“All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.” – author unknown.

Well, my fellow Americans, it’s time to speak up – early and often.

I once was prominent as a Republican in Maine – the party’s executive director, national convention delegate, a local party chair, a GOP political TV commentator and a candidate in Maine’s Republican Congressional First District primary. In 2016, however, my party left me, shifting far to the right while I held my ground in the center.

Sadly, in Maine as across the nation, the GOP has transformed into something I no longer recognize: a sect of the Christian right, mega millionaires, MAGA billionaires, racists and misogynists. Liars, rioters and tax cheats now are celebrated by the party of Donald Trump. The “rights” of future school shooters to own assault weapons and the lies of Fox “Views” escape anything that could be considered condemnation from virtually anyone in the Republican Party.

Although some Republican conservatives don’t harbor these views and behaviors, they have failed miserably in denouncing the antics and actions of Trump and his followers, who would rather grandstand for more power and political donors than govern. The party of Abraham Lincoln is dead and forgotten.

While some may have equally damning arguments against the far left, I would say the Democratic Party, under the steady leadership of President Joe Biden, has earned a large vote of confidence and, hopefully, will be returned for another four years of competent governing.

Why do Team Biden and Democrats deserve our support? They prevented tens of thousands of American deaths from COVID-19 with education, vaccinations, masking and testing while Trump, throwing away the masks, prescribed bleach as a remedy. Team Biden returned respect, certainty and strength in our relationships with both our allies and enemies. In contrast, Trump and his MAGA party chose to starve Ukraine of arms for critical months allowing Russia to bomb women and children.

While Democrats were saving small businesses and families from certain financial ruin, Trump championed tax cuts for the rich. President Biden has successfully averted a recession and kept his hands off the Federal Reserve. And perhaps most importantly, Biden and the Democrats have behaved with decency, avoiding dividing, belittling or lying.

Going forward with Team Biden, there is hope. His team will work on sustainable immigration reform. We can expect to have the environment protected. Our energy will be produced from more renewable resources. They will fight to regain a woman’s right to reproductive freedom. Our kids will get educated in schools that aren’t segregated. America’s military strength and diplomacy will assure the channels of commerce support free trade. Importantly, the courts will have nominees who respect the United States Constitution. Elections will be fair – just as they were in 2020.

Given what I consider the death of the Grand Old Party, today we need a majority of Democrats in office for the good of the country, doing things that are good for people – in good faith. Until I see Republican candidates who strongly oppose the likes of the Trump mobsters, I will not vote Republican again.

Unfortunately, it may be a long time before Republican candidates and office holders like Sen. Susan Collins speak unequivocally, loudly and relentlessly in opposition to Trump, MAGA and the mobsters of Jan. 6. That said, Republicans and independents with courage can speak up without fear of the boogeyman. They can join with Biden and Democrats to support the rule of law and the institutions that uphold it.

Let’s hope a majority of voters stay the course and band together in November to save America from extremism.