Where Your Vote Can Matter Most
By Richard Howell, As published in The Union
A recent submission by Patti Ingram Spencer (The Union, 12/16/23) highlights to me our dangerous times. These days, if someone wants to believe something to be true, they need only prowl social and cable media for a narrative that suits their deepest desires, and magically “prove” what they want to believe. In Ms. Ingram Spencer’s case, it was to render Donald Trump blameless, perhaps even laudable for what Robert Gould cited as Trump’s crimes, poor leadership, and lack of any clear program or policy, other than blatant self-interest.
Ms. Ingram Spencer is not alone. If we are to believe the pollsters, there is a terrifying chance that Donald Trump, currently under indictment for 91 felonies, might secure enough electoral votes to win the presidency. If convicted, that alone could plunge America into a Constitutional nightmare, presided over by a Supreme Court of his choosing. Having a president operate from a state or federal prison would be, at best, awkward. Handing the reins of government to a criminal would be outrageous. Yet it could happen, especially with a Supreme Court and a legion of Republican politicians ready to come to follow him on any pretense.
Trump has ignored his oath to support the Constitution, law, and many longstanding traditions by which our country has prospered. He has demonstrated an authoritarian personality and admiration for dictators. If the events of his impeachments and January 6 demonstrate anything, they highlight the sad fact that there is a cadre of Republican politicians, sycophants, and opportunists, in Congress and state offices, who would readily violate their oaths of office and the law, putting personal opportunity over patriotism, just to gain favor with Trump. And that brings me to my point: Kevin Kiley is just such a politician.
Skilled at the use of social media, Kiley routinely spreads hatred, negativity, self-promotion, and conspiracy stories. In Congress, he’s a follower, voting nearly uniformly with a Republican majority powerfully led by politicians who voted to support Trump’s efforts to overturn a lawful election. The Republican majority in the House has produced mayhem and not a single piece of major legislation which has become law. The Republican House is chaos and a danger to us all. For his part as a congressman, Kiley has chosen to conduct a campaign of lies, press conferences, and television clips, more interested in creating his “brand” than governing. It is the stated objective of the House MAGA group to grind our government to a halt, regardless of national and international consequences, and they are the tail that wags the dog. More moderate Republicans give ground for fear of angering the Trump voting base in their districts. Re-election is more important to them than integrity. Kiley, though he doesn’t feature the fact, is beholden to the MAGA chief and, in the case of a Trump presidency, is entirely likely to uniformly support whatever Trump might conjure up. Is this a risk you’re willing to take?
Our votes in the upcoming presidential and senatorial election matter little. It is highly likely that Democrats will win both races in California. Nationally, the possibility that Trump might, however, secure enough electoral votes to win the presidency is a genuine fear. Hence, I urge every citizen, not dazed by the MAGA rapture, to do everything they can to turn Kevin Kiley out of office and help to construct a Democratic roadblock to the MAGA insanity in the House. With a Supreme Court of Trump’s choosing, and an uncertainty over the composition of the Senate, our vote in California’s District-3 is our only real opportunity to influence the course of our nation and avoid a possible “Trumpian disaster.” If we flip California 3, and a few other districts across the country do the same, we are in a position to help protect America, Americans, and our Constitution. Now is the time for people of good will to make that commitment. It’s vastly important that you not only decide, but influence friends and neighbors to understand the urgency. Every voter has the power to affect the votes of their friends and to swing an election by the power of firm conviction. Make that decision, and make your decision known now. Be a leader.