I have listened to the belly-aching of weak-kneed Republicans for the last 48 hours, referring to the President as, “debasing, reckless, outrageous, a danger and undignified.” At the end of all the self- serving tirades, meant to soothe their consciences, they say, well we don’t want to talk about removing the President, that is premature. Precisely when is the time; after the Paris Climate Agreement is rescinded, oh he is doing that now; after consumers are denied suing unscrupulous banks for predatory practices, oh that happened with the help of a Flake vote yesterday. Or when the bombs start dropping?
I am sorry, I am not perched atop the Jeff Flake, empty barrel cheering him on.
I will credit Flake with ringing the alarm bell early and often during the run-up to the election last November. Unfortunately, once Trump hopped in the pilot’s seat, Flake boarded the flight, ordered cocktails, paid for the movie and hoped for a peaceful landing. The expected turbulence came, the ground approach is predictably unsteady and now Flake is donning his flotation device and looking for a soft landing. I am fearful, Democrats will direct him to the soft grass. After the happy frenzy yesterday, with Flake describing President Trump as a “danger to democracy” he did his best Michael Jackson moonwalk imitation this morning. When asked by CBS News’ Norah O’Donnell, “If he is dangerous to democracy, as you say, should he be removed from office?” Flake responded with, “…I don’t think that's the direction to go. Nor do I think the 25th Amendment is either.”
Over and over I have opined about liberal pundits running to the nearest keyboard, microphone or seeking the red TV light to express how Mr. Trump is pivoting. Now the warm fuzzies and hugs are directed at Flake and Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.). Corker has called the President a toddler, with his adult daycare suggestion, Flake has called him dangerous on the floor of the Senate and for critics, this forgives their conservative lockstep voting dance. Flake and Corker voted yes in the failed attempt to take health care away from millions, and as previously mentioned they were instrumental in stripping consumers rights of redress. So, we will have a few days of Trump sycophants hooting over Flake’s treachery and withdrawal from the fight, multi-shirted Steve Bannon will be etching notches in his six-shooter and the tweeter-in-chief will distract from real news. What happened in Niger, how much will the middle class get screwed in tax reform, and the slow chugging train of the Affordable Care Act repeal steams down the tracks.
Whenever a politician ducks and dodges it is said, getting answers, is like trying to nail Jell-O to a wall. Well if the Jell-O occupying the Oval Office attempted to answer a question with substance and not clichés we would know definitively that Rex Tillerson was absolutely right in his assessment of Donald Trump.
While the middle of the roaders and across aisle reacher(s) praise Jeff Flake today and tell people like me not to turn my back on an ally; I will be in my easy chair, looking over my shoulder and listening to the O’Jays.
Vote in 18’ for Change