If you had told me in 2001, after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, that I would someday count Dick Cheney’s daughter as an ally I would have emphatically told you you had lost your mind. But now, with Cheney having excepted her primary defeat with utter graciousness, I really have come to respect her. Now is a moment where all of us need to put aside partisan differences and focus on what it is going to take to get American democracy back on track, soon.
Cheney began that process, not even so much by spearheading the January 6th committee, but even more so in the way that she chose to accept defeat. Let us hope, by the grace of God, that her gesture becomes a movement, and that if it does all progressives will be willing support her in any way we can. We, as progressives, must find out what our role in all this is. On the one hand, we cannot determine the fate of a party that is not our own. The Republicans will have to fight this one out for themselves. On the other hand, we cannot just sit idly by, and not support people who genuinely care about democracy at a time like this. During Cheney’s primary many Democrats switched sides. I don’t know if this is the answer. I believe politics works best when people are sincere in their beliefs.
The best path for Cheney is the creation of a third party. The realities of the current Republican leadership leave her little other choice. I do not say this out of a selfish desire to see the presidential election go to the Democrats. I believe sincerely that it is in the best interest of the health of American democracy. The political reality Cheney faces is that the Republican party is now the party of Trump, and that is a party that she can and should never countenance. In a perfect world she would be leading the charge to reform the Republican party to what it once was–a political party, not a cult of personality; a group that wanted what was best for its nation, not to perpetuate the power of one man. But the best realistic scenario is for what is left of the genuine Republican party to coalesce, giving conservatives an option other than Trump.
Liz Cheney needs her own party so she can begin to counteract the power of Trump to determine who wins primary elections. A third party may be a long shot for the presidency, but one led by Cheney could make very real ground in congress, and that would break the stranglehold the ultra-conservatives have on any and all Republican votes. A party led by Cheney could become a real force in congress, and voters might be willing to recognize that.
Let us hope that the January 6th committee is the beginning and not the end of a handful of increasingly important conservative Republicans finding they can help their country.
Progressive Without Apology 