At the moment, I am hoping that public pressure lights a fire under the justice department, and they use whatever power and political capital they might have to make sure the trials involving Trump's indictments happen well in advance of the election. This is America, and I know that, in spite of the glacial pace at which our court system works, there is political power available to push things along and make sure they happen in a very timely manner. I hear speculation and comment going both directions, that it's not possible, and the delays will succeed in keeping Trump out of court and of prison, and that it is possible for the justice department to flag some of these cases with a "presidential" label in order to make sure they are expedited and that the orange menace spends election night in prison.
I'm in favor of whatever it takes to get that done.
I'm Not Picky About the First 100 Days...
I have no doubts that this current President, who has a remarkable string of achievements in his first term, will also be successful in his second. That depends, of course, on us giving him a Democratic majority in both houses, something that is entirely doable and looks promising. But there are a couple of things I would like to see happen in those early days of the second Biden term as President.
Eliminate the Filibuster
The senate filibuster has outlived its usefulness. During the time when compromise and reaching out across the aisle for the benefit of the American people was the thing Congress did when it conducted its business, the filibuster may have served a useful purpose. Now, in this "winner take all, leave behind no prisoners" age of government, thanks to the idiocy of Rush Limbaugh, it has outlived its usefulness.
So the first item of business for the new Senate will be to break the filibuster. Gridlock will cease when the filibuster is gone. Republicans no longer are interested in a government that works on compromise. They are, in fact, not really interested in a working government at all. Breaking the filibuster is a way to make government work again, and since they aren't interested in bi-partisan cooperation, why should we care?
Pack the Supreme Court
No more waiting around for a justice to kick the bucket or retire to create suspense to fill the seat. Find the most liberal judges in the federal system in the United States and get them nominated to the Supreme Court. We need at least four, why not five?
And with the new court, headed in a new direction, go back and undo everything the Roberts court has done since it became majortity conservative. Everything.
Amend the Constitution to Abolish the Electoral College
It would take more than a simple majority to abolish the electoral college, but here's to getting the procedure starting in the hopes that circumstances will move it along and it will gather the support it needs to pass. This would make a statement, if nothing else. It is time for this antiquated, outdated, undemocratic and ceremonial relic to be abolished, and for the President to be elected by the popular vote.
There's a lot of legislation that also needs to be passed to protect future elections. With Democrats in control of both houses, that can be made to stick With another Presidential transition coming in 2028, it would be a good time for Democrats to make sure there are no future shenanigans and that there are enforceable laws in place to handle situations that come up, like protecting the capitol from unpatriotic insurrectionists.
Get Joe Biden Re-Elected
This is all speculation, of course, and maybe a hint at what others are thinking. But getting Biden back in the White House, with a Democratic Congress, requires getting up, out and into the voting booth. No excuses. Plan on it.
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