Hollow Be Thy Name

Yes, what’s happening in America over the past few months depends on the capitulation of the opposition. But it depends to a much greater degree on the capitulation of those in power. As George Packer writes in The Atlantic (Gift Article): It takes a special talent to betray an entire worldview without missing a beat: The Hollow Men. Packer uses the Ukraine issue as his core example, as those long determined to defend that country specifically, and democracy generally, were paraded in front of the cameras to declared why Trump’s switching of sides was actually good. “When a leader requires his underlings to say what they know isn’t true … it’s a test of loyalty and a show of dominance. Ritualized humiliation is essential to an authoritarian regime. Trump forces aides, advisers, and the friendly press that he allows into the room to utter absurdities on his behalf in order to bind them closer to him, and thereby frees himself from any restraint.” We’re of course seeing the very same thing when it comes to the Signal scandal. Everyone knows how bad and how dangerous it was. How many members of the GOP are saying so? If they won’t stand up and admit the reality of this disaster, when will they stand up?