We know there is no factual evidence whatsoever that the 2020 election was “stolen” from Donald Trump. Today we are learning there is substantial factual evidence confirming that Trump and his supporters plotted, conspired and acted to steal the 2020 election. And this included preventing the peaceful transfer of power with violence on Jan. 6, 2021. An important element of this plot was the expectation that the current stacked U.S. Supreme Court would uphold a decision by fake electors to give victory to the loser if the election was challenged in court.
I am currently listening to Michael Waldman’s excellent book, “The Supermajority: How the Supreme Court Divided America.” This is not a one-sided account attacking the current court. It is a thoroughly documented and well-balanced history and I am learning a lot. For example, I have learned that the Supreme Court has been political from the very beginning, and that controversial decisions — both “good” and “bad” — have always resulted in backlash from American society.
The American ideal of democracy in 1776 was unique in many ways, but in the beginning protected mostly the interests of white, male, Protestant, property owners, including those who owned slaves. In simplified terms, the American aristocracy. But the ideals represented by the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were much different. And that is why the ideal has been so difficult to achieve and why the struggle to achieve it continues to this day.
Waldman explains how for many years, the Supreme Court became — largely and uniquely — the protector of the American aristocracy, a role that has never been more obvious than today. Recent revelations about the “friendship privileges” accorded to Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito by billionaires Harlan Crow, Barre Seid and Paul Singer (orchestrated by Leonard Leo) are astounding expressions of power and influence.
Most Republicans in Congress are intelligent and informed politicians who know exactly what is going on. They did when they prevented President Barack Obama from appointing Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court because it was “too close to the next election” (eleven months away). And they did when they rushed Amy Coney Barrett through 35 days prior to the 2020 election. The GOP’s lies, hypocrisy and anti-democracy efforts were never more clear!
What does all this mean? You may be tired of hearing this, but it is nonetheless true: Democracy is under attack! Never has America seen such a brazen attempt to steal an election as we did on Jan. 6, 2021. And Republicans, rather than acknowledging this truth, have chosen instead to censure Adam Schiff for his role in bringing the facts to light. That is why, after 45 years as a registered Republican, I am now supporting Democrats like Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Jon Tester of Montana for Congress. I hope you will do the same!
Don E. Gardner, Ogden
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