I downloaded 5 Calls to my cellphone and used it for the first time yesterday. I think if you try it, you will see the value as I did.

WE ARE STILL EXPLORING OTHER OPTIONS

At next week’s Central Committee meeting we will consider two more ways to raise our voices in the months ahead. One is a counter town hall featuring former US Representatives Larry LaRocco and Jim Stallings. The other possibility under consideration is to hold a First Amendment symposium headed up by author and Constitutional scholar Professor David Adler. Dr Adler was the panel moderator at our 2023 Hijacking Democracy Symposium.

Have a wonderful week everyone.