This is one advantage of having the historical memory of authoritarianism, as I have from Brazil: you know that, when the regime is gone, the people who collaborated and acquiesced look terrible in retrospect. It may look reasonable and justifiable now, but believe me, it will age like milk.

Did I say Congressional powers? No, I didn't. I said that power itself is fungible.

Like I somehow didn't realize the very worst people were doing their worst and doing it because they won an election?

No, voting in Democrats starts to end this shitshow. But there are things that can be done before the next election. And if Democrats want to win, they'll have to fight.

I've asked you for those facts, which so far you have not provided. You say lots, I ask who, and you say it's Murc's Law and moving goalposts.

So, it's apparently dueling opinions.

I think the country went clinically insane, much of it couldn't manage to pull the lever/tick the box for a woman of color, and lots of money went into telling lies to people who have been lied to for a generation.

I don't believe that's an intractable or permanent state.

You aren't listening. I gave you the short version of "lead, follow, or get out of the way" and your interpretation is that I have preferences for who should be in power. My question is how one leads when out of power. That matters. And those who can't should make way.

Okay. Sure.

How's it working out for them?

I wish, because a magical fucking rabbit might capture half a news cycle.

Power is fungible, not fixed, so as long as there is an opposition party, there is more that can be done.

This is so basic that I wouldn't even have started except to answer what I think are unserious questions.

Sure. How many Congressional reps are there in the Democratic caucus? Senators?

How many are speaking out?

Is it enough? Enough people? Enough breaking through the fog of Trumpian nonsense? Enough to be effective?

My opinion is no, no, and no. So, more need to be leaders and speak.

So, do nothing and bemoan their powerlessness? That's not actually how good political strategy works.

You deal with the world you have and start addressing obstacles.

Them, the oh so silent and powerless them, leaving Congress makes room for people who want to meet the moment.

There's really no room for the meretricious or the mediocre. Or not much.