Thom Tillis and Roy Cooper now have the opportunity – no, the obligation – to turn the tide of history against Trump.
Tillis made a political decision not to run for reelection. Now he should make a patriotic declaration of conscience.
For the next 18 months – unbound by reelection concerns – Tillis can be the voice of principled Republican conservatism against Trump.
I don’t agree with Tillis’ conservatism, but I prefer it to Trump’s fascism.
Tillis made a good start when he voted against Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” because it will eliminate healthcare coverage for hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians and reduce services for even more – many of them Trump voters.
He doubtless meant Trump when he said, “Too many elected officials are motivated by pure raw politics who really don’t give a damn about the people they promised to represent on the campaign trail.”
After Tillis’ announcement, the media began speculating about which Republicans might run.
That’s a joke.
Republican voters won’t pick their nominee; Trump will.
The winner will be whoever is best at slobbering slavishly over Trump’s golf shoes at Mar-a-Lago.
Which is why Roy Cooper must run for Senate next year.
Defeating Trump’s toady, whoever it is, is a must.
Cooper need serve only one term – long enough to stop Trump and to help the Democratic Party elect a new generation of leaders and a President who can heal the nation from Trump’s trauma.
Or Cooper can retire after 2028 and let Governor Josh Stein select a new Senator.
Nearly 250 years ago, North Carolinians stood up against a King.
Just over 50 years ago, North Carolina’s Senator Sam Ervin stood up against a would-be king in the White House.
This July 4th, Thom Tillis and Roy Cooper have the opportunity – no, again, the obligation – to stand up against a fascist dictator.
