Twice before I’ve written about Representative Liz Cheney. (Links below.) She is that singular a leader, that fascinating a figure. In the first of the two posts, I focused on her exceptional lineage. Not just her illustrious father, but her pathbreaking mother. In the second, I emphasized her no-nonsense style, a striking contrast to another Elizabeth prominent at that moment, Elizabeth Holmes.
In this third piece I address her daring and determination. Though she stands nearly alone among Republicans, Liz Cheney is breathtakingly eager to slay the dragon, who happens also to be a Republican. Moreover, the fearlessness and the audaciousness with which she is leading the charge against Former President Donald Trump is reminiscent of nothing so much as a mythical figure, a dragon slayer, who struggled against the monster, alone.
In doing what’s she’s doing Cheney’s risks are real and they are considerable.
- Marginalization, defamation, and elimination in her home state, Wyoming, where she faces an uphill fight for reelection in November.
- Marginalization, defamation, and demotion in her party. (A year ago, in punishment for her opposition to Trump, House Republicans stripped her of her leadership role.)
- Marginalization, defamation, and demotion in the chamber in which she serves.
- Marginalization and defamation that crosses from the professional and political into the personal.
- Marginalization and defamation by certain segments of the American public, especially those on the far right.
- Marginalization and defamation by media such as Fox News and social media.
Have these various threats to her well-being in any way intimidated Cheney? Not so far as I can tell. Hard to imagine she could be any fiercer or more determined a political opponent.
Perhaps the best indicator of her combativeness and tenaciousness is the scope of her attack. For it appears Liz Cheney will not be content to slay a single dragon – the 800-pound dragon. She’s after the whole herd! Her prey includes any Republican, nearly all Republicans, who in the face of the overwhelming evidence that Trump is completely corrupt and somewhat crazy is still staying loyal. Loyal to a leader who by no conceivable measure should ever again hold public office – or even a smidgeon of political power.
We have known for some time that by attacking Trump with all the personal, political, and legal resources at her disposal, Representative Cheney was alienating herself from her party. What we did not know until last week was that the party itself was in her sights. Especially Trump’s toadies, sycophants, and enablers. She is taking on the lot of them, warning them that, “There will come a day when President Trump is gone. But your dishonor will remain.”
Tough talk not from a dragon slayer – from a dragons slayer.
https://barbarakellerman.com/leader-mother-lynne-cheney/