A Glimmer of Hope
The View from the Middle
Welcome to the 2021 version of Bizarro world where up is down, wrong is right and division is unity. We now have a President who spent his entire campaign in his basement bunker and no one knew exactly what he was running on other than the fact that he hated Trump and (supposedly) he wanted to “Unify” the country. He also suggested that President Trump was acting like a “Dictator” four years ago for signing too many executive orders. Yet this President has signed more executive orders in one week than any other President in our country’s history. His 33 executive orders in one week is also more than President Trump signed in his first four months. It is also more than half of the 55 executive orders Trump signed in his entire first year.
I’m not shocked by any of Biden’s early moves, but then again, I’m kind of a political junkie. I’m not happy with them, but I’m not shocked. I was totally surprised, however, by his executive order to shut down the Keystone Pipeline, as was Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. And I was caught a little off guard by his raise of the minimum wage. Both moves will hurt our economy at a time when we need a boost. But my biggest disappointment is that this President who ran on “Unity” has gone out of his way to divide this country even more than it already is.
First, he could have signaled to the Majority Leader in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, to abandon the unconstitutional, extremely divisive and useless impeachment of a President who has already left office. There were actually no hearings or evidence presented in The House, and Joe could have reached out to the almost 75 million people who voted for Donald Trump and said, “Let’s move forward”, but he chose not to. Instead he chose to spit in the faces of all of those American citizens whom he says he wants to represent. This was a real lost opportunity, but there is hope on this front which I will talk about later.
Next, the President could have shut down the move to remove the filibuster in the Senate, where he spent 36 years of his political career. The filibuster rule requires 60 votes in the Senate to move a bill out of debate and up for a vote. This is called cloture. It is a rule that has been in place for over 100 years and is designed to force the Senate to work together to create compromise solutions. It gives the minority party, whoever that may be, some leverage and allows our country to avoid an “elective despotism” as Thomas Jefferson feared could develop here. Yes, Joe could have made that unifying gesture, but he didn’t.
But there is a glimmer of hope that we can come together as a people and accomplish great things. Unfortunately, that glimmer didn’t come from the President who promised unity. It came from the most unlikely of places – Congress.
First, Rand Paul (R-KY) lead a group of 45 Republican Senators to vote against even having an impeachment trial in the Senate. This vote failed to pass, of course, but sent a clear signal that the trial of President Trump is Dead on Arrival in the Senate. Whether these Senators voted to dispose of the trial because it is unconstitutional or because it would be meaningless is irrelevant. Their vote was in favor of uniting the country and moving us forward. Kudos to Rand Paul and those Republican Senators.
And hope for unity and sanity was not limited to the Republican side of the aisle. There were two Democrats who stood up and literally called “bullshit” to some of the divisive actions being considered by Chuck Schumer. When asked about the Democrat Party’s push to eliminate the filibuster, Joe Manchin (D-WV) said, “That’s bullshit”. He added that, “the whole intention of Congress is…to have a little bit of compromise with the other side. Our job is to find common and cooling ground…to make something that makes sense.” Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) joined Senator Manchin in opposition to the elimination of the filibuster, which has put an end to this absolutely divisive action of the authoritarian, socialist left wing of the Democrat Party.
I was heartened by these moves this week and this gives me hope that moderate Democrats and Republicans will also reject the packing of the Supreme Court and statehood for Washington DC. These proposals are also divisive, partisan ideas that would only be embraced by the “elective despotism” that Jefferson warned of. Hopefully we are bouncing on the bottom of the partisan, biased, hate-filled barrel and our country can begin its swing back to the unity that has made America the greatest country on earth.
" His 33 executive orders in one week is also more than President Trump signed in his first four months. It is also more than half of the 55 executive orders Trump signed in his entire first year."
ReplyDeleteIs this a good or bad thing? Because Trump signed 220 in 4 years, the most in any 4 year term since Carter, and you never mentioned you had a problem with it. Are you condemning both Biden and Trump now for this?
"And I was caught a little off guard by his raise of the minimum wage."
He can't raise it. As you noted with Trump, Congress has to pass such a thing.
"Both moves will hurt our economy at a time when we need a boost."
Keystone had a net gain of 50 full time jobs. It will have no effect on our economy. Pipeliners will go on to the next job, as they're union and that's how their profession works.
"unconstitutional, extremely divisive and useless impeachment of a President who has already left office."
It's not unconstitutional, and if you think it is, please share the Constitutional provision that prohibits it. It's only divisive to those Republicans who want America to forget they played footsie with the lie that the election was "stolen." It's weird to see Republicans, who in 1998 (correctly) waxed poetic about how important it was that the President be a truthful man, want to move on so quickly from impeaching a President for lying about an election for over two months to the point his supporters went looking for Mike Pence in the Capitol and a man died. Just a reminder of the intellectual and moral decline of the GOP.
"Yes, Joe could have made that unifying gesture, but he didn’t."
Senate sets its own rules. He's the President. Different job. Biden also could have said "I think we should have get rid of the filibuster." He didn't do that either.
Simply saying that statehood for Puerto Rico and D.C. is divisive does not make it so. Was it "divisive" when Alaska became a state? What's divisive about it other than some Republicans don't want it?
Our country has only had "unity" in wartime, and even that was short-lived. It's not designed to have "unity" on every issue. It's designed to give room for everyone to have their voices heard, which does not mean their desires enacted into law. The GOP calls for "unity" are silly for anyone who has been alive the last 12 years.
Matt, you need to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth instead of partial truths and total misinformation.
DeleteFirst, it was Biden who condemned the use of Executive Orders on an interview with George Stephanopoulos saying that is what dictators do and saying we need to govern through consensus. I actually agree with that and I do condemn most executive orders including the 276 signed by Obama. But Biden has signed more executive orders in his first week than any other President in our history and That Is a FACT. Even the NY Times has condemned it. Hopefully Joe will take a hint from that Left wing rag and cut back on his executive orders.
Next, Joe can and did raise the minimum wage for all Federal jobs, and this sends a signal to his left wing radicals that they can pass it nationally and that he will then sign that bill into law. If he didn't want to raise the minimum wage nationally he would be telling Congress that he would veto such a bill which would stop the movement in its tracks. Having the same minimum wage for Mississippi and New York is ludicrous. This WILL kill entry level jobs, secondary household income jobs and have a domino effect that will raise the cost of labor for about half of America and that will also raise the cost of goods for every American consumer.
Next, here's an article even from a left wing rag that would disagree with your comments on the Keystone Pipeline. It says that 1,000 workers were laid off immediately and as many as 8 to 9,000 would not be hired. And if you want to call a one or two year long job in the construction business as "temporary" then you don't know that industry. That is normal for these people and a one or two year gig gives them the kind of cover they need to get to the next job vs an immediate layoff which doesn't. And if you or the State Department think that 50 people are going to be able to maintain an 875 mile long pipeline, you're dreaming!!
Next, Both Alan Dershowitz (a Democrat) and Jonathan Turley (both Constitutional scholars) agree that it is unconstitutional for the Senate to even try Trump and then to remove him from office, which is their role. Section IV of Article II of the Constitution clearly states that, "The President, Vice President and all officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on Impeachment for and conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors." It doesn't say, "private citizens", which Trump is now, can be tried or removed. And this doesn't even get into the merits of the case, which I and millions of Americans believe are insufficient to convict and are politically motivated. You can have your opinion but you cannot deny me mine, although that's exactly what you want to do.
Next, you want to compare Alaska and Hawaii to Washington DC? If you want DC to have representation? Put it into the state it currently resides it, which is Maryland (except for a few small areas that should stay in federal jurisdiction). Be honest with yourself and my readers and admit that Democrats want DC as a state because they believe it will deliver two guaranteed Democrat Senators every year. It is purely a political move with absolutely no benefit to the American people.
Finally, our country has only been united during war? That is an absolute misstatement of truth or a lie. There have been many but I'll stick with 20th Presidents that united the country outside of wartime. Teddy Roosevelt (on Mt. Rushmore), Calvin Coolidge, FDR, Eisenhower,John Kennedy, and even Bill Clinton worked with Newt Gingrich to deliver moderate/compromise policies that united the country.
DeleteYes, there has been division in the last 12 years and that has come from the Democrat Party trying to demonize half of the country instead of working with them. "Elections have consequences" - which was Obama's way to telling Republicans to go to ----. Then it was Pelosi and the "resistance" party that tried to Impeach Trump before he even took office.
Just admit that Biden is off to a terrible start, abandoning his call for unity and just changing the location of his bunker from his basement to the Whitehouse. I actually hope he does try to unite the country. Maybe if more of the left-wing media starts actually covering the President honestly and telling him the truth, Like the recent NY Times article, we can move towards unity.
Don't bother to answer until you have actual facts to share and maybe a little balance, which is what we need right now. It takes me too much time to correct your partial truths and misleading statements.
Sorry, here's the link to the article I referenced above. I know how you like your links.
Deletehttps://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/politifact/2021/01/22/keystone-pipeline-jobs-lost-joe-biden-executive-order-cancel-fact-check/6673822002/
"First, it was Biden who condemned the use of Executive Orders on an interview with George Stephanopoulos saying that is what dictators do and saying we need to govern through consensus."
ReplyDeleteOk. GOP screamed about exec orders for years under Obama, then sat quietly while Trump blew them out. Both parties are hypocrites on exec orders because Congress won't do its job under either parties. We agree. UNITY!!
"But Biden has signed more executive orders in his first week than any other President in our history and That Is a FACT."
How does this stat mean anything at all? When did a week become a measure of anything for this sort of deal. If in 1 year he has signed fewer than Trump's first year will you be saying "Great, Biden signed fewer than Trump?" No, you won't. It's an empty talking point. Let's move on from those.
"Next, Joe can and did raise the minimum wage for all Federal jobs,"
You mean he gave federal employees a raise? Link it. Because he didn't raise the minimum wage, which is what you said.
" This WILL kill entry level jobs, secondary household income jobs and have a domino effect. . . "
Maybe, maybe not. This claim has been made about every min. wage increase forever. And I'm agnostic on the minimum wage.
"It says that 1,000 workers were laid off immediately and as many as 8 to 9,000 would not be hired"
I get why this talking point works. Thing is, I've represented many, many pipeline workers. A bunch of guys from North Arkansas with high school diplomas get 6 figure salaries doing it. It's union work and they travel from job to job. So they get laid off multiple times a year, go to another job and work there. The "laid off" is a partisan talking point because that's what happens multiple times every year.
So what's the argument you're making? That the government should greenlight any pipeline anywhere so there are lots of temporary union jobs?
" And if you or the State Department think that 50 people are going to be able to maintain an 875 mile long pipeline, you're dreaming!!"
Yes, that's exactly what happens. And when there's a problem, they call in union pipefitters, welders, etc. to fix it. They're not permanently on staff.
" Both Alan Dershowitz (a Democrat) and Jonathan Turley (both Constitutional scholars) agree that it is unconstitutional "
I haven't read Dershowitz' opinion (because he's a silly person) but I have read Turley's. He does not say anywhere that it is unconstitutional. He uses some weasel words that to the layman sound like that's what he's saying, but he nowhere says it is "unconstitutional." (Read it, you'll see) In part because he said the very opposite 20 years ago. Turley is counting on laymen not reading carefully or understanding the distinctions he's making, and it's working.
"which I and millions of Americans believe are insufficient to convict and are politically motivated."
"Millions of Americans" believing something means nothing. Millions of Americans believe that lots of things that are wrong, and conservatives don't believe in doing things or not doing things simply because a lot of people think something. Millions of Americans watch Keeping up with the Kardashians. Millions of Americans believe Sidney Powell is a serious person.
". Be honest with yourself and my readers and admit that Democrats want DC as a state because they believe it will deliver two guaranteed Democrat Senators every year."
I'm sure they do. I'm sure people said the same about every state. Heck, the Civil War was fought over similar issues. Puerto Rico sends Republicans to Congress, so put them in too. I don't really care. But acting like it's so crazy that it can't even be discussed is silly and ignores American history.
"Heck, the Civil War was fought over similar issues. "
DeleteTo be clear, the Civil War was fought over one issue - slavery. The possibility of bringing in additional states who would prohibit slavery was a facet of the one issue.
"Teddy Roosevelt (on Mt. Rushmore)"
ReplyDeleteSplit the GOP by moving to the left and eventually started his own party.
"Calvin Coolidge,"
Good economic times for white people and not a lot of dissension, true. But the South was a solid bloc against Coolidge in both elections.
"FDR"
Court packing, which you've railed against, was one of his big issues. You'd have been screaming against FDR over this and much of the rest of the New Deal.
"Eisenhower,"
McCarthy's rise split the GOP for a time there. A man not so different from Trump and his acolytes.
"John Kennedy"
You serious?
"Bill Clinton"
Again - you serious?
I'm wondering what your definition of "unity" in the country is given this list. It appears to just be passing a couple of laws. Heck, GWB and Kennedy passed NCLB. GWB tried to work with Dems to pass immigration reform. Republicans hammered him for both.
In reality, unity is just a word BOTH parties use when they're out of power to try and get some traction they couldn't get in the most recent election. When BOTH are in power, they tend to do exactly what they want.
"Yes, there has been division in the last 12 years and that has come from the Democrat Party trying to demonize half of the country instead of working with them."
This is beneath you. McConnell's specific words were he wanted to make Obama a one term President, and he shut down nomination after nomination to the federal bench. Tom Cotton blocked an ambassador to the Bahamas just to hurt Obama because the nominee was Obama's friend. Poor woman died before Cotton would let her be appointed. Spare me the "it's all the other team" stuff. It's both, and you're a sucker if you don't realize it.
"Just admit that Biden is off to a terrible start"
How do you figure? He's doing exactly what he wants, and has not lost any battles. Republican squealing doesn't mean much other than they're out of power. Just like when Dems are out of power.
"It is purely a political move with absolutely no benefit to the American people."
OF COURSE it is. And if it were a GOP state, the Republicans would be pushing it.
Your unity cries are partisan nonsense. You weren't yelling UNITY when Trump was still hollering "lock her up" AFTER he won an election. Here before too long you'll be going on about the deficit exploding, and all the other things you ignored, like executive orders, for the past four years.
On some level, it's not your fault. We're conditioned from an early age into this two party system, by the parties, by the politicians, and by the entire media (not just "MSM"). A two party race is easy to distill to soundbites, easy to demonize the other team, etc.
Discussing issues which are multifaceted, affect different people different ways, and may have hard tradeoffs which must be acknowledged is difficult. Most people would just rather watch the Bachelor, or some other reality tv show. It's how we ended up with Trump as President.The elevation of celebrity culture.
Kevin, you'll love this article, because it is exactly what you're saying:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.nationalreview.com/2021/02/joe-bidens-left-wing-start/
The best part is the part on deficits. We now know that no one in the national GOP cares one bit about deficits, so the "I'm shocked there is gambling in this establishment" vibe is hilarious.