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Republican irresponsibility

On Jan. 6, a mob of Trump-inspired traitors tried to overthrow the government of the United States. What happened is not always described in such blunt terms, but that is exactly what happened. The 2020 election was safe and secure, and Joe Biden won. Various recounts and court challenges reaffirmed Biden’s victory.

But Trump and some of his rabid supporters did not want to accept the facts. Urged on by Dear Leader Donald, they created in their under-developed minds an alternative reality, in which it was impossible that their reality-TV hero had lost. So, rather than accept defeat and move on, they decided to forcefully storm the U.S. Capitol, where electoral votes were being read and recorded. This is essentially a pro-forma, ceremonial process, but the fact-challenged minions of the rabid right didn’t fully understand this. So, without any legal sanction, these self-described defenders of the Constitution violated that document by taking the law into their own, illegitimate hands.  Chanting “Hang Mike Pence!” they unleashed mayhem and bloodshed on the sacred shrine of American Democracy.

The actions of this rabid mob, urged on by the then-President of the United States, along with certain legislators, such as Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri, were bad enough. But since then, virtually all Republican Senators and Representatives have stonewalled to prevent the formation of a bipartisan commission to study what happened on Jan. 6, what led to those ghastly events, and to find a way to prevent it from ever happening again.

Let’s not forget what happened here: A mob of unhinged, unlawful thugs attempted to take away our Democracy, beating and even killing police officers in the process. And now Republicans, including every Minnesota GOP congress member, are protecting these dangerous traitors.
What is going on here?
It’s actually quite simple. GOP leaders have decided they will do whatever it takes to gain and retain power, even at the cost of our Democracy. Those principled few who resist out of principle have been purged. Even Liz Cheney, the arch-conservative daughter of a former vice president, has been targeted, for her spine and her veracity.

Someone said that democracy depends on the support of the losers.  In other words, for democracy to work, all parties have to agree that they could lose, and that if they do lose, they will accept the results of the election and the will of the voters. This is the foundation principle of democracy. When one of two major parties rejects this foundational principle, our Republic is in danger. Sadly, that is the case at present.

Brian Vroman
Grand Rapids, Minnesota

Finally! Joe vs. Joe
 
It is excellent news that Democratic Senator Joe Manchin has agreed with Republicans that the “voting rights” bill (HR 1) is extremely bad legislation! Of course, many in his party are now turning against him and are making very disturbing comments. Sen. Manchin is using very good common sense (he stated this will cause more divisive issues) and I saw his video stating that he is defending our democracy and our Constitution! He will vote NO against this bill.

 Now, I would really like to comment on various other topics currently in the news (our VP, AOC, Fauci) but I suspect those would not be well received (just like Sen. Manchin).

Chuck Bracken
Cannon Falls, Minnesota

Big lie

The “big lie” won’t submit or die peacefully, but it is still fuming and flogging the public daily. It has become a hell-bent vendetta governed by imagined slights and duplicity. They are still sold on the age-old mantra: “It’s better to be feared than loved.”

Gerald Norrgard
Duluth, Minnesota