Dear GOP Congresscritters: (What I, a Voter, Can and Cannot Forgive)
Dear GOP Congresscritters:
I think many of you are starting to be aware that your political Party is garnering a reputation for being, (to understate the case a trifle) spectacularly corrupt.
This puts y'all in a helluva bind, I suspect.
Because as more and more comes to light about the cabal based over on Pennsylvania Avenue's ongoing smash-and-grab raid on America's economy and the very integrity of our democratic republican electoral and governing processes, the mouselike silence from y'all is becoming deafening. Those of us old enough to remember the Republican heroes of Watergate have been looking for similar courage to manifest itself, and coming up pretty effing dry.
It's fairly clear that mere ideological fervor wouldn't be enough to keep you shtumm, especially since the corruption cabal has done its possible to rip apart the very Constitutional protections of our democracy your party claims to revere, and is in the process of noisily trashing the Holy Free Market Church of the Invisible Hand. Even those with ::koff:: sincere religiously-motivated loyalty to your Party have to be deeply dismayed by the evidence of profoundly (to say the least) un-Biblical behavior among your colleagues.
So what's at the root of this reverberating absence of disapproval?
A lot of us voters out here are triangulating in (reluctantly or eagerly, depending on natural ideological inclinations) on the explanation that y'all have some pretty intimate skin in the 'omerta game'. As in, someone's Got Something On You. That Someone may or may not be based in Moscow-- could merely be an "American" oligarch who's pulled a few strings for you, managed a few kickbacks, helped with the bank account padding, made an embarrassing moment go away, whatever.
Well, so be it. The last few decades have been a notably febrile ride of greed, corruption, and grab-assery by any historical standard.
So, y'all are keeping the lips locked to protect your own asses, which is... well... human.
Not precisely the standard we hope for from our elected representatives sworn to uphold the Constitution, but definitely all too human.
And, you know, we're human, too. We voters. Yep.
So... perhaps we can cut a deal.
We know y'all aren't exactly squeaky-clean. You may have reason to worry about losing the next election, to start with (say, have you noticed how many of your colleagues are grabbing the swag they've accumulated and getting out while the getting is good? Just askin'...). Maybe even public embarrassment, shaming, loss of future career viability if your particular hanky-panky comes under the glare of media scrutiny. Possibly even (gulp!) criminal charges? Ouchie.
We get it. No one contemplates any of that without serious, butthole-puckering anxiety.
But here's the deal, GOPpie Congresscritters:
We need you. We need heroes. And your Party, believe it or not, needs you to be heroes, too.
Right now, your Party is looking like a wavering Jenga tower of shady ethics, power-crazy greed, shameful pandering, and racist fervor, that's going to collapse into a thousand-year night of non-viability.
So think about this: If what's keeping you shtumm is something that falls under the general category of, well, day-to-day sleaze (#MeToo shenanigans, under-reported campaign finance hijinks, etc.), you know what?
All that stuff is reprehensible, but it's forgivable reprehensible. It's human nature shit, and while you may have to go through the wringer a bit, you can still achieve redemption, if you help save the Constitution and the very existence of the Democratic Republic of the United States of America which is currently under a nasty, insidious attack by foreign enemies.
You know who they are. They're the same as they've been for years, in some cases for decades:
Russia tops the list.
But Iran is there, too. So is North Korea. And China. They all share similar goals: create chaos and division in America. Damage American democracy. Interfere with America's ability to promote American ideals of self-government, equity, and freedom on the world stage. Induce America to tarnish its own reputation. Leach the power from our economic models, our technological leadership, our cultural influence.
They've got us on the ropes.
And you can help.
If you even suspect that some of the pressure you've been under might have connections to Moscow or Tehran or Beijing, talk to Mr. Mueller.
And then talk to the press, the real press-- the "fake news", "enemy of the people" media. Confession is damn' good for the soul, yanno? And then join the Resistance. Hold your colleagues accountable.
I'm not saying you'll get a free pass on whatever's in that closet. But you may be able to earn forgiveness, once it becomes clear that America, American democracy, and our Constitution mean more to you than your own bank account. That you're willing to sacrifice to uphold your oath of office.
Give it a try.
I, for one, stand ready to say, "Humans make mistakes. But even humans who make mistakes, can be heroes."
encouragingly,
Bright
= new reply since forum marked as read
I concur.
A big, fat K&R!
