By Jim Dickson
I know that somewhere in this big beautiful nation of ours that there are still some real Democrats remaining. Wherever you are, please come out, your country needs you now like never before.
The Democratic Party has been led down a path of destruction by the far left Progressives. “The Toxic Ten” — Sanders, Warren, Pelosi, Schumer, Durbin, Booker, Shiff, Ocasio, Blumenthal, and Waters — have somehow kidnapped the Democratic Party and led it in a direction that very few want to follow.
Some would say that the Republicans also have some work to do, and I don’t think that I could disagree with that. Our country is far better off when we have a strong two-party system. That means a strong and viable Republican Party, and a strong and viable Democratic Party.
I am sad to say that today we are far from that, but it’s not too late, if reasonable people will step forward to lead. I know that you are out there, and now thanks to the Progressive agenda being totally exposed for the failure that it is, it’s safe to speak up without fear of being canceled and expelled.
No President in my memory has ever been 100% right on everything. They have some good ideas, some OK ideas, some bad ideas and some very bad ideas. Believe it or not, our current President is no exception. The country is much better off if we have a strong loyal opposition party that can recognize the good, and help those plans become reality. They also should recognize the bad and especially the very bad and put forth better ideas that can be agreed upon and enacted.
The opposition party today is just that, opposition, with no new ideas or plans except to be opposed to anything the President does. A good example of that was the conduct of the Progressives at the President’s address to the Congress last Tuesday. They just looked foolish and petty.
They no doubt disagreed with much of what he had to say, and that’s OK, but there were some parts that any reasonable person would have to applaud. Instead they sat on their hands or held up childish signs. It is not encouraging to think that these are the people who are helping to run our country.
There has to be some moderate Democrats out there that are willing to put aside just being opposed to Mr. Trump and listen to what the people want, and come up with ideas and policies that will advance the county and their party.
Hakeem Jeffries seems to be a reasonable person who is able to work with Leader Johnson if he had more support. Senator Fetterman is a person that should be listened to as well. I was also impressed with Senator Elissa Slotkin’s speech after the joint session. She comes across as smart, sincere, and thoughtful. While I didn’t agree with some of what she said, I sure did like the way that she said it. I think any reasonable person could work with her. There must be many more like her who should be given a chance to lead, and replace the “Toxic Ten.”
Both sides have “hand grenade throwers” that only cause trouble, and seem more interested in getting on the Six o’clock News than advancing the work of the nation. Maxine Waters, Al Green, Pramila Jayapal, Alexandra Ocosio, Nancy Mace, Marjorie Green and Chip Roy among others come to mind. Both parties can do better and hopefully will.
I don’t think that all hope is lost for the Democrats. I believe with new quality leadership they will come back strong and play an important part in our country’s future and hopefully it will be soon. There must be a modern day “Tip” O’Neill out there somewhere.
Born, raised and educated in the Southwest, Jim Dickson served in the U.S. Navy Reserve in Vietnam before a 35-year business career. Retired to St. Helena Island, Dickson and his wife are fiscally conservative, socially moderate and active in Republican politics, though they may not always agree with Republicans. Having lived around the country and traveled around the world, Dickson believes that the United States truly is the land of opportunity.
