Then-U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy (D-MA) wrote a book that won a Pulitzer Prize and surely aided his quest for the presidency in 1960.  It was called "Profiles in Courage." If you have never read it, you should. 

The young senator from Massachusetts wrote about U.S. Senators throughout history who took principled stands, even though it cost them a future election. Senators were singled out for doing the right thing, not the expedient thing -- nor the self-serving thing.

It should come as no surprise that Liz Cheney, Republican Member of Congress from Wyoming (and daughter of known conservative Dick Cheney), was awarded the 2022 Profiles in Courage Award at the JFK Library in Boston.

Last night, in the opening presentation of the January 6th hearings, Liz Cheney provided step-by-step clarity about Donald Trump's treachery. All but the most crazed partisans would have to agree Donald Trump tried to steal the election and would seemingly stop at nothing in this quest.

This is a very inconvenient truth for the Republicans who continue to support Trump.

Are these Republicans really willing to go along with the hijacking of our democracy just so they can remain in power? It seems, sadly, the answer is "yes."

Even today, a year and a half later, many Republicans believe the election was stolen, although no credible evidence has ever been provided to back up this claim. 

I have never thought there was anything to this idea that the election was stolen. Republicans always like to say how incompetent Democrats are (with some justification).  So how could a gang of incompetents steal an election in multiple states and leave no fingerprints? 

How do Republicans explain how Georgia, a state run by Republicans, went for Joe Biden?  This outcome was confirmed by recounts.

In Arizona, another Republican state that went for Biden, a right-wing partisan group oversaw an "audit" of voting results and once again came up empty-handed.

As Mark Meadows, former White House Chief of Staff reportedly said, "there is no there, there."

Bill Barr said it was all "bullsh*t" and Ivanka Trump said she respected Bill Barr's conclusion.  There is no leg for the Republicans to stand on, and yet they persist. 

If we believe in democracy, we must rise up and meet this threat head-on, as Liz Cheney has.

She might lose her next election because of her principled stand, but let's hope she doesn't fade away.  In a time of weak, cling-to-power-at-any-cost career politicians, Liz Cheney inspires.

In her speech at the John F. Kennedy Profiles in Courage Awards, Liz Cheney talks about how JFK inspired young Americans -- Republican and Democrat -- to get involved in public service.

She specifically mentions how her own father, Dick Cheney, became excited as a young man about public service after hearing JFK deliver a speech in Laramie, Wyoming. 

Here is her 11-minute address.  I urge you to watch it:

https://cheney.house.gov/2022/05/23/cheney-in-profile-in-courage-speech-every-one-has-a-duty-to-set-aside-partisan-battles-and-stand-together-to-preserve-our-great-republic/