Investigating the Insurrection Is Still Important

The most likely outcome of not having a major bipartisan commission to investigate the insurrection while several congressional committees try to pursue some more facts and information about those events is that the insurrection will quickly become just another issue that pushes Americans back into their partisan corners. Democrats will continue to see it as a major event that represented a violent threat to the lives of elected officials, but also to the core functions or our electoral and Democratic processes. However, Republicans will understand the insurrection as something that ultimately was not that big of a deal-a few people in silly costumes that got a little out of hand.

A January 6th Commission Is Difficult but Necessary

The absence of a consensus that the events in question merit an investigation into the insurrection of January 6th are an obstacle to the process, but to let it preclude any commission or investigation would be to grant a victory to those who seek to minimize the insurrection. Accordingly, finding a nonpartisan way to probe the role of a former president who is still extremely popular in his own party is the essential conundrum facing the Speaker; and her success in this endeavor is important for anybody who believes that we need to learn more about the insurrection and why it occurred.

Joe Biden Cannot Take Us Back to Normalcy

A central part of Biden’s comfortable old shoe appeal is that he will return the US to a more normal pre-Trump time. This has been an implicit, and at times, explicit, theme of Biden’s campaign. It is one of the reasons he frequently cites his close relationship with Barack Obama as well has his ability to work across the aisle in what he presents as the halcyon bipartisan days of a previous era. It is not hard to see why older and more moderate Democrats are drawn to this idea, but unfortunately it is not only impossible, but even dangerous to act as if we can simply unring the bell of the Trump administration and pretend it never happened.

Apres Trump

As Donald Trump’s presidency careens into its third year leaving a wake of avarice, cruelty and enduring damage to American democracy and America’s standing in the world in its wake, it is still difficult for many Americans to believe this can go on much longer. Some hold out for Robert Mueller III to be a deus ex machina whose findings will lead to impeachment and removal from office for the President, but that is very unlikely. Others believe that the Donald Trump will tire of the office and the ongoing investigations and resign after securing a promise of a pardon from Mike Pence, who as vice-president would assume the presidency in such a circumstance, but that ignores the likelihood that Trump would then face legal problems from state Attorneys General, particularly in New York. Still others believe that Trump will lose the 2020 election. That is a real likelihood, but there is no certainty that Trump would leave office even if he loses. Despite all this, Trump will not be President forever. Ultimately, an election defeat in 2020 could push him out of office. Similarly, if he is reelected, he would probably leave after his second term. Moreover, Trump is a man in his mid-seventies who is overweight, eats a poor diet and rarely exercises. There are some actuarial realities in that area that cannot be ignored.