Sunday, January 15, 2017

Now What, Rep Lewis?


TRIGGER WARNING:  In which I call the bluff of the "never Trump" crowd.

For John, BLUFThe Democrats have be-clowned themselves over Mr Trump.  Nothing to see here; just move along.




This is an interview on Meet the Press today.  The linked article was by Reporters Chuck Todd, Sally Bronston and Matt Rivera.

Yes, Representative John Lewis earned his place our history by his strength and courage in Selma, back in early 1965.

Here is the lede to the story and the next three paragraphs:

In an exclusive interview with NBC News' "Meet the Press," Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., said he does not believe Donald Trump is a "legitimate president," citing Russian interference in last year's election.

Asked whether he would try to forge a relationship with the president-elect, Lewis said that he believes in forgiveness, but added, "it's going to be very difficult.  I don't see this president-elect as a legitimate president."

When pressed to explain why, he cited allegations of Russian hacks during the campaign that led to the release of internal documents from the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton's campaign co-chairman, John Podesta.

"I think the Russians participated in helping this man get elected. v And they helped destroy the candidacy of Hillary Clinton," Lewis told NBC News.

In the video at the above link Rep Lewis talks to how the Russians were a threat to our "open democratic process".

OK, so far so good.  Now the question is the "so what".

Is this about Representative John Lewis pouting or is this about dealing with a threat to our "open democratic process"?

And, apparently, Reporter Chuck Todd didn't think to ask the question.

So, we have Members of Congress, including Rep John Lewis, Democrat from Georgia, who think our system has been subverted.  What is their solution to this problem?  Since these Members of Congress were unable to effect change on 6 January, when Congress counted the electoral college votes, what is their next move?

If this is serious business, and it must be for folks to use terms like illegitimate, then there must be a path to a solution, a solution acceptable to the majority of the American People.  I would like to suggest to Rep Lewis the following options:

  1. A coup between now and noon on Friday, preventing Mr Trump from being sworn in.  Probably needs the President's acquiescence.
  2. Promise that immediately on the afternoon of the 20th, Rep Lewis will introduce a Bill of Impeachment of the new President.
  3. Lay low for six months and then if there are Presidential glitches someone introduce a Bill of Impeachment.
  4. Obstruct all legislative activity until the Republicans capitulate and (do what?).  How could this probably go wrong?
  5. Learn to live with it and learn to turn lemons into lemonade, realizing that this too shall pass and they will get another shot in 2018, if they don't make a hash of it right now.
In the mean time I am embarrassed for the Democrats.

And worry about the comity that is needed for our Republic to sustain itself for another couple of hundred years.

Regards  —  Cliff

  Full disclosure, I was stationed at Craig AFB, just across the Cahaba River from downtown Selma during the Freedom March.
  There goes his shot at the Reporters Hall of Fame.
  Others like Representative Jim McGovern from Massachusetts.
  Here is a quick rundown on the process from Time Magazine.
  Led by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

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