This Might be Our Last Chance to Preserve American Democracy

 Don't let it take too long for you to wrap your mind around the fact that we came dangerously close to seeing the American Republic dissolve into chaos during the final months of the Trump administration.  How in the world can it be that there are some people, including some Democratic party leaders in Washington, who did not see this coming, or who just wrote it off and didn't think it would actually materialize?  The only thing about Trump's temperament and lifestyle that wasn't known by the time he got around to winning the GOP nomination was his finances.  

It was extremely frustrating, as an "ordinary citizen," to see this coming and feel completely helpless to do anything to stop it.  I had my vote.  I invested both time and money in efforts to get people's attention and to support the opposition because that appeared to be the only way to stop the disaster from coming.  I volunteered to knock on doors, make phone calls and do far more than what I had ever done before to help get one candidate elected in order to prevent the election of another.  The single most frustration came from calling elected officials and campaign officials to tell them why I felt that we were facing impending political disaster.  They agreed, but no one seemed to be able to offer a solution or have a plan in place beyond standard politics.  Because of a quirky system, and because it didn't seem like anyone really took things seriously enough to matter, we predictably arrived at January 6.  Thank God it turned out well, at least, this time it did.  

I've read the history of the Second Continental Congress and the writing of the Declaration of Independence like everyone else, as a historical fact on which hangs the existence of our country.  But the first time I ever visited Independence Hall, I realized how close we came to not having a country and how, in spite of those words, not all Americans came together to support them.  In fact, not only were the men who gathered for the Congress in danger even as they gathered there, but there was no certainty of the outcome of what was then a war that had just barely begun.  There were many moments when defeat loomed, when it would have been easy just to quit, when there were doubts about what they were fighting for.  It took five long years and it could have gone either way.  

Then it took another seven years for Americans to realize that they needed to do more in order to unite and preserve the nation they had created, including to turn it into a Republic, a form of  democracy which would enable them to defend themselves against foreign enemies and to resist internal tyranny.  The end result of their efforts was to create what they called an "experiment," testing the limits to see if it worked and making it possible to make adjustments and changes necessary to be a government of, by and for the people, free from tyranny. 

It could have gone either way at the Capitol Building in Washington on January 6.  The fact that it went the way it did was yet another example of God watching over and protecting this country.  

Hopefully, it will not take seven years for Americans to come to the conclusions that they need to exercise the power to make some changes that will work now.  Seven years is way too long.  We could lose everything that has been gained in just a couple of years, if things are not done to make sure that doesn't happen.  And yes, of course, I have some ideas about what we can do, both short term and long term, to preserve our Democratic Republic and secure the future. 

Hold Donald Trump Accountable

The second impeachment was, at least as far as I see it, an attempt to put an end to a miserable presidency that became intensely more miserable, uncertain and unstable after the results of the November election were confirmed and certified.  Trump's last days in the White House were a testament to his insane paranoia and his pathological lying.  As long as he was President, testing limits of presidential power that had never been tested before, the country was in danger.  January 6 was a major warning about just how far he would go, so impeachment was the logical response.  

And while the process did not get him removed from office prior to January 20, it did succeed in sending a strong enough warning that the shenanigans had to stop.  Surrounded by extremists who kept pushing for him to test the limits of power, the impeachment took the steam out of any further efforts on his behalf for him to cling to power.  In reality, what his nutcase advisors were trying to get him to do would have led not to his remaining in office, but more than likely to his own arrest and imprisonment.  He knew it. 

Trump made it very clear long before the November election that he wouldn't accept any result except his own victory.  He laid that out to his supporters all through his term in office so that it would be easy for them to believe the lie when the time came.  If he, or his lawyers, really believed that the election was stolen, and believe the "evidence" they have laid out on extremist right wing media to prove it was accurate, then why didn't they present that evidence to the courts where they filed charges?  Nothing proves fraud like evidence.  Giuliani and Powell have shown all of their "stuff" to Trump supporters on Newsmax and Breitbart, mainly to raise money, so why didn't they show it to the judges in the courts?  Yeah, that's a rhetorical question.  Because everything they've got is phony.  There is no evidence of massive voter fraud, nor any proof that Trump really won.  That's the big lie.

The impeachment and senate trial perfectly laid out Trump's guilt in inciting an insurrection aimed at the overthrow of the government, overturning of a legitimate election and keeping him in power.  It's not the end of efforts to hold him accountable, it is just the beginning.  He's out of office now, no longer protected by a corrupt justice department and the house managers laid out an irrefutable case for his guilt.  It will go to the justice department now, and to the courts and he will be held accountable.  Nothing should deter this effort because it must happen in order to limit Presidential power in any future attempt of a sitting president to hold on to power against the will of the people. 

Push Forward With Biden's Agenda, Bi-Partisan Support ot Not

Bi-partisan cooperation or not, the Biden administration needs to push forward full steam ahead, using every tool at their disposal including having the VP break tie votes in the senate.  Let's see how high the Democrats can rise to an occasion.  That's how the GOP does business when it is in power, let them get a good taste in their mouth of what obstructionist politics feel like when it comes back the other way and they are the ones being shut down and out.  

Getting things done wins votes.  The Biden Administration has focused on resolving pressing issues and that has clearly resonated with voters.  With a house majority and the tie-breaking vote in the senate, the Democrats need to push through everything they want to accomplish, not only to insure the unity of their own party, but to bulldoze through the cotton-padded stone walls that Mitch McConnell has used to create government gridlock.  That includes killing the filibuster.  

Biden has appointed a whole bunch of highly successful, "get things done" people to his cabinet.  He's put out legislation, planned in advance, to deal with the problems that concern Americans the most, like COVID-19 and the economy and he's getting some of the highest job approval ratings any President has received in decades.  Regardless of whether any Republicans go with them or not, the agenda needs to move forward.  The GOP is broken.  The 2022 midterms are going to produce unprecedented gains for Democrats in terms of state legislative seats, governorships, house and senate seats and getting things done in Washington will only add to their vote totals and affirm their leadership.  

Approve Statehood for the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico

That there are still Americans who are not represented in Congress is anti-American.  This is a necessary step that should have been taken a long time ago. 

Weaknesses Which Need to be Corrected

Trump's lame duck status as President was one of the most dangerous times in our history.  The man is an unstable, insane (my opinion but I think his behavior warrants consideration of the use of the term) pathological liar, and a narcissistic egomaniac who was intoxicated by the power of the office.  Once it became clear that he had lost the election (and there's no argument about it) he quit performing the duties of his office and focused on figuring out how to subvert the Constitution and stay in.  

Though he is the first President to have resisted the constitutional mandate for peaceful transition of power, he might not be the last.  We are at a point in our history where Presidential power needs to be redefined and taken back to a more "originalist" perspective anyway.  It has become clear that a peaceful transition of power needs to be enforced, and some Constitutional amending needs to take place to ensure that the next demagogue, and there will be one, doesn't have the ability to change the results of an election or burn the country down on the way out. 

Here's what I would change: 

1. The President's finger gets taken off the nuclear trigger.  The "football" goes elsewhere, to the Speaker of the House or the Chief Justice, or even to the President-elect, but the lame duck is done with it. 
2. The Presidential transition takes place on January 20 at noon in spite of any declaration of martial law by the previous President.  (I think this is the way it is now, in spite of what we may have heard, but let's make sure.) 
3. All the President's appointive powers end the day the election results are certified.  No judicial or cabinet appointments can be made by a sitting President after a President-elect is declared. 
4. Concession is mandated by law at the moment the last state certifies its election results.  The transition starts the next day and doesn't require an invitation from the sitting President.  Access to all of the administrative areas of the White House is required for the President Elect and all staff members.  
5. A lame duck President cannot issue executive orders.

I'm sure there would be plenty of arguments against making these kinds of changes, but we have just been through a very trying time that posed a real danger to the continued existence of this Democratic Republic.  There's nothing wrong with putting limits on the power of a departing President to ensure the peaceful transfer of power and hold the occupant of the nation's highest political office accountable to the people.  

The Impeachment Trial That Must be Held

https://www.vox.com/21506029/trump-violence-tweets-racist-hate-speech

Regardless of the outcome--and there are plenty of people who don't believe that there are 17 Republicans in the senate with the courage to stand up for the American Republic and its Constitution which establishes government of, by and for the people--there are some accomplishments that will be achieved by the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump.  There's no doubt that it is constitutional, affirmed by the United States Senate. 

If the threat of accountability for crimes committed in office isn't there, it will happen again.  And while this country has gone until now without a threat to the peaceful transfer of power after an election, that's no longer the case and failing to prosecute Trump will only open the door to it happening again.  I'm having difficulty understanding why criminal charges can't be considered, given not only the incitement of the insurrection itself but the scope of the lying that was done about the election results themselves.  No credible evidence was ever produced which supported any claim of "massive voter fraud."  None.  Shouldn't all of that be subject to investigation and prosecution?  And if not, then what is subject to investigation and prosecution in this country?  

Most people seem convinced that there aren't 17 Republican senators who have the courage, conviction or intellectual capacity to take a look at overwhelming evidence and vote to convict Trump.  Given their behavior during the past four years, I'd agree with that assessment.  But so what?  Even without a conviction there will be a lot of good that comes out of this. 

Every Republican Who Votes Against Removal is Exposed

The Democratic party is poised to pick up a lot of new house and senate seats in 2022.  A lot.  This will help every Democrat who runs against an incumbent senator confront their opponent with direct evidence of their lack of courage and conviction.  Every Republican senator who votes against removing Trump from ever being able to hold elected office again is a traitor, not a patriot and if they are on the record, their Democratic opponent in 2022 needs to keep reminding the voters of that fact.  Patriots defend the constitution, they don't attack it like Trump so lets see who the patriots really are.  

Though it has been very obvious which Republicans have been duplicitous regarding Trump and which ones have no conviction and no backbone, this one's going to hurt.  That's why you heard all of their whining and complaining before this trial started.  They could care less about whether or not it is constitutional, what they care about is that millions of voters, most of whom have already decided that the attack on the capital was a horrific, traitorous insurrection, will see the case organized by the House Managers all over again.  It will be a fresh reminder of just how bad Trump was and just how close we came to losing everything that we are as a country.  

Their decision is simple.  They are either loyal Americans who will vote for justice and against Trump, or they are loyal to Trump and will vote against justice and against America.  That's the bottom line. 

Evaluating How We Got Here

Free speech is a cherished American right, a first amendment guarantee that was at the very core of this country's existence during the time it was being founded.  We seem to have moved away from some of the values that developed and became part of who we are during the formative years of the American Republic.  The power behind the government rests with the people and the events of the past four years have shown where our republic is weak and needs some strengthening.  

There is no free speech without responsibility and responsibility is something that doesn't just happen, it takes time to develop, grow and be understood.  It requires true character and a set of values, both things that Trump was lacking.  That's not being judgmental, it is being observant.  The man built his fame and branded himself with what he hoped would be seen as "legendary immorality."  

The early church Apostle Paul lists the "works of the flesh" in his letter to the Galatian Christians as being "sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies and things like these."  There's not much in that list that Trump didn't use to brand himself and create his public image long before he was elected to the White House.  

How did his followers miss all of that, especially the "Evangelicals" who knew better?  And if the Christian New Testament isn't your measuring rod, business ethics and conduct should have attracted some attention.  Well, actually, it did, and some Republican senators did notice during the 2016 primaries, and they are on the record as having pointed out most of Trump's corrupt behavior before they realized that he was gathering support and their nominee of choice, Jeb Bush, wasn't.  You can find caustic criticism of Trump's character, especially the fraud and the incessant lying, from any of a dozen GOP senator/hypocrites like McConnell, Rubio, Graham, Sessions and most of the rest of the GOP presidential field in 2016.  

Someone in that GOP senate crowd even said that they wondered how in the world anyone could trust what Donald Trump said when he put his hand on the Bible and took the oath of office to uphold and defend the constitution.  And so I ask that question, after four years of pathological lying, including the whoppers that incited the crowd at his "Stop the Steal" insurrection, indeed, how?  

In most elections, we have depended on the electorate to decide whether candidates are qualified and capable of serving in public office and to cast their ballots based on those requirements.  There are those among the electorate who are not interested in democracy and who prefer a form of government other than a constitutional republic.  Free speech means that, up to a point, we accept those among us who have different perspectives about government, economic policy, leadership characteristics and style and so forth, but that point is the place where it threatens what has been constitutionally established and attempts to use a means other than what the constitution requires to make changes. 

And we have apparently gone off the rails here. 

So How do we Fix It?

Are there really 74 million Americans whose preference is to resort to violence and insurrection in order to get their way and make sure their candidate remains in office, going completely against the constitution and assassinating government officials in order to achieve their ends?  Probably not, but there are clearly those who were attracted to Trump and his way of doing things who do not believe in representative, constitutional democracy but prefer dictatorship by force and they showed up in Washington on January 6.  

Too many Americans are simply ignorant of the constitution and what a constitutional Republic looks like and are willing to believe conspiracy theories and the lie that the election was stolen, or even could be stolen.  That's where the education needs to start.  Telling lies that can't be supported by evidence and which have as their intention the undermining of the legitimate, elected government of the Republic is not free speech.  And if there are that many people who can't see that someone like Donald Trump is completely incapable of serving in an office that requires the kind of intensity, energy, intellect, morality and character that the American Presidency requires, then our public education system has failed to achieve its most basic mission and purpose.  And next to it, in my opinion, so has a fair segment of the Christian church.

So perhaps this impeachment will be a wake-up call.  Our democracy will still have plenty of enemies, but hopefully they will not have so many willing helpers.

1. We need to get real civics education back into the school system now.  We've focused on language skills, math and science for so long that we've let the really important subjects go.  Every student, starting in kindergarten, needs real American history and real Civics instruction.  Right now, in some states, students have to be proficient in Algebra 1 to graduate from high school.  They should also have to be proficient in the American and state constitution and in the meaning behind the dates and events in American history.  
2. Whatever is constitutionally permissible, and I think there is quite a bit that can be done, with regard to qualifications for candidates for federal office should be legislated or, if necessary, amended into the constitution.  That would include standards for honesty and integrity, requiring the release of all social media posts, associations and memberships held, all public records and standards for conduct of business or professional responsibility including release of all tax returns and financial records.  
3. Any candidate for public office, congressman, senator or President, or any cabinet official or military commander, should be required to pass a test demonstrating their knowledge of the Constitution of the United States and a comprehensive American history exam.  If you can't pass that, you aren't eligible to be elected.  
4. Term limits must be put in place for everyone serving in government, including the senate, the house and the Supreme Court.   That way, the focus will be on the objective of serving Americans, not making a career out of government.  

Come Out! Come Out, Wherever You Are...

For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.  Matthew 24:24

In the political atmosphere of this time, animated as it is by incredibly ridiculous conspiracy theories spewed all over social media, lies spouted by politicians and given life by propagandists claiming to be legitimate news media outlets and open threats of assassination of government leaders and an attempted coup, it might be fun to see what comes of speculating by putting names and faces to the "false christs" and "false prophets" that Jesus mentions here.  But that would be taking this verse, which is a sentence from Jesus' discourse on the end of the age, out of context.  

What I want to focus on instead is the principle that is stated in this verse, that it is possible for the "elect" to be led astray. 

Now the works of the flesh are evident:  sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies and things like these.  I warn you , as I warned you before that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  Galatians 5:19-21

Even though much of the white, Evangelical church in this country has been married to GOP politics, and has been considerably diminished in terms of both membership and reputation as a result of that marriage, I did not think Evangelicals would ever embrace someone like Trump.  It's not being judgmental to point out that Trump's lifestyle, for as long as he has been in the public eye, has exhibited many of the "works of the flesh" which appear in this New Testament passage.  And there's been no "repentance" from any of it.  In fact, he's said on more than one occasion over the past four years that he doesn't need to ask forgiveness for anything.  His Evangelical sycophants stopped asking him about it.  

On the surface, the trade-off is Evangelical support for Trump is that since they're not electing a pastor-in-chief, having a lying, cheating, adulterous, narcissist as President is better than having someone who supports abortion rights.  Notwithstanding the fact that conservative Evangelicals aren't really stepping up to the plate and doing anything themselves to actually reduce abortion numbers and find ways to help those who feel that abortion is their only option avoid making the choice, I can't really find Biblical support for the idea that one sin is worse than another, or that God gives you a pass on that list there in Galatians 5:19-21 if you've got your position on abortion correct. 

Abortion numbers went down significantly under both Presidents Clinton and Obama.  That's because the Democrats appear to have a good grasp on the root of the problem and have made resources available for helping women, especially those affected by deep poverty, meet needs which lead to them seeing that they can keep the baby.  They also know that simply overturning Roe won't end abortion, but will simply drive it underground, where the women who continue to see it as their only choice will put their lives in danger to get one.  When they're in power, they put resources in place which get at the root causes of abortion and the numbers go down.  When the Republicans are in power, they cut those services and the abortion numbers go up.  So how seriously can you really take them on this issue?  I mean, seriously?

And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do.  For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.  And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.  So it is no surprise that his servants also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.  Their end will correspond to their deeds.  2 Corinthians 11:12-15

Character in a Presidential candidate did indeed matter to conservative Evangelicals at one time.  Back in 1998, Dr. Richard Land of the SBC's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission had this to say about it: 

"I think that is shows that at least a majority of representatives in the US House are committed to the rule of law despite the political consequences.  And it's to the Democrats' shame, not the Republicans that this has been a largely partisan process.  No one has defended the president's behavior.  They have just said we should lower the standard for holding office...that's both irresponsible and shameless."

...to deceive, if possible, even the elect...

But that was Clinton, when they were interested in electing a pastor-in-chief.  And I say that tongue-in-cheek because the hypocrisy is so thick and because they seem so completely and totally blinded. 

...so it is no surprise that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness...

I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the justification and defense that is still going on three weeks after the horrific events at the Capitol building.  Blindness and ignorance persist, even after seeing Trump become the first President in history to challenge the constitutional principle of the peaceful transfer of power with a whopper of a lie about election integrity and call supporters to Washington to try to disrupt the process of counting and certifying electoral votes by capturing and threatening members of Congress along with the Vice-President.  Thank God that failed. 

A lot of what I see on social media indicates that a lot of conservative Evangelicals bought into the apocalyptic, end of the world rhetoric that was going around and being used by Trump's campaign to get votes.  Some of them sound like they've lost their savior, and I guess, from their perspective, maybe they have.  It's the empty feeling you get when you just realize that someone has been lying to you.  Conspiracy theories, the lies that were told about the election, all of that came from sources disguised as servants of righteousness.  Their end has indeed corresponded to their deeds.  If you think the outcome of the election is some kind of eschatological sign, you have definitely been deceived.  

A song from the Wizard of Oz comes to mind.

Who is wise and understanding among you?  By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.  But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.  This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.  For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every viable practice.  But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.  And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.  James 3:13-18

I'm a Christian, which means that I have acknowledged my need for repentance and forgiveness in order to be able to approach and stand in the presence of God, not in my own righteousness and good deeds, but in my confession of Jesus as the Christ, as the Apostle John wrote in his epistle to the church chapter 4, verses 1-3..  I belong to and worship with an Evangelical Christian church, one which has pastors who have kept its focus on its mission and purpose, centered inthe gospel of Jesus Christ and steered it around the rocks of politics, as well as despair and depression over COVID-19.  There are many churches in America, Evangelical, Mainline Protestant, denominational, non-denominational, independent, hierarchical, Caucasian, Ethnic or blended who still stand for the gospel, who are still focused on their mission and purpose and who have not bowed their knee to any idol of distraction 

Blessed are the peacemakers, said Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, for they shall be called the sons of God.  

In a season of crisis, peacemakers bring hope.