Lies have consequences. And huge lies have consequences that can kill constitutional democracies. Here’s my abbreviated version of “the big lie” and what I believe needs to be done to fix our democracy.
In the wee hours of November 4, 2020, Donald Trump declared, upon his majesty and the unsober advice of at least one lawyer, declared himself re-elected and demanded that the vote count be stopped. That was the public beginning of The Big Lie.
The actual beginning was months before when he derided mail-in ballots and, perhaps even earlier, when in 2016 he said that unless he won the presidency, he wouldn’t accept the results. But in 2020 the machinations were put into place (legal challenges, and illegal means such as slowing down the U.S. Mail to mess with ballots, tampering with voting machines, installation of fake electors and shakedowns of legislatures and state voting officials) in order to keep Donald Trump in the White House. It didn’t matter that everyone else across the country who was on the ballot that same day lived with the results without crying foul. Funny that nobody asked them about that.
Why not believe him? He’s the President, after all. So Republican-led states bought into the lie for their own purposes and threw themselves behind “election integrity,” which is not what it seemed. They made it more difficult for Democrats, especially people of color, to vote. Plus, they got rid of ERIC, a pretty snazzy mechanism that allows states to share information to prevent interstate voter fraud. Now realizing they need this type of program, they’re creating a buggier version to meet their needs, mainly to prove voter fraud where there is none. The real reason to dump ERIC is that it would give someone like me who tends to be mobile, an easy way to register to vote when I move to another state. Yes, I sometimes vote for the Democrat, so they wouldn’t want me to register in a swing state under any circumstances.
So now the MAGA “crazy eight” toppled Kevin McCarthy in order to create the chaos they so love. Then they tanked Steve Scalise. Then some sane members of the party (institutionalists, appropriators, and those in “Biden” districts) tanked Jim Jordan yesterday. Interestingly, I heard this morning that eight of the ten new Speaker candidates are also election deniers. Hmmm. There’s a theme here, one that goes right to the 2024 election and what happens if Trump loses.
Here’s my recipe (hey, it started as just a cooking blog, years ago) for having a United States of America to celebrate on its upcoming 250th birthday.
First, The Supreme Court must adopt a code of ethics at least as stringent as that for Federal judges. I believe it should be monitored by the Judicial Conference. I believe they should have 15-year term limits and that the court should be increased to 15 members. My reasoning is that people don’t trust the Court these days because of their overt partisanship and selling out to the far right donor (yacht-owning) class. They need to be sane and sober and adhere to the real Constitution and not the Heritage Foundation’s version.
Second, The House of Representatives has to function. That means a power-sharing arrangement with Democrats that will allow them to put away the scissors they’ve been running amok with and concentrate on governing. It’s time to tell these congresspersons that there are more important things in the world, and facing our nation, than their egos. As for the Senate, it’s time to wake up and realize that we’re in a democracy living under the tyranny of the minority when the House can be taken over by eight members. Ditch the filibuster and legislate, already. Start with approving all those military appointments. I’ve got a great idea, Leader Schumer. Make them stay starting on Thanksgiving through the holidays, and go ’round the clock, one by one, until all 300 appointments are approved. They’ll fold quickly, as they love their weekends and holidays and Sen. Tommy Tuberville can be tied to his chair so he has to be in the Chamber for every single vote until he cries “uncle.”
Third, it should go without say that violence is not an option. Jim Jordan is learning that the hard way. Purported news organizations should not be actively involved in personnel issues of Congress (I’ve registered a complaint with the FCC about Fox) but unfortunately I don’t have a clue how to stop the Alex Jones’ of the world from spreading their vitriol in this lifetime, but do have suggestions as to where he’ll reside in the next.
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We had a couple over for a first dinner recently and when we raised our glasses for a toast, I added one for Dianne Feinstein, who had died that day. They stayed for dinner, so it must have been OK. But who knows what could have happened? I’d like to go to an event or have nice folks over without coming to fisticuffs.
It’s time for the middle to take back our nation. We certainly have the numbers. Now, do we have the guts to do what needs to be done? Let’s hope so. Dee
Cooking with Dee 