The choice before us is chicken or fish

[lastlib]

by Thomas L. Friedman
New York Times News Service
reprinted in the Kansas City Star, May 22, 2017
http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/syndicated-columnists/article151651297.html

Since President Donald Trump’s firing of FBI Director James Comey, one question has been repeated over and over: With Democrats lacking any real governing power, are there a few good elected men or women in the Republican Party who will stand up to the president’s abuse of power as their predecessors did during Watergate? And this question will surely get louder with the report that Trump asked Comey in February to halt the investigation into the president’s former national security adviser.
But we already know the answer: No.
The GOP never would have embraced someone like Trump in the first place — an indecent man with a record of multiple bankruptcies, unpaid bills and alleged sexual harassments who lies as he breathes — if there was any possibility for the answer to ever be yes. Virtually all the good men and women in this party’s leadership have been purged or silenced; those who are left have either been bought off by lobbies or have cynically decided to take a ride on Trump’s Good Ship Lollipop to exploit it for any number of different agendas.

It has not been without costs. Trump has made every person in his orbit look like either a “liar or a fool,” as David Axelrod put it. So call off the search. There will be no GOP mutiny, even if Trump resembles Captain Queeg more each day.
That’s why the only relevant question is this: Are there tens of millions of good men and women in America ready to run and vote as Democrats or independents in the 2018 congressional elections and replace the current GOP majority in the House and maybe the Senate?
Nothing else matters — this is now a raw contest of power.

Just think about that picture of Trump laughing it up with Russia’s foreign minister in the Oval Office, a foreign minister who covered up Syria’s use of poison gas. Trump reportedly shared with him sensitive intelligence on ISIS, and Trump refused to allow any U.S. press in the room. The picture came from Russia’s official photographer. In our White House!... And the GOP is still largely mute. If Hillary had done that, they would have shut down the government.
That’s why for me, in 2018, the most left-wing Democratic candidate for House or Senate is preferable to the most moderate Republican, because none of the latter will confront Trump. And Trump’s presidency is not just a threat to my political preferences, it is a threat to the rule of law, freedom of the press, ethics in government, the integrity of our institutions, the values our kids need to learn from their president and America’s long-standing role as the respected leader of the free world.
That’s why there are just two choices now: chicken or fish — a Democratic-controlled House or Senate that can at least deter Trump for his last two years, or four years of an out-of-control president. This GOP is not going to impeach him; forget that fantasy. Either Democrats get a lever of power, or we’re stuck emailing each other “SNL” skits.
So, I repeat: Run as, raise money for or register someone to vote for a Democrat or independent running for House or Senate on Nov. 6, 2018. Nothing else matters.
It’s chicken or fish, baby. It’s just chicken or fish.

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This guy understands! Get. Out. The. F***ing. VOTE, people!!

[BigmanPigman]

1. I agree 110%. Indivisible and many other groups are working very, very hard to make it happen.

We all need to be active though. I have joined moveon.org, change.org, etc and am trying my best. Encourage as many as you can to "walk the walk and not just talk the talk" if you know what I mean.

[lastlib]

3. I will certainly do my best!

My activity, unfortunately, is somewhat limited by circumstances, but I hope that changes in the near future. Perhaps then I'll be able to get out and hit the pavement and move as many people as I can! I'm following Indivisible and a couple other groups; maybe I can learn from them and work to get some meaningful change in this country, both locally and nationally. I know the price of doing nothing is FAR too high!!

[shadowmayor]

2. Hey Tommy Friedbrain

Any left-wing Democrat is always a better candidate than the most moderate Repuke. So to quote yourself - Suck on this and choke on a turd flat-brain boy. Wadda piece of shit he truly is.