The significance of the Democratic senatorial victories in the Georgia runoff cannot be overstated. The result is a 50/50 split in the senate, with the Vice President-Elect, Kamala Harris holding the tiebreaker vote. The Senate Majority post will now revert from Mitch McConnel to Chuck Schumer. The democrats now control both the executive and legislative branches of government for the first time since the Kennedy and Johnson administrations from 1961 to 1969 – arguably, one of the most unsettling and turbulent periods in our nation’s history.
While the senatorial runoff votes were being counted and certified, a handful of Republican members of congress, egged on by Donald Trump, assembled to dispute the outcome of the presidential election based on perceived voter fraud. This event sparked heated protests among Trump supporters with thousands converging upon the Capitol grounds in mob fashion that ultimately turned violent. The police and national guardsmen were ill-equipped to handle the outbreak.
While the events of the day were despicable, there is a backstory that needs to be told regarding the media’s coverage of this. Understandably and justifiably so, the mainstream media denounced the mob-like activities and did not hesitate to blame President Trump as the instigator in chief. However, this is the same media that refused to condemn the summer riots in Portland, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Washington DC, just to name a few. These violent protests were mostly described as honest citizens peacefully exercising their first amendment rights. Meanwhile these “honest citizens” denigrated national monuments, torched federal buildings, assaulted police, and engaged in widespread destruction and looting of small businesses all across our country.
The left-wing democratic politicians were complicit in the mayhem as evidenced by their overt silence and refusal to condemn the violence – a group that included our now president elect, Joe Biden. But then again, we should know by now that Joe Biden just does and says what he is told by the leadership of the democratic party.
Joe Biden was installed as the democratic nominee for one reason – he was the most electable among the crop of potential nominees vying for the spot and the clear choice to defeat Donald Trump. Compared to the others, his agenda was more moderate and more likely to be embraced by voters than those espousing the socialist agendas of his rivals in the primaries. After securing the nomination, the party then moved to install Kamala Harris as his running mate. This was done to placate the far left, thus keeping the party united and their socialist agenda intact. From a tactical standpoint, it was a brilliant move. From a fairness standpoint, it was a betrayal to those that voted for him on the basis of his centrist moderate agenda professed in the democratic primary debates. Now, Kamala Harris and her radical left-wing views, is just a heartbeat away from the presidency.
Make no mistake about it. Joe Biden will not serve a full term as our president. I will not speculate as to the methods and circumstances that will lead to his removal from office and ceding that position to Kamala Harris. The democrats successes in the Georgia senate runoff have all but guaranteed the elimination of the checks and balances that preserve healthy debate within our government. Gone are the days when our elected officials voted with their conscience and on behalf of their constituents. Who can argue that now, their actions are dictated strictly along party lines without much regard or understanding of the underlying issues?
Notwithstanding the Covid-19 pandemic, our country made unprecedented progress along the economic front during the past four years. This was achieved despite the occupation of the White House by a narcissistic president. I have been consistent throughout the Trump presidency with my views – I like the idea of Trump, but I just do not like Trump as a person. Though there were speed bumps along the way, the wheels of government continued to turn but, sadly, the outgoing administration will never receive credit for any of its positive accomplishments due to Trump’s post-election tantrums.
I am not sure who should have been elected as our 46th president, but I am sure of this. Without the possibility of meaningful constructive debate between the two legislative branches, democrats will now control the agenda for at least the next four years, much to the chagrin of the republican minority. This will lead to further fracturing and polarization of the American populace. Without a civil forum to debate and settle upon courses of action that benefit the American people, one must consider the alternate methods, none of which are pretty.
Who would have thought that an otherwise obscure event such as a senate runoff race in Georgia involving two incumbents could have sparked such a widespread change in the future of our country? So, our future can best by summed up in the lyrics of Bob Dylan’s 1964 release when he said…
Come senators, congressmen, please heed the call
Don’t stand in the doorway, don’t block up the hall
For he that gets hurt will be he who has stalled
The battle outside ragin’
Will soon shake your windows and rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin
WJ
Rants, Raves & Reflections 