About Lisa Murkowski's "we're all afraid" statement

[mdbl]

If there are that many republicans that are that afraid, all they would have to do is band together, just a handful of them, switch their party to Independent and caucus with the Democrats until all this crap running our government from the white house has been removed. It's that simple. Until then, just cower in fear until we are in a full-blown dictatorship you spineless idiots.

[CrispyQ]

1. +1

That was my thought exactly!! Damned, fucking cowards.

[Hope22]

67. I am so over this fear thing.

This woman voted repeatedly to make all of us less safe. Often times agreeing to vote with the sane members and at the last minute caving to install those she fears now! Nope! Many Americans are terrified right now. People who did not drive the bus of democracy into a ditch. I’m sorry she has fears but I have mine too and it doesn’t stop me from doing the right thing and preparing for the worst. I am so over this! She has zero excuses to make!

[Zorro]

77. She wants everyone to think she's afraid

I don't buy it for a minute.

Her positions are aligned with Trump's, and she's content with letting him take the heat.

[spooky3]

2. They will still be threatened if they do that, but at least they would be

Taking action.

[NJCher]

7. connotation

the "Democrat" stigma in their home districts; this could avert that.

Hard for someone like me to believe, living in NJ, but there are parts of the country where they have ruined the word "democrat" and going for "independent" would alleviate that problem.

I like CrispyQ's suggestion.

[kacekwl]

21. They need to name names.

Bring your lawyer and security and media to record it for safety.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. If she was referring to her physical safety, we're in a bad place, and that is what I believe she was referring to.

[mdbl]

5. They need to hire security then.

Just get it done before it's too late.

[Tree Lady]

19. Be a lot of security then

if she is threatened so are her friends and family.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

33. Romney had security.

He also expressed the difficulty of protecting his twebty five grandchildren.

[thesquanderer]

34. At least Romney has a net worth of about $200 million. It makes family security very affordable.

Lisa Murkowski is worth less than 1% of that.

[Bluetus]

36. And they need to speak very openly and loudly about these physical threats. They need to show courage.

Yes, they can be targets. Everybody can be in this hellscape Trump is creating. But Senators can give themselves a force of protection not available to the rest of us simply by calling attention to the fact that Trump is threatening them. That is to say, the louder they speak, and the more of them who speak, the less the chance that Trump will hit them. If Lisa were to make a big issue about this, the media would be prepared to hit back if she were taken out.

These are scary times. Murkowski's best bet is to be very public. She might still be assassinated, That has always been part of our political history. And I would hate for this to happen. But cowering in the corner means millions more are at risk.

There is strength in numbers. She needs to rally enough of her GOP colleagues to give her an insurance policy.

And if she can rally enough of them, we can get rid of this monster. That would be a good thing, even if that meant we had to live a couple of years with Vance in the office.

[MadameButterfly]

53. I'm guessing that behind the scenes she is doing just that

and her statement is the beginning of making this public. They only need a handful of votes, but they need numbers for safety and we the people need to be raising money for the security of those who speak out, when it happens. But given the reasonable Republicans have been pushed out, getting the numbers will be difficult.

The survival of democracy will depend on heroes. Are there any in the remaining Republicans in Congress? I'm hoping Murkowski is the first.

[Bluetus]

65. Very possible. We keep hearing stories of how most of the Republicans really hate Trump

but are afraid to get in his crosshairs (literally or figuratively.)

It is important to note that it would take Murkowski plus every Dem plus 18 other GOP Senators to remove Trump via impeachment. That's a heavy lift, considering how cowardly Republicans are. But in a strange way, that cowardice could create a very interesting dynamic.

Let's say half the Republican Senators are at the breaking point where they would be willing to take Trump out:
A) if that still left Vance as POTUS through 2028; and
B) they would only go public if they were 100% confident this move would be successful.

That would be 25 Senators plus Murkowski. That's enough to do it, but not by a wide margin, considering how cowardly these people are.

Therefore, it seems to me, the only way this really happens is if people like Koch, Leonard Leo, Steve Schwarzman, Timothy Mellon , jamie Dimon, Tim Cook, Ken Griffen, Miriam Adelson, Richard Uihlein, Kelly Loeffler and similar oligarchs gave this the green light. This is very possible, not because of any philosophical differences, but simply as a matter of pragmatics. Trump is horrible for their business and they simply don't care about torturing brown people. Vance can oversee the government to give them what they want (low taxes and stability).

Right now, I'd say the odds are about 15% of this happening, but tipping points can happen suddenly. Ask the Enron people.

[MadameButterfly]

68. Not likely but there is hope

because Trump keeps doing outrageous things and soon there won't be anyone in the population who isn't harmed one way or another. His corruption is flagrant and he keeps showing us new lows. There really could be a tipping point for frustrated Republicans, and if a few show courage it could become an avalanche.

Then we have to figure out how to survive Vance and whatever follows.

[Bluetus]

72. And the damage he is doing, so far, isn't really what the oligarchs really care about

Most of them don't care about abortion (which is a lost cause anyway). Other than the Catholics, I don't suppose too many care about LGBT stuff. or border crossings. On the contrary, most of them have businesses that DEPEND on border crossings as cheap labor for their businesses.

They care more about what Musk is doing, but probably not HOW he's doing it. He's creating a lot of chaos, which means some of the consumer protections will be unenforceable for a while, and the IRS can't do many audits. But not much of that is going into law at the moment (no thanks to Chuck Schumer). So what Musk is doing really isn't all that helpful. And what Trump is doing is REDUCING the odds that Trump will be able to deliver what the oligarchs really want.

And Leonard Leo spent a lot of money and effort buying the Supreme Court. The last thing he wants is for his court to be ignored, essentially non-existent.

There are many competing tensions here. It could become very volatile.

[MadameButterfly]

82. Really the only person Trump is pleasing is Putin.

In the end that wont fly

[Walleye]

6. There are other ways, such as online doxing, calling, swat teams, nude photos, etc.

They start harassing the family online. Nobody wants to see that to their family. imagine flying monkeys with Twitter accounts.

[Hornedfrog2000]

44. Imagine them

Outright murdering people they dont like, because that is where we are headed. If she doesnt want to stand up, then sit down and get out of the way

[MadameButterfly]

52. If she gets out of the way who do you think will replace her?

We need to support her for speaking up at all instead of saying it's not enough or acting like theres an endless supply of electable people out there who would do better.

[Hornedfrog2000]

57. Ah yes

Lets do what hasnt been working.

[MadameButterfly]

83. working a lot better than a MAGA

[Walleye]

4. Yes, that's what makes it so damn frustrating. Only a few patriotic Republicans could change this thing around, but they

Of Trump and they’re afraid of their own constituents who listen to Trump, physically afraid. My answer to that is Democrats have been threatened for years now,, it’s just something we get used to, look what happened to the governor of Pennsylvania. You’re in the arena if you’re in politics.

[icnorth]

8. I will not critisize Lisa Murkowski,

There are several times she stood alone, or with the tepid support of Susan "I am concerned" Collins in the Senate. Even with the two of them it wasn't enough to stiffen a spine in the house of jellyfish. Lisa Murkowski, in my opinion, on occasion tried, she voiced her dissent, and in the face of retribution she stood alone. One more time, she expresses her fears, and once again she stands alone to face retribution.

[mdbl]

9. Her statement implied she's not the only one

I was trying to implore the others to do the right thing.

[spooky3]

10. At Mark Warner's phone town hall recently he said several

Had hired security who were present in their offices.

[uponit7771]

17. She's fine it's her impression of the other MAGA pols... They're not afraid enough

[Joinfortmill]

45. Amen. Save you wrath for the cowards who cower

in the corner and never take a stand

[Skittles]

47. until she sets herself apart from the greedy old pig party

SHE is part of the problem

[oregonjen]

11. I've thought the same

If all of the Republicans who disagree with tfg stand up together, it would be easier. There’s safety in numbers.

[mdbl]

14. At this point it's their patriotic duty IMO

They need to protect and defend the constitution. Sitting around and watching our system of governance decay isn't the way to do this.

[Skittles]

48. when do repukes EVER put country over party - or themselves?

I don't think I remember it in my lifetime

[oregonjen]

69. I know, I know, perhaps a little Pollyanna of me to think they might stand strong for our country

[Skittles]

70. they even turned 9/11 into an excuse to start a war based on lies

they are absolutely disgusting; ZERO honor

[The Wizard]

12. Have the Brownshirts been issuing death threats

as is their wont?
It's about time Trump's fanatical nazis are held to account for terroristic threats.

[thought crime]

50. Trump would pardon them

again

[Escape]

13. Or.....

they could join the Democrats in immediately Impeaching Trump and removing him from office.

Problem solved.
Case closed.

[thesquanderer]

35. Is it even possible to initiate impeachment proceedings without the cooperation of the speaker of the house?

They might have to first vote to remove Johnson and elect a Dem?

[mdbl]

54. if republican in the house switched to independent and caucused with the Dems

Your speaker of the house would change.

[EmmaLee E]

87. Even if you could get 50% of the House to impeach him

Getting 66 (or 67) Senators to convict is impossible at this time.
Problem is not solved
case is not closed.

[uponit7771]

15. THIS !!! I don't trust there's enough of MAGA pols that are really afraid

[mdbl]

16. It's possible. Their own greed seems to always win out over law and order.

[uponit7771]

18. Yep, they're more greedy than afraid

[mchill]

20. I wrote THE plan up in early February

It’s all come to pass. Based on public info, could have been written up before Trump even elected.

********
Objective:
The US government could be toppled and replaced.

Means:
- [x] Curtis Yarvin suggests that a would-be American autocrat [Trump] should campaign on and win an electoral mandate for an authoritarian program.
COMPLETED^
- [x] They should purge the federal bureaucracy in a push Yarvin has anagrammatized as RAGE (for “retire all government employees”).
IN PROGRESS^
- [x] They should simply ignore any court rulings that seek to constrain them.
IN PROGRESS^
- [x] They should bring Congress to heel, in part by mobilizing their populist base against recalcitrant lawmakers. Primaries, money, physical threats.
ON GOING^
- [x] Liberal or mainstream media organizations and universities should be summarily closed.
IN PROGRESS^

[Tetrachloride]

22. not "Dauntless" nor "Gryffindor" nor "Jedi" not "Starfleet". Whatever they are, not pro American.

[DENVERPOPS]

23. Some of them talk big

But come time for a vote and they back the current Republican CABAL by voting 100%

[sop]

24. Republican Senators were too afraid to properly vet and reject Trump's nominees, they just rubber-stamped them.

Without his cadre of corrupt enablers in place, Trump wouldn't be able to subvert the rule of law and act like a dictator.

[Dan]

25. The current GOP representatives

Showing the courage of the founding fathers of the nation.

[Blue Full Moon]

26. Offer immunity

It's a cult. One thing that all cults do, they get something to hold over someone's head so that they won't go against the cult.

[LilElf70]

27. If you're that afraid

to do your job, QUIT. There's more jobs out there. People do it every day. No one should be that afraid to do your job. No one should ever be put under that much stress.

[thesquanderer]

37. If she quits, which is more likely, that her seat will be filled by a Dem? Or by a MAGA republican? (n/t)

[Joe Nation]

28. All Murkowski is saying....

Is that SHE is afraid of losing HER job.
My heart pumps pass for her and her damn self-serving assholes. They deserve to lose everything. They are useless.

[hay rick]

29. The media has been amplifying this story to enable complicity-washing for those who watch and do nothing.

A single story repeated endlessly instills widespread paranoia and justifies inaction in the face of burgeoning authoritarianism.

[Traildogbob]

30. Senators, Congress, judges, Lawyers

Are all volunteer careers. They can leave at anytime. Congress and senate make damn good money with many many perks. The greatest retirement with health care in the country. And no threats that it will ever being taken away.
They know the dangers when they volunteer.
Same with today’s military. All volunteer. And they know the dangers. If you think they are not afraid going into battle you have no idea. And they CAN NOT leave. And they go put their life on the line for us all. While being afraid. All under the same oath.
And these GQO Congress and senators that are so afraid of their jobs are all supporting taking the benefits AWAY from us veterans.
That takes some God Damned courage.
Do the job, adhere to the oath or go the fuck home. Many like Murkowski will “never” have HER retirement or Health Care stolen by Musk and DOGE And those benefits do not take 30 years of hard work to get. Less than 10 years for most.
Just my thought as a veteran about scared leaders.

[BBbats]

31. Of Course They're Afraid!

Not just for their careers but their physical safety.
And I have no doubt for their families, associates & loved ones safety.
These people are ruthless. And make no mistake they would go there. They know what he is. Not to mention setting up these "interment camps" they can make people disappear with out a trace. Now they can wipe out any record of one's existence.. Become an "unperson'. You don't exist. You never existed. You are stateless.
I have no doubt they'd do that unless you follow their rules. Look at how many R's who were critical of Trump wound up kissing the ring.
Wonder Why?

[mdbl]

56. What little system of Govt we have left was set up to allow these reps to change things

If they don't, there's no going back.

[BoRaGard]

32. k and r

[Chicagogrl1]

38. Exactly!

What kind of shit hole country do we live in where Congress people are afraid for their personal safety?!Why is this not the major headline? Unfortunately, it seems that we are on our way to becoming a Third World country.

[AntiFascist]

39. They're afraid they will lose their Far Right donors. n/t

[BaronChocula]

40. She said they were afraid

She didn't say they were decent.

[Ruby the Liberal]

41. It will take more than a handful

Dropping from the GOP will make them very convenient 'disloyal' targets to the emperor.

[Evolve Dammit]

42. I saw Romney was spending 20k a week on security

[Joinfortmill]

43. I don't think that would change the reasons

why they fear Trump. Trump is, I think, much more dangerous than many of us thought. Even though he appears buffoonish, my take is he's as mean as a snake. So, her fear is real for herself and her family.
However, what you suggest might help get rid of him sooner. But, don't be surprised if his reprisals are horrific.

[barbtries]

46. additionally,

is she so engrossed in her own fear that she hasn't noticed that we're ALL afraid, meaning all Americans?

my son and I talked about her yesterday during the protest in Raleigh. We agreed: fuck her.

[Lokee11]

49. I call BS

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If that is the case then everyone with a D at the end of their name should have the same fear right? And what I mean by (I call BS) is -like most "Trump"eters they are a bunch of posers, and like most bullies, you defeat them not by bowing down but by calling them on their BULLSHIT and fighting against them! If congress-people are being threatened, is that not a felony? So if these threats are real - report them & have the FBI go get the FUCKS and throw them in jail (of course the Orange prick will probably pardon them after but...what ya gonna do?!?) .

Look you do not like the pressure and you have a "Fear" - get out of the political life - the life is not for you.

Murkowski has been full of shit before and is borderline Collin's with her "concerns" - if she is being real - she just needs to get out and do something else.

Fuck them - they created this monster now they cry fear of it - clean up the mess you created!!!!

✊FDT!

[AntiFascist]

59. If Murkowski is that afraid of her own Federal government...

then she needs to look at the state of Alaska for protection and prosecution of anyone who threatens her. If she can't handle the heat, then move aside and let a brave Democrat or Independent take her place once Gov. Dunleavy is done and leaves:

Anchorage Republicans State Sen. Cathy Giessel and Rep. Chuck Kopp, are among several GOP members joining with Democrats to battle Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy.

So many GOP legislators working arm in arm with Democrats means conservative Republican legislators have little to no power.

https://mustreadalaska.com/dan-fagan-democrats-and-their-allies-are-cooking-up-a-showdown-with-gov-dunleavy/

[Akakoji]

66. Sounds like a 50501 targeted protest

The people of Alaska have also had enough.

[Mblaze]

51. If they did that in the House as well,

Congress could reclaim their Constitutional duty to levy tariffs and declare war.

[SupportSanity]

55. Proposed: GoFundMe campaign to provide security for R's who switch to I or D

I’m thinking that we should just overcome the fear problem with:

Dems to pay for security of republicans who switch to Independent or democrat.

Any other ideas?

[GenThePerservering]

62. They're all richer than most of us nt

[SupportSanity]

64. Right. We shouldn't try to think of anything at all.

Ever.

[Trueblue Texan]

58. That's assuming TSF doesn't have something else on them...

I'm convinced Lindsay Graham is terrified of being exposed for some criminal act. Slugs have more spine.

[Oneironaut]

60. It's bullshit. They're afraid of being voted out of office or losing power.

Trump is the dysfunctional wagon they’ve attached themselves to, and, they don’t want to kill the golden goose that gives them money and power. That’s it.

[Bengus81]

85. I think the biggest fear for many of them is going back to a 9-5 workday EVERYDAY

in the private sector.

[Pris]

61. What ever happened to Live Free or Die?

[Nululu]

63. She voted for impeachment

She lost her primary but won the election with write in votes.

I believe she's fearful of violence against her or her family.

[Karasu]

71. This crime syndicate of a party has had a million opportunities to stand up and do the right thing over the last decade.

They chose to go all-in on fascism. Frankly, I have no pity for anyone who still identifies as a Republican after the events of last 1/6/21.

[Meowmee]

73. The time to act is now

Join together in whatever way works and get rid of psycho etc. get rid of as many as they can from gov before things get even worse.

[JohnSJ]

74. Then impeach the f**ker.

[AkFemDem]

76. To be fair, she did.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

75. Isn't she the one who said

'He's learned his lesson"? or some such thing. She says lots of things but they are rarely accurate.

[H2O Man]

78. Recommended.

There would seem to be two options. First, do your job in a manner loyal to your oath to uphold the Constitution, or resign if you are too afraid to.

[calimary]

79. Every time I see that worthless pathetic clip of her (as she's being worthless and pathetic),

Last edited Mon Apr 21, 2025, 01:09 AM - Edit history (1)

All I want to say is "You're a SENATOR, girlfriend! Don't just whine or wring your hands! USE YOUR POWER AND THE POSITION YOU'RE IN - AND DO SOMETHING, DAMMIT!!!

[Scalded Nun]

80. Quit the GOP, declare yourself an independent, caucus with Sanders and King.

[LudwigPastorius]

81. I can't imagine any kind of scenario where what you propose would happen.

Any Congressional GOPers that did that would be serving their last terms. It is highly unlikely that enough voters of either party would vote for their reelection.

[OverBurn]

84. Screw you, you coward get some back bone and resist the mad king.

[returnee]

86. You swore to defend the constitution.

You don’t get to excuse yourself because you’re afraid. You are not a patriot. The founders are rolling in their graves.

[Montauk6]

88. TRANSLATION: "We're all bozos on this bus"

Firesign 3:16

[ecstatic]

89. they're not banding together because many of them are hiding something

If it were just about fear of losing an election or getting physically assaulted, banding together and speaking out about the threat trump poses to them and their families would make sense.

But there's more at play, in my opinion. These people are hiding disgusting deeds that they don't want the public or their families to know about.

We need a mole in those circles... like... yesterday.

[themaguffin]

90. All that any need to do is create a group that is unified. Notice what the Big 10 schools are doing.