Click here to view original web page at spectator.org
When failed Democratic congressional candidate Rita Hart dropped her petition with the House Administration Committee to “investigate” the 2020 election in Iowa’s Second Congressional District, it revealed far more than the outcome of an obscure Midwestern House race. The querulous tone of her announcement suggested that the withdrawal wasn’t voluntary. A number of Democratic moderates had expressed reservations about overturning state-certified results and opening themselves up to charges of hypocrisy. These representatives won their seats by pledging not to become mindless Myrmidons of the increasingly hyper-partisan House leadership, and they know that they will already have enough trouble surviving their next elections because of the president’s broken promise to promote bipartisanship.
Despite his pledge to work across the aisle with Republicans, Biden never had any intention of doing so. This became manifestly obvious when 10 Senate Republicans went to the White House in February and offered to cooperate on a bipartisan COVID-19 relief bill. He smiled, nodded, and ignored them. The meeting was reminiscent of the high-handed way Biden’s former boss treated Republicans during talks leading up to the passage of his 2009 “stimulus” bill. And, like that boondoggle, the coronavirus bill was cobbled together and passed by the House with no GOP input or votes. House Democrats no doubt hope that the small fraction of its $1.9 trillion cost that went to individual stimulus payments will protect them. Meanwhile, the White House wants to redefine the term “bipartisan.” The Hill reports:
The White House wants to change how people perceive bipartisanship, arguing that if they put forward proposals that are backed by Republicans and independents, they should be seen as bipartisan even if GOP lawmakers in Washington don’t vote for them.… President Biden campaigned as a unity candidate who would work with Republicans, and the GOP increasingly has criticized him for turning his back on that vow with the big Democratic-only measures. But the White House has shrugged off the criticism, vowing to take big actions at a critical moment to help the economy and address inequality and other needs it says have been ignored for too long.
Even if this Orwellian strategy succeeds, the Democrats face a uniquely unfavorable political landscape. First, despite winning the White House, they very nearly lost their House majority in 2020. Instead of gaining 10 to 15 seats, as many “experts” predicted, they suffered a double-digit loss. Their current majority is 219-212. The Republicans hardly need a “red wave” to take control of the chamber. Second, the president’s party almost always loses a significant number of House seats during the first midterm of his tenure (the Democrats lost 63 seats in the first midterm of the Obama presidency). Third, they will be forced to compete on a playing field tilted heavily against them by reapportionment and a redistricting process dominated by Republican state legislatures. Pew Research paints an unpromising picture:
Out of the 35 states in which legislatures vote on congressional redistricting plans, there are 23 in which Republicans have majorities in both legislative chambers. (That figure includes Nebraska, whose unicameral legislature is officially nonpartisan but is commonly acknowledged as having a GOP majority.) … Of the 23 states with Republican legislative majorities and where the legislature votes on plans, six have Democratic governors. But North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has no veto over redistricting plans, and Republicans have veto-proof supermajorities in Kansas and Kentucky. That means Republicans effectively dominate the redistricting process in 20 states.
Click here to view original web page at spectator.org
They’re Trying to Shut Us Down
Over the last several months, I’ve lost count of how many times the powers-that-be have tried to shut us down. They’ve sent hackers at us, forcing us to take extreme measures on web security. They sent attorneys after us, but thankfully we’re not easily intimidated by baseless accusations or threats. They’ve even gone so far as to make physical threats. Those can actually be a bit worrisome but Remington has me covered.
For us to continue to deliver the truth that Americans need to read and hear, we ask you, our amazing audience, for financial assistance. We have a Giving Fuel page to help us pay the bills. It’s brand new so don’t be discouraged by the lack of donations there. It’s a funny reality that the fewer the donations that have been made, the less likely people are willing to donate to it. One would think this is counterintuitive, but sometimes people are skeptical because they think that perhaps there’s a reason others haven’t been donating. In our situation, we’re just getting started so please don’t be shy if you have the means to help.
Thank you and God bless!
JD Rucker