Political expediency is not going to save American Democracy

[lees1975]

https://signalpress.blogspot.com/2026/01/political-expediency-is-not-going-to.html

One of the things I really try to avoid, especially when it comes to politics, is cynicism. However, as we start into this 2026 midterm election season, things being the way they are, I am struggling to avoid doing so. It comes from the impression I get that opposition to Trump is considered by some politicians, to be more of an opportunity to feather their own nest, and advance their own political career than it is to save American democracy from the biggest threat it has faced since the Civil War, or Richard Nixon.

I've committed not to cast ballots for fence-sitters, compromisers, or weak-willed wafflers. I'm already a third of the way into a notebook I'm keeping with comments made by politicians and potential candidates which try to leave the impression that this is just another midtern election with business as usual. That's not going to get my vote. So politicians, especially those running in Illinois, in the Chicago area, beware. I'm looking for boldness and a willingness to go to the point of taking big risks politically to end the Trump nightmare and who are willing to use the power of Congress to get rid of him and send him packing. If I don't see that you don't get my vote.

If--and that is still a very small word for a very big possibility--we do win a majority in the Congress, including the Senate or not, there are those who will restrain their actions against Trump because of the fear of not being re-elected, or not wanting to look too "political," then we will not stop what is happening to our country.

Maybe there is something I'm missing, but the attitude and the political discussion, from Democratic party politicians, doesn't seem to be reachng the level of where the growing protests and marches are going. Maybe I'm expecting too much, and expecting people to disobey illegal orders, or make it impossible for them to be carried out is more than what is possible in this passive, blissfully ignorant, inattentive, duped country.

[CrispyQ]

1. The party is not going to save us.

One could argue if we'd had a true opposition party the past 45 years we wouldn't be here. Getting big money out of our electoral process is probably one of the easiest & most effective fixes we could do, but the ones who can fix it are a subset of the ones who benefit from it. We truly have the best democracy money can buy! I saw that on a bumper sticker.

[Solly Mack]

2. ...

[lees1975]

3. Winning the midterms is only going to produce a standoff with Trump.

But there can't be any of the pandering, or playing nice by the old school rules of politics I just don't see Democrats using the political power they have like the GOP is using it now. The campaign rhetoric isn't anywhere near there, which is one reason why David Hogg and Leaders We Deserve is raking in the money and getting a lot of the attention. These politicians need to know I'm not voting for compromisers or shilllyshalliers, and there are MILLIONS like me who are tired of the bullshit, and want to see Democrats do everything in their power to bring him down.

So I no longer contribute to the DNC, in fact, we should save money and shut that worthless waste down. My money goes to Leaders we Deserve, and I've given some to Zack Shrewsbury in West Virginia. Newsom and Buttigieg are next on the list.