The Real Scandal
Recently, someone complimented me on my “sleuthing.” I was rather pleased, since it’s one of my secret strengths. When I was married, I could follow the trail of crumbs, open cabinet doors, and other clues to figure out what my now ex-husband did after I went to bed (well, almost). A well-timed internet search and the simple powers of paying attention can reveal a lot about almost anything. Which is why I am stunned that more people, and more news outlets, are not talking about the real scandal, which is that it appears that Trump and Elon actually did “rig” the election.
Most of the news right now is either about the Epstein files, the LA “riots,” or the tanks coming into DC for the birthday parade. Anyone who has eyes to see and who has been paying attention knows that Trump and Epstein were co-conspirators and deeply entwined until, like all of Trump’s “relationships,” they broke up. And also, anyone who has any knowledge of history or fascist tactics knows that Trump is trying to provoke people so that he can bring in the “national guard” to get people to stop speaking freely, protesting peacefully, and disagreeing and disobeying with him, which is something he loathes more than life itself. His wet dreams of military and dictatorial glory have been on display ever since he wrote a love letter to Kim Jong Un in 2018. But many people don’t know these basic truths because they aren’t paying attention, which is totally fine.
Until it isn’t.
When I served as Judge of Elections this past November, I got to see every voter in my ward. As the day progressed, I made the following observations:
The majority of Trump supporters were angry, aggressive, gullible, selfish, or sad suckers for misinformation. (I don’t have a lot of finance bro’s in my ward, but the ones I knew personally were primarily trying to do math predictions about which candidate would raise their portfolios, ignoring the OBVIOUS truth that Trump’s inconsistencies would depress confidence in the market.)
The majority of Harris supporters were calm, determined, tense, and kind.
Then there are the independents, who just like being contrary and don’t give a fuck about actually making a difference. (I am revealing my disdain for the whole third-party conversations here.) I thought it was funny that Elon thinks a third party for the “middle” is the answer, when he is as far-right as they come. Being concerned about debt is not a right or left issue. It is a grown-up, responsible, strategic issue that is not dealt with by flailing around chainsaws or bringing in basement-dwelling boys to steal data. It’s dealt with by having honest conversations, getting to the real source of our debt and making strategic choices, and then having the courage to make real change.
I also knew that day that if Harris won, MAGA would get violent. We were in for it no matter who won.
But Elon made one big mistake: Never, ever, trust a Trump.
Now we are left with the mess he created by choosing Trump over Harris, who he would never have chosen anyway because she is a woman of color (DEI). But also because she is a smart prosecutor who would not fall for or tolerate his shenanigans.
So, we now have the words of Trump and Elon themselves saying they rigged the election. And there are multiple reports of “Russian Tail” trends in votes that make the results suspect, as well as election interference (is this why Trump wants to defund PBS?). And then there are investigations like the one in Rockland County, New York, all pointing at election interference. But who is left to prosecute this theft of our democracy? The Supreme Court is compromised. The FBI and the Military are compromised. Palantir has all our data and is part of the woman-hating, fake-Christian, gay mafia pulling the levers behind the curtain.
What can we do?
I’ve been thinking about the word “calling.” Each one of us has a unique calling. Some of us are actually good at calling our elected officials on the phone. Some of us are good at showing up and protesting. Some of us are good at going undercover and infiltrating things. Some of us are good at art, or making videos, or posting on TikTok. Some of us are good at calling out the truth and speaking it. Some of us are good at taking legal action. Some of us are going at writing and investigative journalism. Some of us, let’s be honest, are good at laying low, hiding, and waiting things out. And some of us are good at growing food and feeding people. I was pleased to see that Heather Cox Richardson, who has a calling for explaining today’s issues in the context of history, has launched a series of history videos that make it easy to learn about the truth of our history, not the romantic fantasy of white colonizing supremacists.
These times call for each of us to tap into our calling and take action in the way that feels right for us.
To help, here is what I’ve learned from a lifetime of sleuthing:
Pay attention to the clues, but always look for multiple sources to corroborate. (Even I fall for stupid shit online sometimes. Just ask my kids.) Always ask and question people who are different than you, who believe different things.
The internet is an incredible tool. But be very careful of AI-created false information.
Always trust your nose. And your gut.
Follow your curiosity. BE CURIOUS. Ask why and figure it out. Don’t stop until your curiosity is satisfied.
When I have been blindsided, it’s almost always because I didn’t want to see what I saw or believe what was happening. This is especially true in relationships. But it’s also true in our relationship with our country. We have to find the courage to believe what we are actually seeing.
We are at an interesting moment in history, my friends. The previous eras tell us that we will prevail in the long run. But how long the suffering goes on depends on how fiercely and quickly we wake up to our calling and act on it.
Gaza could be any of us. Any of our communities or countries. Let’s not forget that Trump and Netanyahu are lifelong “friends” who follow the same playbook. (As are Trump and Putin.) America has been lulled into complacency by seeing this as some sort of WWE (which stands for World Wrestling Entertainment) reality TV show. Arguing to the wind on socials against an army of bots is useless. Paying attention to Jake Tapper take-downs of Biden is insane when there is currently a truly insane and aging President in power, dangling all our lives over the precipice of the crevasse of chaos and cruelty.
People, use your power of attention to focus on the real issues. Don’t get swept up in emotional drama and outrage that serves no purpose other than to distract.
Find your calling. Use it.
Now is the time.
I agree pretty much with everything you’ve written here, except for the disdain for Independents and the third party idea. I know the generally accepted “wisdom” is that the US was, is and always will be a two party country. But . . . look at where this has gotten us! Everything is changing, including Earth, big time. The past informs the future, when we pay attention, but there comes a time when, just because something has never been done, doesn’t mean it can’t, or shouldn’t, ever be done. As I see it, the democrats are also in the pockets of big capital, and beholden to corporate donors. In fact, many corporations donate to both parties, covering all bases. When our elected representatives refrain from doing the right thing, we must examine why. Why have so few democrats spoken out passionately against the cruelty, violence, ignoring court orders, etc? Where are past democrats in all leadership categories? They have also been noticeably silent. When we say, and believe, a third party will not work in the US, we make it impossible! But if we wake up and recognize the reality of where we are right now, the multiple crises facing us, and the whole planet really, we may decide it’s past time to come together under a new party that is for people and planet, that does what the democrats should be doing but aren’t, that speaks and acts passionately FOR people, FOR Earth, and that is NOT funded by corporate donors. It is possible if we believe it’s possible. Beating a dying horse to get him to run faster is not the solution to winning here. We need to put that horse out to pasture, give it love and care so the remainder of its life is comfort, and get a new horse in the race. In this case, a new party without the baggage of the so-called left that has alienated so many on both sides, and certainly without the meanness, cruelty, violence and abhorrence for what the US is supposed to stand for.
I agree with everything you stated. They were not quiet about saying the election would be stolen. I questioned how all the swing states went to trump. It doesn’t make sense. Then there was the Oval Office meeting where they were discussing just that and little x said, shhhhh they will never know. Kids have no filter and listen to everything. That little boy sealed it for me. Continue to contact our representatives on a regular basis. Find credible sources of information and share. Stay Strong.