Death is not the end. There remains the litigation over the estate.
~Ambrose Bierce.
While Trump and his public speaking apparatus and his lawyers are making bold statements about widespread fraud the many lawsuits being filed and reviewed are narrow and focused on small inconsistencies. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to understand the purpose of all the endless litigation. The number of actual votes being disputed wouldn’t change the outcome in any state. Further, in court and public filings, there is no talk of fraud, or intentional manipulation, it has almost become gentlemanly, particularly in light of the public fervor.
In truth, it’s really hard to believe the Democratic Party, my party, could ever be so competent to actually manage to steal a presidential election. They can barely manage to compete in one. They are the ultimate good guys finish last story.
Until Joe Biden was elected, on his third attempt, many people who voted in this election could remember as many Bush presidencies as they could Democrat. Even an old person like me can only really recall three Democrats in the Oval Office, unless you count Biden, who won’t be there for two more months.
This is the party that let Donald Trump win a general election, a man so maligned by both parties he was more like a caricature than an actual candidate. You could almost sense the smug attitudes of Hillary Clinton and Wasserman Schultz as they campaigned, planning for the inevitable, almost unavoidable victory, studiously ignoring the elephant in the room. Which, in many ways, was the same mistake the Republicans made.
Honestly, I think the Republican Party was as surprised as anybody when Trump won. Of course, they fell in feeble, acquiescent line once he did. Might as well ride that nag as far as you can, right? Further, he is so good at wheedling cash out of the common man, Make America Great Again five dollars at a time. Who wouldn’t want to get in on that?
Of course, if he imposes economy strangling tariffs they learned to live with it, he was handing out cash to huge corporations and wealthy donors as fast as he could sign Executive Orders.
It’s almost a given that, considering the loose cannon nature of Trump, and the fact they have a better than even money chance of controlling the Senate, most Republicans are glad to be rid of the Tweeter in chief. Even while they are publicly questioning President-Elect Biden’s convincing victory they are more than likely celebrating Trump’s loss, may as well play it out to the end. It’s only two months, after all.
Two long, terror-filled months of public land auctions and wholesale destruction of the social safety net. Of course, considering the damage Trump is willing to inflict on the worldwide balance of power and the likely irreparable contributions to climate change his indifference to the weakest members of American society is probably secondary to some of the more awful inclinations of his administration.
After that, though, you could safely lay odds, they, the Republicans, will make moves to make sure Trump never happens again. To hell with what the voters want, they have to think of the good of the party. The fact that Trump won the presidency doesn’t really impress them, Republicans do it all the time. This isn’t to say Republicans steal elections or commit fraud, they are just better at getting presidents elected than the Democrats.
So, why all the lawsuits? What is the end game? It’s possible Trump just wants to get all the press he can before he packs up and leaves, he does love attention. Further, he has to fume at the thought of being forced out of the White House with all the ignominious aroma of losing that carries. At least he can claim to have gone out fighting. More likely, though, is the wonderful fundraising opportunity this has presented.
Moreover, there are others who stand to pull down a little coin. According to The New York Times Rudolph Giuliani is asking for $20,000 a day for representing Trump in the election lawsuits. Clearly, he has a reason to keep this alive as long as possible. It doesn’t take much imagination to add to this list of possible excuses for blatantly undermining American Democracy, and I will leave them to you, good reader.
I’m going to have another cup of coffee and read the morning news. It gets better every day.
—
Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash
.