Buyer Beware: A Disturbing Pattern is Rising Among Those Wanting to be Trump Opposition Leaders

The contest for those aspiring to be leaders of the Democratic party opposition to Trump seems to include using the fact that he is an existential threat to American Democracy as a means to raise large sums of money.  As I was reading and responding to emails I received today, I found no less than five such requests from individual members of Congress, all claiming to be spearheading the effort to oppose the unconstitutional, authoritarian approach of the Trump administration, to being loud voices against what he's doing, and needing money for the effort, of course.  

That's in addition to appeals for money I keep getting from the Harris-Walz campaign, which I supported with a larger monthly contribution than I usually make, due to the shorter nature of the campaign, and to appeals from the Democratic National Committee, claiming to be fighting for American Democracy and against Trump, but not providing any specifics about what they are actually doing or where that money is going.  I'm on a fixed and limited income, so I am careful where I contribute, and right now, the sum total of what I gave to the DNC and to the Harris-Walz campaign each month now goes to Josh Weil and Gay Valimont, the Democrats running for the open Congressional seats in Florida, and until this week, to Blake Gendebien in New York, running to replace Elise Stefanik, who is staying in place for the time being. 

I'm disturbed by the number of individuals collecting money by claiming to be the voice of opposition to Trump among Democrats, who all seem to be at cross purposes when it comes to what they're doing.  Making noise in Congress, or loud, angry speeches in the media isn't going to cut it, as far as I'm concerned.  With a 29% approval rating in the polls, a sell-out vote for cloture in the Senate to help Republicans avoid a government shutdown, and no apparent visible progress at all being made by the DNC, anywhere, I'm not inclined to waste my contribution.  

After the special election, it will go to Bernie and AOC, who seem to have a handle on rallying opposition that is growing large enough fast enough to be effective.  And they are looking at this, not from a partisan perspective, but from the perspective that the biggest threat to the United States as the world's leading democracy is its own President.  They are uniting everyone who sees that to be the case, not just carving out a niche of the Democratic party that will, in the long run, have zero effectiveness. 

I think everyone ought to be getting together on this, and joining in those efforts, instead of raising money to run their own show.  But here we are, the Democratic party, which always has trouble with its messaging, caused by the temptation to go in too many directions at once, faced with the greatest threat to our freedom and our Constitutional democracy that we have seen since the Civil War, and World War 2, going in too many directions at once, and using the threat more as an opportunity to fulfill personal ambitions than to actually do something effectively opposing Trump. 

The man with the singularly focused message is 83 year old independent Senator Bernie Sanders. Behind him, with the same, simple message, is Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who was part of the united opposition to the continuing resolution by House Democrats.  Together, they are putting together organized opposition to Trump that is resonating with people, and motivating them to action, which is exactly what is needed now.  Without the ability to use the constitutional tools at our disposal to remove this President from office, the next best way to stop him is to mount enough public opposition to put the fear of God into him, and it's becoming clear that Bernie and AOC are doing exactly that.  

It's getting to some Republican members of Congress, too, who are a little closer to the action.  Ask Arizona Congressman Juan Ciscomani, who just witnessed a rally of 25,000 people in his district, why his tune has become much more moderate and much less MAGA over the past month and a half.

Hear This From a Contributing, Committed, Lifelong Democrat

If the opposition to Trump is diluted by individual political ambitions of Democrats wanting to use this as an opportunity to fundraise for themselves, then we're doomed, and we will never see opposition to Trump amount to anything.  We are also setting ourselves up for a mid-term election defeat that we cannot afford to have happen.  There are many independent voters, and even a few Republicans, who have been awakened and alarmed by what they never believed they would see, and believed the lies that Trump didn't know anything about Project 2025, and that if he were elected, everyone would become prosperous by giving more to the billionaires.  

The MAGA base is unsalvageable from its own stupidity and ignorance, but there are a lot of Trump voters who are now having buyers remorse, and who wish they had been better informed or not so easily duped by his lies who will be singular in their focused opposition to Trump.  I'll say this again, to make the point.  The greatest enemy of the United States of America at this time in its history is its own President.  We will stand beside you as you lead us to rid this country of that enemy threat.  

I'm past hearing angry speeches and listening to sales pitches about the effectiveness of an individual's campaign for a congressional seat in a state where I don't even live.  I'm going with those who are taking the risks and making the bold moves to bolster opposition that will neutralize this existential threat, and I have no interest at all in helping to advance someone's political ambitions.  Those need to be set aside because there is something much more important that should be a priority.  

The things that we value, starting with diversity, equity and inclusion, protecting the rights of all Americans, all of the freedom of conscience issues which we so ardently support, will be just fine as long as we secure American democracy and protect and defend the constitution.  Democrats must be focused on the single issue of saving the country from this constitutional crisis.  Step forward, I'll follow, and if the elected politicians won't lead, we'll find leaders, among the people, who will.