Rants by Mac: Enough is enough

In the words of one of my favorite comedians, who spoke on Jan. 6, 2021, “…we’ve had a hell of a journey. I hate it to end this way. Oh my God, I hate it. All I can say is count me out. Enough is enough.” Yes, Senator Lindsey Graham ignored hypocrisy to inspire humor. But today his words, if not his actions, inspire me.

Enough is enough. House and Senate Republicans, not even trying to be funny anymore, seem to be doing all they can to block democracy.

The J-6 House Investigative Committee has heard from a host of loyal Republicans, confirming the events of the attempted coup that inspired Graham’s comments in 2021. Yet, most Republicans are not watching. And many hear the term “witch hunt” and believe it, as they have for several other witch-hunts over the past six years.

At the same time, a Supreme Court, stacked by Republicans and a lame-duck President (more hypocrisy ignored) repealed a 50-year abortion right, over the objection of 65+ percent of Americans. Regardless of my stance on abortion, American majorities should matter.

A one-term President, who tried to stage a coup to retain power, has collected $121 million on the pretense of helping 2022 mid-term Republicans get elected. His gullible supporters, who cannot believe he is flawed, are sending money to a billionaire, who paid $750/year in taxes. In return, they are offered a blue “Official 2022 Trump Card,” then a gold one, “Limited Edition Trump Wine Glasses”, an “EXCLUSIVE Trump Rally Shirt,” or a slot on the “Official 2022 Trump Donor Wall.” I get his emails, too.

Guns? Polls show that 70+ percent of Americans advocate limits or bans on assault weapons, and even higher percentages support much-expanded background checks. But Republicans in Congress know better.

And last week, Republicans killed, the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act, which would expand health care and disability benefits for an estimated 3.5 million veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances during their military service.

Senate Republicans backed the bill a month ago, with a bi-partisan vote of 84-14, but they unexpectedly changed their opinion, after Democrats surprisingly worked out a climate-change bill. It looked a little like revenge, as newscasts showed Ted Cruz (the funniest comedian in the Senate) fist-bumping other Senators, after killing the bill.

Cruz and his buddies were excited to block something again, regardless of what it means for veterans. Make no mistake, this bill will pass eventually. But fist-bumps all around for now.

Next, they say that they want to go after alternate lifestyles and gay marriage. While my lifestyle is about as mainstream as possible, I do wonder why rights, already given, are so unacceptable to Republicans. Why so much hate? Have we come to the point where we just change the laws every time party majorities shift?

There are so many more examples, but just not enough room.

So, Graham was right. Enough is enough. I broke with my own congressperson a few years ago when I was critical of the tea-party version of the Republican party. I thought the tea-party was too far right to be right. My naiveté was exposed, because now we have MAGA, and memories of the tea-party seem like it was just a…. tea party.

I believe that I am still a conservative, but maybe not. I will not be voting MAGA.

I support democracy, I believe most Americans are more centered and I think that our representatives should represent the majority. I am tired of the glee and fist-bumps I see when either party “defeats” the opposition. I wonder why the opposition seems to be so intense, so partisan, so vicious. In fact, why is it OPPOSITION? Aren’t these people colleagues?

I am nervous about the future, and I wish I had confidence that my representatives were as concerned about that as they are about getting reelected.

For me, the Republican party has been a good ride for a lot of years. It fit me for a long time. Today it embarrasses me. I hope it comes back. All I can say now, is count me out.

Curt MacRae is a resident of Coldwater and writes columns each month. Columns are tweeted (@curtmacrae). Send comments to rantsbymac@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Reporter: Opinion