9 Comments
User's avatar
Julie Bannerman's avatar

I come close to badgering my Democratic representatives in Congress with various means of communication. I ask them the same questions.

Why do you defer to your institutional leaders (Schumer and Jeffries) when they are manifestly unsuited to this moment of constitutional crisis? They certainly have a role to play, but it isn’t as the default voices of the Democratic Party.

Why are you unwilling to unite around effective messaging - especially for the 2024 non-voters and those with regrets for buying Trump’s snake oil? MAGA faithful are a minority. Many others are focused on their bubbles, but even most can tell something is seriously wrong.

Americans generally grow up primed to believe in the Bill of Rights and to reject tyranny and lawless brutality by federal agents.

We’re not primed for torrential lies, betrayals of the Constitution, and provocations from the President and his operatives. That’s where adaptive, astute opposition leadership makes a difference. This need is still largely unmet.

David E. Roy  Ph.D.'s avatar

I’d also like to see a bunch of fake Time Persons of the year, each with the photo & names of the a heretic Republicans who saved Democracy. Circulate now.

Vi Mooberry's avatar

We need a real-life Horton the Elephant who can hear the cries of the people saying, "We are people too", but in reality it's up to us to take that chant to every street in every city while demanding our elected official's do their appointed jobs however impossible they seem. Today, Martin Luther King Day, it's important to keep working toward the dream instead of the nightmare we're currently in.

David E. Roy  Ph.D.'s avatar

The idea and hope that enough Republicans see the extreme danger we are in and band together is my day-time dream as well. If this is going to happen, there would be some background conversations by now & I’ve heard zero. In which case, Democrats should assign handlers to talk with any GOP privately to work to persuade them, then bring them together.

Jay Wilson's avatar

It's time for the Republican Congress to grow a spine -- but I'm not holding my breath:

https://jaywilson1.substack.com/p/profiles-in-cowardice-aeb?r=10sd39

Alice's avatar

What the actual F do we even have a 25th amendment for if we can't use it on this guy - he has clearly lost it according to every measure.

Ken C's avatar
10hEdited

Again, you capture the essence of our crisis! Cults are organized around malignant narcissists. The ascent of narcissistic grandiosity is an ever-expanding balloon of demanding delusional affirmations and insatiable gluttony of greed and power.

Although Trump's pathology leaked during his first term, winning the second term, allowing the conquering of the serious legal allegations by election default, and winning the popular vote put his narcissism on steroids.

The malignancy in Trump's narcissism is the continuously expanding, never sate need for more and more. In contrast, narcissistic injuries are indelible fixations of irritation where no amount of retribution or revenge will calm the outrage.

Trump is reaching an apogee of his narcissistic inflation, trailed by his accumulated narcissistic injuries. He is incapable of retreat or recalibration. A critical puncture of his overinflated and delusional excesses is inevitable.

The majority of Americans do not subscribe to the MAGA Cult. As the escalations of Trump's extremism react to public disapproval, the GOP will feel the heat of political reality against the loyalty tests of the cult.

The pressure points are demonstrating serious leakages. Funding Obamacare, losing the SCOTUS tariff battle, and GOP resistance to the Greenland debacle could all be potential puncture sites.

Chris Alexander's avatar

Hi Mary,

Watchng this nightmare from the UK. I can't believe how the US is allowing this man to drive a coach and horses through the relationships that have been built over many years. He's obviously off his head and is giving permssion to others to behave in the same way. Thank you for your commentary........I wish that there were others who would take action. Best wishes

Bradley  K Monson's avatar

You're right, Mary.