PresenterBen Ellis of Switch Radio (a UK based radio station) got in touch with me. Ben hosts a show called The Week every Sunday. And because I am an American who lives in the UK, he wanted to hear what my thoughts were on the events that happened on January 6, 2021 in America – The insurrection of the US Capitol.
One thought: “It doesn’t need to be ‘Make America Great Again’, we just need to – ‘Let America be America‘.”
To hear more, please press ▶️ on the Pandemic-mon-ic! episode below.👇🏻
Featured below: As an American who lives in the UK, I was contacted by news outlets – some of whom I knew (BBC & Birmingham Eastside) and others who simply found me using Google search (Switch Radio).
BBC radio, Switch radio, and Birmingham Eastside wanted to hear my thoughts about the US 2020 Election – from an American perspective. I was more than willing to share my thoughts and wanted to help out my fellow colleagues as well.
BBC Clip
Video featured below: As the US 2020 Election Day approached, I was asked by a former BBC colleague – Bron Mills – to record a piece on what my thoughts were on the US 2020 Election, so that BBC could play it out on their show.
Video featured below: I was contacted by Presenter of Switch Radio – Ben Ellis – to discuss my perspective – as an American who lives in the UK – about what my thoughts were on the 2020 US Election.
She and her classmates were planning on covering the US 2020 Election and wanted me to send a video for them to use on Election Day. In the video, I share what my thoughts are on the US 2020 Election as an American who lives in the UK.
“Democracy will always win in America – and that’s something outgoing President Tump can never take away.”
– Freelance Journalist, Jessica Noel Quinlan
January 6, 2020 – a day that was suppose to be filled with hope and celebration, quickly became a day filled with an hatred and anger as a mob stormed the US Capitol in an attempt to interrupt the certification of President-elect Joseph R. Biden as the winner of the US 2020 Election and to somehow overturn the election results.
Being an American, I was not only heartbroken to see just how divided theUnited States of America has truly become, but I was also appalled to see how much of an influence outgoing President Donald J. Trump had on his supporters by encouraging extremism groups – for example, ‘The Proud Boys‘ and the ‘QAnon members – right-wing extremism domestic terrorist groups, who are people who have listened to Trumps conspiracy theories such as the voter fraud claims.
At a rally – right before the certification at the US Capitol – Mr. Trump told his supporters, “Let’s march to the Capitol to take back our country, because you can never show weakness, you have to show strength.”
These commands not only gave his supporters the fuel they needed to “fight like hell” as instructed by Outgoing President Trump, but it also lead them to the insurrection of the US Capitol.
So this nonetheless, is proof that Outgoing President Trump did incite the insurrection of the US Capitol by encouraging his supporters to interrupt Congresses duty to the American people, which is in accordance to the Electoral Count Act of 1887.
Video featured below: Trump’s speech at rally right before the insurrection of the US Capitol on January 6, 2020.
I was horrified as a I watched what was happening on my television from afar – here in the UK – of these so-called “American people” who laid siege to the US Capitol.
They called themselves “Patriots”, but in reality – they were Domestic Terrorist’s.
I honestly just felt sick to my stomach. I wanted to throw up. I could not believe what I was seeing.
Video featured below: CNN footage captured of the mob storming the US Capitol.
As I watched the domestic terrorists breach the US capitol shouting, ‘Hang Mike Pence’, ‘Stop the Steal’, ‘USA’, and ‘We want Trump’ – it broke my heart to see how many Americans believed these lies of voter fraud and how they could turn their back on their country in the way they were.
Video featured below: Viewer discretion is advised as the video contains sensitive information.
These so-called “Americans” thought they were doing the “American thing” by attempting to overturn the US 2020 election results, because they truly believed there was election fraud – even though several states had done a recount, which did not change the outcome of the election.
The domestic terrorist broke windows, vandalised offices, took pictures of sensitive government documents, stole laptops, took pictures of one another posing at desks, and threatened the lives of members of Congress – it was beyond the Un-American thing to do and it was clearly domestic terrorism.
Video featured below: CNN footage of mob breaking windows of US Capitol.
There was one moment in particular in which a police officer – Eugene Goodman – lead the mob away from the Senate Chamber in order to protect Members of Congress who had not gotten to safety quite yet.
This man will forever and always be appreciated for his bravery and did receive a Congressional Gold Medal for his bravery, because he saved many lives by doing so that day. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest award a civilian can receive.
“He’s a hero!
The United States Capitol was under attack by armed, violent extremists, and Officer Eugene Goodman was the only thing standing between the mob and the United States Senate.
I shudder to think what might have happened had it not been for Officer Goodman’s fast thinking and commitment to his duty and his country.
While some will remember last Wednesday for the very worst in our country, the patriotism and heroics of Officer Eugene Goodman renew my faith and remind us all what truly makes the United States great.”
-U.S. Representatives Charlie Crist
Video featured below: Police officer Eugene Goodman who lead mob away from the Senate Chamber.
“In moments of crisis, there are always individuals who rise to the occasion and put themselves in harm’s way in defence of others.
On January 6, 2021, one of those individuals was Officer Eugene Goodman.
If not for the quick, decisive, and heroic actions from Officer Goodman, the tragedy of last week’s insurrection could have multiplied in magnitude to levels never before seen in American history.
With this prestigious award, we can show our gratitude to Officer Goodman for saving countless lives and defending our democracy.”
-Congressman, Emanuel Cleaver
Normally in situations like this the President would have immediately called the National Guard to handle the mob; however, Outgoing President – Donald J. Trump – did no such thing.
Instead, he was on Twitter. He was excited to see the chaos he had created.
It’s truly appalling to me how oblivious Outgoing President Trump was that by him encouraging his supporters to “march to the US Capitol in an attempt to overturn the US 2020 Election” wasn’t going to lead to an insurrection of the US Capitol and inflict violence and harm to many American’s.
This siege went on for about 6 hours.
It wasn’t until President-elect Joesph R. Biden went on National television to plead to Outgoing President Donald J. Trump to put an end to this insurrection.
Video featured below: President-elect Joesph R. Biden’s address to Outgoing President Donald J. Trump to tell his supporters to go home and put an end to the siege of the US Capitol.
Fortunately, after President-elect Biden’s address to Outgoing President Trump, Trump did decide to do the right thing and did go on National Television to do just that.
On the other hand, Outgoing President Trump’s response was a response that wasn’t at all that unexpected in that he continued to reiterate the voter fraud lies he had been telling his supporters since the confirmation of President-elect Joesph R. Biden’s win. On the other hand, fortunately, he did tell his supporters, “it’s time to go home now.”
“I know your pain. I know your hurt. We had an election that was stolen from us.
It was a landslide election and everyone knows it.
Especially the other side.
But you have to go home now. We have to have peace. We have to have law and order and respect our great people of law and order.
We don’t want anyone hurt.”
-Outgoing President of the United States of America Donald Trump
Video featured below: Outgoing President Donald Trump address to his supporters who stormed the US Capitol.
I believe that by Outgoing President Trump reiterating the lies he had been telling his supporters just reignited the fire that was burning within them. It just gave them all the more ammunition they needed to continue to stay and “fight like hell” as their loyalty to Outgoing President Trump.
Even though Mr. Trump said in his address, “we don’t want anyone hurt” blood was shed – 5 people died, one was a police officer, the others were protestors.
As the chaos continued, and with considerations to the fact that National Guard had not shown up yet, Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser issued a 6 p.m. curfew in order to clear people off the streets of Washington D.C., especially at or around the US Capitol.
Reminder: A citywide curfew for the District of Columbia is in effect from 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 6, until 6:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 7.
As the curfew set in – the Police officers and the National Guard took to the streets to begin clearing the streets of Washington D.C., especially at or around the US Capitol.
I watched the news late into the night as the Washington Police and the US National Guard continued in their efforts to bring an end to the insurrection.
Video featured below: The chaos of the mob as it continued into the night.
Despite the mobs best efforts to stop the certification of Joseph R. Biden as the winner of the US 2020 Election, Congress did resume to count the electoral votes and they did certify that Joseph R. Biden was the winner of the US 2020 election.
“They tried to disrupt our democracy – they failed.
They failed to obstruct Congress.
This failed insurrection only scores how crucial the task before us is for our republic.
Our nation was founded precisely so that the free choice and people is what shapes our self-government and determines our destiny of our nation.
Not fear. Not for us. But the peaceful expression of the popular will.”
– Senator of the United States of America, Mitch McConnell Jr.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell speaks as lawmakers reconvene in the Capitol.
"We are going to finish exactly what we started. … And we will certify the winner of the 2020 presidential election. Criminal behavior will never dominate the United States Congress." pic.twitter.com/Y3AtV2zt6R
After the certification of Joseph R. Biden’s win of the US 2020 Election, outgoing Vice President Mike Pence delivered a message of the certification and the insurrection on the US Capitol:
“Violence never wins. Freedom wins, and this is still the people’s house.”
Vice President Mike Pence reconvened lawmakers to count Electoral College votes hours after a mob of Trump supporters disrupted the previous session.
In the end of this violent insurrection on the US Capitol, the American people who voted in a free and fair election did have their voices heard and Joseph R. Biden was declared as the winner of the US 2020 election.
January 6, 2020 – America’s democracy won that day.
It was 6 o’clock here in the UK on November 7th – four days after US Election Day – the world finally received the news of who was going to be America’s next President – Former VP Jospeh Robinette Biden, (Electoral votes received: Biden 306, Trump 232).
I felt this overwhelming of emotions in that moment – I cried tears of happiness, joy, and…relief. But I was not the only one who felt this way. People all across America crowded the streets – dancing and shouting cheers of joy – ‘Joe Biden was the newly elected President of the United States of America’.
Video featured below: CNN reported people gathering all over the US – Atlanta ,Georgia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Washington, DC, and New York City – in light of Joe Biden’s victory. Duration 3:51.
My recording. Source: CNN News. (recorded November 7, 2020).
The US 2020 Election was almost like an affirmation, because of the voting turnout. According to National Public Radio (NPR), ‘more votes were cast in the 2020 Presidential Election than in any other U.S. election in history, and the turnout rate was the highest in more than a century. President-elect Joe Biden earned 80 million votes, while President Trump earned the second-highest of votes – 74 million.’
Presidential Vote Count For Republicans Vs. Democrats (1980-2020)
Source: Historical vote totals from Election Atlas. 2020 vote totals from The Associated Press as of 8:36 a.m. ET. Credit: Ruth Talbot/NPR
Now that America has a Commander in Chief who plans to implement positive change on the serious issues that America is currently facing, but he will also make every effort to create unity amongst the American people during these unprecedented times.
Video featured below: I recorded Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris and President-elect Joe Biden’s victory speech’s – using my iPhone – here in the UK at 1:30 a.m. (8:30 p.m. EST) on November 8, 2020. (By the way, if you think you hear me sniffling at times, it’s because I am. I got a bit emotional listening to these uplifting speeches). Duration 35:15.
Source: CNN News – President-elect Joe Biden seeks to unite nation with victory speech. (recorded: November 8, 2020)
A Divided Nation
Currently, America is divided on so many issues, which has caused so much disruption, pain, and affliction; more specifically issues on ‘The Coronavirus Pandemic‘, ‘The Economic Crisis‘, ‘Systemic Racism’ and ‘Climate Change. These issues are what is hurting America’s economy, public health, and public safety, which President-elect Joe Biden plans to and has already put into motion – changes that can make a difference in these underlying issues.
Recently, 60 Minutes did an interview with President Barack Obama . President Obama said, “over the course of four years – during President Trump’s Presidency – the United States of America has become the Divided States of America.”
Video featured below: Clip from “60 minutes” with former President Barack Obama who talks about how divided the nation is – ‘not just the Politicians, the Voters are divided as well’. Duration of Clip 6:48 – 14:05.
With these very serious issues that America is facing, I do believe that President-elect Joe Biden is the best suited person to lead the American people during these unprecedented times, because not only does he have nearly four decades of experience of serving the American people in US politics and is knowledgeable of what is expected from a President and how to conduct himself in such a position, but – he, himself, personally – has endured so much adversity throughout his life; therefore, he has compassion towards those who are hurting right now.
At a very young age President-elect Joe Biden had to learn how to deal with adversity. During his childhood years, he had to learn how to cope with a lifelong Disability of Stuttering. On top of that, he suffered a great deal of loss in his life – in 1972, his first wife and baby daughter died in a car crash and then in 2015, one of his sons died of brain cancer. Through all of these adversities, he has seen opportunities – opportunities to persevere and to overcome – and to try to make the best out of every situation.
Now, that Joe Biden has won the 2020 election, the fate of America lies in his hands. President-elect Biden plans to make it his number one priority – to bring America back together again on the controversial issues that are currently dividing the nation as a whole. This will – of course – not be an easy task for President-elect Joe Biden, with consideration to the fact that he will now have to convince those 74 million people who voted against him, and prove himself to ALL of the American people in that he can and will see the country through these unprecedented times.
“We are in the Battle for the soul of this Nation.” – President-elect Joe Biden (April 25, 2020)
According to the World Health Organization, the United States has reported over 12 million Coronavirus cases with over 255,000 deaths (updated November 25, 2020).
President-elect Joe Biden and Vice-President elect Kamala Harris have a Seven-point plan in order to beat Covid-19 and get the country back on track. This plan is as follows:
Fix Trump’s testing-and-tracing fiasco to ensure all Americans have access to regular, reliable, and free testing.
Fix personal protective equipment (PPE) problems for good.
Provide clear, consistent, evidence-based national guidance for how communities should navigate the pandemic — and the resources for schools, small businesses, and families to make it through.
Plan for the effective, equitable distribution of treatments and vaccines, because discovering isn’t enough if they get distributed like Trump’s testing and PPE fiascos.
Protect Older Americans and Others at High Risk.
Rebuild and expand the defenses that Trump has dismantled to predict, prevent, and mitigate pandemic threats, including those coming from China.
Implement mask mandates nationwide by working with governors and mayors and by asking the American people to do what they do best: step up in a time of crisis.
Follow this link to view the full details of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ seven-point plan to beat COVID-19 and the country back on track.
What makes matters even more complicating during these unprecedented times, is the fact that there was a delay of Transfer of Powers, and in that delay of over two weeks America recorded its highest number of daily cases on November 14, 2020 – over 51,000 daily cases .
Fortunately though for the American people, President Trump recently gave the orders to begin the Transfer of Powers process on November 23, 2020. Additionally, before President Trump gave the order to begin the Transfer of Power, the Biden administration had already put together a ‘New Coronavirus Task Force‘, so they are now ready to get to work.
Vice President-elect @KamalaHarris and I spent the afternoon meeting with a bipartisan group of mayors. It was just the start of what I know will be a strong partnership in the months and years ahead. Together, we’re going to beat COVID-19 and build back better. pic.twitter.com/2oiKD7gxAi
President-elect Joe Biden also plans to rejoin the World Health Organization (WHO). According to WHO, their organization works worldwide ‘to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable.’ Their goal is ‘to ensure that a billion more people have universal health coverage, to protect a billion more people from health emergencies, and provide a further billion people with better health and well-being’.
Video featured below:The World Health Organization (WHO) is committed to making a healthier humanity, where access to health care, protection from emergencies, and promotion of healthy lives are available to all. WHO’s “Triple Billion” goals provide focus for the world to make people healthier. Duration 2:45.
Source: World Health Organization on YouTube – Are you 1 in a billion? Join WHO in promoting health, keeping the world safe, serving the vulnerable. (posted: February 1, 2019)
By addressing and handling the pandemic in a more constructive and effective way – as well as rejoin the World Health Organization – these are just a few of the many actions that the Biden Administration plans to take in order to handle the US pandemic that is at large, so that the American people can get back to “normal”.
The second challenge: The Economic Crisis
2020 World Economic Crisis caused by the Coronavirus. Covid-19, Recession and economic slowdown
As the America people have suffered greatly from the Coronavirus pandemic – physically and emotionally – they have also suffered financially as well. When the pandemic began, unemployment rates saw an all-time high in April 2020 at 14.7%, according to Trading Economics.
As there was such a deep need for assistance from the government, President Trump signed a bill , which was passed in April 2020 by the House of Representatives called the CARES Act(Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act). This bill – worth $3 trillion – was designed to ‘help people, families, businesses, and the economy cope with the disastrous effects of the COVID-19 pandemic’. The package also included a one-time payment of $1,200 to those who qualify.
Even though the unemployment rate did drop to 6.9% in October 2020, there are still many Americans who are struggling and are needing further assistance from the government. With this in mind, Congress did undergo discussions for a Second Stimulus Package – the HEROS (Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus and Emergency Solutions) ACT. However, the Democrats and the Republicans could not reach an agreement.
Therefore, President Tump put an end to the Second Stimulus Package negotiations and made an Executive Order, which included a $400 bonus added to unemployment benefits, residential evictions are to be banned, deferrals of payroll taxes, and student loans to be deferred another three months.
Video featured below: Good Morning America (GMA) reports ‘President Trump signs executive orders’. Duration 5:17.
Meanwhile, as time is running out for Congress to approve or to not approve a Second Stimulus Package before the end of the year, Americans are struggling daily – financially – amid the Coronavirus Pandemic impact.
President-elect Joe Biden is preparing now for how he would get another Covid Relief Package passed and he has also developed an Economic Recovery plan, which would help the Economy get back on track. This plan includes:
Provide state, local, and tribal governments with the aid they need so educators, firefighters, and other essential workers aren’t being laid off.
Extend COVID crisis unemployment insurance to help those who are out of work.
Provide a comeback package for Main Street businesses and entrepreneurs.
Immediately put people to work by enlisting them to help fight the pandemic, including through a Public Health Jobs Corps.
“The truth is the economy wasn’t working for folks long before the crisis hit. It’s why Kamala Harris and I won’t just build back to the way things were — we’ll build back better. We won’t be satisfied until the economy starts working for everyone.”
Systemic Racism continues to be a very serious issue in the United States. Historically, the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement began after the killing of Treyvon Martin on February 26, 2012. This movement advocates for those who have been wrongfully killed by police officers and are fighting for change in the justice system. BLM began in 2012 and still continues to this day. They are fighting for change. Fighting for protection. And fighting for equality in the United States of America.
During Trump’s Presidency, the Black Lives Matter movement spiked up again. Breonna Taylor. George Floyd. These are just a few people who were killed by police officers – wrongfully. Therefore, protests erupted all over the United States – and even the world.
Systemic Racism is – unfortunately – an ongoing issue, which continues to desperately need attention by Government Officials. President-elect Joe Biden says that he plans to deal with this issue in a number of ways:
Spur public-private investment through a new small business opportunity plan.
Reform opportunity zones to fulfill their promise.
Make a historic commitment to equalizing federal procurement.
Ensure the Biden-Harris housing plan makes bold investments in homeownership and access to affordable housing for Black, Brown and Native Families.
Achieve equity in management, training, and higher education opportunities connected to the jobs of the future.
Boost retirement security and financial wealth for Black, Brown, and Native Families.
Ensure workers of color are compensated fairly and treated with dignity.
Ensure equity in Biden’s bold infrastructure and clean energy investments.
Support second chances for economic success.
Strengthen the Federal Reserve’s focus on racial economic gaps.
Promote diversity and accountability in leadership across key positions in all federal agencies.
Build a 21st century care infrastructure.
Address longstanding inequities in agriculture.
Biden’s proposal seeks to address the country’s racial wealth, opportunity and jobs gaps through what the Campaign says would be a “historic effort to empower small business creation and expansion in economically disadvantaged areas — and particularly for Black, Latino [Asian American and Pacific Islander], and Native American-owned businesses.”
“Economic and racial inequities have shaped us for generations. But I give you my word: [As] President, I will marshal the ingenuity and good will of this nation to turn division into unity and bring us together.”
– Joe Biden, October 6, 2020
The fourth challenge: Climate Change
Washington, DC – April 29, 2017: Thousands of people attend the People’s Climate March to stand up against climate change.
The world is currently dealing with a clear and unprecedented global emergency – Climate Change – which could jeopardise animal and human life. If the world does not work together in this global emergency by avoiding temperatures to rise to 1.5°C in the next 10 year by reducing carbon emissions that are driving this, we will then be at the “tipping point of no return.”
With this in mind, President Trump – irresponsibly – withdraw from the Paris agreement in 2017. The Paris agreement works to ‘to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Additionally, the agreement aims to strengthen the ability of countries to deal with the impacts of climate change.’
However, after Joe Biden is sworn in as President on January 20, 2020, he plans to rejoin the United Nations Paris Agreement in order to tackle the issue of ‘Climate Change’. He also has a Climate Policy, which includes, “$1.7 trillion investment in clean energy and green jobs, and calls for an end to fossil fuel subsidies and a ban on new oil and gas permits on public lands”.
With a new leader in charge – President-elect Joe Biden – there seems to be hope in saving the Planet, because he believes in science and he believes it to be ‘irresponsible and reckless to ignore the data that science is providing on the issue of Climate Change’. If the issue of Climate Change goes ignored, while the world is getting closer to its tipping, it could become a problem of ‘no return’.
Video featured below: President-elect Joe Biden explains the existential threat of Climate Change – not just to our environment, but to our health, our communities, our national security, and our economic well-being. Duration 4:51.
Methane pollution limits for new and existing oil and gas operations.
Use the Federal government procurement system – which spends $500 billion every year – to drive towards 100% clean energy and zero-emissions vehicles.
Ensure that all U.S. government installations, buildings, and facilities are more efficient and climate-ready, harnessing the purchasing power and supply chains to drive innovation.
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation – the fastest growing source of U.S. climate pollution – by preserving and implementing the existing Clean Air Act, and developing rigorous new fuel economy standards aimed at ensuring 100% of new sales for light- and medium-duty vehicles will be electrified and annual improvements for heavy duty vehicles.
Double down on the liquid fuels of the future, which make agriculture a key part of the solution to climate change. Advanced biofuels are now closer than ever as we begin to build the first plants for biofuels, creating jobs and new solutions to reduce emissions in planes, ocean-going vessels, and more.
Save consumers money and reduce emissions through new, aggressive appliance- and building-efficiency standards.
Commit to every federal infrastructure investment should reduce climate pollution, and require any federal permitting decision to consider the effects of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.
Require public companies to disclose climate risks and the greenhouse gas emissions in their operations and supply chains.
Protect biodiversity, slowing extinction rates and helping leverage natural climate solutions by conserving 30% of America’s lands and waters by 2030.
Protect America’s natural treasures by permanently protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other areas impacted by President Trump’s attack on federal lands and waters, establishing national parks and monuments that reflect America’s natural heritage, banning new oil and gas permitting on public lands and waters, modifying royalties to account for climate costs, and establishing targeted programs to enhance reforestation and develop renewables on federal lands and waters with the goal of doubling offshore wind by 2030.
After President-elect Biden executes these executive orders for Clean Energy and Environmental Protection, he also plans to make investments in clean energy jobs for the American people, which involves:
Infrastructure: Create millions of good, union jobs rebuilding America’s crumbling infrastructure.
Auto Industry: Create 1 million new jobs in the American auto industry, domestic auto supply chains, and auto infrastructure.
Transit: Provide every American city with 100,000 or more residents with high-quality, zero-emissions public transportation options.
Power Sector: Move ambitiously to generate clean, American-made electricity to achieve a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035 – creating millions of jobs with a choice to join a union.
Buildings: Upgrade 4 million buildings and weatherize 2 million homes over 4 years, creating at least 1 million good-paying jobs with a choice to join a union.
Housing: Spur the construction of 1.5 million sustainable homes and housing units.
Innovation: Drive dramatic cost reductions in critical clean energy technologies, including battery storage, negative emissions technologies, the next generation of building materials, renewable hydrogen, and advanced nuclear – and rapidly commercialize them, ensuring that those new technologies are made in America.
Agriculture and Conservation: Create jobs in climate-smart agriculture, resilience, and conservation, including 250,000 jobs plugging abandoned oil and natural gas wells and reclaiming abandoned coal, hard-rock, and uranium mines
Environmental Justice: Ensure that environmental justice is a key consideration in where, how, and with whom we build — creating good, union, middle-class jobs in communities left behind, righting wrongs in communities that bear the brunt of pollution, and lifting up the best ideas from across our great nation — rural, urban, and tribal.
For more information on the Biden-Harris plan to create more union jobs in order to tackle the climate crisis, please follow this link.
As Climate Change is and should be of high priority in order to save the planet, President-elect Joe Biden does hold a strong vision in order to implement change.
“I know that Climate Change is the challenge that’s going to define our American future — and I know meeting this challenge will be a once-in-a-century opportunity to jolt new life into our economy, strengthen our global leadership, and protect our planet for future generations.”
– Joe Biden, July 14, 2020
The other challenges President-elect Joe Biden faces: Justice Amy Coney Barrett
Not only will the Biden Administration be dealing with the Coronavirus Pandemic, the Economic Crisis, Systemic Racism, and Climate Change, they may also face other important factors, which could impact the American people – the newly appointed Supreme Court Justice – Amy Coney Barrett.
Just weeks before the election, President Tump nominated and succeeded in the nomination of Amy Coney Barrettas the newly appointed Supreme Court Justice – following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Justice Ginsberg was an iconic figure who voted on and supported ‘the most divisive social issues’ – abortion rights, same-sex marriage, voting rights,immigration, health care and affirmative action.’
President Tump’s nomination of Judge Barrett as a new replacement for Justice Ginsberg – just a week after her passing – essentially disregarded Justice Ginsberg’s dying wish, according to NPR.
“My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.”
– Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg
Judge Barrett underwent a weeklong of hearings. She was questioned on ‘how she would rule in court proceedings’ and ‘whether or not she would allow her ‘personal religious beliefs’ interfere in her court rulings’. Her response was consistent when asked about a number of issues in that she would not give an answer as to how she would rule in future court cases; furthermore, she did say that she is “committed to the role of law and the role of the Supreme Court in dispensing equal justice for all.”
Furthermore, when questioned by Senator Feinstein on how she would rule in cases – such as ‘overturning the Roe vs. Wade‘. Again- she would not give a direct answer as to how she would rule in future cases.
Video featured below: During the Supreme Court hearings, Judge Amy Coney Barrett refused to answer Senator Feinstein on whether or not she believes if Roe v. Wade should be overturned. Duration 6:44.
Source: CNBC Television on YouTube – Barrett refuses to address if Roe v. Wade should be overturned, despite prodding from Sen. Feinstein. (posted: October 13, 2020)
Senator Kamala Harris was a part of the court proceedings and questioned Judge Barrett on important issues such as striking down the Affordable Care Act, Woman’s rights, and racial rights.
Senator Harris acknowledged Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg views on ‘a woman’s right to control her own body and to make decisions about her own body and healthcare and reproductive choices.’
Video featured below: Senator Kamala Harris questioned Judge Barrett on issues that could make her rulings in court unethical such as a woman’s right to abortion. Duration of clip 8:01.
However, despite Senator Harris’ efforts in her opposition to move forward with Judge Amy Coney Barrett nomination for the position of the Supreme Court Justice, the US Senate did vote in Judge Barrett’s favour – with a vote of 52-48, which means that there is now a 6-3 conservative majority on the court. This could make things problematic for the Biden Administration in order to protect the rights for ALL US Citizens.
President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris made it very clear that they were not happy about Justice Barrett taking on the new role after a woman who dedicated her life in protecting woman’s rights, the LGBTQ rights, and racial rights; therefore, they may decide that they want to ‘pack the court‘ by adding more justices to the court. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachussettssaid in March 2019, ‘It’s not just about expansion, it’s about depoliticizing the Supreme Court.”
President-elect Joe Biden recently gave a statement on 60 Minutes:
“I will establish a bipartisan commission to consider court reforms — a broad category that could include court packing, but also a variety of other measures. I will ask them to, over 180 days, come back to me with recommendations as to how to reform the court system.”
Moving forward, I do believe President-elect Joe Biden will do what he believes is best to protect ALL American citizens rights.
The Delay in Transfer of Powers
President Barack Obama recently meet with 60 Minutes to discuss his new book ‘The Promised Land’, his thoughts on the US 2020 Election, and what he believes President Trump should do with regards to the best interest of the American people. Mr. President said, ‘there has been a long standing tradition of Transfer of Powers since the Election of 1801 between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson‘ and has thus continued ever since. The process of a Peaceful Transfer of Powers is as follows, according to President Obama:
“There are a set of traditions that we have followed in the Peaceful Transfer of Power.
The outgoing President congratulates the incoming President. Instructs the government and the agencies to cooperate with the new incoming government coming in. You invite the President-elect to the Oval Office, and then – on Inauguration Day – the President invites the President-elect to the White House. There’s a small reception and then you drive to the inauguration site and the outgoing President sits there as part of the audience.
The in-coming President is then sworn in and at this point, the outgoing President is a citizen just like everybody else and owes the new President to do their best on behalf of the American People.”
-President Barack Obama
Video Clip featured below: 60 Minutes interviews with President Barack Obama and discusses the “normal traditions” of a Peaceful Transfer of Powers. Duration: 0:48.
Source: 60 Minutes on YouTube – Barack Obama: The 2020 60 Minutes interview. November 15, 2020)
Despite President Barack Obama sticking to the normal traditions of a Peaceful Transfer of Powers, he did have have conflicting feelings as he was leaving the White House in Donald Trumps hands as he describes in his book, “The Promised Land.”
‘Shortly at the end of my presidency – after Michele and I boarded Air Force One for the last time and traveled west for a long deferred break, the mood on the plane was bittersweet.
Both of us were drained, physically and emotionally, not only by the labours of the previous eight years, but by the unexpected results of the an election, in which someone diametrically opposed to everything we stood for – had been chosen as my successor’.
-President Barack Obama, ‘The Promised Land”
Now that President Tump is in the same position as President Obama was in, President Trump has refused to follow the “normal traditions” of a ‘Peaceful Transfer of Power’. Instead, because President Trump has lost the US 2020 Election, he has firmly grasped onto thinking that the election had been “stolen from him”.
President Trump tried to challenge the courts by claiming ‘Voter Fraud‘ in six of the Swing States: Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Georgia. He had hoped to overturn the election results with these claims; however, after all six states underwent audits, they concluded that the election had been a ‘free and fair election‘ – in which case – all cases in the six states were thrown out, according to AP News.
After these cases were settled, President Trump decided to do right by the American people, because he was only hurting the American people in the long run if the Transfer of Power was delayed any longer. For example, an executive order signed by President Tump on August 9,2020 which will expire at the end of December. The executive orders which is at jeopardy includes:
About 12 million workers will loose unemployment benefits in December when the CARES Act provisions lapse and or absent of an extension.
Americans will also be without any relief, leaving them financially vulnerable at a time when Covid-19 infections are rising and pushing officials to reimpose shutdowns.
Federal eviction and student loan protections are also scheduled to end after December.
Fortunately though, for the American people, the Transfer of Powers has begun; therefore, President-elect Joe Biden has access to the resources he needs in order to extend these benefits for the American people if need be.
Let the ‘Transfer of Powers’ begin!
It has been nearly four weeks after the US election results were announced and Joe Biden was declared the winner of the US 2020 Election. On the contrary though, just last week – November 23, 2020 – President Trump has conceded – ‘in his own way’ – and has decided to move forward in the Transfer of Powers.
It comes in light of a recent tweet from President Trump:
…fight, and I believe we will prevail! Nevertheless, in the best interest of our Country, I am recommending that Emily and her team do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols, and have told my team to do the same.
Even though President Trump does say in his tweet ‘I believe we will prevail’, he is nevertheless – in his ‘own way’ – conceding and doing right by the American people, so that the Biden Administration can do what needs to be done to protect the American people during these unprecedented times.
The Trump Administration then sent a letter to the Biden Administration, in which CNN obtained this letterfrom Emily Murphy – Administrator of U.S. General Services Administration (dated November 23, 2020). The letter acknowledges that the Biden Administration will have access to the resources that they need in order to begin the transition process.
The Biden Administration responds after receiving the letter:
“The GSA Administrator has ascertained President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris as the apparent winners of the election, providing the incoming administration with the resources and support necessary to carry out a smooth and peaceful transfer of power.
In the days ahead, transition officials will begin meeting with federal officials to discuss the pandemic response, have a full accounting of our national security interests, and gain complete understanding of the Trump administration’s efforts to hollow out government agencies.
– Yohannes Abraham, Biden transition head
Now that President-elect Joe Biden and his Administration have been given the “green light” to begin the transition of Transfer of Powers, they are now full and ready to get to work to ‘build back better’ and to provide ‘Duty of Care’ to the American people.
