Blog 3183 – 07.19.2023

The Peaceful Transfer of Power

Today’s title is the subject of much debate in both political parties, and with independents, and around the world today. My party of choice for the first twenty years or so of my adult life was the Republican Party, from my first time vote for President Nixon in 1972 through two terms of Ronald Regan I always voted for the Republican nominee.

Do I regret those votes? Yes, I do, looking back I think the candidates I voted were not the best of men and that each in their own way took us a bit farther into the mess we find ourselves in today.

Nixon started it, but actually I think it was a Republican senator from Wisconsin, Joe McCarthy that really started the downward spiral of politics in my lifetime.

I have mentioned Senator Joe McCarthy’s strategist, and counselor more than once in my political blogs. Lawyer Roy Cohn taught Joe McCathy that all publicity is good publicity, the bigger, more outlandish statements get and keep the attention on you, and that to never admit fault or defeat. Those lessons he would later teach a young New Yorker named Donald John Trump. Because of Roy Cohn two dark periods of America political history will forever be known for being dominated by McCarthyism in the early 1950’s and seventy-five years later Trumpism.

I was taught as a boy that -isms usually refer to undesirable things, i.e. Marxism, Communism, Socialism, and Nationalism. The list goes on and on and even includes the major religions who all at one time or another have participated in and perpetuated acts that are indefensible.

A famous philosopher once said “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Once we hold power in our hands it is hard to let go of it, like the rings of power in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. In the books we see the corrupting power of the one ring to rule them all, the one ring to find them and in the darkness bind them. The longer one possesses the ring of power the more possessed by it they become.

Joe Biden promise when he ran in 2020 to serve one term, right the ship of state, and then turn the reigns of power over to someone else. Joe you have reneged.

That is not a good thing, in cards, in politics, and in life. Mister Trump has even yet refused to concede that he lost the last Presidential election unless you, Joe, keep your word to step aside gracefully, you will most assured aid Donald Trump in his quest to Make America Grate again (that’s no typo.)

The comedian/political commentator Bill Maher said it over a year ago when he referred to you as Biden-Ginsburg alluding to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bider-Ginsburg’s refusal to retire that ended up costing the appointment of another more moderate Supreme Court Justice to replace her. Your stubbornness to let go the reigns of power will hurt this that nation you have lived a long life to help preserve, protect and defend.

There is an expression, “Quit while you are ahead.” If that were as easy as it sounds all the casinos would go broke and we would have a far younger Congress, Supreme Court, and Executive Branch of government and perhaps a better chance to keep this experiment in democracy going. It will be terrible if this government of the people, by the people, and for the people should perish from the earth.

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David White