To the Editor:
Second Opinion.
Fact. Generally defined as “a truth known by actual experience or observation; something known to be true,” by the determinant party, which is each of us as to whether the sun rises in the east. Or a specialized truth, scientists as the determinant party, such as an atom is comprised of several sub-particles. A secondary definition applies to allegations offered as truth but not verified, such as someone who insists he has seen Bigfoot. We give the court system the status of determinant party on the adequacy of legal pleadings.
The SCOTUS (with a clear conservative majority, two of whom were appointed by Trump), and many state courts, determined that Trump’s pleadings of fraud in the 2020 election did not present legal facts but raised unsupported allegations. Our Editor, however, argues that the allegations of fraud should be treated as truth, or “fact,” because several known political hacks and partisans say they are true, and because he and others want them to be true and therefore treat them as true. .
Many congressional Relicans have become proficient in delivering lies to their base (Obama was not born in this country; the 2020 election was “stolen,” Trump gives a fig about the middle class), circulating and recirculating them, and then "reporting" the metastasized misinformation as base opinion and “fact.” And the amazing thing is that it seems to work with a lot of people.
After chastising the Dems for abandoning “bipartisanship” and moving legislation forward without securing a single Relican vote, McConnell admitted that, "No Republican will negotiate or vote for any Biden proposal under any circumstance." They will, he conceded, try to do to Biden exactly what they did to President Obama. Relicans will not accept "democratic rule” from anyone but themselves; only they can be in legitimate power. That is the “Relican Plan” for our country. It has nothing to do with the needs of “We, the People.” It has nothing to do with democracy.
Consistent with their war on facts, Relicans have tried to reframe Trump’s Insurrection of January 6, 2021, as a minor dust-up for which “moving on” is the solution, despite the fact that the attack on legislators and beatings of Capitol police and others by the rioters are clearly evident on tape. Two deaths and numerous serious injuries were inflicted while Relicans sought to overturn the will of the electorate on the floor of Congress. Those are facts. In last week’s Editorial, you saw the attempt to reimagine the riot as a minor inconvenience. “Don’t believe your lying eyes. Believe the Republican variant.” They are counting on you.
Kelly Scoles,
Fillmore