Still Waiting

Every time I want to write about the shitstorm that is our government today, something else happens that buries my original complaint.

But this Accountability waiting game is enraging and exhausting.

We waited for the first woman president to be elected. To our shock, Hillary Clinton was defeated by Donald tRump.

We waited for results from the marches that followed – for women’s equality and gun control. Nothing happened. In fact, various southern states have only acted to further restrict women’s right to choose, even to the point of executing a women for having an abortion in Texas. At least the courts have struck down some of the legislation. As far as gun control goes, the GOP has done nothing more than offer their hollow thoughts and prayers and tRump spent the weekend kissing up to the NRA. And shootings in schools and houses of worship continue at a record pace.

We waited while the Mueller investigation thread its way through interviews and indictments.

We waited for two years while the GOP majority held sham hearings about Russian interference in the 2016 election.

We campaigned and waited for the results of the mid-term elections. That was a start. The House was won back and a record number of women took their seats, led by Nancy Pelosi. Investigations have been launched and they’re moving at what seems like a snail’s pace. Of course, any legislation the House passed, including voting rights legislation, is being stonewalled by the Senate, or rather Mitch McConnell. Noises are being made from all corners about impeachment, and yes, we're waiting to see if that will happen.

We waited while listening to reports that the release of the Mueller report was imminent. And waited while Attorney General (a/k/a tRump’s attorney) soft-shoed his way into proclaiming that there was no collusion ahead of the release of the report. Despite its redactions, the report, when it was finally released, proved otherwise. Barr is supposed to testify before the House judiciary committee, but is threatening to back out and his appearance may require a subpoena.

Speaking of subpoenas, we’re waiting for information on tRump’s tax returns, corporate finances, and the issuing of security clearances – information he is refusing to provide. His refusal, and that of treasury secretary Steven Munchkin and Charles Rettig of the IRS – is a blatant obstruction of justice. We’re waiting for them to be held in contempt and thrown in jail.

We're waiting for the lies to end. As of April 26, 2019, the Washington Post has documented 10,111 lies told by tRump in the 828 days he's been in office. 

We're waiting for tRump to do the one thing that will make the GOP and his base say, "Enough!"

Meanwhile, we’re watching and waiting as 20 Democrats, a diverse collection, have announced their intention to run against tRump. We’re waiting to see who rises to the top. Many are solid but I’m afraid their messages will get diluted and people will just throw up their hands and vote for the status quo. Former RNC chair Michael Steele just said, “Do you want to be Woke or Win?” And another thought was raised that Biden should be elected for a term as means to get rid of tRump, then let the next Democratic wave craft policy.

Regardless of who is elected, I hope s/he has that list of tRump’s executive orders to overturn and a list of solid qualified people for cabinet appointments.

Campaigns start earlier and earlier, and we have 18 months to sift the wheat from the chaff… but again, we’re waiting, hoping that the damage being done each and every day can be fixed. From my perspective, I hope a woman is elected – women are so very good at fixing things.