The Death of Bipartisanship

Today, any hope of bipartisanship in the era of Trumpism died in the Senate. Senate Republicans succeeded in blocking the bill that creates a bipartisan 1/6 Commission (H.R. 3233) to “report on the facts and causes relating to the January 6, 2021 domestic terrorist attack on the United States Capitol Complex.” This deadly attempt to overthrow the 2020 election shook our democracy to the core and resulted in the loss of five people and injuries to 140 police officers. The procedural vote to move on to debate and consideration of amendments went down in a 54-35 vote. 60 votes were needed to break a threatened filibuster. Six Senators from the group formerly known as the Republican Party voted with Democrats to move forward.

I would say that those that voted against creating the Commission should be profoundly ashamed of themselves, but like so much over the last few years — say it with me now — They. Don’t. Care. They have no shame. They have no moral compass. Just blind allegiance to their cult leader.

An investigation will take place in the Congress, as existing committees can subpoena witnesses and investigate what happened. The president can convene a Presidential Commission to investigate the attack. Most probably, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (CA) under her own power will convene a Select Committee, including Republicans, to consolidate the investigations in Congress. The point of the Commission that Republicans blocked today was to make it bipartisan — even non-partisan — with the power and resources, under a proscribed timeline (that requires its work to finish by 31 December of this year), to give the country an unbiased look at what happened and how to prevent it from recurring. It was modeled closely on the 9/11 Commission that investigated the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. The breach of the Capitol was a domestic terrorist attack by white supremacists and other dangerous groups — and the majority of the minority party said that they aren’t interested.

On 14 May of this year, the Department of Homeland Security (HLS) issued a second National Terrorism Advisory Bulletin that will be in effect until 13 August. It warns that Domestic Violent Extremists (DVE) may try to exploit the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions to engage in “grievance-based violence.” The same grievances that created the conditions for the 6 January attack and that an ex-president and his lackeys such Representatives Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Marjorie Taylor-Greene (Q-GA), and others, continue to shout about at every opportunity. The Big Lie may be the most successful propaganda campaign in U.S. history, and probably in the top ten in history. All of this stokes violence and all of this is perfectly okay with most Republicans in Congress.

The Commission had everything in it — I repeat, everything — that Senate and House Republicans insisted must be included in order for them to support it. Surprise! They got it. Then the word came down from the mob boss at Mar-a-Lago that nothing shall be done. And so it is that nothing shall be done.

Please! Never again tell me that Congressional Republicans support law enforcement. They voted to defund the Capitol Police. They voted to stop a commission that would investigate the violent attacks on them on 6 January. They do not care one bit about Blue Lives when it matters.

Here is a larger take-away for the Democrats. Do not waste time on any bipartisan efforts. Just do what needs to be done. Hopefully, Democrats have read the Peanuts comic strip by Charles Schulz. Do not let the Republicans be the Lucy to your Charlie Brown where despite continued assurances that this time I will absolutely not pull the football away, Charlie Brown tries to kick it and falls flat on his back when she does. Every time. This is where we are now. The Republicans got everything that they wanted in the bill creating the Commission. Yet, they would not vote for it. Why should the Democrats ever consider that Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) or Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) will do anything that the Democrats propose? Or even that their word means anything at all? If there is even a hint that the Democrats or the Biden Administration will consider the passage of any legislation a “win,” they will work to block it. Senator McConnell already publicly stated that he is “100%” focused on blocking anything the Administration puts forward.

The failure of most Congressional Republicans to support the Commission is shameful and a black mark on our history that will be a part of their legacy. It is up to the remaining, and increasingly only, party that cares about democracy to take action. As the Rolling Stones song says, “…don’t get fooled again.”

We’ll be fighting in the streets
With our children at our feet
And the morals that they worship will be gone
And the men who spurred us on
Sit in judgement of all wrong
They decide and the shotgun sings the song

I’ll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I’ll get on my knees and pray
We don’t get fooled again