Thoughts for the day, January 7, 2021: I woke up with a hangover, even though I had nothing to drink.

I woke up this morning with a hangover, even though I had nothing to drink. It is now more than 24 hours since the U.S. Capitol was overran by Trump supporters and I am still trying to make sense of my feelings.

I am angry, sad, discouraged, disgusted, and pissed-off. At the same time I am hopeful.

I am angry at Trump, Giuliani, Cruz, Hawley, and Trump Jr for inciting and encouraging yesterday’s insurrection. I am angry at those who continue to buy into Trump’s lies about the election being stolen from him. I am angry at Cruz and Hawley for continuing their dispute about the election results following yesterday’s insurrection. Do they have no honor?

I am sad that 155 years ago many U.S. citizens died to prevent the confederate flag from flying in the U.S. Capitol, and yet yesterday it did for the first time in America’s history. It is an image, like the towers falling on 9/11 and the Challenger disintigrating in space, that I will haunt me for the remainder of my life.

I am discouraged that so many people believe the lies that Trump has spewed since he lost the election on November 3. They continue to believe his lies, even though he has not been able to prove in any court in the land that the presidential results should be different. Judges he appointed have ruled against his lies. Staunch Republican Secretaries of State have not supported his lies. Yet, millions of people continue to believe his lies. How can this be?

I am disgusted with the 132 representatives and 7 senators who voted to not accept the results of the elections in Arizona and Pennsylvania. It is one thing to be disappointed with the results, it is another thing to not accept the results. VP Gore accepted the results of the 2000 election after the Supreme Court ruled against him, even though VP Gore won the popular vote. The 2000 election was decided by less than 1,000 votes in Florida. Since when is it not OK to accept defeat?

I am pissed-off that President Trump, Giuliani, and Trump Jr. will not be held accountable for their words yesterday that encouraged the insurrection that occurred. I am pissed-off that starting on January 21, 2021 Donald J. Trump will begin his compaign for the presidency in 2024 and that he will raise billions of dollars from his supporters. I am pissed off that unless Trump is impeached from office or convicted of a felony between now and 2024, there is nothing that will prevent him from running for president and 73 million people will forget about what happened yesterday and vote for him again in 2024.

I am hopeful because less than 7 hours after the insurrection, congress reconvened and started the process of certifying the election. I am hopeful that yesterday was a wake-up call to all of us that the words and the actions of our politicians matter. I am hopeful that as of today, we will no longer be tolerant of politicians who spew hate, desigrate their oath of office, and act in a manner that is detrimental to the common good. We must hold our politicians accountable.

My quote of the day comes from Senator Mitt Romney. “We gather today due to a selfish man’s injured pride and the outrage of his supporters whom he has deliberately misinformed for the past two months and stirred to action this very morning. What happened here today was an insurrection, incited by the President of the United States. Those who choose to continue to support his dangerous gambit by objecting to the results of a legitimate, democratic election will forever be seen as being complicit in an unprecedented attack against our democracy. They will be remembered for their role in this shameful episode in American history. That will be their legacy,”