Commentary — Republicans and Impeachment

Editor
12/18/2019 05:46 AM (update 04/11/2023 01:49 AM)

by Joe Dahl — The Republicans in Washington seem to have changed. For the last few decades it seemed as though the GOP elected class was regularly fading back from issues that were important to their constituents and core principles of their party. They didn’t gain, nor long hold, bravery generated by the Tea Party. They were reluctant to suffer slings and arrows from the Left or the News Media, which came to include the social media. They avoided the possibility of being labeled racist, sexist, politically incorrect or, above all anti-LGBTQ. They would abandon their fellows who did speak out and who were falsely labeled, they didn’t stick together nor defend each other. Some spoke out loud and often making good sense and reason but lacking momentum for a lack of support from their own. Then along came Trump with his unorthodox style. Rude, crude, bully, braggart are some of the labels that go with him. But, the more we saw, there was warmth, manners, graciousness, kindness, diplomacy and most of all success in so many ways, in spite of the strong opposition and resistance. But still the common response, public and private, “Oh, I wish he hadn’t said that.” And the Republican support for their president has often and in ways been lukewarm. Now after almost three years, as the resistant Left is impeaching him, we see something that should be unexpected. The Republicans are sticking together and speaking out without fear. Interestingly, the Republicans on the impeachment committees ‘came to fight’ in defense of their president, without exception. Could it be that they have a leader who fearlessly speaks out, is terribly criticized, and his base keeps growing. The shrinking Republicans who have feared criticism would not be subjected to anything, even close, to what this president has gone through with political opposition and media criticism that is huge, ongoing, mostly unfair and untrue. With Trump speaking out in loud abandon, even if his sentence structure is rough the meaning is mostly clear, are the GOP lawmakers saying to themselves, “Wish I had said that?” Most of them could say it better, if they would, and in those committees they are speaking out and the false labels be dammed. At this rate we may outgrow political correctness and have a group of lawmakers who can do some stuff, like when Trump rolled back so many regulations and the economy decided it didn’t need so much government help – just one example. It may be noted that there could be some admiration for the tenacity of the congressional Democrats who are so unitedly and unwaveringly pursuing impeachment when they have nothing — nothing except they don’t like him. The views expressed by our guest columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of The Fallon Post. We encourage polite, public discourse and ask that response or commentary be sent to [email protected] Never miss the local news — read more on The Fallon Post home page. If you enjoy The Fallon Post, please support our effort to provide local, independent news and make a contribution today. Your contribution makes possible this online news source for all things Fallon.