Welcome to the Age of Excusability
What do you stand for? Once that was the fundamental question in American politics. These days it seems a quaint memory of a sepia-toned past. This is 2025. Our most meaningful values are under threat. Democracy is on the ballot. Today everyone stands for the same thing—victory at all costs.
The most pertinent question: What are you willing to excuse? The big story since 2016 has been the Republican Party's willingness to look past Donald Trump's personal shortcomings. The vulgarity and inconstancy, the boorishness, the apparent lack of a moral compass—all of it has proved excusable in the name of making America great again. Even Mr. Trump's lies about the 'stolen' 2020 election have been swept under the rug by party grandees eager for power. Beating back the Democratic threat is too important. He has to be excused.
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