Liz Cheney explained why she believes the US isn’t taking Trump seriously enough and why the current Republican Party can’t be allowed to take power in this year’s elections.
Strong criticism
In early December, Cheney made headlines for warning that America was “sleepwalking into a dictatorship.” She recently explained that many Americans aren’t worried enough about the dangers of a second Trump presidency.
In her own words
Cheney argued that Trump says such “horrible” things so often, “in a way we’ve become numb” to it. During his presidency, for example, Trump tweeted attacks at various enemies almost 6,000 times.
Continued survival
“I also think,” Cheney continued, “that all of us, as Americans, [have] become accustomed to being able to rely on our republic surviving.” Though the US is a relatively young nation compared to many others, it is the oldest democracy if you measure by when countries implemented democratic constitutions.
Exaggeration or truth
Cheney acknowledged that right-wing critics accuse her of “catastrophizing and exaggerating” the threat of another Trump term. She fired back by claiming these lack “understanding and recognizing how dangerous it would be.”
Just one example
For example, Cheney pointed to how Trump “was unwilling to enforce the rulings of the courts. He was just simply saying,” Cheney argued, “‘If I don’t agree with the court, I’ll ignore [its] rulings.’”
Dire consequences
Cheney argued that electing a president willing to be so authoritarian would be “the end of the constitutional republic.” She acknowledged that “it can become very difficult” for people to grasp the severity of this threat fully.
Dictatorial ambitions
Trump has drawn repeated criticism for his praise of dictators around the world, from Russia’s Putin to North Korea’s Kim Jong-Un. Trump again promised to “be a dictator for one day” if elected.
Not left-wing
As a representative, Cheney voted with Trump 93% of the time. She voted for him in both 2016 and 2020.
Cast out
However, her fierce criticisms of the former president make her rare among Republicans, who have turned against her. Her home state’s Republican Party kicked her out, and the Republican National Committee censured her.
Group issue
Cheney argued that the entire GOP has been “so caught up in this cult of personality that it’s very hard to imagine that the party can survive.” According to poll aggregator FiveThirtyEight, Trump is leading the Republican presidential primary by more than 40 points.
New beginning
“Once we get through 2024,” Cheney continued, “we’re going to have to have something else, something new. I believe the country has to have a party that’s based on conservative principles and values — where we can engage with the Democrats on substance and policy.”
Major concerns
Cheney also expressed concern about Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, noting his leading role in the attempt to overturn the 2020 election. Cheney argued he was “ignoring the Constitution and making the assertion that members of Congress can simply decide they’re going to throw out the votes of tens of millions of Americans and install the person they want to be president.”
Call to action
“I say as someone who’s been a lifelong Republican,” Cheney concluded, “Republicans cannot be in the majority in the House of Representatives come January 2025. People across the country have to recognize that we have to vote for people who believe in the Constitution and reject election deniers.”
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