Americans voted early or on November 3rd, with the election called by the Associated Press on Saturday, November 7th. In normal times, President-Elect Biden would have already met with President Trump and the transition period would have started. Full funding from the General Services Agency would have been provided immediately in order to implement the transition process for the best interests of the United States of America. I’m sure you have all seen TV news clips of the smiling and positive transfers taking place from Carter to Reagan, H. W. Bush to Clinton, Clinton to W. Bush, W. to Obama, and Obama to Trump all involving a change from one party to the other.
But today is not normal in many ways. President Trump has not conceded, although he has basically announced he will be running for President in 2024. He has and is pushing for recounts, investigations, and claiming he has been cheated. Now, you might say what’s new? Isn’t that just politics? Well, even following several very contentious elections, no President in modern times has acted this way. Each has demonstrated a fundamental commitment to ensuring that governmental functions can continue to be carried out effectively by a successor and, more importantly, that Americans’ confidence in our electoral process, including a peaceful transfer of power from one political party to another, is preserved.
What you need to share when hearing and or visiting with anyone who buys in with all these false claims is the fact that the count was watched over by both Republicans and Democrats, regardless of whether the state had a Republican or Democratic Secretary of State, with several of the Republicans speaking out in defense of the validity of the election results. There are reports that many Republicans have privately acknowledged a Biden win, but are not willing to do this in public to avoid the wrath of Trump and his voter base. Some say Trump simply won’t concede because that will nullify all the lawsuits his campaign has filed regarding election outcomes. Regardless of their reasons, their denials of reality are flaring tensions among supporters who have not yet been told to stand down by their leader. So, the transition trainwreck continues into dangerous territory.
Trump's actions tear at the fabric of the most fundamental concept that is at the core of the Constitutional republic we were gifted by our founders. When President Washington served his two terms and walked away, peacefully transitioning power to another administration, it solidified this as a free nation, truly governed by laws and not men. This miracle, and the long tradition that followed, is something that is truly great about our country. One wannabe autocrat won't change that, but he will continue to do damage all the way out the door—with or without a uniformed escort.
People need to understand that what goes on in the transition leading up to noon on January 20th, when Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th President of the United States, makes a huge difference on how the next administration gets started. Given that the current Trump administration is filled with acting administrators, primarily political friends of the President who have limited or no talents needed for the position, getting Biden-talent now ready to go is all the more important.
But what makes that doubly important this time is not just all of the international and national security issues that are up in the air, but the critical need for real and informed leadership to address the handling of Covid-19 and the surge in cases and deaths we are experiencing throughout the country, with predictions of the numbers only getting worse as winter sets in. We need the adults to get back in the room, and fast.
Think for a moment on what might be going through Putin’s mind. Is this an opportunity for Russia? His best friend will leave office January 20th, of that we should be certain. Putin’s friend has filled key Pentagon and Defense posts with acting, incompetent political friends. Maybe now is the time to pursue his desire to take back Ukraine. I think it would be safe to say our current President would look the other way and his minions would stifle any competent discussion of what should be done. And Putin is just one of many authoritarian leaders and other bad actors who may seek to exploit this vulnerable time for our government and the fabric of our nation.
Needless to say, with Covid-19 already bumming out enthusiasm for Thanksgiving and the holiday season, thanks to Donald Trump, we now face two months of unnecessary trauma.
But today is not normal in many ways. President Trump has not conceded, although he has basically announced he will be running for President in 2024. He has and is pushing for recounts, investigations, and claiming he has been cheated. Now, you might say what’s new? Isn’t that just politics? Well, even following several very contentious elections, no President in modern times has acted this way. Each has demonstrated a fundamental commitment to ensuring that governmental functions can continue to be carried out effectively by a successor and, more importantly, that Americans’ confidence in our electoral process, including a peaceful transfer of power from one political party to another, is preserved.
What you need to share when hearing and or visiting with anyone who buys in with all these false claims is the fact that the count was watched over by both Republicans and Democrats, regardless of whether the state had a Republican or Democratic Secretary of State, with several of the Republicans speaking out in defense of the validity of the election results. There are reports that many Republicans have privately acknowledged a Biden win, but are not willing to do this in public to avoid the wrath of Trump and his voter base. Some say Trump simply won’t concede because that will nullify all the lawsuits his campaign has filed regarding election outcomes. Regardless of their reasons, their denials of reality are flaring tensions among supporters who have not yet been told to stand down by their leader. So, the transition trainwreck continues into dangerous territory.
Trump's actions tear at the fabric of the most fundamental concept that is at the core of the Constitutional republic we were gifted by our founders. When President Washington served his two terms and walked away, peacefully transitioning power to another administration, it solidified this as a free nation, truly governed by laws and not men. This miracle, and the long tradition that followed, is something that is truly great about our country. One wannabe autocrat won't change that, but he will continue to do damage all the way out the door—with or without a uniformed escort.
People need to understand that what goes on in the transition leading up to noon on January 20th, when Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th President of the United States, makes a huge difference on how the next administration gets started. Given that the current Trump administration is filled with acting administrators, primarily political friends of the President who have limited or no talents needed for the position, getting Biden-talent now ready to go is all the more important.
But what makes that doubly important this time is not just all of the international and national security issues that are up in the air, but the critical need for real and informed leadership to address the handling of Covid-19 and the surge in cases and deaths we are experiencing throughout the country, with predictions of the numbers only getting worse as winter sets in. We need the adults to get back in the room, and fast.
Think for a moment on what might be going through Putin’s mind. Is this an opportunity for Russia? His best friend will leave office January 20th, of that we should be certain. Putin’s friend has filled key Pentagon and Defense posts with acting, incompetent political friends. Maybe now is the time to pursue his desire to take back Ukraine. I think it would be safe to say our current President would look the other way and his minions would stifle any competent discussion of what should be done. And Putin is just one of many authoritarian leaders and other bad actors who may seek to exploit this vulnerable time for our government and the fabric of our nation.
Needless to say, with Covid-19 already bumming out enthusiasm for Thanksgiving and the holiday season, thanks to Donald Trump, we now face two months of unnecessary trauma.
[Photo: Julio Cortez/Associated Press]
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