The past year has been a real eye opener of what politicians on both sides do, using strategies that any intelligent life form would avoid.
Things like: Maybe avoid holding rallies that spread a virus. Refraining from insulting popular war heroes and civil rights leaders who represent states you need to win. Telling armed groups with a history of violence and ties to white supremacy to “stand by.” And even urging voters to NOT vote, and if they do, a scheme will be hatched to get ballots thrown out if the result isn’t to a particular party’s liking.
These lessons appeared to not be obvious as some candidates and leaders attempted to discount thousands of legal votes, rendering them “illegal and invalid.” Court cases repeatedly knocked down lawsuits challenging the voters in America and speeches were made urging disruption of the Constitutional process.
Then came a violent riot and insurrection against the government as the Capitol was breeched and vandalized. People died. People who tout being patriots attacked the very law enforcement they claimed to support. Policemen died and were injured just doing their duty – an outrage.
Hundreds of arrests are being made, with suspects being identified from video and selfies put up on social media bragging about the attack on Congress. An investigation is uncovering organizers and participants and we will see how many are held accountable for seditious actions – and how many of their supporters get on board with these acts against the Constitution and democratic process.
The hundreds who attacked the Capitol are now shocked they didn’t receive a pardon and aren’t getting a pass on their violence. And they feel duped and used.
And now a former president is threatening to bring down an entire political party. That process has been underway for four years and is accelerating.
With crackpot conspiracy theorists guiding the process, the attack on the democratic process continues and a new party led by the same corrupt people is being built. Established political careers are going lukewarm and some got a one-way ticket to Anywhere but Congress.
The red flags went up when, after two years into the Trump term, the GOP lost the House. And at the end of the term, lost the Senate. It wasn’t a steal – it was a warning of things to come.
But generally, political parties (all of them) rarely learn anything from humiliating losses, and angry party members will do anything to find blame for the failures.
Since 2016, the Republicans have been losing voters for a reason. Thousands of Republican voters became ‘blue wavers’ in their dissatisfaction – hence the losses in Congress and the Oval Office. But no one cared about the reasons why this dynamic occurred. No one addressed it. It was business as usual – attack, insult, deny facts – all of which resulted in a violent attack on Congress.
I don’t care which party a person belongs to – this is not a way to win friends and influence people - the 2020 election proved it.
People talk about election fraud and campaign reform, fairness in the media and many other aspects of the whole process.
I suggest we start with accountability – hold all candidates responsible. Truth in advertising. Any candidate from any party should be called out immediately by their own party for passing on misinformation and lies while trying to win an election. If they lie during the campaign , they will lie while in office. They aren’t honest.
And as well all know and witness every single election cycle – winning at all costs is acceptable.
Americans should expect and hold themselves and their officials to a higher standard. Anyone accepting anything less than the gold standard is failing. And sadly, both parties have been for years and lowing the bar.
I plan to stay a constitutional conservative independent and hold true to principles, and with that said, I know I have no one representing me and have little hope that anyone will soon. The land of the free is in serious trouble and has been for years. This is not what our founders intended.