Out in the Street
As I strolled down the main commercial drag of my new hometown of Benicia, California yesterday, a fellow offered me a small slip of paper and asked, “Do you know how the Chinese Communist Party stole the election? Check out the video from this paper.” The slip recommended a “Who’s Stealing America” documentary on the front and supposedly reliable news sources on the back.
The guy had a mask on, kept his social distance and seemed nice enough, so I engaged. Our chat went something like this:
Me: Did you know that many leading Republicans have said that the election was fair and wasn’t stolen?
Him: Watch the video that’s on this paper and you’ll learn the truth. This country is controlled by communists and they stole the election.
I respect your right to have your opinion. But every judge who’s reviewed election lawsuits saying it was stolen has said that’s not true. That includes many judges appointed by Republicans, including many appointed by Trump. Are those Trump judges communists?
Maybe. Some could be.
Did you know that every former defense secretary has said that there was no problem with the election? That includes Cheney. It includes Rumsfeld. And the two secretaries appointed by Trump. They’ve all said that. Did you know that?
No. You should see the video.
I know the video is fake news.
How do you know that? You haven’t seen it.
I’ve read a lot about this election. That includes conservative magazines like National Review and The Bulwark. They say it wasn’t stolen. All sorts of news sources have said it wasn’t stolen.
But the media’s controlled by communists. MSNBC, CNN…
The media’s controlled by capitalists. This is a capitalist country. Look, like I said, all sorts of leading Republicans have said the election was fair. The secretary of state of Georgia, Georgia’s governor…
800 poll watchers in Arizona said it was stolen…
That’s fake news. Like I said, Republican officials have said so. Republican judges have said so.
And so it went, for a few more minutes. I eventually told him that he was the one peddling fake news, not the media, and we civilly bid each other goodbye.
After we parted, I thought of additional things I could have said. I briefly wished I’d pushed further on the fact that even people like Cheney and Rumsfeld were rejecting the notion of a rigged election.
But you and I know that none of that would have done any good.
About That Video…
I watched parts of “Who’s Stealing America” last night. It’s a product of the far-right, pro-Trump Epoch Media Group. The production cites such sources as the equally Trumpist Project Veritas. It promotes charges that “dead people voted for Biden” and a theory that U.S. voter registration efforts are taking direction from the Chinese Communist Party.
There’s something to be said for checking out conspiracy wackiness such as this. Still, my recommendation: If you have nothing else to watch, watch nothing.
Meanwhile, Back in DC…
Senators Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz, respectively Yale and Harvard law graduates who’ve both clerked for Supreme Court chief justices, have kicked off their respective 2024 presidential campaigns by kicking the Constitution to the curb. They’re leaders of what the Washington Post’s Jennifer Rubin has labeled the “Sedition Caucus”: the dozen or so Republican senators who’ve gone beyond simple subservience to Trump. They’re instead actively subverting our democracy by seeking to convert Congress’s routine tallying of electoral college votes today into an election discreditation.
I cite their credentials because, like their congressional partners in crime, they certainly know better than to cast doubt on the results. Yet they perpetuate the myth – repeatedly repudiated by so many officials and judges, including Trump supporters and appointees – that this was a stolen election.
In the process, they help set the country up for a fight that will last long beyond Biden’s inauguration. This assault on our democracy could include violence today on the streets of DC, sparked by the Inciter-in-Chief himself in his call for “wild” protests. He’ll fuel the protests by addressing a rally along with such luminaries as pardoned former national security adviser Michael Flynn. Rabid far-right social media forums indicate the protesters may be gearing up with guns.
As I compare my chat with the fellow in Benicia with the national screaming match that Hawley, Cruz and their ilk may drag us through in years to come, I’ll take his sincere conspiracy-mongering over their cynical posturing any day.
It’s not that I admire him in any way. But he’s a misguided soul, as opposed to the political ghouls lining up for Trump’s approval and to be Trump’s replacement.
But here’s the good news: Sooner or later, Trump back-stabs most associates who throw in their lot with him. And regardless, the ghouls will lose today and may end up looking like fools down the line.
Couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch of authoritarians.
Isn’t it interesting that your main street in Benicia becomes a venue where two rival Chinese philosophies vie for your attention?
Crediting you with the quote of the week: “If you have nothing else to watch, watch nothing.” Great advice!
Benicia is far more international than you may imagine. We have, among other things, an annual (though not in 2020) Benicia Film Festival that has fine international entrants.
It’s a shame because the communists are the only ones who are going to be able to do anything for the misguided souls, but they are going with the ghouls instead, who are bilking them. Sad.
thanks for this..
With the loss of Georgia and the majority in the Senate, the Republicans can now switch into full time internecine warfare.
Was it fraud again?
How could the Republicans in Georgia be so incompetent to allow it to happen again right under their noses?
Or
Maybe, having demonstrated blind allegiance to the least popular president of modern times is not a good strategy?
Or
Maybe being so up front about stating that the only way they can win is to suppress the vote has significant backlash?
Hi Steve,
Happy New Year!
Very nice piece… And so timely give what is happening today in Washington, D.C. I was in the midst of writing something about the Republican Party’s outsized fondness for conspiracy theories but I have to go to watch Trump supporters’ apparent seizure of the Capitol.
K
I’m flabbergasted and disgusted by what’s going on at the Capitol. Trump still hasn’t condemned this violence or told these criminals to withdraw.
This is grounds for impeachment or invoking the 25th Amendment, which as I understand it involves a majority of the cabinet finding Trump incapable of carrying out his duties: “Section 4
Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.”
You are far more tolerant than I am. This must have happened before the despicable attack on our democracy. If I run into anyone pushing this crap, at this point, they’re running a high risk of getting punched in the nose.
Indeed, I believe I posted this on or around the morning of Jan. 6, shortly before the news broke about the mob seizing the Capitol. I couldn’t ever punch someone unless they were violent against me or others. I’d also argue that violence in that context would be counterproductive. And, for what it’s worth, as I mentioned in the post, the guy was polite. I’m glad I heard him out.
Still, having said all that, I certainly understand your sentiments.