Oath and Honor A Memoir and a Warning

Whether you agree with Liz Chaney’s politics/persuasion or not, you should not miss this book. It is an honest accounting of the horror felt by the author and millions of Americans to the crimes and despicable actions of the most corrupt president in recent memory and his sycophantic supporters who benefit from his lies. Cheney’s work on the January 6 Committee is faithfully recounted in this engrossing book. Once you start, it’s almost impossible to put down. The author writes in a clear, logical style about the work she and her Congressional peers did to uncover some of the most disgraceful attacks on American democracy. She names names and pulls no punches. In the not-too-distant future when the legions of Trump supporters come to their senses, this book will serve as a valuable reference, along with the report from the January 6 Committee. Highly recommended.

The most important activity in which we can engage in difficult and confusing times is making sure we find out as many of the facts of every situation as possible. It will always be easy to look the other way and resolve not to pay attention. Robert Burkhardt in a column for the Estes Park (Colorado) News urged us not to get tired. Liz Cheney wakes us up. Her book is a thorough, thoughtful account of the 2020 election and its aftermath. It certainly not be the only story, but it is nevertheless important and compelling reading. It is thoroughly researched, well written and a report from the front lines. It might not be the only version of these years you read, but it should be one of them.

Because it is very unlikely that Liz Cheney and I will ever agree on policies, I wanted to read this book to know more about and understand what was the tipping point for her to be willing to put her job, power and quite frankly, safety, on the line, and stand up and say ‘no’ — my pledge is to the country, not to the party and not to a demi-god that others have made Trump into. The details of the roller coaster ride, the conversations, communications, the lies and back-stabbing that seem to be part of politics is depressing. Her willingness to stand up and speak out is to be admired. I came away from reading this book with fear (based on what is happening now), anger at every single member of government that is willing to sell their souls and line their pockets at the risk of my freedom and a hope that everyone that can read (I am refraining from a sarcastic remark here) will read this book. Like I said, I never would have imagined saying that I admire Liz Cheney, but I now do, and I have am enormous amount of appreciation for her willingness to protect our democracy over her willingness to protect her own power base. If she ever runs for President, I would strongly consider voting for her. Please tell others about this book and recommend that they read it — regardless of party affiliation.

I purchased the book and have struggled to put it down today. The perspective of a committed American from a family legacy of service to our country is factual, poignant and powerful.The historical perspectives from Washington to Lincoln to recent history fit together like finding the perfect piece of a puzzle. The words used by people that are only headlines to me are incredibly courageous or damning. I have no doubt her words are true. There is no strutting, name calling or personal attacks. Her words are stated with clarity allowing the reader to draw their own conclusions.I was moved to tears by her recounting of this conversations with her father. From the title above: former VP Dick Cheney clearly concerned for his daughter tells her to “Defend the republic, daughter.” She replies, “I will, Dad. Always.”I’ve just finished the section on the January 6th insurrection. Ms. Cheney has reawakened the horrors of that day. My perspective from watching news coverage was desperately insufficient. Her retelling of what happened, what was being said, who played the hero, and who were actual heroes has left new wounds on top of old scars.I’ve taken a break as she recounts the aftermath. I’m literally sick to my stomach to view these actions in the light of what is happening today.My respect knows no bounds. I grieve with her. Our political views may differ but I’ve never been prouder of an American sister and true patriot.

For want of an oath, honor was lost; for want of honor, truth was lost; for want of truth, a republic was almost lost, for want of power, a country was almost lost. This page turner of a book pulls back the curtain once and for all on the despicable behavior of Donald Trump and the boot licking lengths that so many of his minions went to in order to keep one autocratic wannabe in power even if it meant breaking their oath to our constitution and dissembling and lying relentlessly in order to do so. A sickening display of pandering and spineless behavior at every level of our government in conjunction with various hate groups and anarchic behavior by a cultic mass coalesced to bring death and destruction to the very sanctum sanctorum of our nation’s Capitol on January 6, 2021. Backed up by meticulous evidence and information thanks to her high ranking in the Republican party and her range of long time contacts, Liz Cheney fully reveals and supports what we knew or only suspected. From our own Congress and Senate to the likes of FOX News and various individuals outside of the government, a continuous flood of misinformation, disinformation, deliberate duplicity, constant denial of what was truly true, was fed to the American public both before and after the Jan. 6 riot. Meanwhile, behind the scenes for a number of months, secret plotting even before the last election was taking place to block our sacred trust in the peaceful transfer of power. Ms. Cheney names names and clearly shows how the many links in the chain that was designed to protect our democracy were broken, one by one. Her book is carefully organized and eminently readable which allows one to go through it quickly and yet absorb much. It is not easy reading, but only because of the effect it will have on one’s ethical, emotional, and intellectual being. How could this happen?! How could so and so do this? How could one live with oneself or even look at a mirror after what was made possible? Or behave in an especially reprehensible way even after the horror of Jan. 6? A large number of the players are already well known. Some less so. Ted Cruz, Jim Jordan, Kevin McCarthy, Mark Meadows, Mike Johnson, Jenna Ellis, Sidney Powell, Rudy Giuliani, Jason Miller, Eric Trump, Paul Gosar, Josh Hawley, Lauren Boebert, John Kennedy, Tommy Tuberville…no less than 147 Republicans voted NO to certifying Joe Biden’s win. And most are are alive and well and in Congress still kicking the process of legitimate governance around. The Section of the book titled “A Plague of Cowardice” is a particular humdinger. This Memoir and a Warning by Liz Cheney should be required reading for the entire MAGA crowd. It might even open THEIR eyes to what their servitude and blind following to one solitary, bitter, psychologically maimed individual who cannot accept a legitimate loss have brought on us all here in the United States and the entire civilized world. Because of Donald Trump, WE are now the losers – of our sanity, serenity, and our belief in the solidity of the greatest democracy ever created. And if somehow re-elected, thanks to the playfulness of the gods and the foolishness of our society, the worst is yet to come and we will be irrevocably doomed.