Let’s assume the article is correct — Thiel actually thinks Trump is “incompetent” — the lesson of the story is not that Trump has lost support from his base (although he has) or that he is incompetent (he surely is); rather, it’s a vivid example of the degree to which people in positions to influence others continue to bite their lips publicly, withhold criticism of damnable behavior and even give Trump cover. Perhaps more executives will, as did Disney’s Bob Iger and Tesla’s Elon Musk, decide to quit the president’s business advisory council — or at least stop showing up. (“CEOs returning home facing criticism from employees and the public, [Silicon Valley] executives may decide the trip is no longer worth it,” writes one commentator.)

Now, business leaders, we concede, have obligations to shareholders and must balance enabling a dangerous president with protecting their companies. But it seems the time for attending dog and pony shows should end. Unlike business leaders, politicians act purely out of self-interest — and cowardice. So far the pressure has been to pretend Trump is behaving like a normal president and to refuse to speak candidly about his unprecedented, inappropriate and disturbing behavior.

Certainly, Republicans in the Senate have begun to ignore his demands (e.g., to stick with health care) and take actions that put Trump on the defensive (e.g., pass sanctions, block him from firing the special prosecutor). Aside from Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), however, very few words of direct, personal criticism are uttered. Perhaps now that lawmakers are back home they’ve begin to pay a price for their sycophancy. They must feel more pressure to speak out than they face to shut up and stay in line.

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Voters should press their representatives and demand more candor:

Do they think the president was wrong to fire the FBI director? Do they consider that to be an abuse of power?

Why haven’t they demanded the president disclose his taxes? Why aren’t they investigating ongoing receipt of foreign monies that arguably run afoul of the Constitution?

Do the leaked phone conversations of the president’s interactions with foreign leaders alarm them?

Do they think the president has demonstrated fitness for office?

Does Trump’s temperament alarm them?