Democracy in the Balance

 I am very unsettled about what may transpire in D.C. today. 

The election of a Speaker of the House could spell disaster for not only the U.S., but the world if the narrow-minded, backwards thinking Republicans install Jim Jordan as the Speaker. 

It is frightening to read about him. 

Last week, Representative Jim Jordan (R-OH) called for shutting down the government in November unless Democrats agree to cutting all spending for processing or releasing into the country any new migrants. He says the demand is “non-negotiable.” But U.S. and international law require the U.S. to process asylum requests, even if a migrant arrives in between legal points of entry. 

Jordan, a staunch ally of Trump, was key to the former president’s efforts to steal the 2020 presidential election. He is now gathering votes for a bid to become the speaker of the House of Representatives after the MAGA extremists threw former House speaker Kevin McCarthy out. 

In 2017, former Republican House speaker John Boehner told journalist Tim Alberta: “Jordan was a terrorist as a legislator going back to his days in the Ohio House and Senate…. A terrorist. A legislative terrorist.” In 2021, he clarified: “I just never saw a guy who spent more time tearing things apart—never building anything, never putting anything together.”  (Letters from an American)

And from another source:

Congressman Jordan took the following actions:

1. Suggested Democrats will try to steal the election (starting Aug. 22, 2020)  
2. Suggested and directly alleged the election was stolen (starting Nov. 5, 2020)  
3. Endorsed Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell’s call to investigate Dominion and Smartmatic (starting Nov. 15, 2020)
4. Called for immediate congressional investigations of alleged election fraud (starting Nov. 18, 2020)
5. Endorsed state legislators’ picking their own electors (starting Dec. 7, 2020)
6. Said Trump should not concede (starting Dec. 7, 2020)
7. Started public call to object to certification on Jan. 6 (starting Dec. 13, 2020)
8. Supported call for “special counsel” to investigate alleged election fraud (starting Dec. 10, 2020)
9. Called Jan. 6 the “ultimate date of significance” (Dec. 16, 2020)
10. Met with President Trump and small group of House Republicans to coordinate plans to object to certification on January 6 (Dec. 21, 2020)
11. Raised Trump supporters’ expectations by saying he hoped a majority of Congress will object on January 6 (Jan. 5, 2021)
12. Helped lead the effort to vote against certification on January 6 (starting Dec. 13, 2020)
13. Called for Trump supporters to remain peaceful, but does not say to disperse (Jan. 6, 2021 3:02 PM)
14. Made false claims about Speaker Pelosi and security preparations for January 6 (starting Feb. 15, 2021)
15. Revealed for the first time that he spoke with President Trump on Jan. 6 (July 28, 2021)
    

This course of conduct arguably sets Rep. Jordan apart from every other Republican member of Congress who supported the Big Lie, voted to object to the certification of the election, or engaged in other related activities. 

(Just Security)

Jim Jordan should have been removed from Congress for his actions which clearly violate his Oath of Office. At the very least, censured. 

I am holding out hope that an alliance between 5 or more Republicans and the democrats in the House will offer and elect an alternate person as Speaker.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL