It has occurred to me—and I haven’t seen this anywhere else except in my head, and have to get it out of there—that Mitt Romney, aka ‘the only republican congressperson of honor and conscience’, could trigger an avalanche simply by shifting to the Democratic Party. As with Jeff Van Drew (and other* republic’ns who opposed trump’s impeachment trial) shifted in the reverse direction last year, but on mega steroids.
There are rare moments in history that demand extraordinary courage, and that when coupled with the right person at the right time, place, and perspective, can affect global outcomes.
This is just such an existential moment, and if it passes without a champion, there is likely no going back; no 2nd chance. It is a rare opportunity with a narrow window (198 days ‘till election) and the price is beyond measure.
Someone has to be first to break with the republic party and Mitt is perfectly positioned, experienced and would be welcomed, even embraced.
He must surely feel isolated, perhaps impotent, as a republican. Referred to as a ‘pariah’ by many in his party, according to Gallup his senate approval rating went from 86% when he was running for president, to 23% after taking a principled stand in favor of an honest trial that risked revealing the truth of trump’s obvious guilt. Consequently, his approval surged to 56% among Democrats. He must also recognize that his party no longer exists—that it has twisted and perverted itself beyond recognition, becoming the ‘party of trump’.
Imagine going from persona non grata to heroic patriot-super-star with just one profoundly honest act—switching parties. It would thrust Mitt into the center of attention around the globe and would serve justice with respect to the treatment he is getting from his morally compromised fellow congressional conformists.
With 77% of his party against him, I cannot imagine what it feels like, having to work among such a nest of delusional vermin. History and experience have taught us that those espousing airs of moral superiority are all too often cowardly fools behind the mask.
This could free up others, who must surely be seeing the writing on the wall and who know they will soon need to be vacating their own positions and posts, preferably while their crippled ship is still afloat. In all the world at this moment, it seems as though Mitt Romney is possibly the only one who could pull this off. He has the grace and personal integrity to rise to this opportunity, and has already stood alone against the institutional dishonesty of his party. Knowing what the cost would be, he followed his own moral compass when all the others held tight to their blinders and the false security of unanimity.
This brave act would renew hope for millions everywhere, globally, who desperately need respite from the perverse and pervasive insanity around us all; who need leadership, cooperation and assistance from the once-greatest country in the world. The world could connect in a deep breath of mutual relief (a ‘Breather-hood’, so to speak).
It would shake the party to its roots, loosening McConnel’s iron grip and would open up options for others with a vestige of conscience and integrity left; those who couldn’t quite go first but know the power of an avalanche and so, maybe 2nd or 3rd, and then…...
It could shift us one senate seat closer to the majority needed to wrest control away from these goons, and perhaps toward finally removing the madman-in-chief.
It would boost support of the climate emergency since he acknowledged in 2019 that the Climate crisis is real and that human activity is a significant contributor.
I long to and see truth take the helm, followed by a swift bailing out of rats as the republic party crumbled beneath their shaking legs, as their worst fears materialize before their eyes. I wish to witness the final implosion of the greedy little souls of the party of Entitled Crimson Soldiers.
Can he make a mental leap far greater than the one he made that made him an outcast—costing him ‘good standing’ in his club? I can’t know the answer, but I had to ask the question.
Please Mitt Romney, will you help save the nation, indeed the planet? We cannot sustain another four years of lies and sick, stupid sensationalism.
*Jack Layton — MI, Christina Clark — WA, Gordon Campbell — CA, Kareem Jabari — NY