I Swear

 What becomes historic is what would be mundane in circumstances that were mundane. As my son reminds me quite frequently, I think we're all interested in living in more precedented times. 

The case that comes most immediately to mind is the oath that members of the Senate take as they are sworn into office: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God." If you choose to affirm rather than swear, it's still binding. And that part about God at the end can be a little misleading, what with all that Church and State being divided and so forth. The chunk that I would like ot focus on today is the "support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic." This is something that dates back to 1789, but was highlighted at the outbreak of the United States Civil War. Events over the past four years will put a spotlight on Wyoming's former Representative, Liz Cheney. A conservative stalwart and the daughter who picked up the Deep Red banner her father Dick carried in his years of public service, Liz has received bushels of accolades from liberals and Democrats for taking the oath that she took seriously. 

Liz Cheney chose to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. That is why she sat at the front of a committee to investigate the events of January 6, 2024. That is why she chose to support the Democratic Nominee for President in this past election: because the guy running on the Republican ticket had made a mockery of the regulations found within that oath. The same one that the former game show host swore and then ignored in favor of his own twisted version of our nation's binding agreements. 

Liz Cheney did her job. 

Much in the same way that Kamala Harris faithfully discharged her duties when she restored the centuries old tradition of the peaceful transfer of power in our country. What used to be a rather dull procedural footnote in the electoral process had a bright yellow highlight drawn through it four years ago as then sitting Vice President Mike Pence was threatened with hanging by a horde of frothing MAGAts. There was no riot this past January 6. No mobs. No gallows. Kamala Harris received rave notices doing the duties of her office. 

Swear to God.