Thoughts for the Day, November 19, 2020: When will President Trump recognize that he lost the election?

I must be really naive as I thought the peaceful transition of power was the hallmark of our democracty. Yet here we are 16 days after the election and President Trump and most of his Republican supporters refuse to acknowledge Biden’s victory. Today, Heather Cox Richardson reported, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Alex Azar, maintains that no one in his department can coordinate with the incoming Joe Biden and Kamala Harris administration until the General Services Administration determines that Biden won the election. An administration official told CNN that department leadership had warned staffers not to communicate with Biden team, and to report any contact to the deputy surgeon general. 

At least Micigan’s senior congressman, Fred Upton, has acknowledged Biden’s victory. The Detroit News reported today, U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, said Thursday that voters had made their voices heard and selected Biden to be president. “The margin in Michigan is more than 145,000 and will not be overturned,” said Upton, Michigan’s senior congressional member. “No one has been able to show credible evidence of voter fraud, and I have not heard of any irregularities from my district. It’s time for us to move forward.”

Today I probably played my last round of golf for the season. It was a great day on the golf course, unfortunately no one played well, but all 16 of us enjoyed the unseasonably warm weather.

Yesterday and today were draft day in the NBA. The Piston’s new GM Troy Weaver, is making sure the Pistons starting in 2021 are his team in his making. The Pistons turned three trades into four draft picks including a stunning three-way trade that sent former first round pick, Luke Kennard to the Los Angeles Clippers for a 20th pick in yesterday’s first round. It was the Piston’s third pick in the first 20 picks for the entire NBA draft. These are the type of drafts that can make or break a team for the next 5 years. Hopefully Genearal Manager Troy Weaver is much better than any of the previous GMs have been for the Pistons in the last 10-12 years.

MHSAA has announced a schedule to complete the state tournaments for the fall sports that have been suspended due to the latest round of covid-19 rules. The tournaments are scheduled to resume in early December. For the sake of the student athletes I hope they can finish the season safely. However, I am not optimistic.

250,000 deaths and counting. Remember when Dr. Fauci predicted back in March that any where between 100,000 and 200,000 deaths were possible if we did not take appropritate action. He was immediately pressured by President Trump to lower his projections as he was scaring the populus and was killing the economy. Fauci lowered his estimates to between 80,000 and 120,000. So many of us, including me, thought the number of deaths he predicted was way overblown because we would never let that happen in our great country. Silly me.

Wear your mask, wash your hands regulary, and social distance. Do it for yourself, you family and your fellow citizens. Do it because it is the right thing to do.