After the photo of me cleaning the Capitol went viral, people kept saying to me the phrase “Look For The Helpers.” I grew up with Mister Rogers and felt comfort in those words. But now, 3 yrs after Jan 6, I have come to learn an entirely different lesson from this phrase… THREAD pic.twitter.com/1ndGaaoMZP
— Andy Kim (@AndyKimNJ) January 6, 2024
A little wind-down as we prepare for another week…
I told my sons that there were incredible helpers at the Capitol who kept me and others safe. We had heroes. Like Officer Eugene Goodman who faced down the mob. Heroes like Officer Brian Sicknick who gave his life to defend democracy. 3/11 pic.twitter.com/4DFiJ8yv5W
— Andy Kim (@AndyKimNJ) January 6, 2024
But over the following weeks I started to think that it wasn’t enough that we felt safe. It didn’t get to the root of the question of why did all this violence and chaos happen to begin with. How did we get this this horrible point in the first place? 5/11 pic.twitter.com/ljqq1eyilC
— Andy Kim (@AndyKimNJ) January 6, 2024
If Mister Rogers advises our kids to “Look For The Helpers,” what do we say about those who seek to do harm? What do we call them? The opposite of helpers? The breakers? If we “Look For The Helpers,” do we Look Out For The …”? 7/11 pic.twitter.com/Ibu2go6X5h
— Andy Kim (@AndyKimNJ) January 6, 2024
We must earnestly and honestly take on the question of why there are so many in our country that seek to hurt instead of help. We are becoming a nation addicted to anger that is facing a spiraling crisis of empathy. Also disinformation and polarization at extreme levels. 9/11 pic.twitter.com/QtgZXXoRjm
— Andy Kim (@AndyKimNJ) January 6, 2024
Mister Rogers was right to tell kids to Look For The Helpers. But we adults must do much more. We can’t assume someone will fight our fights for us and fix these problems. We should “Look to Be The Helpers.” It’s not easy. It takes courage. But it is what this moment demands. END pic.twitter.com/b4aotP37E0
— Andy Kim (@AndyKimNJ) January 6, 2024
I’m going to do everything I can to step up to this moment. I’ve stepped up to run for Senate because too much is at stake.
Help me and chip in if you can. Thank you. https://t.co/HtopwCSsai— Andy Kim (@AndyKimNJ) January 6, 2024
The thread below is from 2021:
Send this man to the Senate: https://t.co/I1X9oxFFzQ
— Clean Observer (@Hammbear2024) January 6, 2024
dmsilev
He definitely is a good man. And in comparison to the guy he’s running to replace, well…
JaySinWA
@dmsilev: I had to look it up. He’s running for Melendez’s seat in the senate. He would be a definite upgrade.
gwangung
Does he have a shot to win the primary? As I recall, he’s up against someone hand-picked by the state Democratic establishment….
Alison Rose
What a wonderful human. I only wish there was a solvable answer to the question of why so many choose to be the opposite of helpers. Unfortunately, many of them choose to be that way because they enjoy being that way. Sociopathy is rarely curable.
Lyrebird
@gwangung: The wife of the current governor entered the race not long after Rep. Kim did, but I would guess she’d been planning it for a while. This article quotes a bunch of other NJ congr. reps who have endorsed Murphy rather than their colleague, a bunch of ’em say either they’ve worked with her before around particular issues or oh she asked me and he hasn’t, so…
I think Rep. Kim is phenomenal, but yeah it may well be uphill.
Mousebumples
No idea on his chances for the Senate (and not from NJ so won’t presume to know how they should vote in their primary), but I’m bias to have him in Congress.
RevRick
@gwangung: He polls quite well. NJ politics put the byzantine into byzantine.
Jackie
@gwangung: I saw somewhere he’s getting a lot more donations than the establishment candidate. I can’t vote for him, but I’ll donate and support him! I donated money to him in ‘22 and he embodies who we want in the senate.
satby
Yeah, I’d rather talk about Andy Kim than the subject of the next thread. He’s the kind of guy who should be elected to serve in government. And his statement about a nation addicted to anger is right. There are things to be righteously angry about, but it’s destructive and distracting. Let the other side keep trying to “pwn the libs” while we don’t get angry, we stay focused and get even by winning and undoing every vicious little law they pass.
Alison Rose
I haven’t seen Oppenheimer yet but I’m glad Cillian Murphy won Best Actor because it meant hearing his acceptance speech in that voice. ISTG he needs to get on Cameo so for my birthday someone can get him to, I don’t know, read me the instruction manual for a lawn mower or something, I don’t give a fuck.
H.E.Wolf
@satby:
Amen to everything you said. Beautiful.
satby
satby
@H.E.Wolf: 🥴
Burnspbesq
I grew up in Jersey and know full well how weird the politics can get, but this one has me scratching my head. In a one-on-one primary, Kim kicks Menendez’ ass—and then waltzes to victory in the general. Why on earth would Gov. Murphy want to put that at risk?
Lyrebird
@Burnspbesq: I don’t live there either, but maybe… his wife had put her plans on hold for him for many years, and they’ve been thinking the Senate would be her big break?
I think Geminid or somebody put up some good news numbers which is that even in a contested primary, Menendez is coming in last.
ETA: I do live in NYS. Based on that experience, I should instead say, well apparently becoming governor requires something like hitting your own head with a frying pan to make a previously non stupid person more stupid, so that could be the closer explanation. Hochul is still way better than her predecessor and her main opponent, but that is a very low bar to clear.
JAFD
@Burnspbesq:
@Burnspbesq:
will post URL for best article I’ve read on NJ Senate primry ASAP. Have had long cold day, must sleep now.
NotMax
@Mosuebumples
Don’t the mists obscuring the future in NJ part by cleromancy, casting the bones of Jimmy Hoffa?
//
Black_Onion
Since this is an open thread, I guess this is the place to share this incredible twitter thread about a Revolutionary War fort a couple discovered inside an old plantation house in West Virginia. It goes on and on with so many photos. I just found it to be incredibly interesting and packed with history.
https://twitter.com/johnbryanesq/status/1744042901280104535
Here is a wikipedia article about the house/fort:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byrnside-Beirne-Johnson_House
Kathleen
@satby: Beautifully stated.
Bruce K in ATH-GR
@NotMax: Sadly, Jimmy Hoffa’s bones aren’t available for cleromancy unless you set off some seismic charges in the vicinity of the foundations of the old Giants Stadium, and I don’t think the Borough of East Rutherford would grant you a permit for that.
satby
@Black_Onion: that’s fascinating! Thanks for sharing that.
Geminid
@Lyrebird: I think the poll I saw showed Menendez polling at 5%. Kim had a substantial lead over Tammy Murphy; the poll was taken right before she announced.
New Jersey has an unusual system where county leaders can choose whom to place at the top of the ballot. I think they can put up their preferred slate for all offices from Senator on down, encouraging loyalists to vote a straight ticket. Ms. Murphy is expected to benefit from this in the primary. We’ll probably hear a lot about this system as the June(?) primary approaches.
I think that Menendez won’t be much a factor in the primary, and may well have taken a plea deal by then. Prosecutors seem to have Menendez wrapped up tight this time, and he runs the risk of dying in prison if he takes this to trial.
Zelma
I am a supporter of Andy Kim. I donated first when he first ran and have been a supporter ever since. I am furious about the Murphy “coup.” I don’t care how nice Tammy Murphy is. I am sick of nepotism and people who think they can waltz into office by virtue of their family. And I am sick of the political machine that gave us Menedez and which is supporting Murphy.
I live in South Jersey where about one-third of the state’s population lives. There hasn’t been a state-wide elected official from the south in decades. Andy Kim is from “south of Trenton.” The area is trending Republican. Republicans just won control of Atlantic County and have made inroads in the suburbs around Philadephia. Wouldn’t it be interesting if New Jersey ceases to be a safe Democratic state? It could happen. Murphy is not really all that popular a governor and it’s by no means clear that voters like me (who are less devoted Democrats) will object to her candidacy.
Anyway, Andy is a great guy. I hope he has a chance.
Black Onion
@satby: I saw it and thought “who do I know who lives in West Virginia?”
There are so many photos, it reminded me of some of the great posts I see here.