This is the next of our series of missives on our unfinished work to restore the promise of our country and its government. Each will focus on a single element of the many opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. Each will provide three steps we can all take to build upon our huge victories winning back the House in 2018 and the Presidency in 2020.
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In 2018, Donald Trump took apart the Obama administration rules that required advanced braking technology for trains carrying hazardous materials, which might well have prevented the train crash in East Palestine, Ohio.
This is not the first time that he has derailed things and generated toxic outcomes in America, and not the first time that he has disavowed any responsibility. He has derailed a lot more than 34 cars, most notably trust in the American election process.
Happily, even before his imminent multiple indictments for massive election fraud, only 42% of Republicans want him to run again, according to a Fox News poll. What a piece of work, that man. It turns out that the Fox anchors who were mocking liberals for having “Trump derangement syndrome” were displaying those symptoms themselves in January 2022 as Trump’s efforts to undermine the democracy were at full tilt.
As the Dominion lawsuit has established, Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity and Rupert Murdoch himself thought that Trump lawyer Sidney Powell was crazy. Behind the scenes, Carlson said that Powell was lying about Dominion voting machines. On the air, he stressed that he was witnessing “the greatest crime in American history.” He knew that he was betraying the trust of his viewers in doing so, but told colleagues that Trump was “a demonic force” who could “destroy us”. Murdoch even suggested that Carlson, Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham go on the air together to declare the election over. It didn’t happen because they all thought the small competitor Newsmax would take their viewers.
To this day, over half of Republicans remain suckered by Trump’s big lie, but a quarter have concluded his election denial has “threatened democracy”. Joe Biden’s national speech on the rending of democracy and the assault on Paul Pelosi helped Democrats keep the Senate and narrow the expected margin in the House.
Ironically, the reason why many Republicans don’t want Trump to run again is not that he inspired an insurrection or sought to block the peaceable transfer of power through election fraud. It is not that he is malevolent. It is because they believe they are less likely to win elections when he is their leader. Wherever would they get such an idea! They are just now understanding that they were disadvantaged by Trump in the elections of 2018, 2020, and 2022 and will be in every election where they hand him the microphone. Trump has insisted on picking candidates who themselves are election denialists, turning independent voters away. In addition, he is a major force in helping Democrats get out their vote.
One would think that Republicans would be weary of Trump labeling every Republican elected official who fails to genuflect to him a Republican in Name Only (RINO). Apparently, he thinks he re-invented the party of Lincoln. Wait, he did! So now they must figure out how to keep Trump from running while not triggering his vicious and relentless attacks on whomever prevails as their candidate.
Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley have separate approaches on this. DeSantis is staying out of Trump’s way, and instead is betting his ranch on whatever cultural wars he can magnify or invent. He is banking on Trump’s upcoming indictments impeding his candidacy. It has been said that Nikki Haley “can’t decide” whether she is with Trump or not. Of course, she can. She doesn’t choose to do so because exclusively choosing either path would destroy her candidacy. Her argument that the presidency needs a generational shift is intended to catch Trump in the health and age disqualifiers that Republicans have placed on Joe Biden.
The other dilemma besides having Donald Trump on their side is that Republicans hold minority positions on election integrity, the right to choose, the need to ban assault weapons, and the government’s obligation to raise the debt ceiling. Plus, their right wing is pushing a Putin protection plan for Ukraine. No wonder DeSantis is focusing on third grade classrooms.
Joe Biden is better off being the President rather than being the President and an announced candidate at the same time. He is continuing to build his voter approval and is guarding against being thought of as a lame duck. But running at 82 is still a bad idea, since at age 82-86 the body’s weakening is inevitable, the oath of office notwithstanding. He may decide not to run.
So, we aren’t talking about Gretchen Whitmer, Wes Moore. J.B. Pritzker, or any other fresh candidates for President, to say nothing about solid candidates left over from 2020. That gives us the extra opportunity to work harder on these three things:
| 1) Refocus on Ranked Voice Voting | |
 | There have been countless distractions that keep us all from thinking about ranked choice voting. The argument in its favor is that it makes a voter’s choices more consequential and can help detoxify one on one campaigns. In 2022, members of Congress Jared Golden of Maine and Mary Peltola of Alaska were elected through ranked choice processes, which have also been adopted by numerous cities and towns. Time to find out more. The national organization Fair Vote is the best place to go to figure out what is happening in each state and decide whether this is a commitment you want to make. |
2) Make a Tax-Exempt Off Year Investment | |
 | It seems a relief to not get a hundred appeals a week from candidates and political organizations. One could let one’s bank account recover. This respite could allow those with the resources to think about nonprofits who are doing important work protecting democracy and to whom charitable tax-exempt donations can be made. Here are three organizations who qualify and who could use a boost. In addition to itemized contributions, they accept Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) from retirement accounts.
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| 3) Read a Poem | |
 | It wouldn’t be incorrect to time the political movement we are all in from June 15, 2015, when Donald Trump sullied the value of escalators everywhere by using one to descend into his announcement for the presidency. Given the toll that Trump has exacted, it’s a good idea to restore oneself through poetry. The writer of this missive had the opportunity to do so, blessedly receiving this affirmation from the dear Janet Knox. When day darkened you found a small trail |
In November 2016, we found ourselves in a big hole. It took years of effort to climb out. Let’s keep on moving further away from the edge.
David Harrison
Bainbridge Island, Washington
