… Who’s the Most Despicable Chris of All?

One side of the Senate chamber is filled with Democrats who view Donald Trump with loathing and revulsion. You know their names: Schiff, Blumenthal, Warren, Schumer, et al.  But right now two fellas named Chris are vying to be, as Sinatra put it, ‘king of the hill, top of the heap.’ Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Chris Murphy of Connecticut have much in common. They were born into wealth and privilege, attended elite universities and law schools, and worked their way up the political ladder. No doubt both men, as is said about most Senators, look in the mirror and see a future president smiling back at them.

But winning the Democratic nomination requires more than breeding and smarts.  These days, any ambitious Democrat must demonstrate pure disdain for the current occupant of the Oval Office. Much like a pastor offering a daily benediction, Murphy and Van Hollen put forth near-daily denunciations of Donald Trump. Van Hollen seemed to be the winner last week when he declared that he believes Tehran tyrants over his own president. Murphy responded with an implication that the Trump family is enriching itself by trading oil futures. With absolutely no proof, he accused them of ‘mind-blowing corruption.’ 

Chris & Chris have a rich history of saying and doing whatever it takes to prove their anti-Trump bona fides. Van Hollen notoriously went on a pilgrimage to visit illegal alien and alleged wife-abuser Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Not to be outdone, Murphy has actually asserted that illegal aliens are ‘the people we care about most.’  He also referred to illegals as ‘undocumented Americans,’ a novel term that earns big bonus points in the virtue sweepstakes.  The less-than-dynamic duo is in lockstep on most issues, and a website called ‘ProgressivePunch’ ranks both in the top ten of most reliable left-wingers in the Senate.  And of course, both are regulars on the anti-Trump cable networks.  When MS NOW or CNN needs someone to trash the White House, either Chris will suffice.

So what’s next for Chris Van Hollen and Chris Murphy, aside from those regular TV appearances with Rachel and Jake, Dana and Jen?  Murphy has launched a political action committee devoted to opposing President Trump while, of course, ‘saving Democracy.’  Beltway types see it as an indication of his presidential ambitions.

Meanwhile, last week, Van Hollen hatched a plan to raise taxes on the wealthiest and supposedly lower taxes for the less well-off.  It’s a move one might expect from a guy who is already mentally decorating the Oval. One thing is certain:  Both men will continue to slander and scorn Donald Trump and everything he does.  It’s pretty obvious that they are rooting for failure at home and defeat abroad and will do anything to harm the president. 

One irony is that the name ‘Christopher’ is based in Greek and means ‘carrier of Christ.’  These two Christophers are not exactly Christ-like in their shared obsession to destroy one man, even if it means damaging their nation in the process.