When the
ancient Israelites became ungovernable, Moses told them, “Choose for each of
your tribes individuals who are wise, discerning, and reputable to be your leaders
(Deuteronomy 1:13).
The
just-concluded campaign caused many Americans to wonder whether the United States
is capable of choosing wise, discerning, and reputable leaders. The new
President will take office lacking the faith of more than half the nation.
Some of
us are old enough to remember one of the most divisive episodes in U.S. history.
In 1974, President Richard Nixon resigned in disgrace. His successor, Gerald
Ford, said, “Our long national nightmare is over.” Our political system has again
been disgraced by another “long national nightmare.” This campaign was too ugly
too long. In the view of many, the results have the potential to be even worse.
As the
Founding Fathers completed the Constitution in 1787, Ben Franklin responded
when asked what kind of a government they created. Franklin said, “A Republic,
if you can keep it.”
It is
not overly dramatic to suggest the U.S. finds itself with a dwindling number of
opportunities to keep it. As Robert Frost foretold we have reached that place
where two road diverge.
The election is over but our nation is no less divided today
than it was before election day. Wyoming did nothing to ebb that flow. The
state sent an apparent ideologue to Congress.
Liz Cheney made her name on Fox News with partisan bluster.
Her Congressional campaign was much of the same. She said Barack Obama would
rather wage war on Wyoming coal than on terrorists, that the President was more
dedicated to killing Wyoming’s energy industry than to killing ISIS. Mrs.
Cheney Tweeted, “Hillary
Clinton is a crooked and corrupt felon who is being protected by an unethical
Attorney General and President.”
Mrs.
Cheney’s wasn’t alone in mimicking the nastiness we claim to hate. A worse omen
was Jared Olsen’s choice to cross a line many hoped would never be crossed in
local politics. He shamelessly used blatantly dishonest tactics to defeat Rep.
Mary Throne, proving that candidates go negative for one reason. It works. In
other words, the shame falls at the doorstep of the voters. If ugly politics
are to end, the voters will have to demand it rather than rewarding it.
Eight
years ago Barack Obama won the White House. Senate Republican leader Mitch
McConnell identified his party’s mission. “The single most important thing we want to achieve is for
President Obama to be a one-term president.” They didn’t achieve the goal but not
for a lack of trying. Instead they paralyzed the Republic. The harsh words and
actions of those eight years gave birth to the distasteful campaign just
concluded.
It
doesn’t have to be this way for another four years. The Republican Party has
been handed a surprise gift. The voters of the United States said they want Mr.
Trump to govern with a Republican majority in both houses of Congress. Wyoming
voters said they want Ms. Cheney.
Just
as the traveler in Robert Frost’s poem looked down one road “to where it bent
in the undergrowth,” Ms. Cheney can look down the road and see the undergrowth
of continued division.
So, what
if Ms. Cheney became the leader America desperately needs?
Liz
Cheney is a freshman member of Congress, but not in the usual sense. Given her elevated
national profile, Ms. Cheney is blessed with the opportunity to be the change
our nation needs. Assuming she is inclined to lead us down the road less
traveled, she ‘ll need assurance from the voters that they’ll walk beside her. A
politician seldom does what needs to be done without being rewarded by voters.
In
the awful days leading to Richard Nixon’s resignation, the country became as
divided as it is today. President Ford had a Constitutional tool to bridge that
divide. He pardoned Mr. Nixon, ending the rancor. Today Democrats and
Republicans must pardon one another if our long national nightmare is to end.
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