Awarding Style Points

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/15/opinion/thom-tillis-trump-republicans.html

(‘He Has to Shrink Away from Greatness': The Poignant Surrender of a Republican Under Trump)

I have the utmost respect for Mr. Bruni and his opinions. But not this one.

Donald Trump is a grave danger to the continued existence of democracy. You know it, I know it and certainly Senator Tillis knows it.

He well understands the damage that will be done by Gabbard, Patel, Hegseth and others like them. Wholly unprepared for the demands of their position, beholden not to the people of this nation but to one person. If Mr. Tillis were truly a man of conviction, service to country would be his Northstar. But Mr. Tillis did not vote his conscience, did not vote what his heart surely told him. He may talk the talk but like all other Republicans, he does not walk the walk.

This is far too serious a moment to award style points. Far too severe the crisis to be sympathetic to the plight of the conflicted. Mr. Tillis cannot hold his nose and close his eyes when he commits, again and again, to vote as Donald Trump dictates. And somehow be rewarded for his angst.

There are no sad songs sung for those like Mr. Tillis. He has abandoned his post and consistently allied with the worst this nation has to offer. And while Mr. Bruni may still find the grace residing inside this man, this nation does not have the luxury of considering anything other than his participation, willing or not, in our daily disasters. He is nothing but part of the problem.