It Takes A Village of Republicans

With all due respect to the genius who wrote the Poltergeist movie (but without paying him any royalties), “He’s Baaaack.” And you know who I mean. I do not mean Isiah Kiner-Falefa who just re-signed with the Yankees; nor do I mean the long-awaited release of Sonic the Hedgehog 2. No, of course I refer to The Donald – the Scion of Solopcism; the Crayola colored crackpot; the sordid sociopath – need I go on? I can. I just don’t like the guy. He is back once more to attempt to destroy the nation we love.

And here’s the thing. He may succeed.

And here’s the other thing. It will not entirely be his fault.

If you have not yet read it, I recommend a book called, “How Democracies Die” by a couple of Harvard guys named Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt. (You have to admire anybody named, “Ziblatt” for having survived his teenage years with that moniker). The theory of their book is that democracies now die not so much by armed revolt, but instead when the “basic norms” of a democratic society are eroded. Those “basic norms” fall, they say, when: (1) rivals are seen as illegitimate and indecent; and (2) institutions are pushed to the hilt – legal systems used beyond reasonable limits. Sound familiar?

It’s happening here, and it’s not only Trump who is to blame. Yes, he is the leader and he is the moving force, but his power is ignited by the cooperation of those already in power. Without the Jim Jordans and the Lauren Boeberts, and the Matt Gaetzes and the Marjorie Taylor Greens, and the Elise Stefaniks (and so many others) Trumpism would not go away, but it would be severely weakened. And those are the obvious culprits. Where is Mitch McConnel’s condemnation? Which way do you think Kevin McCarthy will lead the House – toward or away from MAGA world?

Not sure I’m right? Well, neither am I, but I have a really good hunch that I may be. Look what the Republicans announced as their priority the day that their majority power was decided. Was it a policy to curb inflation? Was it a diplomatic initiative to settle the war in Ukraine? Was it even that ever looming question – boxers or briefs? 

No, the first statement of their legislative mission was to conduct investigations into what they perceive as Democratic transgressions. They think what the world really needs most is the real scoop on border crossings, the Afghanistan withdrawal, the origin of the Covid-19 epidemic, the politicization of the Justice Department; and, most critical of all – the truth behind that evil genius, Hunter Biden.

Interestingly, they did not mention another investigation that could have been on their list – January 6.

Don’t get me wrong. Some of the areas they want to investigate may be worthy of some inquiry. It’s the prioritization of these efforts that is so telling. And it also fits neatly into the reasons why democracies die – the demonization of the opposition and the pushing of legitimate processes to their unreasonable limits.

Did the Democrats conduct investigations when they were in power? Yes, they did.  They investigated a President who tried to bribe a foreign leader and who incited a criminal riot on the Capitol Building in an effort to thwart the legitimate process of a Presidential election. How does that compare to the subjects the Republicans now want to look into? It doesn’t.

The Orange Menace takes credit for everything, and if our country loses its democracy, he can claim responsibility for a good part of that. But not all of it. As much as he would never admit it, he needs help. There are decent and responsible people in the Republican Party. We need their help.

Pray we get it.