In an historical fable, a scorpion needs to cross a physique of water, however as a result of he can’t swim, the creature asks a frog if it will probably hitch a trip on the amphibian’s again.
The frog retorts that he fears the scorpion will sting him. The scorpion denies this and guarantees he’ll do no such factor, so the frog agrees to the request.
Because the frog swims to the opposite facet, nonetheless, his arachnid passenger instantly stings his new inexperienced buddy and — regardless of each being doomed to drown — explains to his shocked sufferer that he was merely following his nature.
This fable got here to thoughts as I used to be observing final weekend’s drama involving Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, the previous MAGA darling, who was disavowed by President Donald Trump after breaking with the president too many occasions to his liking — on releasing the Epstein information, Obamacare medical health insurance subsidies, international affairs and mass deportation coverage.
Trump, as is his nature, denounced her with a collection of insults, together with “wacky,” “lunatic” and “traitor.” He additionally withdrew his endorsement of her.
Greene mentioned the president’s rebuke of her led to undesirable pizza deliveries, hoax emergency calls and demise threats.
On a latest look on CNN’s “State of the Union” she mentioned she was turning a brand new leaf on “poisonous politics” and placing behind her historical past of inflammatory statements, conspiracy principle accusations and historic meanness.
“I actually simply need to see individuals be type to at least one one other,” Greene mentioned. “And we have to determine a brand new path ahead that’s targeted on the American individuals, as a result of, as People, it doesn’t matter what facet of the aisle we’re on, now we have much more in widespread than now we have variations.”
That’s a noble intention, however I puzzled, “Who will get to be the frog on this story?”
Political transformations are attainable in America
Greene’s previous conduct — bigoted statements, yelling at President Joe Biden throughout a State of the Union tackle and packing social media punches — naturally will get her solid because the scorpion on this newest chapter of her political profession.
However what if she’s severe about altering her methods? Political turnarounds aren’t unprecedented.
Former segregationist Democratic Alabama Gov. George Wallace, who bodily blocked Black college students from getting into his state’s flagship college, later reinvented himself as a civil rights supporter — and as a Republican.
In the meantime, in Georgia, former Republican Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan is now a Democrat operating for governor and has modified his positions on points akin to abortion rights and proscribing firearms.
Whereas Wallace and Duncan aren’t the identical individuals, they took monumental political dangers to stroll away from their previous political selves to hunt redemption — and maybe additionally political survival.
It labored for Wallace in Alabama, and it’d work for Duncan in 2026.
The issue that Greene faces is that she needs to have her cake and eat it too.
She needs to be her personal particular person and additionally present her constituents that she totally helps Trump to keep away from alienating his many backers in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District.
The president, who expects complete and full loyalty, is obvious that MTG is lifeless to him, at the very least for now. In any case, he’s identified to vary his thoughts.
Greene doesn’t deserve the threats and insults she is receiving — nobody does — however she should present that she is severe about her newfound embrace of civility, and he or she ought to settle for the skepticism.
Greene’s path ahead might require being prepared to lose an election
In Georgia, Trump’s endorsement isn’t as highly effective as in different Republican-leaning or dominated states.
Take the 2022 midterms. Regardless of his animus for fellow Republicans Gov. Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger for objecting to his false 2020 election fraud claims, his handpicked main picks misplaced. His alternative for U.S. Senate GOP nominee, Herschel Walker, now U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas, misplaced to Democratic incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock.
Kemp and Raffensperger now brazenly embrace Trump insurance policies, however they needed to run the gauntlet to be seen as their very own males.
If Greene survives a 2026 Republican main problem, she too might be able to forge her personal path.
Till just lately, she had been considered one of Trump’s largest boosters.
Politics is the artwork of the attainable, because the axiom goes, and thus far, Greene has been handled like a novelty on CNN, “The View” and “Actual Time with Invoice Maher.”
However for all her speak about change, Greene should construct a file of redemption, which can take a very long time and which can solely be attainable if she is prepared to battle and prepared to lose an election.
That could be the clue that her transformation is honest and never simply opportunistic.
At this second, nonetheless, if I had been the frog, I might deny her request for a trip throughout the river.
