Archive those Trumpists, before it's too late!

It's still a busy time down in the States, but things are at least beginning to clear. Some things perhaps more than others. Here's a few thoughts.

HE'S IN, THEY SAY

Joseph Biden, after two score and seven years in American politics, and on only his third try, has been declared the winner of the U.S. presidential election.

And how has this been so firmly established?

The experts and the professional news media have with commendable confidence declared Mr. Biden president-elect and are giving him the full benefit of coverage under that joyful designation.

The same experts, and the same cohort of professional media, can offer their projections for the 2016 election (which were wildly off the mark) and their projections for the 2020 election (which were even funnier) as foundational benchmarks for this latest projection, and as warrants for their present confidence.

FORGIVENESS

It is probably too much to invoke the Sermon on the Mount here — as that sets a high standard even for American politics — but what can compare with the hurricane of calls for ending division, stifling partisan rancour, setting aside differences and coming together, since it has been established that Biden is very likely the next president?

Now these are coming mainly from Democrats, and accompanied by solemn appeals to President Donald Trump to cease his efforts for establishing an authentic count in contested states.

Democrats are also rightly urging him to respect the people's verdict, and above all not weaken faith in U.S. democracy by asking for investigations into any alleged irregularities in or manipulation of the electoral process. He must concede now, for the good of all.

They, the Democrats, are on solid ground here. The grace and charm they exhibited following Trump's victory in 2016, the openarmed welcome they gave this “newcomer” to Washington, and their seamless co-operation with his many initiatives and policies from the moment he entered office, have set a standard for the ages.

Was ever a new president welcomed with such warmth and docility by his partisan opponents as Donald Trump was welcomed? Only a red carpet and the Hallelujah Chorus were missing. And has ever a president enjoyed such an unruffled tenure, ease and acceptance, as Mr. Trump from his gracious confrères in the Democratic party?

No foot-dragging or useless and empty political manoeuvres, litigations or stubborn resistance obstructed his halcyon occupation of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

It is now time for Trump to return those favours, emulate the kindness and unexampled political hospitality that was his to enjoy. And who does not expect him to? Mr. Trump is not a man to let others outbid him on generous dealing. After all “with malice towards none” is his unspoken motto.

MORE FORGIVENESS

Trump will be greatly assisted in reaching harmony and concord with the new administration, as will his many fans and followers, by the example set by some eminent voices that have sounded since the vote.

Former First Lady Michelle Obama has perhaps raised the highest bar. After congratulating Biden and his running mate, Kamala Harris, she noted that even a Democrat back in the White House was “but a first step” in national renewal.

She reminded the country that not everyone voted the right way, the kind of civic nicety some have come to expect from her: “Let's remember that tens of millions of people voted for the status quo, even when it meant supporting lies, hate, chaos and division.”

There's the right note. Yes, let's remember. After all there were, unthinkably, 72 million Americans, a modest swathe, who, blinded or driven by one or all of

“lies, hate, chaos and division” — not the finest impulses we will agree — voted other than Ms. Obama voted. Such darkness in so many wayward hearts. They sank to Trump and the “status quo.”

Can they be saved? Or are they, in the words of another former first lady, the “irredeemables?” A.k.a., the “deplorables.”

Alas, it is so to be feared. The fact that immediately after eight full years of Ms. Obama's husband's enlightened stewardship, so many millions of Americans turned around to Donald Trump the first chance they got, has to be extremely dispiriting.

But that four years later, caught even more deeply in the toils of “lies, hate, chaos and division,” they voted for Trump again, is an iron bolt against the possibility they may be rescued or repaired.

CAN'T FORGIVE? THEN DON'T FORGET

Not to offer the citizens of another country advice, but timidly I suggest this might be time to turn to the counsels of one who obviously sees the wisdom of First Lady Obama's perspective.

The courageous young Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has asked the right question here: “Is anyone archiving these Trump sycophants for when they try to downplay or deny their complicity in the future?”

Now it might be difficult to put 72 million people on a list, and under a shadow of “complicity,” but file away the big names and put the warning out early: “We are archiving you.” Then when the time comes you won't be able “downplay or deny” your wretched, dare we say, un-American behaviour. We'll have got the goods on you and your Trumpist activities.

This wholesome project has even earned a name, the Trump Accountability Project, an effort to make sure no Trump sycophant goes unpunished. The TAP has been established to document the names of every administration staffer, campaign staffer and lawyer who worked for U.S. President Donald Trump.

As said, I don't think the Democrats are quite in Sermon on the Mount mode here. More like a stroll along the backroads and through the boglands of Twitter.