He was honestly probably the least conservative of the 3 but he simply did not deserve to win. Now he’s reaping what he’s sown. And it’s nothing to celebrate because we are all the losers, thanks to his disastrous support of RFK.
You’re right Bob. Cassidy has no honor and he could have. He was a craven suitor for a job that he and his fellow Republicans have made worthless. It should be noted that the ridiculously expensive Senate Republicans Primary brought out under 400,000 voters while the underfunded unknown Democratic candidates brought out around 325,000. Cassidy sought crossover votes and probably got some. Also, Landry’s amendments were slaughtered. Maybe the ugliness of Louisiana legislative Republicans and Landry is starting to make some of us ashamed of what we’ve become.
The Cassidy story should be a lesson to every other politician who expresses fealty to Trump, the most corrupt President in our history. Alas, in my view, few will learn as cynicism, masking as pragmatism infects our political culture. I'm thinking of Mike Johnson, Steve Scalise, Julia Letlow, and Clay Higgins, all of whom have trade a moment of power for a legacy of harming working people.
My intuition told me you'd be writing about Senator Cassidy right after his loss tonight, Bob. I agtee with everything you said. You have every right, maybe even an obligation, to tell Cassidy, "I told you so." Because you did tell him so multiple times since early last uear!
Na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye. So long Dr. Cassidy. If the medical board has any integrity, they will strip him of his license to practice medicine.
“There’s a reason why Profiles in Courage is a single volume book.” That’s an old joke, but we’re definitely seeing the truth of it in our current Congress.
This is a good, brief piece, Dr Mann, and I always appreciate your insights.
One characterization about this event that people outside of Louisiana are getting dangerously wrong is that they are characterizing Cassidy's loss as being solely about Cassidy's January 2021 vote to convict Trump, as if
A.) there are not numerous other factors in his loss.
B.) he would not have lost even if he voted to acquit Trump.
The characterization that his loss is about his 2021 vote to convict Trump is extremely reductive, but, if we must ascribe his loss to one factor, I think that it would be that it was his overall attempt to triangulate with fascists - which just as much included his January 2021 convinction vote as it did his vocal objections to Robert Kennedy Jr's MAHA framework and then voting to approve him anyway - and how that alienated just about everyone, including more liberal voters who could have saved him.
As NOLA JT wrote on BlueSky yesterday:
"Farewell Bill Cassidy
You repeatedly texted folks like me suggesting we register ‘No Party’ in hopes we would save you from the face-eating leopards, but then you did nothing that remotely aligned with our values and campaigned as though we were bad people
Enjoy the bed you have made for yourself."
and then:
"Going to write Cassidy’s office tomorrow morning and let him know that I, along with many others, would have been inclined to try to save him had he not spent the past year and a half showing us we did not matter to him."
Yes, in a state in which a Democratic Party candidate has very little chance of winning a statewide race (and the Democratic Party Senate candidates this year are, at best, longshots), had Cassidy displayed real principles and a spine, had he voted, for example, to obstruct Kennedy's nomination, had he not tried so hard to pander to Trump voters, plenty of liberal voters would have been inclined to register as Republicans to save him.
He chose to alienate us, though. He chose to alienate both the MAGA crowd and the anti-MAGA crowd. That, I think, is the best summation of why he lost. He may not have won yesterday's election, but he could have at least made it to the runoff. Afterall, a minority of voters in the Republican Party primary voted yesterday for candidates other than the one that Donald Trump endorsed. So, I don't even think that this is a story about Trump's continued grip on the party, since, after all, we see that, nationally, he is losing his grip on the party.
No, this is a story that being unprincipled gets you nowhere, and I hope that it serves as a cautionary tale for anyone considering trying to ingratiate themselves to Trump and his supporters. That's why I say that the perception that Cassidy's loss is solely about his 2021 vote to convict Trump is not just wrong but is dangerously wrong. If people take the wrong lesson from this, the results could be harmful.
You cannot use fascists for your own non-fascist ends. Fascists only use people.
Bob, Cassidy is not alone in selling his soul to the devil! Every other Senator and congressman who supported Trump is a historical grace to our nation! They all lacked the courage to stand up to the devil. Not once, but TWICE!
If you saw today's NYT poll and its crosstabs you have to wonder, as I do, why we are allowing 32% of our population to run this country. If you've not seen it, I highly recommend it. Among the significant things the crosstabs show are the very significant differences between men and women and whites and blacks. Our country is so deeply divided, it is hard to see reconciliation, particularly since there is a clear difference in how we see reality, itself.
Stephen: The pessimism on this site is so sad and unjustified. Makes me wonder do any who post involve themselves at all in local churches or civic clubs , or local governance ?? I live in a city where we rarely if ever see the division you are talking about. Pineville just elected a great mayor and council of both party and race diversity who already have a great history of working together and progress in all areas to show for it . We avoid national politics as something we cannot tangibly touch and improve , but as we are able do for our local concerns. Man , you describe a reality i do NOT recognize , at least here. ??
Bill Cassidy did one brave action in his time as senator, likely because he thought he would gain support. But Trump was not impeached, he returned four years later to the White House and Cassidy spent the last six years, trying to ingratiate himself into Trump's favor. We all knew Trump would never forget. Cassidy's only choice was courage but Cassidy was a coward. He could have made a huge difference to the country. He was a pediatrician who let measles return and kids die, not because he didn't know better, but because he was too frightened of losing favor to stop RFK Jr. I am glad he is gone.
Someday that will be the lesson to people well intended, and that must be reinforced by the lesson as it is called out here. For this season I fear the lesson will simply be the political clout of Trump to control primaries.
Sad for me even if I am alone. He has always been a man of high integrity. And a good listener I am a DEMOCRAT. Tried and true. but I see past political stuff for man who has always answered my call to democratic questions. And l will miss him.
He was honestly probably the least conservative of the 3 but he simply did not deserve to win. Now he’s reaping what he’s sown. And it’s nothing to celebrate because we are all the losers, thanks to his disastrous support of RFK.
And to make things worse, Trump-backed Julia Letlow will probably win the runoff. Louisianans lose all around.
You’re right Bob. Cassidy has no honor and he could have. He was a craven suitor for a job that he and his fellow Republicans have made worthless. It should be noted that the ridiculously expensive Senate Republicans Primary brought out under 400,000 voters while the underfunded unknown Democratic candidates brought out around 325,000. Cassidy sought crossover votes and probably got some. Also, Landry’s amendments were slaughtered. Maybe the ugliness of Louisiana legislative Republicans and Landry is starting to make some of us ashamed of what we’ve become.
I've been smiling all morning about our Louisiana version of Beloved Leader now being 0 for 9 on his twisty worded amendants
I was waiting to hear from you! Didn’t expect this so soon but I’m glad to see it!
The Cassidy story should be a lesson to every other politician who expresses fealty to Trump, the most corrupt President in our history. Alas, in my view, few will learn as cynicism, masking as pragmatism infects our political culture. I'm thinking of Mike Johnson, Steve Scalise, Julia Letlow, and Clay Higgins, all of whom have trade a moment of power for a legacy of harming working people.
My intuition told me you'd be writing about Senator Cassidy right after his loss tonight, Bob. I agtee with everything you said. You have every right, maybe even an obligation, to tell Cassidy, "I told you so." Because you did tell him so multiple times since early last uear!
Na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye. So long Dr. Cassidy. If the medical board has any integrity, they will strip him of his license to practice medicine.
“There’s a reason why Profiles in Courage is a single volume book.” That’s an old joke, but we’re definitely seeing the truth of it in our current Congress.
Well said, Bob, from the beginning!
Same here. Well and truly said, Bob.
This is a good, brief piece, Dr Mann, and I always appreciate your insights.
One characterization about this event that people outside of Louisiana are getting dangerously wrong is that they are characterizing Cassidy's loss as being solely about Cassidy's January 2021 vote to convict Trump, as if
A.) there are not numerous other factors in his loss.
B.) he would not have lost even if he voted to acquit Trump.
The characterization that his loss is about his 2021 vote to convict Trump is extremely reductive, but, if we must ascribe his loss to one factor, I think that it would be that it was his overall attempt to triangulate with fascists - which just as much included his January 2021 convinction vote as it did his vocal objections to Robert Kennedy Jr's MAHA framework and then voting to approve him anyway - and how that alienated just about everyone, including more liberal voters who could have saved him.
As NOLA JT wrote on BlueSky yesterday:
"Farewell Bill Cassidy
You repeatedly texted folks like me suggesting we register ‘No Party’ in hopes we would save you from the face-eating leopards, but then you did nothing that remotely aligned with our values and campaigned as though we were bad people
Enjoy the bed you have made for yourself."
and then:
"Going to write Cassidy’s office tomorrow morning and let him know that I, along with many others, would have been inclined to try to save him had he not spent the past year and a half showing us we did not matter to him."
Yes, in a state in which a Democratic Party candidate has very little chance of winning a statewide race (and the Democratic Party Senate candidates this year are, at best, longshots), had Cassidy displayed real principles and a spine, had he voted, for example, to obstruct Kennedy's nomination, had he not tried so hard to pander to Trump voters, plenty of liberal voters would have been inclined to register as Republicans to save him.
He chose to alienate us, though. He chose to alienate both the MAGA crowd and the anti-MAGA crowd. That, I think, is the best summation of why he lost. He may not have won yesterday's election, but he could have at least made it to the runoff. Afterall, a minority of voters in the Republican Party primary voted yesterday for candidates other than the one that Donald Trump endorsed. So, I don't even think that this is a story about Trump's continued grip on the party, since, after all, we see that, nationally, he is losing his grip on the party.
No, this is a story that being unprincipled gets you nowhere, and I hope that it serves as a cautionary tale for anyone considering trying to ingratiate themselves to Trump and his supporters. That's why I say that the perception that Cassidy's loss is solely about his 2021 vote to convict Trump is not just wrong but is dangerously wrong. If people take the wrong lesson from this, the results could be harmful.
You cannot use fascists for your own non-fascist ends. Fascists only use people.
Well said
I agree and so hope you are right about Trump losing his grip. He's already lost his mind, but the mindless continue to support him.
Bob, Cassidy is not alone in selling his soul to the devil! Every other Senator and congressman who supported Trump is a historical grace to our nation! They all lacked the courage to stand up to the devil. Not once, but TWICE!
If you saw today's NYT poll and its crosstabs you have to wonder, as I do, why we are allowing 32% of our population to run this country. If you've not seen it, I highly recommend it. Among the significant things the crosstabs show are the very significant differences between men and women and whites and blacks. Our country is so deeply divided, it is hard to see reconciliation, particularly since there is a clear difference in how we see reality, itself.
Stephen: The pessimism on this site is so sad and unjustified. Makes me wonder do any who post involve themselves at all in local churches or civic clubs , or local governance ?? I live in a city where we rarely if ever see the division you are talking about. Pineville just elected a great mayor and council of both party and race diversity who already have a great history of working together and progress in all areas to show for it . We avoid national politics as something we cannot tangibly touch and improve , but as we are able do for our local concerns. Man , you describe a reality i do NOT recognize , at least here. ??
He’s the one that needed to switch parties, not us. He maybe could’ve won that way.
Keep up the good work, Bob!
Good riddance to a two-faced weasel.
Bill Cassidy did one brave action in his time as senator, likely because he thought he would gain support. But Trump was not impeached, he returned four years later to the White House and Cassidy spent the last six years, trying to ingratiate himself into Trump's favor. We all knew Trump would never forget. Cassidy's only choice was courage but Cassidy was a coward. He could have made a huge difference to the country. He was a pediatrician who let measles return and kids die, not because he didn't know better, but because he was too frightened of losing favor to stop RFK Jr. I am glad he is gone.
Someday that will be the lesson to people well intended, and that must be reinforced by the lesson as it is called out here. For this season I fear the lesson will simply be the political clout of Trump to control primaries.
Sad for me even if I am alone. He has always been a man of high integrity. And a good listener I am a DEMOCRAT. Tried and true. but I see past political stuff for man who has always answered my call to democratic questions. And l will miss him.