Tomorrow. March 14th is THE DAY, but last night, as I was reflecting on how much time I dedicate to my efforts—my personal, often solitary efforts—to help protect America from the damaging grip of the current Republican administration, I found myself wondering just how much impact it is really making. Months ago, I joined forces with three different groups, united in the goal of helping Kamala Harris win the election. We poured our time, energy, and resources into that fight. Unfortunately, we lost.
Since then, my days have been spent tirelessly working against the spectacle that has become the Trump-Musk era of the presidency. I spend at least three hours every day confronting the toxic forces that seem to dominate our political discourse. Yet, as I consider all of the actions we are taking—whether individually or collectively—I can't help but ask: Where are the leaders of the Democratic Party? Where is the leadership we need, at this critical juncture in American history?
It's disheartening. In the face of growing threats to our democracy, why is it that only a few voices—voices like Bernie Sanders—seem to be traveling the country, speaking out against the relentless injustices that are being imposed on the American people? Sure, we get the occasional tweet or message from other Democrats, but where is the urgency? Where is the bold, sustained leadership? We voted for these leaders; we put them in office, and now, in this crucial moment, we find them conspicuously absent. At a time when our country’s future hangs in the balance, where are they?
It's not just a rhetorical question. I don't see the Democrats speaking out on platforms like Facebook, Bluesky, or Instagram. What I do see are Republican voices—like Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney—who are standing firm against the very chaos that their party helped create. The Democrats may flood our inboxes with ads when the midterms approach, but where is the action in the present? Where is the leadership now, when we need it most?
I'm growing weary of every news outlet and every entertainment show being hijacked by the latest antics of Elon Musk and Donald Trump. We've already endured four long years of Trump’s presidency—enough is enough. The media’s obsession with them only serves to fuel their power, allowing them to overshadow the urgent issues facing our nation.
I understand that, being retired, I have the luxury of time to be deeply involved in these issues, but the truth is that too many people are content to scroll social media and hit the "like" button, offering little more than passive support. Too few are actually raising their voices to demand action from their senators and representatives. Too few are speaking out in the way we need to disrupt the current narrative.
Take Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, for example. He was the only Democrat who sided with Republicans in voting for the “shutdown the government” bill. Meanwhile, one Republican—Thomas Massie of Kentucky—voted against it, aligning more with the values we expect from a Democrat than from a Republican. Why aren’t we hearing more from our Democratic leaders in response to these actions?
Where are the Democrats? What are they doing as the opposition party? The answer, unfortunately, is clear: Not much.
I think back to when Rep. Al Green courageously stood up to the president, only to be censured by his own party. A group of Democrats sided with Republicans in that censure vote—10 of them, to be exact. Every one of us should have taken the time to voice our disapproval, to demand accountability. These 10 Democrats betrayed the very values they were elected to protect. It’s not too late to make our voices heard. If you care about the future of this country, it’s time to hold them accountable. These are the Terrible Ten, and we should let them know we’re watching:
Tom Suozzi of New York
Jim Costa of California
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington
Jared Moskowitz of Florida
Ami Bera of California
Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania
Marcy Kaptur of Ohio
Laura Gillen of New York
Jim Himes of Connecticut
I recognize that many of you work tirelessly, have children to care for, elderly parents to look after, or simply feel too overwhelmed by the demands of daily life. But the truth is, this moment in time requires all of us. We cannot afford to be passive while our nation is being dismantled, piece by piece. We’re seeing $880 billion slashed from healthcare, crucial cancer research for children eliminated, aid for the disabled and elderly stripped away, and thousands of hardworking Americans losing their jobs. And the list goes on and on.
If you are a Republican who voted for Trump, ask yourself: Is this truly what you voted for? Is this the country you hoped to create? If not, it’s time to stand up and help turn things around.
America used to be the shining beacon of hope, the “Light of the World.” But now, under the reign of Trump and Musk, that light has been extinguished. It’s time to reignite that flame, to restore the promise of this nation to its people.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. I urge you not to simply hit “like” or “dislike”—let your voice be heard. Leave a comment, make a call, write an email. Do something. Don’t let this moment pass us by. The future of our country is in our hands. Let’s act before it’s too late.
"My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing."
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