President Donald Trump and Senator Jeff Flake (R-Arizona)
We are in a war. The war is between Republicans, an authoritarian party, and Democrats, a liberal party. Right wing authoritarians are coming for our democracy with jack boots and MAGA caps. Republicans want to overturn our democratic republic and replace it with an authoritarian regime. Democrats, on the other hand, want to maintain our democratic republic.
Jeff Flake is oblivious to this war. He seems to believe there are two equivalent parties, polarized only in their policy preferences. Efforts to “cleanse” the FBI and the Justice Department and to “purge” government agencies are not symptoms of polarization. They are the destruction of the pillars of our political system. In his book “The Conscience of a Conservative,” Flake acknowledges that the Republican Party has violated its principles by putting party over country and embracing a cult of personality. It is not the Democratic Party that has abandoned its egalitarian principles or raised an authoritarian personality over democratic norms. But, Jeff Flake and others seem to ignore differences between the parties and what those differences mean for the continuation of a democratic republic.
Jeff Flake is oblivious to this war. He seems to believe there are two equivalent parties, polarized only in their policy preferences. Efforts to “cleanse” the FBI and the Justice Department and to “purge” government agencies are not symptoms of polarization. They are the destruction of the pillars of our political system. In his book “The Conscience of a Conservative,” Flake acknowledges that the Republican Party has violated its principles by putting party over country and embracing a cult of personality. It is not the Democratic Party that has abandoned its egalitarian principles or raised an authoritarian personality over democratic norms. But, Jeff Flake and others seem to ignore differences between the parties and what those differences mean for the continuation of a democratic republic.
The Republican Party accepted a leader, Donald Trump, who is totally unfit for office except in one respect. Trump is charismatic, like many authoritarian and fascist leaders. And, like those other authoritarian leaders, he has used his charisma to sway voters. Also, like many other charismatic, popular leaders, Trump has the presence to mesmerize individuals in private settings.
Like other authoritarian leaders attempting to subvert democratic government Trump has implemented a rolling normalization of war against democratic republics. Trump and other Republicans lie, mislead, or distort as often as they make accurate statements. In little over a year, he and his administration have indulged in numerous corrupt practices, such as flagrantly violating the Hatch Act, profiting from their government positions, ignoring conflicts of interest, failing to implement legislation signed into law. Too many of us have also come to accept this. Also, like other authoritarian leaders, Trump and the Republicans have attacked media, championed regulations to shrink the number of media owners, and are laying the groundwork for further media attacks, such as libel law shakeup. Fox News has become a state propaganda outlet. Trump has called the media an enemy of the state. In his address on the Senate Floor, Jeff Flake cried out about how dangerous it is that Trump has used this statement. Flake said, “ It is a testament to the condition of our democracy that our own president uses words infamously spoken by Josef Stalin to describe his enemies,”
It would seem that Flake would then have to take any action available to him to stop the threat he has identified. Instead, Flake only talks; doesn’t walk. Flake’s explanation for supporting Trump is that he, as a conservative, must vote his conscience and support conservative positions if Trump also espouses conservative positions. Flake does not understand that when he votes for Trump’s tax bill and helps pass it, he helps give Trump a victory. And, that victory empowers Trump to further wage war on democracy.
Trump’s poll numbers are up, reversing a trend since his inauguration. The passage of Trump’s tax bill caused Republican lawmakers to become even more enthralled with him. They are more willing to publicly express adulation of him and act as Trump’s attack dogs since the passage of the tax bill. Republican lawmakers are now engaged in an attack against the FBI and the Department of Justice because those agencies are investigating Trump’s possible conspiracy with Russia.
Following the January 30th State of the Union Address, some talking heads have scolded Democrats for refusing to clap for Trump’s comments about the flag, the anthem, and other seemingly patriotic statements. It seems they would prefer that Democrats, fully aware of the war, would be polite rather than object to the tyrant at the podium.
We must recognize that we are in a war to save our democratic republic. Like it or not, flaws and all, there is only one force that can stop the authoritarian take-over – the Democratic Party. We cannot allow our policy preferences to distract us from the task of saving our democracy.
Like other authoritarian leaders attempting to subvert democratic government Trump has implemented a rolling normalization of war against democratic republics. Trump and other Republicans lie, mislead, or distort as often as they make accurate statements. In little over a year, he and his administration have indulged in numerous corrupt practices, such as flagrantly violating the Hatch Act, profiting from their government positions, ignoring conflicts of interest, failing to implement legislation signed into law. Too many of us have also come to accept this. Also, like other authoritarian leaders, Trump and the Republicans have attacked media, championed regulations to shrink the number of media owners, and are laying the groundwork for further media attacks, such as libel law shakeup. Fox News has become a state propaganda outlet. Trump has called the media an enemy of the state. In his address on the Senate Floor, Jeff Flake cried out about how dangerous it is that Trump has used this statement. Flake said, “ It is a testament to the condition of our democracy that our own president uses words infamously spoken by Josef Stalin to describe his enemies,”
It would seem that Flake would then have to take any action available to him to stop the threat he has identified. Instead, Flake only talks; doesn’t walk. Flake’s explanation for supporting Trump is that he, as a conservative, must vote his conscience and support conservative positions if Trump also espouses conservative positions. Flake does not understand that when he votes for Trump’s tax bill and helps pass it, he helps give Trump a victory. And, that victory empowers Trump to further wage war on democracy.
Trump’s poll numbers are up, reversing a trend since his inauguration. The passage of Trump’s tax bill caused Republican lawmakers to become even more enthralled with him. They are more willing to publicly express adulation of him and act as Trump’s attack dogs since the passage of the tax bill. Republican lawmakers are now engaged in an attack against the FBI and the Department of Justice because those agencies are investigating Trump’s possible conspiracy with Russia.
Following the January 30th State of the Union Address, some talking heads have scolded Democrats for refusing to clap for Trump’s comments about the flag, the anthem, and other seemingly patriotic statements. It seems they would prefer that Democrats, fully aware of the war, would be polite rather than object to the tyrant at the podium.
We must recognize that we are in a war to save our democratic republic. Like it or not, flaws and all, there is only one force that can stop the authoritarian take-over – the Democratic Party. We cannot allow our policy preferences to distract us from the task of saving our democracy.