In the Coen brothers’ 1998 cult classic, “The Big Lebowski,” Jeff Bridges plays Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski, an unemployed slacker who spends most of his time at a bowling alley. Mistaken for a millionaire of the same name, the Dude is attacked in his apartment by thugs sent by an adult film producer from whom the millionaire’s wife borrowed money, repayment of which is now overdue. When the millionaire’s wife is held for ransom, he hires the Dude to be the bag man.
In the 2025 remake, the hired intermediary is portrayed by Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski. The ransom she will deliver is the 50th vote needed for the the fate of Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” to be decided by the vice president’s tie-breaking ballot. In this version, Murkowski is mistaken for her previous self, a principled politician with a soul and a spine.
Much like the Dude, whose best friend Walt Sobchak (John Goodman) convinces him to put personal interest before duty, Murkowski risks the public interest in return for a few crumbs she can dole out to her constituents. If it were only that simple. In what can only be described as “Lisa in Wonderful,” Murkowski believes the risk is non-existent, imagining that House Republicans will stop this runaway train before it can reach Trump’s desk. In her now infamous post-vote press conference, Murkowski lays out her pipe-dream.
My hope is that the House is gonna look at this and recognize that we’re not there yet.
As anyone who has been awake for the last ten years would have known, the odds of the MAGA dominated House Republican caucus coming to the rescue were equal to that of a three-legged horse winning the Triple Crown. Who could have tutored Murkowski in such nonsense? How could she believe there was a white knight who would save her from betrayal of what she knew in her head and heart was unconscionable?
One need only look back at the example set by her mentor Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell when he had the chance to ensure Donald Trump could never again sit behind the Resolute Desk. He too deferred to an imagined White Knight to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law. Following Trump acquittal on the articles of impeachment associated with the January 6, 2021 insurrection, McConnell pulled his own “Big Murkowski.” In his speech before the U.S. Senate he enumerated the high crimes and misdemeanors Trump perpetrated that day.
The leader of the free world cannot spend weeks thundering that shadowy forces are stealing our country and then feign surprise when people believe him and do reckless things.
It was obvious that only President Trump could end this. Former aides publicly begged him to do so. Loyal allies frantically called the Administration.
But the President did not act swiftly. He did not do his job. He didn’t take steps so federal law could be faithfully executed, and order restored.
Even after it was clear to any reasonable observer that Vice President Pence was in danger… even as the mob carrying Trump banners was beating cops and breaching perimeters… the President sent a further tweet attacking his Vice President.
All McConnell needed to do was tell his caucus, “I am voting to convict Donald J. Trump, and I urge you to do the same. His actions on January 6, 2021 meet the threshold of high crimes and misdemeanors.” But he did exactly what Murkowski did on Wednesday. He abdicated his responsibility to stop the madness, and shifted the onus to the next president, Justice Department and the courts. From the same Senate speech:
We have a criminal justice system in this country. We have civil litigation. And former Presidents are not immune from being held accountable by either one.
[Add laugh track] Thanks to the Supreme Court, Donald Trump now has the immunity McConnell claimed would not save Trump from accountability for his crimes.
I know skeptics will say, “Both sides do it. That’s how Washington works.” Let me remind you both sides used to NOT do it. In 1990, President George H. W. Bush realized Reaganomics was bankrupting the country. He raised taxes despite his 1988 campaign pledge, “Read my lips. No new taxes.” That act of conscience is largely responsible for his losing re-election in 1992. In much the same vein, President Bill Clinton and Senator Majority Leader Bob Dole knew economic prosperity was at risk due to the burgeoning national debt. In 1996, they bucked conventional wisdom and raised taxes which resulted in three years of a budget surpluses and one of the strongest economies in U.S. history.
So, the only question that remains is, when the devastating, negative impacts of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” threaten the health and prosperity of millions of Americans, will the MAGA trinity–White House, Congress and Judiciary–take responsibility and act. Or will they pull their own Big Murkowski, telling the American people, much like the late Freddie Prinze of “Chico and the Man” fame, “That’s not my job!”
For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP