A couple of weeks ago I quoted Rudyard Kipling’s poem, “If,” in which the poet says to his son, “If you can keep your head while everyone around you is losing theirs.”
I made the point that this was the challenge those of us who are anti-Trump are facing. I would go so far as to say I think it is the challenge everyone with a moral conscience is facing.
But here’s the bad news. That challenge just got more daunting.
According to a YouGov/The Economist poll taken two weeks ago, 63% of Republicans oppose Trump being impeached even if he did accept Russia’s help to win the election.
Wait a minute. Is that right? Oh, my! I want to keep my head, but I think it just exploded.
It’s almost too much to take in. Republican voters are saying that if Trump accepted help from the Russians to win the election, they don’t care.
We’re talking about the Russians here, America’s primary adversary, and the majority of Republicans are saying that they are willing to support Trump even if he compromised the integrity of our election process.
There are no words to describe how appalling that is except to say that it strikes me as downright treasonous.
We now have voters in one of the two major political parties saying they have no qualms about selling out American democracy in order to protect Donald Trump.
What a fine state of affairs our nation is in.
I believed before the mid-terms that Democrats taking control of the House was the only practical hope we had of saving our nation. This latest poll proves that point. Left to the wishes of Republican voters, our form of government would be done.
It didn’t used to be that way. Past surveys showed that voters in both parties shared common values such as freedom, justice, integrity, sacrificing for the sake of one’s country. Not anymore.
That is why every Republican in Congress knows if they do what is right they will face losing a primary challenge. They know the Republican Party is now owned by Donald Trump because Republican voters support him no matter what.
It is not surprising that the few Republicans in Washington who spoke out against Trump chose not to run for re-election in 2018.
It is also why long time Republican journalists, consultants, strategists, and Congressional and White House staff members have left the Party.
The truth is out. The support of Republican voters for Donald Trump is far stronger than their commitment to our country.
I would have never believed it had they not said so themselves.
And so, yes, for the rest of us, keeping our heads has gotten a lot harder than it was only a few weeks ago.
linnposts.com 
His supporters are unknowledgeable. Our public education has been dumbed down. Teachers aren’t paid, history and civics are not being taught well. They have no awareness of the love of country concept. Russia said they would conquer us from within. Looks like it’s coming true.
MaryAnn, you name the root of all that is going on, which is that education is not only being dumbed down, but de-valued. That is why too many Americans know too little history. Thanks for commenting.
And then there’s the joke which doesn’t seem to be a joke anymore: “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you…you obviously don’t understand the situation.”
Which is to say, the feeling that this is beyond rational and beyond understanding is truly head-exploding.
Thanks for the post, Jan!
Yep, that’w where I am, Charlie. Thanks for the comment.
You found the word you were looking for early-on: treasonous — pure and simple! And all we need do is to look around and see our “friends”(sic) who huddle like turtles under their shells — afraid to take a stand that might anger their neighbors or fellow church-goers by standing-up for what is right!!
Bill Blackwell
Thanks, Bill. You’re right. It is amazing that some people think standing up against Russian interference is a rick too great to take. I guess patriotism has become too high a price to pay in the age of Trump.
I see Republican women on FB everyday, not only supporting Trump and praising his accomplishments but calling democrats corrupt and evil. Unless they’ve been living under a rock for the last two years they have to know what’s really going on. So, I shouldn’t be surprised by this poll but my head is spinning.
That’s the way I feel as well, Nancy. I keep thinking nothing will surprise me and then I read something like that poll and my head feels like it is going to explode. What’s stunning is that Republicans don’t seem to have any hesitation in telling us they have gone off the rails.
Putin won.
Jeff, that as accurate and simply stated as it can be. Except for the shock of it all, you summarized everything I said in two words.
Jan, I have doing recent research on The Civil War. There were many causes of the Civil War, and slavery was the obvious driver. But other causes like Territorial and Tribal Issues, States’ Rights, Sectionalism, Protectionism, Nationalism, and Honor are alive and well in the South today and many parts of the Southwest – all red states and Republican Party strongholds. Isn’t is ironic that the Republican Party in the Civil War era, led by Abraham Lincoln was the party of values and saved our nation from catastrophic consequences. Now the Republican Party led by Donald Trump has capitalized on that dichotomy and are the current causes of The Great Divide in America. And, today blatant racial discrimination is our current version of slavery. But in the Civil War, ultimate power and control was in the hands of Lincoln and the Union. Today the current power and control is in the hands of the Republican Party and their constituents, lobbyists and purse holders. The Civil War is alive and well in America today. Much of the “heritage” of the old south is showing its colors in its attitudes, behaviors, and actions consistent with years ago. It is in their blood now, and in their DNA. As you suggest, we must keep our wits about us in this age of turmoil. Yes, education is the long range solution toward some kind of unity. Also, as you point out the mid-terms became a first step. But, the short term solution remains to be seen, the result of the 2020 elections. The Civil War was followed by what was called “The Reconstruction Era”. My hope is that following the elections of 2020, we will embark on Reconstruction Era 2.0.
John, this is a superb analysis of history repeating itself, only – as you note – the parties have reversed themselves. I do think we have a chance for “reconstruction” after 2020, but I also think that will involved a strong repudiation of the Republican Party by exposing it for what it now is – a strange combination of racists and economic elitists who believe the ends justify the means. I hope everyone reads what your comment.