Impeachment interruptus

And now it's time for filibuster terminus.

That’s a GOP problem

No, I didn’t watch the travesty of last week’s impeachment proceedings, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t aware of it as things were going down. Like most of America, I wasn’t watching and probably like most of America I knew the conclusion was forgone. And like most of America (58% to be precise) I knew that conclusion wasn’t going to be the one I thought was just.

What I really tried not to do, though, was get pulled into Twitter Pundits Gone Wild about how somehow this foregone conclusion (thank to GOP collusion) really represented the Democrats implosion. It made me write the following rant on Facebook, but I always say don’t give Facebook your best thinking, so I will share it here too!

I always hated it in school when teachers would grade me more harshly because "they expected more from me." I mean, that was a them-problem, not a me-problem.

I kind of feel like I'm seeing that all over God's green internet today with people turning today's acquittal of former social media influencer DJT by 43 GOP Senators into a reason to be madder at the Democrats than those GOP Senators. Because they expected more from them. Because they knew to expect nothing from the GOP and got what they expected.

I feel a little differently: This isn’t a reason for me to rail against Dems *more than GOP* because:

- No witness would have flipped the 43 power-mad, sedition- accommodating Republican Senators who voted to acquit.

- I hate to break it to you, but no, America *isn’t* watching. I know this is often hard for those of us who are political junkies to believe. But I repeat. The American public isn't watching. Viewership during the week was about 3% of the population fort part of it, I'm sure it was less on a Sat AM. Despite a pandemic meaning we're not exactly going out business as usual, we. were. not. watching.

So that leaves dragging it out for history's sake and STILL coming out the losers and STILL having as many think pieces and as much punditry about how *Dems* blew it, even though we ALL KNEW the GOP would never convict.

And in so doing, delaying important legislative actions they can take with only 51 votes like urgent COVID relief, and delaying confirming cabinet posts. Which the GOP was definitely going to do.

I’m not comfortable sacrificing quick COVID relief etc. that millions need desperately RIGHT NOW for *history*. I'm surprised at how many people who were all about getting that relief deal done do seem comfortable sacrificing it. Unless maybe they don't know how all these things can get tied together, rightly or wrongly.

THAT BEING SAID, DEMS: PLEASE KILL THE FILIBUSTER. NOW.

THAT is the one thing I will have trouble swallowing if they get held up by Republicans on any of these urgent needs right now and don't do that. Then maybe I will get super cranky with them. (And yes, I do understand the argument it can backlash against them the next time they're not in power, but at this point, I think it's worth the risk.)

So that's how I'm feeling right now.

And if you live in a state with one of those craven 43 Republican Senator, you know what you need to do.

Our work is not done, no matter how nice it is to have someone who seems sane and empathetic and competent and effective in the White House. That just doesn't mean we can relax. The work continues. More on that next week…

Last Week-ish

Last week I continued my reading streak and finished two books, including Mediocre by Ijeoma Oluo. I often trot out that phrase about having the confidence of a mediocre white man…and I’ve created a corollary for entrepreneurs: What would a white man in a hoodie do? This book gives you all the facts about why our systems and institutions have been set up to give those mediocre white men that confidence. It’s infuriating yes, but Oluo’s writing style is accessible and witty while being infuriating. 4⭐️s

Last week’s episode of The Op-Ed Page was meant to be a paean to Schitt’s Creek, an ode to how it brilliantly mixes comedy and pathos, and how its characters evolve…but in anything but trite and expected ways. Unfortunately, breaking news about the toxic on-set behavior of the creator of my favorite TV show ever, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, had me thinking lots of thoughts and feeling lots of feels. So, yes, I still had a short segment lauding Schitt’s Creek…but more as a palate cleanser after working through those thoughts and feels. If you loved Buffy too, I’d love to know your thoughts too. We can get through this together.

Coming this Week-ish

This week I interviewed the one and only Luvvie Ajayi Jones for my podcast, all about the release of her second book, Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual (coming this March 2nd). I can’t wait to publish the episode, BUT that won’t be for three weeks yet, so instead, I’ll be talking about why I have such very VERY mixed feelings about the new app, Clubhouse. You won’t want to miss that (and yes, I do have invites, if you really want them). I know friends who are loving their time on the app (maybe even some who are pretty obsessed) and I’m the first one to tell you that you can control what you consume on any social platform to craft an experience that brings you nothing but joy, but…well, come find out what the but is.

As always I appreciate a share of this newsletter or my podcast. And I appreciate feedback and hearing from you too.

And if you think I can help you break through the things that are keeping you stuck, you can always set up your first introductory 30-minute consult for free by booking it in my Calendly.

Have a great week-ish!