When I was young I thought political office might be in my future. I still love all things historical/political. From afar nowadays. However, in the 1960’s I wanted to be involved. I’ve mentioned in this blog that when I was growing up (I know; not there yet.) it was difficult to distinguish left from right in the news media and even between political parties. So, I asked your great-grandfather who was political on a local level. He advised attending the local democrat/republican party meetings. Sort it out was his advice. I did.
I made inquiries. With invitations in hand I attended a few meetings of each local party. They were nice but I walked away with my socks intact. I had hopes that they’d be engaging on issues and policies. It seemed more like “the other guys are bad guys and we are the good guys.” The objectives discussed were not about making the country/state/county better or simply providing good government. Win. Beat the other guy. That was the formula to make eveything better. To me it seemed like a flip the coin situation. I had been enthused by JFK but at the time I could lean either way depending on the issue or the candidate.
That continued to be my mindset during the historic Watergate era. I could see merit on both sides and good in various candidates in those days. The national parties were of course rivals but not so much in the good guys/bad guys mode I had witnessed locally. For example, for the Civil Rights Act of 1964, senators and representatives from both parties fought side by side. I felt that was good government as envisioned when learning civics. For nearly three months democrats filibustered against the law. In the end it was a bi-partisan victory.
Likewise, when impeachment loomed for Presidnt Nixon, there was bi-partisanship throughout the various investigations. My memory of Howard Baker is just as vivid as is that of Sam Ervin. I remember that Nixon resigned the day after republicans paid him a visit and told him he was toast. Barry Goldwater leading that delegation sticks in my mind. My mind may play games with my memory but I believe efforts to “pile on” charges against Nixon lost Rather, tight professional charges were focused on in the impeachment.
Which brings me to Frank Church, the democrat senator from Idaho at the time. Abuses dating back for decades by the CIA/FBI were exposed during Watergtate. Our supposed protectors were lawlessly out of control. Years of shame. A stain on our founding principles. Senator Church chaired an investigative committee that found even more outrageous conduct by the unelected heads of these and other agencies. Again, there was a fairly bi-patisan effort. I don’t recall a minority report. The committee put sunshine on the abuses and made recommendations to guard against future misconduct.
All of which is part of Papa’s past of voting for candidates of both parties depending on how I viewed their ability to govern and represent my principles. I might lean one way or another at times depending on issues. Except when there was only one or two candidates on the ballot I did not vote straight tickets. I didn’t see either party as good enough I’d go 100% goo-goo voting blind tickets. It amazes me people do.
However, current circumstances have changed me. I am on my way to Sight Point where I left my copy of the Mueller Report. I remember reading that document that came to a no wrongdoing conclusion and thought so many words that said nothing but appeared to say soemthing dire had been amiss. To this average legal mind I saw fluff. I recently read the Durham Report and that was a professional product. It showed by clear and convincing evidence that the FBI/CIA/IRS and others were involved in abuses that make a mockery of the concerns raised by the Church Committee. That committee’s corrective actions either never took or that slow moving giant iceberg of the administrative state still needs a major overhaul. At a personal level I am shocked at the lack of bi-partisan outrage at what is worse that what we learned from the Church Committee. I will hereafter look for any member of the democrat party who is as outraged as were both parties in the 1970’s. It’s impossible to read the Durham Report and not be concerned. From my perspective nearly all democrats have shrugged off the obvious.
It may be that the ends justify the means to them. But, there is a much bigger principle at stake now. I believe that the hurch Committee memebers would see the clear and present dangers.
BTW, I rote some of this when passing through Senator Church’s state of Idaho on Papa’s recent folly. More on that as I drive if reliable internet is found.