2020, or is it Twenty-twenty? 20/20? Anyway, it’s been an absolute excrement-extravaganza. However, contrarian that I am, I would rather shine a light than hurl curses into the darkness. For all the tragedy, suffering, and pandering political advertising this year has brought, I want to believe that some positive things have emerged.
I still can’t get my brain to work the way the brain of someone who still supports President Trump works, so the silver linings I identify apply to those on the left side of the political spectrum. And, given that these apply, for the most part, to people who identify as Democrats and, more specifically, the Democratic Party, I must acknowledge that any lessons learned will likely be forgotten after a few campaign cycles, and the nation will be trying, desperately, to vote President Glenn Beck out of office. Still, hope springs eternal—
- Democrats will never again take an election for granted. This one makes the hair on my neck stand up, because of course they will, again. But for this brief, shining moment, I hold out the possibility that they, we, will follow through on the knock-out punch that must be delivered between now and November 3rd.
- Segueing from the metaphor of “politics is pugilistic,” I believe Democrats finally understand that the United States Senate is no longer the “world’s greatest deliberative body.” It is The Colosseum, and the losing team gets their heads paraded around on a pike. And same-sex couples are left to wonder if their committed unions, recognized by their government, will soon be cast asunder by a court packed by a thrice-married reality TV star. As for the House of Representatives, if the Senate is The Colosseum, the House is a cage match.
- The Supreme Court! Electric cars for everyone is meaningless if said cars are declared “unconstitutional” in a 6-3 decision. It should go without saying that elections matter, but Democrats need constant reminding that the occupant of the Oval Office gets to pick the justices. Currently, three justices on the court were picked by someone named Bush, and by the time this hits the stands, someone named Trump may have his third pick on the court. And they’re Catholic! Not catholic, like the author who only steps into a church for weddings and funerals. These people are Catholic, fish on Fridays, hide the TV for Lent, and overturn Roe v. Wade Catholic. Progressives should make it their goal to have former President Barack Obama seated on the court and, soon after, the newly minted justice should announce that he’s an atheist.
- 51 stars on a field of blue can be done in an aesthetically pleasing way. With the primary objection to admitting Puerto Rico into the union out of the way, let’s make that happen. And then add two Democratic Senators and four Democratic House members.
- Turns out, 52 stars on a field of blue works quite nicely as well! Washington D.C. statehood anyone?
- The people who are voting to re-elect Donald Trump don’t like you. And they never will, so stop trying to win them over. They don’t try to win you over. They display a complete and utter lack of respect for you as a fellow citizen. They’ll run you over, literally and figuratively. I ask that the recent nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett, be labelled exhibit A.
- Circling back to numbered-list point 2: boring, milquetoast Representatives must be replaced. A prime example is Rep. Katie Porter, the Democrat from California’s 45th Congressional District in Orange County. ORANGE COUNTY! If you’re not familiar with California, Orange County is so conservative, they named the airport after John Wayne. Congresswoman Porter, meanwhile, has made a name for herself schooling corporate executives on the House floor. She was part of the freshman class of 2018 swept into office on a wave of votes cast by suburban women, still wracked with guilt over their action or inaction in 2016. Along with Porter came The Squad, four congresswomen of color who have paralyzed Republican members of congress with the fear that they will replace the “Freedom Fries” in the cafeteria with something that actually tastes good.
- Don’t nominate AOC in FOA (Fly Over America). Voters in those states are still shopping for Lawry’s Seasoned Salt in the supermarket aisle labeled, “Ethnic Foods.”
- Republicans who are genuinely “Never-Trumpers” have knowledge and you should listen to them. I do. My guilty pleasure for the last few months has been watching The Lincoln Project on YouTube. The Lincoln Project was founded by Republican campaign operatives who for decades have been, to use the vernacular of co-founder, Rick Wilson, “beating Democrats like a rented mule.” They have turned their ire on Donald Trump and every boot-licking Republican who has provided cover for The President. And they are more than happy to point out the egregious mistakes Democrats have made for years.
- VOTE! When we show up, we win.
| Copyright © 2020 by James Knudsen |
We voted early an often. I still have a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach, however.
ReplyDeleteJames, excellent! Yes, vote. Ed, yes, early and often, and yes, holding my breath and hoping all those Bernie Sanders fans who smugly refused to vote in 2016 learned their lesson. My son is six years old: he and others his age will likely spend at least half their lives suffering from, and trying to undo, the damage done by the non-voting Democrats of 2016.
ReplyDeleteIf the Democrats seize control, how far should they go in correcting the two major imbalances on the Supreme Court? Not just the conservative imbalance, the Catholic one as well. If my facts and math are correct, this country is 22% Catholic but the Supreme Court is 66% Catholic...so don't we need 22 non-Catholics added to the court for it to accurately reflect the country as a whole?