Or…”All Resistance Is Not Created Equal.”
You could see it coming. Just last month the editorial board of the New York Post reminded its readers, if Trump voters reject a Biden win, they are only mimicking Democratic resistance in 2016. Quoting an article by Shadi Hamid of The Atlantic, “Liberals, after all, never real came to terms with his (Trump’s) 2016 win.”
True, but the resistance was based on factors totally unrelated to any citizen’s access to the ballot box. Voters may have been swayed by Russian disinformation on social media, but they were given the chance to act on it. Jim Comey’s reopening of the Clinton email case may have influenced last minute voters. But again, they were given the opportunity to cast a ballot on that 11th hour error in Comey’s judgment. There was not one documented case of a Trump voter being denied access to the ballot box or disqualified on a technicality. With the exception of a few leftist conspiracy theorists, Clinton voters rightfully pointed to suspicious and possibly illegal activities during the campaign, but did not challenge the vote itself.
In contrast, believing attempts to again influence voters with lies and disinformation failed to move the needle, Trump and his “psychophants” have engaged in a voter suppression campaign unseen since the days of Jim Crow, including:
- Voter intimidation by armed “militia”.
- Legal challenges in 30 plus states based on non-existent cases of potential voter fraud.
- Reduced early voting windows.
- Elimination of polling sites in heavily Democratic/minority areas.
- Disrupting the postal service.
- Disinformation about voting sites and times.
- Predictions of violence in the streets if Trump loses.
And that is the difference between Democrats’ grievances in 2016 and Republican attacks on voting integrity in 2020. His closing arguments challenge political rationality and prudence. Why beg June Cleaver wannabees for their vote thinking it will stem the defection of educated, suburban females? Why claim America has “rounded the turn” when it comes to the pandemic on a day when total cases top 100,000 for the first time? (NOTE: Would someone please tell this stable genius the phrase is actually “turn the corner.” Rounding the turn is a nautical term related to securing a rope around a pin or timber to slow or halt a vessel.)
Trump does this because he either knows or simply does not care he is on the wrong side of almost every 60/40 issue in America. Health care. Civil rights. Reproductive rights. Immigration. Universal background checks. In some cases, he opts to swim upstream against an even stronger current. An addition to his “greatest hits” as the campaign draws to a close has been a threat to fire Anthony Fauci, despite the fact a poll taken since the suggested dismissal gives Fauci a 72 percent approval rating. If David Letterman still hosted the “Late Show” on CBS, Trump and his campaign team have provided enough fodder for “Stupid Human Tricks” to populate the segment for months, if not years.
Trump promised America he would run the country like a business. Some day, that might still be a good idea, especially if the next CEO turned commander-in-chief believed success depended on the value and quality of the goods and services provided by the public sector. But that was never Trump’s business model before he entered the Oval Office and is not now. His bottom line has never been based on customer satisfaction. Instead, it was always about over-hyped marketing and keeping the competition at bay. The Trump business plan might as well be titled, “Take the Money and Run,” something about which we will learn more when the next director of the General Services Administration opens the books on federal payments to Trump-owned properties.
Today is the ultimate test of Abraham Lincoln’s adage, “You can fool some of the people all of the time. All of the people some of the time. But not all of the people all of the time.” This election day I would gladly settle for, ” You cannot fool a majority of the people THIS time.”
For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP
You will need to apologize to me only if you STOP writing. This is one of my favorites. Thank you!
Thanks for your easy to read and thoughtful post which summarizes the issues so well.
Many of here in Canada have been watching/ listening in trepidation as this day approaches, fearful for our neighbours to the south and also for ourselves, as Trump’s influence here is insidious and we would hate to see his attitudes legitimized once again ; we are already dismayed by how many on both sides of the border support his views and wonder what this says about where we are going as a civilization, as a culture….
Here’s hoping you have a very happy night. And don’t give up your commentary when everything is going your way. Your thoughts are insightful and almost always fun to read.