Four years ago when Republicans defended the Senate filibuster, Sen. Dan Sullivan argued it “encourages, if not demands, compromise and bipartisan work both when one’s party is in or out of power.” Sen. John Thune (R-S.C.) pointed out that it’s not just kings who are inclined to rule like tyrants, “majorities could be tyrants too, and that a majority – if unchecked – could trample the rights of the minority.”
Implied in those statements is a commitment to respect the minority. But while traveling in Alaska last week, Sullivan mimicked President Donald Trump by ignoring his constituents in the minority.
However, being heard by a senator who has proudly submitted to the tyrannical takeover of his party won’t stop the bleeding Trump is causing to our constitutional order. What’s needed is a coalition of anti-Trump minorities that includes conservatives who oppose his frontal attack on the judicial system. Who feel betrayed by his treatment of Ukraine and our allies in Canada and Europe. Or are simply fed up with him acting like a king while creating utter chaos.
Building such a coalition won’t be as easy as expanding a network of like-minded citizens. But hard work and sacrifice should be expected when defending our democracy from any serious threat.
Calling out Sullivan’s hypocrisy is still important. But that’s too easy. Just look at his record.
He launched a “Choose Respect” campaign to combat domestic violence and sexual assault. Now he gives unconditional loyalty to a man who boasted about grabbing women by their genitals and was found liable for sexual abuse by a civil trial jury.
He supported President Barack Obama’s free trade efforts. Now he’s happy tariff warrior.
He condemned those who committed acts of violence during the Jan. 6 insurrection. But he expressed no objections when Trump pardoned them all.
He complained that President Joe Biden wasn’t doing enough to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian invaders. Then said nothing when Trump temporarily suspended aid to and stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine.
“My guiding light has been both fidelity to my constituents and to our Constitution,” he said when he voted to acquit Trump for his role in the insurrection. Properly translated today, that’s fidelity only to constituents who agree with Trump. And to a constitution according to Trump.
Never in American history has a political party ceded so much of its ideologies to the whims of a strongman.
“This is an extraordinary moment and it requires extraordinary vision and actions,” Jonathan V. Last wrote in the Bulwark. “We must stop viewing political life through the lens of American politics as we have known it.”
That means taking a hard look at the authoritarian landscape Trump is creating. Too many classical liberal institutions, including some news outlets, universities, and legal firms, have already caved under the weight of his relentless pressure. If the capitulations continue, it won’t be long before business owners decide they won’t tolerate their employees taking a public stand against him.
We need to build a center-left/center-right majority. One that will encourage House Republicans in swing districts to consider leaving their party. Right now, it’ll take just a few who are willing to caucus with Democrats to create a solid constitutional check on Trump’s abuses of power.
Rep. Nick Begich III definitely isn’t one of them.
But Alaskans should still try to build a broader anti-Trump coalition here. Environmental groups can help by suspending their efforts to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from oil exploration and keep the Roadless Rule in place on the Tongass National Forest.
On the national level, activists dedicated to progressive causes such as abortion rights, climate change, gun violence, and transgender rights, can do the same thing.
“If you are against Trump then the anti-Trump movement must operate in solidarity” Last argues. But unlike me, his pitch was aimed primarily at his mostly conservative audience. He’s telling them that fighting for more natural resource development or lower taxes are luxuries they can’t afford right now.
Progressives need to meet them in the middle. If we don’t, we’ll remain two distinct minorities. We’ll have no united voice in Congress that can stand up to Trump. And we’ll be making it easier for him to burn the democracy we cherish down to the ground.
• Rich Moniak is a Juneau resident and retired civil engineer with more than 25 years of experience working in the public sector. Columns, My Turns and Letters to the Editor represent the view of the author, not the view of the Juneau Empire. Have something to say? Here’s how to submit a My Turn or letter.
