Despite the recent plethora of cheery print and television media adds extolling Senator Collins’s service, I would suggest that she is missing in action at this frightening time for our democracy. At key points, she has proven that she prefers silence or is only willing to take principled stands when it does not matter – resulting in continuing, de-facto deference to Trump and his/her MAGA enablers. Yet Mainers are unable to explore critical issues with Collins, as she persistently declines to hold open press conferences or public forums. This is a shameful dereliction of duty. 

Whether it’s Trump’s normalization of cruelty, blatant corruption, the weaponization of government agencies, unconstitutional executive orders, regressive tariffs, or the growing imbalance in governmental checks and balances - it feels as if our democracy is experiencing a five-alarm fire, and we obviously have an arsonist in the White House. This moment demands pushback, not complicit silence.

With so many pivotal issues serving to challenge our governmental and statutory norms, decisive actions need to be taken regarding adherence to the constitution and the non-politicized rule of law - and a wannabe king who only seeks to obscenely glorify himself as he tears the people’s house down.

At one point in her career, Collins spoke frankly about Trump’s unfitness for leadership. Where does Collins stand now, and what is she willing to do to protect our democracy from the danger Trump personifies? In the absence of any representational engagement - one wonders. 

The 2026 midterm elections can not come soon enough. 

Neal Guyer lives in Thomaston