Tom Zirpoli

Trump is like the child who never has to face consequences for inappropriate behavior. It is always someone else’s fault while he plays the victim. His special treatment has emboldened him to act out however he wants and then dare someone to do something about it.

[Maryland Republicans] have nominated ultraright, Donald Trump followers for governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general. These candidates may be considered attractive by Republican primary voters but may be too far right for a majority of Marylanders.

New revelations from the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol come so quickly that Americans are numb to their findings. In normal times, any of these would be a major scandal.

When you are trying to deceive people, it is important that you control the messages they receive from others. Republicans have been playing that game for years with Fox News and other right-wing media outlets.

Republicans seem to be talking out of both sides of their mouth. They call themselves “pro-life” because they want to save the lives of those yet to be born, but not so pro-life that they want to save the lives of the living.

It is easy to see who is trying to restrict and limit the rights and freedoms of individuals and families here.

Just look at state-by-state comparisons on any number of child-outcome measures. Children in Republican-led states have higher infant mortality rates, poorer health outcomes, and poorer educational opportunities than children living in states led by Democrats.

If you want to see the future of the United States under Republican Party rule, just look at Texas.

I will retire from my responsibilities at McDaniel College and Target Community & Educational Services, Inc.. ... My new title will be “Grandpa.”

Do we want America to be more like Hungary and Russia? Vote accordingly.

Most of the cowards afraid to act are Republicans in Congress and in Republican-controlled states who have the power to save lives but decide not to act. And I would add to the cowards those who continue to vote to keep the cowards in power and continue to place our children at risk.

If Americans don’t support politicians who support the press and the truth, our democracy is doomed. An America ruled by a dictator will not grow stronger, but significantly weaker. Russia is exhibit A.

If the Israeli government no longer stands for basic human rights and simple democratic values, should we be funding their move toward autocratic rule? Perhaps that money would be better spent in Ukraine where freedom is still being defended.

Perhaps the Supreme Court has stirred our senses enough to awaken Americans to what Republicans really have in mind when they tell us that they want to make American great again.

While the rest of the world is fighting – literally, in some cases – to keep democracy alive, some Republicans are fighting for a Putin-like figure to rule again here.