Why Americans prefer a buffoon!!
The Republican Accountability Pac, headed by Sarah Longworth, recently launched Republican Voters Against Lake, as the opening salvo in their effort to defeat extreme, election-denying candidates like Kari Lake who’s running for governor in Arizona. Lake has claimed she’d jail election workers who, in her opinion, didn’t come up with the correct tally in the 2020 election. How democratic is that? How American is that?
As part of their effort, the Republican Accountability Pac posted a YouTube commentary by a “former Republican” and retired military officer named Sue. Her complete name is withheld for obvious reasons since election-deniers in Arizona have viciously gone after anyone, including Republican officials, who supported the legitimacy of the previous presidential election. And that’s even after the state spent 6 million dollars checking the vote count and found no evidence of fraud.
Sue declares she watched a debate in which Lake participated. She called Lake’s performance “unhinged” — and accuses her of being a “buffoon” stuck in 2020 — who’s generating entirely bogus issues instead of seriously addressing the real problems Arizona is facing. Paramount among these issues is an upcoming water crisis that’s emerging as the states dependent on the Colorado River face the consequences of long-term drought in the Southwest. As Sue suggests, there may soon be water rationing for Arizona citizens, especially for Phoenix residents. But Lake has neither the ability, the desire, or the guts to address such a crucial issue. Better to keep voters embroiled in election fraud claims that were resolved two years ago.
Actually, in my opinion, Lake’s refusal to address real contemporary problems and her choice to stick with bogus issues is her appeal. It’s fundamental to her popularity. Many members of the electorate, many millions of Americans, are simply overwhelmed by the problems facing this country. Climate change, as manifested in floods, wildfires, hurricanes, etc. are simply too scary. People don’t want to change their lives in ways required to make a difference to the planet. Even so-called “aware” or “woke” people are slow to make needed changes if it means big important alternations like forgoing airline flights or not eating beef.
For less woke Americans, it’s far easier to harp on past “injustices” than contemplate the Future. For these individuals, Donald Trump is a comforting figure — someone who tells his supporters not to worry because he has all the answers. Someone who denies the reality of existential threats not just to our way of life but to our very existence on earth. And who feigns obliviousness to the crisis of gun ownership in this country that has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans and continues to be a menace. Who also refuses to comprehend how racism has corrupted and continues to corrupt the values of our nation. He likes Putin because he’s like Putin — a figure espousing the greatness of his country regardless of the falseness of his claim. Russia also has real problems but Putin would rather invade another sovereign country than face them.
So of course Kari Lake supports and is supported by Donald Trump. They’re both individuals whose desire for fame and power supersedes any consciousness or conscience. Of course she’s going to hang onto fraudulent past injustices because it gives her supporters the chance to revel in their sense of rectitude without seriously considering if there’s anything right or justified in their point of view. These voters are sucked into a morass of anger and self-righteousness without needing to do any serious evaluation of this country or the world’s issues. They can just lock onto that single perspective and no other inquiry is necessary or promoted.
How many Republicans, like Sue, will be courageous enough to leave their party and all their previous assumptions, and to bravely face the Future and its escalating problems. Our democracy depends on how this issue is resolved. And it’s yet another scary proposition. ###
