Read on Twitter
The president, wallowing in self-pity & delusion, has this morning spewed lies, sought again to undermine our democracy, and accused his opponents of treason. And it is deeply disturbing & dangerous. But there is also something great in that in our system, he is allowed to do so.
There is something great that he has the highest pulpit and the biggest megaphone, that he is cloaked in the power of his office, but that a higher power has spoken: the people. And try as he and his seditious mob might, they can't undo that.
Our system has so far proved strong enough to endure his abuses and resilient enough to rebuff his efforts to undo it. He has done damage to be sure. We must reassess how we got here and erect new guardrails to ensure it does not happen again.
But, you should take comfort that there have been enough public officials who respect their oaths of office to reject Trump's coup attempt, to ignore his lies, to tune out the pressure of the Trumpian mob.
In particular, there is comfort in the calm by which Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have responded to this, confident in the strength of the system and respectful of the will of the people. Even as Trump rails, they have begun to serve.
This has been a very dark chapter in our history. Many vulnerabilities in our system were revealed. Many in Trump's orbit and the GOP leadership have failed their constituents and betrayed those who elevated them to high office. History will judge them harshly.
But this morning as Trump's rants continue but seem to recede in the distance, to fade as his illegitimate goals are denied to him again and again and again, we have a sense that the center held, the system worked, and the people remain sovereign.
We are reminded that our system does let anyone step up, does not penalize liars and demagogues, invites people to make the wrong choices. But it does so with confidence that when they are given the chance to express their will they will exercise collective good judgment.
It is a close thing, a precarious thing, democracy. It requires constant attention and we've been reminded that if we are true to the free expression it enables it is always at risk. But we have also seen it face the greatest test from within it has seen in 240 years & prevail.
With the vote of the Electoral College on Monday, the finality of the people's November 3 decision will be clearer still. But this morning we can take comfort that the voices of 81 million anonymous Americans have drowned out the rantings of a traitorous, corrupt madman.
This Saturday morning, amidst a great national crisis in public health and our economy, we can return our attention to caring for one another and our communities just as the incoming administration is seeking to do. Because there will be a tomorrow for American democracy.
That's worth celebrating. Especially if it serves as a reminder to us all to care for its precious gifts more carefully in the future.
