by Robert Fischer
Almost everyone has noted that this election is an extraordinary one. On that, at least, we agree. The truth is that there are two elections taking place tomorrow, November 3, 2020. One is the usual contest between real conservatives and liberals about the nature of the government, whether it should play a larger or smaller role in our lives. The other is a contest to rid ourselves of a president who, at best, is not up to the job, and, at worst, is a threat to the very existence of our democracy and the republic.
We have been debating the nature of our government since its founding, beginning with the federalists who supported a strong central government and the anti-federalists who wanted power to reside with the states. For 233 years we have argued, voted, and cajoled one another about the virtues of centralized vs. decentralized government. It has been a robust debate which has produced a solidly functioning nation-state with a balance of power that has sustained freedom and enhanced the lives of its citizens. All of us are its beneficiaries.
I’ve watched as many have stood by these last four years and supported the incumbent. Some have done it for the sheer joy of making the liberals “squeal,” watching the hysterics of the Democrats since 2016, and sticking it to the so-called elites. Others have dismissed the president’s awful actions and behavior as “fake news,” the fault of the media, or just plain gossip. Many have looked the other way for trade-offs such as lower taxes, less regulation, appointment of conservative judges, and, of course, the overturning of the 1973 Roe decision and eliminating President Obama’s Affordable Care Act.
All of this is in support of a man whom most of us would not have as a friend or invite to dinner. We would not trust him with our wives or our money. He would not be our “fox hole” buddy, because he is not trustworthy. He lies, he fantasizes to feed his ego, and he would sell us out in a New York minute. He has arguably sold out America both abroad and at home. And he has allowed Covid deaths to pile up in support of his reelection!
We need to do the right thing. We need each other, conservatives and liberals. So far there have been 19 Republicans and 16 Democrats in the White House, a balance that has served us well. What we don’t need is an unscrupulous malevolent leader. Let’s get rid of this out-of-control president and argue about the nature of our government later. Let’s take one for the republic. Let’s do the decent thing and put politics aside.
I hope that our better angels prevail.