There has been this argument whether President Donald J. Trump has done much for America to deserve his sculpture on Mount Rushmore, alongside George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. While a significant number of Trump's supporters believe the President has done more than enough to earn him a place on Mount Rushmore, others, especially the never-Trumpers see such call as distasteful and demeaning to America.
However, since the former leaders were selected to symbolise the birth, expansion, development, and preservation of America, it is easier to contend that a consummate leader like Donald Trump deserves a place on Mount Rushmore. But, as always the case with truly great leaders whose impact can only be appreciated when the light of truth shines on the landmarks they left on the sands of time, President Donald Trump will someday receive the accolades he so deserves, whether in this lifetime or the future to come.
However, while the world still waits to see how the legacy of Trump will be judged with time, there are many similarities between President Donald Trump and Thomas Jefferson, who is reputed to be one of America’s greatest Presidents of all time. President Trump compares to President Jefferson in a lot of ways including the way both leaders doggedly defended the constitution, fought for religious freedom, and pursued aggressive trade policies that truly puts the strategic interests of "America First".
Nevertheless, one of the ways Trump could compare most with Jefferson is the political fiasco that underpins their respective elections as well as their time in office. In one instance, the hotly contested contingent election between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr in 1801, was a defining moment in America’s political history. Thus, bringing to mind that as President Trump continues to battle the projection of Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 Presidential Election, it is becoming apparent that America may yet witness another contingent election since the Senate voted Richard M. Johnson as vice president in 1837, and the bipartisan congressional commission of 1877 that elected Republican presidential candidate, Rutherford B. Hayes ahead of democratic candidate Samuel J. Tilden, by a margin of one vote.
Simply put, a contingent election occurs when the House of Representatives vote by delegation to elect the President of the United States where none of the candidates in a presidential election reaches the milestone of 270 electoral college votes. The 12th Amendment also provides for the Senate to vote a vice-president in a contingent election. There is no doubt President Trump and his legal team have set their eyes on a possible contingent election when the 117th United States Congress conveys on 3rd January 2021, and the electoral votes from all across the country are formally received and counted by a joint session of Congress on January 6 2021. In a situation where there is a tie or neither President Trump, nor Joe Biden got 270 electoral votes by 6th January 2021, the House will vote by delegation to elect the President, while the Senate will vote to elect the Vice President.
President Trump and his team are already exploring this constitutional provision in the ongoing public hearings on electoral fraud by state legislatures in Pennsylvania, Arizona and Michigan, to justify the fact that the presidential election in these and other battleground states is in disputes. The legal team are therefore calling on the state legislature not to present electors on December 14 when electors meet in each state capital to vote for the president and vice president formally. This aspect of Trump's legislative theory presumes that if Arizona (11) Pennsylvania (20) and Michigan (16) at least, successfully set aside the total of 47 electoral votes as a result of disputed elections, the cumulative total of Vice President Joe Biden's electoral votes will drop from 306 to 259, a tally that is below 270. The fate of Trump who currently has 232 electoral votes and Biden – 259, will then be determined by a contingent election in the House of Representatives to decide who would be sworn-in as President on 20th January 2021.
But the Trump team is also pursuing the possibility of convincing state legislators in the contested states to select Trump electors for December 14, arguing that President Trump was already coasting home to victory in most battleground states until votes counting was abruptly shut down on election night, and the alleged fraud that upturned President Trump's lead took place. If this argument sails through, it is possible for President Trump to flip some of the swing states already projected for Biden. In other words, President Trump still has a chance to reach the milestone of 270 electoral votes when the electors converge to elect the President on December 14. He also has the opportunity to ensure neither candidates reaches the 270 votes when the electors meet to vote on because some state electors did not vote due to the disputes in their states, thereby setting the stage for a contingent election in January 2021.
Well, many experts have argued that voting by the delegation at the House of Representatives will give President Trump a huge advantage over former Vice President Biden, as each of the 50 states has equal representation of one vote each. Those contending that the odds favour President Trump are of the view that even though the Democratic party holds House majority, the Republicans have dominated House delegation of 26 states out of 50 since 2018. And the House Republicans have already reached the same threshold in the incoming Congress which would be saddled with the responsibility of conducting the contingent election in January 2021, if the need arises. Which is to say, President Trump is projected to win a contingent election by a minimum of 26 votes, even if former Vice President Biden wins the remaining 24 votes.
Unfortunately, the anticipation of Trump's team is without some major hurdles which may impact the strategy in the coming days. For instance, even though the Pennsylvania state legislature has introduced a resolution after last week's public hearing to dispute the 2020 presidential election in the state, Pennsylvania Lt. Governor, John Fetterman thinks such resolution will not change a thing about the election results in Pennsylvania. In the same vein, the certification of election results in Arizona by the Secretary of State, Katie Hobbs at the same time the Arizona legislature was holding a public hearing on election fraud, suggests that the Trump legislative theory have some herculean tasks it must overcome in the days leading to December 14. And this to me, is where history may repeat itself once again.
Specifically, like Thomas Jefferson, help could come the way of President Trump at the nick of time, and from the most unlikely of sources even within the Democratic party. There was no doubt Aaron Burr was already coasting home to victory in the contingent election of 1801 when his party leader, Alexander Hamilton suddenly mobilised against him so that Thomas Jefferson could be elected President. Interestingly, there was no love lost between Jefferson and Hamilton before the incredible favour done to the former by the latter.
Several historical accounts are suggesting why Hamilton acted to favour his political foe, Thomas Jefferson, against his party man, Aaron Burr. But one of such accounts that resonates with me the most are claims that Burr was conniving with some political elites, and with active support from interests outside America to balkanise the country and establish an independent country that was to include parts of America and Mexico, should Burr became president. However, Alexander Hamilton, who had served George Washington in various capacities during the revolutionary war, including as aide-de-camp between 1777 and 1781 would have none of it. He believed it was in his place to save America from the hands of gladiators like Burr, who were nursing some weird concepts that are dangerous to the survival of America as an indivisible nation under God.
It is against the backdrop of the foregoing that I believe that just like the political fiasco that characterised the Jefferson-Burr era, America is at the crossroads yet again, as many Americans cutting across party lines and even onlookers around the world are deeply concerned about the future of America and the world, especially if the public pronouncements by some key leaders of the Democratic party since Biden was projected winner of the election, is anything to go by. Their claims to want to "change America forever" is concerning to all, creating a sharp divide of two opposing camps that has President Trump representing the group that is bent on upholding and defending the ideals of the Founding Fathers, and an incoming administration that seems to be poised to move the entire nation in a new direction and uncharted territory. The perspectives of the second group appear to portend greater implications for America and the world, which is why there seem to be real fears and uncertainties cutting across all and sundry, including moderate democrats who may have even voted against President Trump in the election.
The real question now in the minds of many is – is America really ready for such drastic changes been proposed? In what way(s) would these changes permanently alter America and change the world? Are these propositions a function of the collective will of the people, or they are ideas been nursed by some privileged elites with access to wealth and political power?
This is where I believe the rubber meets the road. And like a whirlwind, the entire political landscape could witness a monumental turnaround in the next few days, as true patriots infused with courage and by the help of God and the "spirits" of the Founding Fathers arise without fear to rescue America and safeguard God's own country and indeed the world from going in the way of the unknown. Such that like Thomas Jefferson who came out triumphant by the help of a fellow American willing to put aside his political differences for the sake of the bigger picture and the collective good of the people, it is my firm belief that after all is said and done, President Trump will come out Triumphant because help came his way from both likely and unlikely sources at a time the clock was breathtakingly ticking towards the finishing line.
Long Live the United States
Long Live a World where True Peace Reigns
Nice article