“Show up and keep an open mind, and just keep doing it. Because if you give up, that’s what I’m most afraid of,” Reed said. “I see a level of disengagement in America that’s growing, and the cynicism is growing very deep, and that’s when we lose our country, is when people stop engaging. When people stop engaging, that’s the death of democracy.”–Rep. Tom Reed, speaking to Cornell Republicans, reported by Matthew McGowen
It’s not necessarily that my speech or my opinions have been changed or silenced because at the end of the day the University has been for the most part supportive, and a lot of people on campus are willing to listen. They might not change their minds, but they’re at least willing to have a conversation.–Anna Girod ’20.
If you wear Trump merchandise on campus, the social backlash you receive will be well deserved. You’re supporting a racist, sexist scam artist whose policies are idiotic at best and downright evil at worst. The Trump administration is hurting many members of our community, and you better believe it’s personal for them.–Alexander Thomson, in a comment on the article
Matthew McGowen, writing for The Cornell Sun, reports on Tom Reed’s Oct. 9th visit with campus Republicans. McGowen writes:
Conversation centered primarily around the experience of conservative students on college campuses, with Reed offering to be the moderator between the students and Cornell administration.
McGowen’s article raises some questions.
- Do students want Tom Reed to intervene on their behalf?
- Do Cornell students fear ridicule as Republicans, conservatives, or as demonstrators flouting Trump paraphernalia?
- Are Republicans necessarily conservatives and vice versa?
- Are Republicans a despised minority in Ithaca really, or is this political propaganda?
- If cynicism is a growing problem, is Tom Reed’s performance in office a cause of that?
- What issues would Tom Reed raise with Cornell?
Reportedly, “Reed offered some of his political insights and prescriptions for closing the political rift.” (see the quote at the start of this article) As I understand it, Reed would have students:
- Keep open minds
- Engage with others
This seems like good, non-controversial advice. Does Tom Reed keep an open mind and engage meaningfully with those he labels “extreme Ithaca liberals?” I think not.
New NY 23rd 
Well said, William.
Last night I traveled to Enfield to hear Reed’s campaign director serve as his proxy in a candidate forum with Tracy Mitrano in Enfield, a rural area few miles outside of Ithaca. Like his boss, Nick Weinstein did no real listening, but spent considerable time trying to convince Enfielders that Reed is a bipartisan problem solver battling against division and labels while running a fake website against his opponent, calling her names, and putting up Extreme Ithaca Liberal signs (which they are careful to avoid placing in Tompkins County). Always watch what Reed does and not so much what he says.
I don’t think that anyone there was convinced that Reed is a problem solver or bipartisan.
Re: what issues Reed would raise with Cornell, that would be that college endowments should be taxed, and that endowment money managers are paid too much, or so he said at the town hall meeting in Horseheads.
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I find the idea that Tom Reed might interfere with university education offensive, particularly as he could threaten adverse legislation as indeed he did with respect to endowments.
Carol, would you like to write a longer report on the Enfield meeting? How did Tracy do? What was the reaction to Reed sending an employee instead of coming himself?
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One night in late October,
When I was far from sober,
Returning with my load with manly pride,
My poor feet began to stutter,
So I lay down in the gutter,
And a pig came near and lay down by my side;
Then we sang “It’s all fair weather when good fellows get together”,
Till a lady passing by was heard to say:
“You can tell a man who boozes,
By the company he chooses”,
And the pig got up and slowly walked away.
———————————————————————————————————————-
One of Reed’s best friends forever is Donald Trump
One of Donald Trump’s best friends forever is Saudi Arabia’s MBS.
Mister Bone Saw himself.
Trump is busy working with the Saudis to concoct a plausible story about Khashoggi’s dismemberment and murder. Reportedly the dismemberment occurred while Jamal was alive, with the murderers laughing.
Reed is parroting Trump’s lines in this revolting matter.
What else is there to know about Tom Reed?
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Engagement is good. Conservatives can change their minds. With the right encouragment.
Take global warming, for instance:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-north-carolina-hurricanes-do-what-scientists-could-not-persuade-republicans-that-climate-change-is-real/2018/10/17/45136c56-d0ac-11e8-8c22-fa2ef74bd6d6_story.html?utm_term=.f82e8875ce74
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Is support for murderous autocrats conservative; can anything Republicans support be said to be conservative and anything they dislike liberal; has “conservative” lost its meaning?
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From just a couple of days ago. Short read.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2018/10/16/since-when-does-being-a-conservative-mean-that-you-have-to-follow-donald-trump/?utm_term=.b07a8587bdf6
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I wrote a detailed analysis of Matthew McGowen’’s article. I think you will find it interesting:
Republican Victimhood and the Rise of Political Violence
https://themessinglink.com/PoliticalViolence
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