By Dan Spalding
InkFreeNews

Imagine if Watergate had happened in an era of social media and cable news.

Back in 1974 – when I was 12 and oddly glued to the news of Watergate – Richard Nixon left office in disgrace with a job approval rating around 25 percent.

Forty-seven years later, President Donald Trump will leave office on Wednesday with a slightly higher approval rating, having cemented his legacy as one of the biggest scoundrels in our history. And yet, unlike the Nixon era, there are plenty of people who still sympathize with Trump.

The only difference is that the small minority has bought into an assortment of lies that are so clearly untrue.

Three things seem to have propelled us to where we are right now – social media, cable news and a president who has been more than happy to fan the flames of anger.

Back in ’74, it was clear that Nixon had betrayed the nation’s trust and I don’t recall anyone seriously challenging it.

But Nixon didn’t have Twitter, didn’t preside over a deeply divided nation and did not have a conspiracy group so willing to blindly carry his message.

Back then, there was no right-wing hate machine (Fox News, NewsMax and OAN) pretending to be legit news. And he didn’t have a gullible nation so willing to buy into anything he said.

If he did, would Nixon’s supporters become so enraged that they would try to kill John Dean, the Nixon confidant who blew the scandal wide open? I hardly doubt it.

Even with all of this amazing technology at our disposal, we’ve somehow become more vacuous in our ability to think things through.

For example, if you point to Joe Biden’s small campaign crowds as evidence he could not have won the election, you’re not using your God-given brain.

If you think the rioters had a right to enter the Capitol because it’s “The People’s House,” you’re not using your God-given brain.

And if you believe Biden stole the election without ANY evidence, you’re not using your God-given brain.

Ronald Reagan might be remembered as the Great Communicator, but Trump’s success in manipulating public opinion via Twitter has been so much more effective. Trump was able to perpetuate a lie single-handedly. Ponder that for a moment. Without Trump constantly beating this drum of lies on Twitter and Facebook, nobody would have stepped forward with such nonsense.

But this is where we are today.

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PENCE’S LEGACY – Thank goodness for Vice-President Mike Pence. We should all be grateful. Trump’s most loyal ally finally drew the line and did the right thing on Jan. 6 when he refused to stand in the way of a free and fair election.

I appreciate that he’s stepped up in the final days to fill the void in presidential leadership by reaching out to congratulate Vice-President Elect Kamala Harris and then visiting some of the National Guard to thank them for protecting our nation’s capital after the insurrection.

I’m thankful he plans to attend the inauguration and respect the process while so many other Republicans continue to deny it.

It’s hard to imagine how Pence must have felt while he and his family took cover on Jan. 6 during the riots after being thrown under the bus by a man he had been incredibly loyal to for four years. Various news reports say that the violent secessionists were within seconds of catching up to him and his family. Trump didn’t even reach out to him in the middle of the crisis and could not have cared less, which tells you everything you need to know about this president.

Pence’s future is as uncertain as the Republican Party right now. I don’t know where he’ll be in four years, but I do know he could write a helluva book about his experiences.

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NOT HAPPY WITH WALORSKI – Democratic leaders in Indiana’s 2nd Congressional district have called on U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski to resign after she joined an amicus brief asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review claims of voting irregularities.

According to a news release from the 2nd District Dems, Walorski “willfully, knowingly, and publicly violated her oath. Her efforts to hinder and delay the execution of the certification of the Electoral College are proof of her violations. Her past and continued words and actions have emboldened the domestic terrorists that by force tried to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of the laws of the United States, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the United States.  This is in direct violation of 18 U.S. Code 2384-Seditious Conspiracy.”

Of course, nothing will become of the demand. It’s all symbolic, but it is striking.

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ON THE ROAD – Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, nominated to be the next Secretary of Transportation, is expected to have his Congressional hearing on Thursday. He’ll be introduced by Indiana Sen. Todd Young.

If approved, I’m guessing Buttigieg will lead the charge for a huge national infrastructure program that Trump was never able to put forth.

Regardless of his politics, it’s hard to deny that Indiana could eventually benefit from his future role.

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Dan Spalding is the editor at InkFreeNews.com.
He covers city government and politics and always welcomes your input.
He can be reached at [email protected] or at (574) 855-7612.