Why are they all so quiet?
I’m not completely sure how I feel about assassinating fascists before they start assassinating us — but I acknowledge that in most cases, though by no means all, assassination, like terrorism, is an expression of political weakness, testifying to the lack of ability to foment mass action and make meaningful change.
Which begs the question: Why aren’t they organizing? The liberal establishment, I mean. Didn’t they read Project 2025? Why are they still acting like they’re in a bad dream in which they’re not wearing any pants?
Why haven’t the governors of all 24 states led by Democrats held a widely publicized conference so that together they might all declare: We’re not following your racist policies, Donald Trump! We’re not our curtailing DEI policies in hiring, funding, and programming. Every overreaching executive order you issue will be matched by countermanding executive orders from each and every one of us. And our own National Guards will protect our borders against your invading National Guards. You want to sue us? You want to occupy us? Go ahead and try!
Why haven’t the presidents of hundreds if not thousands of colleges and universities held a widely publicized conference so that together they might declare: Hands off our campuses, our admissions policies, and our educational policies, Donald Trump! We’re not our curtailing DEI policies in hiring, funding, and programming. You want to cut off our research funds? We’ll pool our resources, suspend our military contracts, protect our patents, fundraise like crazy, and fight like mad in the courts. There have been statements and lawsuits from the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), but from the look of it, our institutions of higher learning are being picked off one by one.
What about the labor movement? At the Department of Veterans Affairs alone, Trump has unilaterally stripped 400,000 workers of their collective bargaining rights. Why are union leaders not calling strikes throughout the federal system? Why are private-sector unions — whose members are still heavily pro-Democratic — not inaugurating job actions in support of federal workers?
How can Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries and Kirsten Gillibrand be so lame as to not endorse Zohran Mamdani following his brilliant, winning campaign in the mayoral primary for New York City? How can they ignore a campaign that mobilized immigrants and young progressive voters en masse with incredibly creative tactics?
And why is it that “South Park” seems to be the only vibrant center of creative resistance to Trump’s ridiculous autocracy?
As I just said, assassinations usually testify to political weakness and desperation. That’s why, when Tyler Robinson stands trial and goes on to spend the rest of his life in prison — if he’s not executed first — I’ll be wagging my finger at all of those liberal leaders who are walking through our collective nightmare without their pants on.