The Year That Wouldn't End: 2020 Year in Politics - Saturday Political Soap Box 266

 

It's hard to do a political year in review when 2020 just. Won't.  End.

THE GOOD

Sometimes (but not always - please see 2016), the person we need most for the times we are facing emerges, from our convoluted and messy presidential process, as President.

That is true for Joe Biden.  He may not be the political progressive firebrand that I want, but he does have the experience and ability to lead us through the DEEP crises we are faced with.  There is no one whose campaign style suited COVID times better than Joe, and there is no one as capable of reaching across our divisions to try to get something done.

For the first time in American History, we also have a female Vice-President, one who can step into the Presidency if needed.  To me, what is most exciting about her is not the barriers she has broken, but that she is highly competent and qualified.  

Plus, thanks to the Miracle in Georgia, she will be...

Woot-woot!

Mitch McConnell will no longer have a stranglehold on American power!  Legislation will be voted on!  Cabinet officials will be voted on!  Judicial nominees will be voted on! 

No, I never thought that I would be living the blue life in Georgia!  I am so excited and proud!  Biden!  Warnock!  Ossoff!  The trajectory of the nation is changed, and my home state did it!

The Bad

74 million people voted for the worst President in American History.  Despite the Georgia win, my home county voted 87% for Trump and 88% each for Loeffler and Perdue.

The Republicans gained seats in the House.  Democrats retain control, and the number of Progressives increased (the seats lost were almost universally by Blue Dog Democrats).  This will make legislation more of a slog.  It's not impossible, but the level of vile and bile will not go down.

Although control of the Senate is absolutely vital for the Biden administration to achieve anything, the margin is too thin to guarantee much of anything.  In my view, control of the Senate has passed from MITCH McCONNELL to JOE MANCHIN. The term is overused, but yes, he's pretty much a DINO - Democrat in Name Only.  What can I say?  He represents West Virginia, one of the reddest states we have.

Biden has many problems - he faces as deep a stream of crisis as any incoming President we've had.  I appreciate his desire for cooperation from Republicans, and I pray that he gets it, BUT,,,

The Ugly and the Monstrous

With his behavior on January 6th and his well-deserved second impeachment, Trump has sealed the deal - he is by far the worst President in American History.

I won't even go into his behavior in prior years.  For that, just review the dozens of posts I have about the Trumpocalypse (tagged for your viewing convenience).  I can't even explore all the horrible things he did in 2020.  I want to do a blog post, not a book.

I will highlight two things- 

1) His reaction to the pandemic was a disaster that led to hundreds of thousands of unnecessary deaths in the United States.  Who can argue with this - we have 4.25% of the world's population and 25% of the world's cases, and 20% of the world's COVID deaths.  According to my Trump Premium calculation  (please see related post), I hold him directly responsible for a quarter-million deaths.

His incompetence and ignorance have affected our nation's reaction from the start.  He has been dismissive, having us turning the corner almost every week, wanting us to leave quarantines and lockdowns almost before they really begin, recommending we drink bleach, refusing to protect himself and others - turning mask-wearing into an effing political issue.  Personal liberty TRUMPS social responsibility and public safety.  I am as angry about this as I have ever been about anything in my entire life.

We are haunted by his incompetence even today, with the slow rollout of the vaccine.

The number of cases and deaths are higher than ever, and due to his dividing us, we seem incapable of responding.

It's one thing to live with the way people voted around here.  It's another trying to survive their barbaric response to the pandemic.

2) His denial of the election results has led this country to a nightmare reaction and a true ripping apart of Democratic norms.  We stand on the brink of fascism, and none of us can breathe easier until he is gone.

Left in his wake are millions who believe his lies, some who are so ginned up that they attacked the Capitol building, and the fact that they aren't more dead, including the Vice President, is just simple luck.

Most of us want to turn the corner and head into the light of democracy, of a functioning republic.  But others only see it as a vast cultural war, where everything is on the line for them - that the most important thing is to hold onto white privilege and control, who want to turn the nation into a Christian Reich Theocratic State.

Donald Trump may soon be gone, but the hate he riled up and solidified will be with us for a long time to come.

2020 has left us broken and hurt.  But, in the end, it did bring us some hope.

But it also brought us fear.

We must never give up.  We must never surrender.

We must never sit out another election.

The number one lesson of 2020 is that we outnumber them IF WE ALL SHOW UP.

House In Disguise

 

It's a magic trick!

We are in the process of disguising our house.

We got a brick house.  Yes, it's true.  She's built like a .... brick house.  Or so the song goes.

It is a special orangey brick color that screams...

Let's party like it's 1973!!!

Ok, honestly, it doesn't bother me that much.  The maintenance needs of brick are minimal to none.  I would look at other homes and go, "Yeah?  It's good looking compared to ours, but at least we don't have to worry about maintaining PAINT!!!"

But the brick color did not sit well with Alison.  And I have to admit, having a house the color of Trump's face seemed something worth moving away from.  Besides, the right color might help if we decide to sell it.  You know, in case we had grandchildren and wanted to move closer to them, preferably in a Blue County or area.

So, what does it look like now?

Ain't that sweet?

The color is called Scottish Moor.  We're one step closer to Outlander.

I think it's going to increase our home resale value.

Please don't tell the tax assessor. 

Well, who knows about that?  The picture above indicates I may need to start worrying about my patchy lawn.

Anybody know a cheap place to get astroturf?

The Best Part

 

The best part of waking up is knowing you're not dead.

More often than not now, that was the song running through his head first thing in the morning—a little twist on the theme in the old Folger's coffee cup commercials. 

Well, there was another sign of getting old. If he sang it to his kids, they would probably have no idea where it came from. And, hell, they were in their thirties.

He carefully pulled himself out of bed. His left foot rebelled slightly as it hit the floor. It hurt, but it was marginally better than yesterday. Small blessings.

As he stood up, his back rebelled.  It started to twinge, but he carefully managed to avoid an all-out spasm. Back pain wasn't new. It's something that had been occurring for over two decades.  Most of the time, it was just an annoyance, as it was this morning.

The morning routine began with a trip to the can and a major league bladder distension. If it was one of those rare nights where he slept through without having to get up to urinate (sometimes multiple times), it might be one of those Austin Powers wees, one where you wonder if you might fill up the whole bowl.

Wash your hands thoroughly! These were COVID times, after all.  This was a new habit for him.  Sure, he had washed hands before, but not quite as compulsively and as long as he did now.

He checked his phone, that wonderful new device that put all knowledge at his fingertips.  So what did he check?  His Facebook feed to see if anyone had liked or responded to anything he had posted, see if he had any messages, and see any funny memes. Like most mornings, there was nothing there.  Well, except for Delbert McKenzie responding to one of his political posts with, "I thought you were smart than that!" Well, he thought, I fooled you, didn't I?

He opened the bedroom door and padded down the hallway.  He froze for a minute.  He thought he saw Waldo out of the corner of his eye. But he couldn't have – Waldo had passed six months ago.  It had been the longest he had been without a dog.

Sure enough, whatever fleeting thing he thought he saw dissipated.  He was alone.  Alone in a house he may soon have to give up.

He went to the kitchen, turned on the fluorescent overhead, and then put a K-cup in the single-serve coffee maker.  K-cups might be an environmental waste, but it wasn't easy to make coffee for just one with just him now.  Practically and speed won out over environmental responsibility.  Just something else to feel guilty about.

The flavor was called Donut Shop.  What the hell did that mean?  Was it supposed to taste like donuts?  It just tasted like regular coffee to him.  He was no connoisseur.  Coffee was simply a caffeine delivery system to him.  He did add two packs of Stevia to it and some powdered creamer (French vanilla, something he could distinguish in taste more than the actual coffee).

He took a sip and then looked at the time.  What the hell?  Fifteen minutes had passed since he got up.  How did that happen?  Did it take that long to take a leak and then come out here to get coffee ready?

He thought he had more time!  He needed to be at Freedom Tax Service by 8 AM!

He tried to gulp the coffee quicker, only for it to choke him, and have to backwash it into the cup. He'd have to skip breakfast and also his shower.  Oh. Well. Who's gonna know?  Slap on some deodorant and comb his hair, and he'd be good to go.

January 6^th, 2021.  Part of him wanted to stay and see the confirmation of the electoral college vote.  He was a political buff and realized it might not be as straight forward this year. Unfortunately, it was only the third day at his new job, and he not only needed to be there, but he also needed to be on time.

He took off his nightshirt and put on a blue dress shirt.  He instinctively reached out for a tie and then remembered it was his old job that required one, not his new job. Freedom wanted their employees to be dressed only a tad better than the clientele.  They wanted to come across as competent but also as accessible and friendly.  It also gave the impression that maybe they didn't cost as much money as the dressier tax folk.

Whether they cost more was an open matter, one he hadn't researched.  They mostly funded themselves by fast-forwarding the client's refund, at a heavily discounted amount, and then having the IRS check turned into Freedom dollars.  That didn't seem cheaper, but most of the clients didn't care because they got money the same day Freedom did their taxes.

He finished putting on his office clothes and saw he had a half-hour left.  It took twenty minutes to get there, so it was time to get out of the house and into the Nissan Sentra.

In taking off, he soon found another surprise.  The passenger side tire was almost flat.  Again.  He could pull into a gas station and fill it, but that would lose whatever little margin he had to reach Freedom on time.

Stay calm.  He opened the car glove compartment and got out a small bottle of baby aspirin, chunked two into his mouth, and started to chew.

Oh, well.  The start of another great day in the Southland.

The best part?  Aldie Martin wasn’t even sure that it was because he was not dead.  That was just a song in his head.

The best part may also be the worst part.  The joy of remembering her.  The pain in knowing she was not there.  Except as a memory, a Waldoesque shadow, her presence always on his mind, always just around the corner of his reality.

The worst part of waking up is knowing she’s not there.

History of the Trap Vol. 2 Chapter 2: Dance Party Part 3

 

3

 

The dance was delayed a week later than intended because, apparently, it was the time of the year.

One of the oddities of the Trap was that all the females stopped having periods.  At least that’s what we thought.  I didn’t have girls rush up to me and tell me whether or not it was their time, but I sure didn’t hear anything otherwise. 

At the same time, there were no pregnancies.  I haven’t got into it, Doctor, and I probably won’t, but yes, there was activity in the Trap that should have led to babies, but it did not.  I thought it might be related to the lack of a normal cycle.

Now, a little over a year later, it happened all at once, within about two weeks.  Luckily, Mrs. Novik had kept the inventory of sanitary napkins, and that part of it was taken care of.

I had been told that women get quite cranky as their period approaches, and that is why they couldn’t be President or other positions that required a level head.  I don’t know.  I didn’t notice much of that.  I’m sure some might have existed, but not enough for me to note. In my time in the Trap, I noticed more erratic behavior from men than I did women.

Mrs’ Novik pleaded with my father to wait until it was through before he scheduled the dance.  My father was chauvinistic enough that he quickly acceded to her request.  He wanted to deal with that as little as possible.

No one had a grasp on it scientifically, not even our brightest.  On the one hand, our food crops grew fast and robust, on some kind of accelerated time table.  On the other hand, it was becoming more apparent than our own age processes had slowed.  Our hair grew slowly.  I was hard-pressed to see anyone who had visibly aged, or grown in height.  And now, were women’s cycles going to be yearly instead of monthly?

Many things to ponder.  I was still a teenage boy (17 technically), and my worldview was still fairly self-centered.  So, the scientific concerns of the Trap received consumed little of my thinking time.  Mostly I was running a Hamlet style debate in my head as to whether or not to attend the dance.

I did not feel comfortable having “fun,” especially at a dance.  I had no interest in moving on to another relationship.  I didn’t resent others' relationships, like Ginny and Artie, but I had to be honest and admit it heebie-jeebied me a tad.  I wasn't sure how emotionally music would affect me, especially if it were a song I connected to Lisa.  Yeah, I was going through the kinds of mood swings that the guys were associating with the women and their ‘time.”

I also considered that I had friends who cared about me and wanted me there.  And I was, by nature, an observer, learning about people as I watched them interact with each other.  It helped inspire me in story direction and developing characterization for The Sands of Loren.

So, I could stay in my sleeping room, maybe the library, take a pass of the night’s activities.  Or I could go, start to draw myself out more, risk a gradual climb back into social engagement.

I emulated Hamlet up until the very last minute, and then I made up my mind.

 

Hello, Mike Pence

 

Hello, Vice President Mike Pence.  How are you?

I know we've never really talked before.  I apologize, but it's true.  You are antithetical to everything I stand for and are one of my least favorite politicians.

But we need to talk.

I appreciate you playing the constitutional role you were required to do in administering the reading of the certified electoral college election results. You read with aplomb and the solid confidence of a man who can actually read and sound coherent.

You did not kowtow to the President's illegal request for you to not accept the states that would have handed the Presidency back to a  man who lost the popular vote by over seven million.  You came back after the Trump-incited Capitol Riots, undeterred and ready to do your duty.

You did all that, and Trump used your commitment to your constitutional duties and unwillingness to do what he wanted as a way to gin up a crowd to march on the Capitol.  He used you, and did not care about your safety.

But it wasn't just you endangered.  He endangered the lives of every Congressperson, of every Senator, of every staff person, of the Capitol police. He even used his own supporters as cattle fodder for his own goal - to retain power at any cost.

Four people died as a result.  As horrible as that was, it could have been a lot worse.  Unimaginably worse.

Property was damaged and vandalized, windows were broken, lives were threatened.  A rioter sat at the desk you had been at just minutes before, in the Senate chambers, declaring Trump the victor.

And this madness may be just the beginning.  And you know that.

Everything you've done for him, and he does this to you.

You know what you have to do, for the sake of the survival of the country.  You have to convene the cabinet and invoke the 25th Amendment.  You have no real choice.  A man who incites riots is not fit to lead this country.

For the sake of us all, you must assume the mantel of the Presidency and facilitate the peaceful transition to the certified winners of the election, President-Elect Biden and Vice-President Harris.  No more incitement of false claims of a rigged and fraudulent election.  Those baseless and self-serving claims are tearing this country apart, and it's time to heal and unite.

No one says you have to give up your principles and ideals.  You fight for what you believe in and are magnanimous and understanding, in both victory and loss.  You will not divide us and demonize us.

I know you can do this.  I know that, despite our many differences, we value this country and the preservation of democracy (ok, at least that's my hope).

You have my permission and encouragement.  Invoke the 25th Amendment and end Trump's madness. America will be supportive and will breathe a huge sigh of relief.

Oh, and one other thing -

DO NOT PARDON THAT SON OF A B!*

*taking into consideration your sensitivities, I have moderated my use of language.  You're welcome.

Short Life Span Predictions: Updated Georgia BLUE

 

Oh, how I want those two in the Senate! 

History does not favor Democrats in Georgia statewide runoff elections.  But historical trends are just that - trends, and trends can be broken.  Just ask Barack Obama or Kamala Harris.

If you asked me mid-November, I would have only given about 20% odds that Ossoff and Warnock could win.

I've since changed my mind.  I don't think it's any kind of lock, but I do think it's at least even money.

Early voting turnout has been incredible, and the Republicans have acted like they don't want to win, with a mighty thanks and a hat's tip to their toddler-in-chief, Trump, whose erratic and spoiled behavior has put his own selfish interests ahead of his party.

I may be proven wrong in relatively short order, but here goes my best analysis:

Unless there is a decisive margin in same-day voting for Democrats, this will go on for a while, anywhere from two days to a week. 

The way the vote is counted, absentee ballots are at the end of the counting train.  If you'll remember the Presidential election, it was with these votes that Biden pulled ahead.

There is nothing wrong with this.  Every vote counts equally.  It's the way the state has chosen to count.  Some states count early vote and absentees first.  It's why at first, it looked like Biden might be competitive in Ohio and Texas. It's also why he was behind at first in states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin - because the Republican legislators in those states set same-day vote to be counted first.

So...

if Ossoff and Warnock lead after the first set of same-day voting comes in - start the party! Congratulations, Rev. Warnock!

If it's close, even if the Republicans have a slight lead -  get ready for a party! Looking good, Jon Ossoff!

If the initial Republican lead is slightly greater, say three to four points - hang in there and start the prayer vigil. Well, thank goodness we don't have to suffer through that!

This is not a done deal.  But I have hope. Hope is alive!  Hope is alive!

Updates to follow!

UPDATE 7:11 AM

WARNOCK WINS!  WARNOCK WINS!

All major networks have declared Warnock the winner, and he leads with over 53,000 votes, with about 98% of the vote reported.

Ossoff has not been called, but he leads Perdue by 16,370 votes.

Most of the vote remaining is reportedly in Democratic areas!

I have never been more proud of my chosen home state, Georgia!

As I saw Rob Reiner state on Twitter, "John Lewis is smiling down on us!"

SECOND UPDATE

OSSOFF WINS!  OSSOFF WINS!

This occurred during the Trump incited Capital Riot, and did not get the attention it deserved.

He will be the youngest Senator we've had since Joe Biden was first elected. 

And what does this mean, not just for Georgia but the country as a whole?

Yep.  McConnell no longer controls the Senate.

With all the horror over what happened at the Capital, there is now a light at the end of the tunnel.

Thank God!  And the voters of Baby Blue Georgia!

The Most Hypocritical Political Sign Ever! Saturday Political Soap Box 265

 This sign has popped up all over my county.  Some are strung along in a row, a dozen or more.

This is the message someone(s) in my county wants to send:

STOP ONE PARTY RULE

To which I say -

Really?

Really?

REALLY?

Never have I seen expressed a more HYPOCRITICAL sentiment in all my time here, dating back to 1997. 

Really, Pierce Countians?  That's what you believe - that we have to stop one-party rule?  Are you kidding me?

You, who vote straight Republican year after year after year, at the NATIONAL level, at the STATE level, at the LOCAL level, are suddenly worried about ONE PARTY RULE?

You, whom some of you have told me, don't understand the necessity of a general election because all that's decided in the Republican primary?

You, who vote like a monolith and consider Democrats to be barely human?

You, who EVERY TIME I have posted about being concerned about our lack of true democracy here, and wouldn't you like to have competitive elections and have choices, and aren't you tired of voting where there is only one realistic option, and so many Republicans run unopposed. and our elections are Soviet-style, and you all just shrug and think that what I am asking for is the most unimportant and irrelevant thing ever?

Now I'm supposed to believe you're all twitterpated about ONE PARTY RULE? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

YOU PRACTICALLY INVENTED ONE PARTY RULE!

YOU RELISH ONE PARTY RULE!

So, Tom, aren't you being a hypocrite?  Don't you want one-party rule by the Godless heathen Democrats?

Oh, for God's sake.  Read my stuff, man.  I've said over and over and over again about how I want a MULTI-PARTY system.  I want different groups to combine for different legislation, in ever-shifting coalitions that compromise and get stuff done.

I've made it clear over and over again that I'm an Independent Progressive, not a Democrat.  I don't care too much for many conservative/corporate Democrats, but I see them as potential partners to move at least a few things forward.  And if some very conservative and populists legislators like Senator Hawley share some agenda items, like for $2,000 checks to COVID ravaged everyday Americans - then bring them in for that vote.

If the Republicans retain the Senate, it is not ONE PARTY RULE we will have avoided.  You know what we will have?

ONE MAN RULE

And that man will be -

MITCH McCONNELL

Nothing will be accomplished.  All legislation, bipartisan or otherwise, will die at his doorstep - he won't let it come to the floor to even be voted on.  Judgeships will be stopped, many cabinet appointees may not even get a vote.  Only the interests of the wealthy and big corporations will be served.

All I want, at this point, is to see legislation and appointees voted on.  If you had a Republican Senate Majority Leader who was willing to do that, I would be less concerned.

Case in point: the $2,000 checks, in the current environment, would have passed in the Senate on a straight up or down vote.  But McConnell wouldn't let that happen.  He used every parliamentary trick in the book to prevent it from even being voted on.  He used his power to thwart the will of the majority who wanted it.

And if he remains in charge of the Senate, he will do that again and again and again.

We are in a state of crisis in this country.  COVID, climate change, a cratering economy, destabilized foreign policy, so many little problem bombs left to us by the exiting orange clown.  And we need a Congress who is willing to vote on legislation, at least put themselves on the record one way or another.  None of this will happen as long as McConnell is in charge.

What are we talking about?  If Georgia votes in two competent and compassionate people, and vote out two corrupt and uncaring individuals, the Senate will be 50-50, with Vice President Harris breaking the tie in favor of Democratic Senate leadership.

And this is the one-party rule you fear?  HA!

I got two words for you -

JOE MANCHIN

Yep, he's about as Republican a Democrat as you can get.  So what if you get Progressive legislation before the Senate?  He'll vote with the Republicans more often than not.

And he's not alone.  Many of the Democrats in the Senate are not truly Progressive and will whiff on some of the most important measures we need.  I love Joe Biden, and I'm ecstatic that he's President, but he's a pretty moderate Democrat, one who is desperate to work with Republicans in a bipartisan fashion.

Pierce County is going to vote 85%+ Republican no matter what.  That sign is not going to increase or decrease the vote margin here one way or another.

But the rank hypocrisy of that sign?

It stinks.

It stinks to high heaven.