Donald Trump really is trying to take the Republicans down with him
Now that Donald Trump is out, the focus turns to the Senate races in Georgia, with good reason. If Mitch McConnell retains power, President-elect Joe Biden will have a difficult time enacting policies that will help move us out of the current crisis. The problem now is that Trump is out, but he will not go away. Since losing the election, Trump has bombarded us with his crazy messages that he won, despite the fact that he did not, and he continues to stir up trouble as we head into our fourth week post-election.
Appearing on his former favorite station Fox News last week, Trump continued his tirades against the vote and the judicial system that is not hearing his nonsense. Trump told Fox: “We’re not allowed to put in our proof. They say we don’t have standing.” No, they are saying you have no proof. Look, for example, at the ruling made by Court of Appeals Judge Stephanos Bibas, who was appointed by “president” Donald Trump. Judge Bibas wrote the unanimous opinion of the Pennsylvania Court of Appeals, and he did not mince words: “Charges of unfairness are serious. But calling an election unfair does not make it so. Charges require specific allegations and then proof. We have neither here. . . .The campaign’s claims have no merit.” The court’s decision had nothing to do with “standing” and everything to do with “proof,” or lack thereof. Trump further claimed that Biden “must prove” that he won to enter the White House. No, the burden of proof is on the plaintiff — which is Trump.
Now that Trump’s meritless lawsuits are being shot down like metal ducks in a state fair pond, he has turned to what he does best: insulting people. This time he is insulting fellow Republicans Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Governor Brian Kemp. Trump told Fox that he is “ashamed” for endorsing Governor Kemp after Kemp certified Georgia’s results. What did Trump expect Kemp to do? Georgia audited its vote count — at the direction of Republican Secretary of State Raffensperger — and began a hand recount. All roads lead to the same place: Joe Biden won Georgia. Raffensperger wrote an opinion piece for USA Today, writing that he and his entire family voted for Trump and Trump “threw them under the bus.” Did he seriously expect anything else from Donald Trump? Now, according to Trump, Raffensperger is “the enemy of the people.”
Trump has also vaguely advocated boycotting the Georgia runoff election in a show of solidarity against Georgia’s “fraudulent” election. That will show Loeffler and Perdue. We want to get rid of them anyway, so, please, boycott away. Now, Trump is coming to Georgia to campaign with and for Purdue and Loeffler. Which is it, Trump? He is such a petulant child who makes no sense whatsoever, yet people are still bemoaning the fact that he lost. Perhaps they appreciate the ability to behave like children with no rebuke. That might be true, but that behavior will no longer be accepted.
Shirley is a former entertainment writer and has worked in the legal field for over 25 years