What is and what should never be
Thom Tillis was tired. He was in the midst of a battle that was as old as civilization itself. That battle was between good and evil. And finally, Tillis, worn down, emotionally exhausted, and fed up with it all, made his stand — his last one, as it would turn out. He came out against the big ugly bill.
I rarely give props to Republicans. Oh, I’ve done it — with Liz Cheney, with Adam Kinzinger, and now with Tillis. Tillis had made a promise to North Carolinians, a promise that he would never strip them of Medicaid. Now he was in the vote of his life, in a captcha that he couldn’t get out of, a vote which meant he must betray his constituents –or gives up his job.
He chose the latter. And on the floors of the Senate, free at last from the chains that bound him, he ripped into Republicans, saying the big, ugly bill is simply awful and a betrayal of their constituents. This is what all Republicans should have done and should be doing. This is what we put them into office for — to stand up for truth.
It isn’t so difficult, is it? I imagine for Tillis – the bittersweet nectar that is the loss of his job (he announced he would not seek reelection) pales in comparison to the sense of freedom in finally — FINALLY — being his true self.
I’d equate the GOP’s dilemma to water trying to push forward and free itself of the rocks around it. On occasion, that water tries tepidly to break free, usually losing because it lacks the force needed. Only this time, it freed itself alright. That water freed itself and gushed forth, and for Tillis, when he lays his (probably VERY weary) head down at night, he may sleep a bit better.
Is a job really so important? Is it really worth giving up one’s morality for? Is it really worth turning oneself into the kind of asshole whom people look at with seething anger, being the type for whom disrespect cheekily tips its hat?
For the GOP it is. It is and it should never be. But not for Tillis. So I am pleased with his choice. But what say other Republicans? I know what they think — I imagine each and EVERY one of them watched Tillis rip them to shreds, and I — and I imagine almost ALL of these useless and vacant Trump mannequins watched with longing — the kind of longing that comes from the weak.
It’s the kind of longing that drowns itself in envy, the kind of longing that is rarely strong enough to outweigh what is, and what should never be.
