“Making predictions is difficult, especially about the future.” Yogi Berra? Nope, it was Nobel Prize physicist Niels Bohr. I’m going to go out on the proverbial limb and make some predictions, based on what I hear from the current Law-and-Order President. I fervently hope I will be wrong, hugely wrong. This may cost me some support, but some things are too important to not do. It’s all based on observable fact.
In 1970, Richard “Law-and-Order” Nixon was re-elected by the largest majority in American history. With the help of Roy Cohn, Roger Stone and the Dirty Tricks Squad, he won 49 states. In ’72, Watergate went public and Nixon denied any knowledge. In March 1973, James McCord spilled the beans to Judge “Maximum John” Sirica and people started confessing to the political burglarizing of the Democratic headquarters. By the end of 1973, no one seemed to remember voting for Nixon. Eventually, the Republican party found its soul and pressured Nixon: Resign to save the party. He resigned in disgrace Aug. 8, 1974. His approval was still 23%!
Order comes from the law when the law is consistent with the consent of the governed — when the number and magnitude of things to protest stays at a level most people will accept. “Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” Order returns fully when the government respects the people and makes the necessary changes. Law-and-Order by force is tyranny and can lead to revolution — Concord Bridge, Massachusetts 1775 to Minsk, Belarus 2020. Even prisons, where the police (guards) may outnumber the residents (inmates) often lack order.
The president repeats things like “Get rid of the ballots and you’ll have a very peaceful — there won’t be a transfer, there will be a continuation.” “Dominate the streets.” “Don’t be to gentle.” “Punch him in the face.” “Look, it’s called insurrection. We just send in and we do it, very easy… and put it down within minutes.” and “Force is the only thing they understand.” Force may be the only thing he understands. It is clear he prefers bullying to negotiation or conciliation. There is no doubt his followers are intensely loyal; a majority pledge there is nothing they can think of he could do that would cause them to lose their support. Nothing I can write will change their opinions. As he bragged, “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and wouldn’t lose any voters, okay?” What if he sold Pearl Harbor to Putin for $1?
Regardless of the outcome of the Nov. 3 election there will be serious disorder come Nov. 4. It is unlikely there will be a clear winner that day. The count is not official until Dec. 23. Even if he’s reelected, he will continue to challenge the process. He claims, with no evidence “The Democrats are trying to rig this election because it’s the only way they are going to win.”
He will call it “Law-and-Order,” probably declare Martial Law as he uses goon squads to create chaos. His history shows a willingness to employ anonymous militarist forces against peaceful civilians on the slightest of evidence. Naturally, there will be peaceful demonstrations, and some will get unruly; hiding among them will be disruptors of all kinds and with questionable motives. Antifa or QAnon? ICE or GRU? Anarchists or Dirty Tricks Squad? Troops with no insignia are spies according to the Hague Convention. The Lafayette Square confrontation seemed to be a ragtag collection of anyone with military gear willing to attack peaceful civilians: Metro Police, Blackwater, ICE, National guard from 11 states, Texas Department of Corrections!
Afterward Gen. Mark Miley was appalled.
Once defeated, a president becomes a lame duck, he can’t lose another election. If he wins, he attains god-like status among his Republican enablers and you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. The rule of law becomes, law of the ruler. Suddenly it’s 1850 Alabama or 1950 Albania. Ask yourself Reagan’s famous question “Are You Better Off Than You Were Four Years Ago?” Then vote as if your life depended on it, because it does.
Ken Obenski is a forensic engineer, now safety and freedom advocate in South Kona. Send feedback to obenskik@gmail.com
