Both Political Parties are Guilty, Culpable and in Cahoots

Spare me the virtuous versus evil argument — I’ve seen enough

“I hate all politics. I don’t like either political party. One should not belong to them — one should be an individual, standing in the middle. Anyone that belongs to a party stops thinking.” — Ray Bradbury

Is the 2020 Election like most before it? The lesser of two evils? A pair of uninspiring candidates and platforms?

Anxious times with a nervous future that demands better than advertised leadership? To guide an embroiled nation yearning to get back on its feet and to prosper.

If D.C. were in it for us and the country, wouldn’t they impose term-limits? Think about it. The humility and privilege to serve should be enough. Instead, it’s become more about them. Self-preservation is their guiding compass.

We’ve been down this road before. Following 9/11, its fallout, and the instituted ‘changes’. The Patriot Act preceded by the backroom deal struck between both parties.

Shortly after 9/11, D.C. went scapegoat hunting. There was plenty of blame to go around with Washington unable to face, much less accept responsibility.

After 9/11, both parties and of course, the talking heads blamed the other. Republicans blamed the Clinton Administration for a lax security environment. In turn, Democrats blamed the Bush Administration since they were in charge.

(Republicans conveniently forgot about the Lewinsky scandal where they pulled federal field agents from anti-terrorism posts to investigate a sitting president’s sexual indiscretions).

In order to deflect accountability, since Congress holds the power and pulls the strings, both parties struck a backroom deal: You don’t blame us and we won’t blame you. The gaslighters-in-charge would never take responsibility for a parking summons let alone the biggest catastrophe our nation ever endured.

Congress moved ahead by throwing the entire intelligence community under the bus. Talk about a spin job. It also led to the creation of Homeland Security by placing several agencies under one umbrella. Today, the DHS is comprised of roughly 21 federal bodies.

I live in the NY-metro area and remember 9/11. I had friends in the World Trade Center. Like the early days of the pandemic, we were glued to our TV sets. Craving information, leadership, and a way out of this. An anxious nation over our biggest fear — another attack.

The parade of experts claiming a second attack was imminent. It wasn’t a matter of if, but when. Many of these talking heads also promised a bigger and more spectacular event than 9/11. Talk about a country that was already freaked-the-ef-out.

In the wake of 9/11 and the Iraq War, the 2004 Presidential Election was the most consequential of our lifetime, or so it was said. Sound familiar? I’m sure political operatives spoke the same words in 1940, ‘48, ‘64, ‘68, and ‘72. Just to name a handful.

Enough of the history repeating itself spiel. The old political tricks from the archaic playbooks.

Congress Goes Postal

On the surface, it’s a noble action for our democracy. ICYMI — both parties resumed their summer vacations without a second stimulus bill. Why should we expect empathy and a solution, even if it were temporary? A makeshift bridge to a bigger and more comprehensive stopgap until congress resumes?

Is the USPS support really for us? To a degree it is and I’ll give them that. What about the American people and their plight? The financial hardships and food lines?

The pandemic is still here creating death and shutdowns. The coronavirus hasn’t died down in the warmer temperatures as expected. In some areas it has spiked. All of this destruction and uncertainty while anticipating Covid-19’s second surge.

Congress did go postal — on the American people. Playing politics with our welfare. They’re also setting up the Post Office to take the fall if the stuff hits the fan come election day.

Is this why they returned? To stage a dog and pony show disguised as a CYA session? Don’t blame us. We gave them the money and resources so they wouldn’t muck things up. Oh well.

The Second Stimulus Package

To the president’s credit, he tried. The $300 weekly boost may be imperfect and not enough for many citizens, but it’s better than nothing. Nothing leads to more pain, suffering, and deeper food lines.

Many Democratic governors refused to partake. Why? Because it’s an election year, of course. If everyday people have to suffer to advance the DNC’s agenda and advancement, tough cheese.

Their excuse was the stipulation of Trump’s executive order that required each state to kick in an extra $100 to each unemployed recipient. The Dems claimed they couldn’t afford it. Do we really believe this?

Why not borrow against it? Food, medicine, and mental health are as desperate as desperate gets. Just not a priority during the election season? (More Democratic governors have recently filed for this extra money once the White House backpedaled on the states’ $100 requirement).

I do expect a second stimulus package. It may or may not be as expansive as Democrats are pushing for. A compromise will most likely be needed. Don’t you think a compromise to compromise should have already taken place? If it weren’t an election year, I think it would have.

Even if the weekly PUA was lowered to bridge this gap. Something sustainable before Congress reconvenes to agree on a better solution. Isn’t this their job, calling, and purpose? To serve the country, its citizens, and well-being?

An emergency session was in order and needed. To work out some sort of a stimulus agreement. While they convened and after this, they could have stayed to begin the groundwork for the Post Office deal.

Since actions speak volumes, what should be prioritized? An election three-months away or the human pain and suffering of the moment and in real-time? I don’t object to the Post Office deal — it had to be done and the sooner the better.

Voter Fraud

How do you think the DNC is going to react? By sitting back and letting the Republicans steal the election? By playing fair and square? It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game?

Voter suppression has been going on for years by both parties. Pick any election and you could dig up the nefarious antics. Hanging chads (2000 Republicans) and Gravestone voters (1960 Democrats) come to mind.

Countless shenanigans take place all over the country on every election day. Both parties partake and it’s a given. They’re more pronounced on the presidential ones since more people are taking part and paying attention.

Winning by Default

We’ll see. Anticipating significant gains in both congressional houses, Democrats have sat back and watched the destruction, violence, and looting.

The DNC is banking on enough mainstream voters looking for a change. Exhausted by Trump, his temperament, and tweeting. A yearning for normalcy and calmer seas. A less-divisive and more uniting brand of leadership.

Many will dump Trump for Biden. Not nearly enough for Biden to win if the mayhem worsens between now and election day.

The Riots

If Biden should win, do you think he’s going to govern while the cities remain aflame and spiral into further chaos? The Democratic-run councils whose cities are on the verge of collapse will not be chased out of town. It’s the anarchists who will be rounded up and prosecuted.

The unmarked vans aren’t going back in storage until the next Republican regime. The National Guard won’t be practicing shelter-in-place any time soon. Ditto for the military taking an extended r and r.

If one expects Biden to bypass and refuse the Insurrection Act, they’re mistaken. This crusade of tearing down statues, blowing up buildings, and looting department stores is coming to an end. Trust me.

If Trump wins re-election, he’s turning up the heat and unleashing law enforcement. We’re talking pedal-to-the-metal when the resistance and rioting will most likely spike.

If Trump should lose, it’s Biden’s problem. Biden might not be as aggressive as Trump, but he will end it.

Kamala Harris favors a national mandate for masks in public. The Biden-Harris ticket also supports stricter lockdowns if needed. If so, how will these directives be enforced? Tougher measures, not love, come to mind.

Either way, law, order, and normalcy will return. Sooner or later is anyone’s guess. The pandemic will end, the economy will recover. Elections will come and go, be won, and lost.

Who are the pandemic, various movements, and the economy voting for? Does it matter? Will it matter after election day and the proverbial dust settles? Will the dust even to decide to settle? If so, when and how?