I saw that 90% of Oak Park voters voted blue in the 2024 election. That is comforting to know as an Oak Parker myself. I’m not a big fan of either major political party but blue, in theory, beats red as far as having little other viable choice when it comes to local or national elections.
Our recent ballot box choices have been processed, and I do believe Vickie Scaman can be trusted not to want to go rogue with radical public policy matters. We Oak Parkers clearly believe in fairness, empathy and sensible solutions to whatever needs solving. As far as what can be controlled here in Oak Park, that is.
Nationally something very disconcerting is going on. I’m sure that the 90% blue part of our village is concerned. Maybe even that other 10% who just might have thought they made the right choice in 2024 are having buyer’s remorse. The national political landscape is quite a chaotic and troubling scene. A lot of its public policy is downright toxic. Fair? Sensible? Empathic? Not so much. As a military vet and an educator, I am especially appalled at what has been emanating from 1600 Mar-a-Lago. How in the wide, wide world of electoral politics did this come to pass?
We laughed at the reality TV honcho. Then came Nov. 8, 2016. But he demonstrated he was so clearly unfit for office that he was shown the door by the voters in 2020. But he didn’t want to leave. So he tried rigging the electoral count. Fake electors. “Stop the steal!” he (and his) babbled. When that strategy failed, he stood by as his fanatical acolytes violently stormed the Capitol Building. It was live on television. On our smart phone. Our laptops. Social media. Beyond belief!
I, for one, figured he would certainly be held to account. After all, the incoming winner, Mr. Biden, and his Attorney General, would certainly hold him to account. They, like the loser, swore an oath to uphold the Constitution. Against enemies foreign and domestic. It was a no brainer, right?
Well, here we are. Rule of law? Honoring the oath that office holders, police and military all swear to?
Please someone, anyone, explain how staging an insurrection (irrefutably factual) was not enough for the previous administration to hold him accountable.
Anyone? Bueller? Anyone?
Joe Harrington
Oak Park