Kenya will have a new election! Kenya will have a new election. Kenya’s Supreme Court has nullified their election, ruling that irregularities and illegalities harmed the integrity of the election. In less than 60 days Kenyans will have a new election.
Here in the USA, it is evident that our 2016 election was not free of influence, was not fair to all voters, it is more than clear that irregularities and illegalities also harmed the integrity of our election. Voter suppression, hacked machines and foreign influence determined and delivered an outcome that was not the will of the People.
We have resisted and we have been patient, but in light of the increasing mountain of evidence, it is even more apparent that we deserve a new election. However, we have been told by the experts in Constitutional law that there is no provision for such an election in our Constitution.
That is not true. There lies a path to a new election in our Constitution via Article 2, Section 1, Clause 6:
6: In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the Same shall devolve on the Vice President, and the Congress may by Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what Officer shall then act as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly, until the Disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.
“or a President shall be elected.” There is NO specification as to when said election for the next President would occur. There was foresight and acknowledgement on the part of the Founders after all that both the President and the Vice President may simultaneously for various reasons BOTH become unable to continue in office.
Not only do we deserve a new election, the world looks to the United States to stand our ground against foreign and domestic influence and corruption and continue to serve as an example of democracy in action: government for the people, by the people, of the people.
Make your calls, write more letters, visit your MOCs: but the President and the Vice President must BOTH resign or BOTH be removed in order for us to have a new election.
Keep in mind that beyond a few raised eyebrows and strong language such as “ quite concerning” and “deeply troubling”, to date nothing resembling impeachment has emanated from the ruling GOP party who have it within their power to impeach. They are empowered by the Constitution to remove this threat the administration poses to our national security, and yet they do not act. By not acting to protect us, they are complicit. Indeed the very opposite is happening, the GOP party is enabling, participating the onslaught of legislation and events designed to cripple, dismantle and destroy our institutions of democracy: Muslim bans, DACA, tax cuts, undoing of anything Obama did, yet another ACA battle looming, vacancies, axing of entire departments such as the EPA which is MIA in Texas while toxic waste oozes into the Gulf form super-fund sites, border walls, resignations, nuclear showdown with North Korea, drums of war growing, etc., ad nauseum.
Given the reluctance, inability or absolute refusal of our elected officials to honor their oath, We the People must be prepared to step up our resistance: this slide into authoritarianism is real, this onslaught is relentless, and it is not going to stop. Incredibly, to the dismay of many of us the daily dismantling and destruction of our democracy is happening right in front of us, and we are seemingly helpless to stop it demise. Unfortunately, many more of us are unable for various reasons to grasp the fact of what is happening, let alone act.
Yet, there ARE those who ARE taking action! In addition to the massive peaceful protests that shut down planned white supremacy rallies in San Francisco and Boston, people are marching from Charlottesville to DC, to call for the resignation of the President and the end to white supremacy. The desire of an elite ultra rich privileged few to rule the world and exploit the world’s resources unfettered is very much in line with those here in America who are behind the effort to dismantle and destroy our democracy. Indeed they are one and the same, this is a global coup, and racism, hatred and bigotry are being exploited and manipulated to their end.
The Charlottesville Marchers will arrive in DC tomorrow, Tuesday September 6th, and plan to remain there until their demands are met. Many people are on their way to DC to join them; many organizations support their call, including Action Group Network, Color of Change, Center for Popular Democracy, Democracy Spring, IFNOTNOW, IUPAT, the March for Racial Justice, Million Hoodies Movement for Justice, the Movement for Black Lives, the People's Consortium, PICO, Resist Here, United We Dream, the Women's March, Indivisible, and Working Families Party.
There also exists growing calls for a National General Strike, an economic shutdown with demands that are similar to the demands of the Charlottesville Marchers, but whose demands also include sweeping electoral reform and a new election.
Many people are more than ready to join in and do all it takes to restore democracy. Many are excited to see someone making a move, getting organized and taking action, instead of engaging in endless rants and calls for “someone” to organize and act.
We must unite these various efforts in order to prevail. We share the desire for a true representative democracy with justice and equal rights for all to rule the land. Sweeping electoral and institutional reform, followed by a new election is the solution that will restore our faith in our government. As it will effectively end the minority’s effort to rule the majority, it will end white supremacy.
Ultimately a new election is the solution that we can all rally around.
Rally we must! Join in these calls. Spread the word. It is happening. Do what you can to support those who can take to the streets, if you yourself cannot. They will need food, shelter, economic and and moral support. Stock up on food, water and other necessities in the event of a national strike and an economic shutdown.
Remember, we must continue to apply the pressure via calls, letters and meetings to our elected officials to do the jobs we elected them to do, while we also join in the next step: nonviolent mass civil disobedience.
The future of democracy here and around the world really truly does depend on what happens here and NOW in America, land of the brave, home of the free.
9/5/17 — edited original text of paragraph 4: Article 1, Section 2 to Article 2, Section 1