The GOP Has Failed Us Once Again

One would think we could all agree that we should leave no stone unturned until we know everything there is to know about the insurrection on 6 January. But Mitch McConnell reportedly asked all the Republican senators, as a personal favor to him, to vote no on the bill to create a 9/11-style commission to investigate what happened, which they did today.

I sit here in complete disbelief, although really I don’t know why. I observed during the former guy’s time as Republicans groveled endlessly at the feet of their dear leader, so I don’t know why any of this still surprises me. Even my new congressman, Cliff Bentz, decided to vote against certifying the election. Towing the unholy line already, I see. Even though I voted for someone else, it’s still disappointing. Thankfully, he was one of 35 House members who voted yes on that version of the 1/6 commission. So that’s something, I guess.

Yesterday, Officer Sicknick’s mother, Gladys, went to see all the Republican senators who planned to vote no on establishing a January 6 commission. I read that thirteen senators disrespectfully refused to even meet with Mrs. Sicknick, an unconscionable act that was, unfortunately, all too predictable. The rest, well, I can’t bear to think about what they may have said to her.

My heart aches for Mrs. Sicknick. Her strength shames all of them while her grief empowers the rest of us. A mother as well, I can’t imagine coping with such a loss, let alone in such a public manner. But she has no choice. Her son died protecting the Capitol, members of Congress, and everyone else who worked in the building that day. And the majority of Republicans in Congress aren’t interested in finding out why.

Are they afraid we’ll find out that some of them were involved in some way? Because what else could it be that is preventing them from honoring Officer Sicknick and every other member of law enforcement there that day? Aren’t the American people owed an explanation as well with truth and justice the goal?

In the end, two Democratic senators, Sinema and Murray, were not there for the vote. Patty Murray had a family emergency but I’ve seen no reason for why Sinema wasn’t there. The GOP Senators who voted yes included Bill Cassidy, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Rob Portman, Mitt Romney, and Ben Sasse. Pat Toomey had indicated that he was a yes vote but had a family issue so he wasn’t there either. But even with Sinema, Murray, and Toomey, the 60 vote threshold would not have been reached. So the vote failed.

Rumor is that Speaker Pelosi has other options which she will use to investigate the insurrection. And it may be that the American people will see more results this way than with a bi-partisan commission. But in my opinion, the vote today should have been unanimous. Without that, we can never trust the Republican party to do anything in the country’s best interest.