As we near the end of another session in Congress, Americans witnessed the departure of two members of what was once known as the progressive “Squad.”
Representatives Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) and Cori Bush (D-MO) delivered farewell speeches filled with the usual progressive rhetoric. They were met with very little fanfare.
Bowman and Bush spoke to a nearly empty chamber. In fact, the video shows the pair were only accompanied by fellow Squad Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), and Ayanna Pressley (D-MA). Bowman would be joined by his wife.
The irony of their exit speeches, where they continued to push for reparations, condemn Israel, and echo the sentiments of fringe elements within their party, is not lost on those who have followed their careers.
They were shouting empty rhetoric to an empty room. Their congressional careers in a nutshell.
Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) gives her final remarks as a member of Congress: “It has been the honor of my life to be your congresswoman in Missouri’s First District … Always remember, this congresswoman loves you and will always have your back, even if it means I lose something.” pic.twitter.com/LcYAIJMXd5
— Heartland Signal (@HeartlandSignal) December 12, 2024
Jamaal Bowman, Cori Bush Bid Farewell In Speeches
Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush delivered speeches that were not well-grounded in reality. But then, what did you expect?
“Our Squad was never small and never silent,” she said to a small crowd in a very silent chamber. “We have changed the course of history.”
She continued by telling her fellow Squadlings, “Each of you has made history and made a difference in your own right, and you have made a difference in my life.”
Bush was soundly defeated in her primary to St. Louis prosecutor Wesley Bell. Bell went on to win the seat in November.
Bowman, who was also ousted in spectacular fashion by losing his primary, warned that there is “much more to come” from him in the future.
“Free Palestine, free the Bronx, and free all marginalized people,” he declared.
🖼️ This image of Jamaal Bowman delivering his congressional exit speech to an empty room deserves to be in a museum. pic.twitter.com/O8lRUwB16P
— Jason Curtis Anderson (@JCAndersonNYC) December 13, 2024
RELATED: Squad Member Cori Bush Slammed for Demanding $14 Trillion in Reparations
They Will Be Missed
Cori Bush and Jamaal Bowman, despite having nobody there to hear their goodbye speeches, will be sorely missed. Mostly by us. And mostly because of the unintentional comedy they provided.
When Bush wasn’t coming up with sound economic policy, such as demanding $14 trillion in reparations, she was making up fictional accounts of being shot at during protests in Ferguson, Missouri.
Then, of course, there was this moment, the absolute pinnacle of her activist career, in which she had no idea how taxes work.
Ladies and Gentlemen……
I give you @CoriBush , an actual member of Congress.
The level of stupidity is mind blowing. pic.twitter.com/9xEYZUYIjf
— Spitfire (@DogRightGirl) October 31, 2023
Bowman, meanwhile, will only be remembered for his political career for the day he transformed into Fire Marshall Bill in an attempt to stop a Congressional vote. An act some say amounted to insurrection.
🚨 NEW FOOTAGE: Democrat Rep. Jamaal Bowman removes warning signs before pulling the fire alarm in a House office building last month pic.twitter.com/dhwOQN2G6y
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) October 26, 2023
It was an act so mind-numbingly stupid that Democrats even joined their GOP colleagues in voting to censure him.
